Super Takumar 150mm and 120mm

[pauldc]

Anyone out there have either of these two relatively unusual M42 lenses? I would be really interested to know what they are like, what their qualities are and whether they provide significantly different alternatives to the more common 105mm, 135mm and 200mm Super Takumars which I have.

Any experience, as always, would be fascinating.

 

[tony lockerbie]

Hi Paul, I have the 150mm super takumar and also the 135mm and 200mm. When I am walking about I usually carry the 150 instead of the 135 and 200. The reason being that it's so compact compared to the 200 and along with the other m42's the quality is top notch. The only problem may be the slow maximum aperture. If I am taking portraits I use the 85mm 1.9 for shallow dof.
Cheers, Tony

 

[Mick Fagan]

I'll second Tony on the 150 being nice and small. I used to carry the body in one pocket and the 150 in the other pocket of my jacket.

I lusted after a 50 1.4 super takumar, but could never afford it back then. I had visions of hand held night shots and pushed film, if only I knew then what I know now!

I might add I was travelling around on pushbikes in those days, so weight and bulk were a premium.

One other thing, the filter sizes. If I remember correctly all of the filter sizes I had were 49mm for my 35, 55 and 150, this could be another consideration as to which version you get.

Mick.

 

[Paul Howell]

I also have the 150 which I find to be very useful, more so than the 135. The 120 is rare, I have not seen one in many years. What I could never understand is why Pentax never made a 180.

 

[pauldc]

Thanks for the advice - I must get the 150mm!

best wishes

 

[David Brown]

Thanks for the advice - I must get the 150mm!

Almost too late! I have the 150mm. I bought it after having a non-Takumar 135 for years. Then I got the Tak 105, and decided another 135 would be too close. I like the 150, FWIW.

 

[stark raving]

The 120 came out pretty late in during the screw mount period and is a uncommon, collectible lens. I've never used one, so can't tell you anything about it, but did Asahi ever make a bad lens?

The 150's are pretty common, I see them on eBay a lot. The 150 is light, compact, slow, and sharp. For me it fills the gap between my Vivitar 90 and my 300 perfectly in my M42 kit. When space was at a premium, I've taken whole trips with a 35 and the 150 as my only 2 lenses.