Pentax 55mm Super Tak

waynecrider · Nov 27, 2023

Can anybody tell me if the Pentax Super Tak 55mm was ever coated?
I checked the Pentax forum and the only one they list as having coatings is the SMC version.
I’m wondering if the yellow(?) is a coating or yellowing.

_T_ · Nov 27, 2023

If you have the lens in hand it’s very easy to see if it is coated. You hold the lens up so that you can see the reflections of a bright white light on the surfaces of the glass.

If it is coated the reflections will appear colored, usually yellow. If it is multicoated the reflections will be multicolored, usually purple green and yellow. If there is no coating the reflections will appear the color of the light source that is being reflected, i.e. white.

xkaes · Nov 27, 2023

waynecrider said:
Can anybody tell me if the Pentax Super Tak 55mm was ever coated?

I assume you are asking "was it ever multi-coated?". All Takumars are at least single-coated.

You should see at least one color from reflections on the coating -- pink, magenta, amber, green, blue etc. You might see more than one color. That does not necessarily mean it is multi-coated, but that depends on your definition of "multi-coated". A lens can have multiple layers of the same color on the same element which by some definitions means multi-coated. Another lens might have single layers of different colors on different elements which by some definitions means multi-coated.

I hope you're not losing sleep over this. There is no legal definition of "multi-coated". If one element in a lens has more than one layer of coating on it, it can be called "multi-coated".

Paul Howell · Nov 27, 2023

Super Takumars are multi coated, some consider the Taks to have some of the best coatings of the day, I think Fuji ECB might be a tad better.

tokam · Nov 27, 2023

If your Super Tak 55mm f1.8 is in good condition, no hazing or scratches or fungus, it is an excellent performer. At least, mine is.

xkaes · Nov 27, 2023

Paul Howell said:
I think Fuji ECB might be a tad better.

That's Electron Beam Coating

ags2mikon · Nov 27, 2023

Your Super Takumar is coated. I have both the 55mm 1.8 Super Takumar and the 55mm 1.8 Super Multi Coated versions and I can't see any difference in performance. Both are excellent performers. I have used them with film and digital. I like the SMC versions because they work on my Spotmatic F bodies with open aperture metering.

xkaes · Nov 27, 2023

I have an idea. Let's talk the same language:

Takumar: manual aperture, single coating
Super-Takumar: automatic aperture, single coating
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar: Multi-coated
SMC Takumar: has a rubber focusing ring

Wayne, the OP, said "Super Tak.. 55mm". That says to me "single coated".

Nicholas Lindan · Nov 27, 2023

waynecrider said:
I’m wondering if the yellow(?) is a coating or yellowing.

When you say 'yellow' are you referring to the color of the reflections in the lens or the color the lens takes on when you look through it?

Kodachromeguy · Nov 27, 2023

Paul Howell said:
Super Takumars are multi coated, some consider the Taks to have some of the coatings of the day, I think Fuji ECB might be a tad better.

No, 55mm Super Takumars are single coated. A few from the transition period around 1971 may have been multi-coated, although the ID ring still showed Super Takumar.

The initial multi coated lenses showed Super-Multi-Coated Takumar. The later ones (1973+ ?) were labeled SMC Takumar. These later models had rubber focus rings.

The yellow may be the coating or it may be caused by one of the elements that contained thorium salts. There are many threads on this topic.

waynecrider · Nov 28, 2023

After going out in the sun I see multiple colored reflections in the lens. Unfortunately the lens needs a cla as well as the blades retract slooowly. I was going to just buy another lens, but after checking speeds on the Spot F body the shutter started capping. Now I’m figuring what’s the point? I really like the Spot F but I think I’ll use my FTB QL with a Canon F1.8 which is a very good lens, and at least the lens is light. (body ain’t)
Let’s see; I think that makes 7 bad bodies and a lot of crap lenses.

Pentax 55mm Super Tak

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