Asahi-Kogaku 135mm f/3.5 Tele-Takumar

Spotmatic · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 4045 Location: Netherlands

This lens is an oldie but goldie. It came with one of my Asahiflex sets. The lens dates around 1955 or so and was Asahi Optical Co.'s first 135mm SLR lens. Its build quality is awesome; it is made from heavily chromed brass with shiny surfaces. I don't dare to grab it with my fat, filthy fingers Smile

In use it is clear that it's quite an old design as the whole lens barrel rotates while focusing. This lens uses a non-standard 37mm thread (with the same registration distance as M42 lenses). To fit it on my K10D, I used a M37 to M42 adapter and a M42 to K adapter (both genuine Pentax).

The lens itself:

Below you'll find some photos I have made with it. I wanted to try it in harsh conditions, i.e. with strong backlighting and these photos are also part of my ongoing project "Light and Dark". As many of us know, digital SLR's do not have the same dynamic range as 35mm negative film. With my project I try to live with it without having to resort to HDR.

Hope you like the results!

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poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

beautiful lens and superb result!

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

Wow !

Nice results and in mint condition too.

The genuine Pentax 37-42 is the absolute cherry on the sundae, those things must be beyond rare.

Too lovely to use, If I had it.