Is there a big difference in the two Takumar 85 1.8 lenses?

gone · Jan 5, 2022

The Auto Takumar 85 1.8 is supposed to be better for portraits wide open than the later SMC lens, but I've never owned either one. Was surprised at how much these sell for, they're close to Leica prices. Looks like a smallish lens for an 85mm, and I'd like to get one, but not sure about the bokeh. People seem to love these, but more than once it was mentioned that the later SMC had more contrast and sharpness wide open. Whether that's a lot or a little, they don't say.

Paul Howell · Jan 5, 2022

I have the auto takumar, it's very good for portraits, has nice boka, still sharp. The auto version 1.8 has 9 bladed apature, while the super SMC 1.9 lens has 6 blades. I would think that the SMC version just because of the improved coating would have better or increased contrast. Someone told me years ago that the auto takumar 85 1.8 was made for Swiss Alpa mount, never seen one for sale, might be or not true. Other option is the the 105 2.8, both as a auto tackumar and SMC version, of the two I generally carry the 105, not that I would give up the 85, when needed it is a great lens.

Craig75 · Jan 5, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I have the auto takumar, it's very good for portraits, has nice boka, still sharp. The auto version 1.8 has 9 bladed apature, while the super SMC 1.9 lens has 6 blades. I would think that the SMC version just because of the improved coating would have better or increased contrast. Someone told me years ago that the auto takumar 85 1.8 was made for Swiss Alpa mount, never seen one for sale, might be or not true. Other option is the the 105 2.8, both as a auto tackumar and SMC version, of the two I generally carry the 105, not that I would give up the 85, when needed it is a great lens.

There's a few ways an 85mm pentax ended up on alpas.

In the original models up the 11d you could just adapt them

https://www.leicashop.com/classic/at/en/lcc/Pentax-for-Alpa-85-1-8-SMC-Takumar/31829-36

Then there were two later Japanese made alpas, one in m42 and one in k mount which

1. Had Japanese glass but carrying alpa brand name
https://www.ebay.com/itm/184393108188

2. Used old stock Swiss glass - there are a few macro switars with the original Swiss glass but in Japanese barrels.

warden · Jan 5, 2022

Are there MTFs on these older lenses?

gone · Jan 5, 2022

That's good info Paul, thanks. They made some major changes on the newer lens. The 85 1.8 would be desirable due to it's small size, but after checking it appears that the 100 2.8 is essentially the same size. The R 90 2.8 Elmarit on my Nikon is longer than I like (the Summicrons are much smaller, but 2 or 3 times the cost), and the early Takumar 85 sounds like the one I'd prefer. Put it or the 100 2.8 lens on an ME and you'd have a compact shooter w/ great IQ.

Paul Howell · Jan 5, 2022

If you shoot with an ME then you might to look for K mount 85, in K Pentax offered the standard 85 1.8 with 8 blade aperture, 6 elements in 4 groups, and a 85 2.2 soft focus, which is much more than the standard and I think harder to find. I bought my 85 used, that was in the late 70s when folks were dumping their M42 lens for K lens.

gone · Jan 5, 2022

I figured I'd put an adapter on it to K mount. Turns out the early lenses are more money than I thought, a beater Auto Takumar 85 1.8 w/ bad filter threads has already been bid up to $172 w/ 51 people watching the auction! W/ tax and shipping, it will probably come to $250 when it ends. Mid $300's for the low end of the Buy It Now ads. Yikes.

Paul Howell · Jan 6, 2022

The better quality M42 lens are in demand as they fit so many digital bodies.

Is there a big difference in the two Takumar 85 1.8 lenses?

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