My Takumar collection ( from 15 to 1000mm )

CarbonR · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 11:48 am Post subject:

Received today in just 5 business days Shocked

The small toy is the 400/5.6, front dusts are 50/1.4 and 18/11 Twisted Evil

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Congratultions! (I have S-M-C 500/4.5 too)

Lots of folks complain of CA; I don't see too much. I think maybe those are non S-M-C version.

On mine infinity focus is exactly at helicoid stop; yours? I read someplace (before I was keeping good bookmarks Sad

) each and every one of the 500/4.5 were factory calibrated.

Monster 3.5Kg lens!

CarbonR · Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 6:44 pm Post subject:

I did only 3 tests shots handheld, but weather was cloudy, I'll better test it later. I didn't test infinity, but the Screwmount Guide says that the lens can be focused beyond infinity to compensate expanding and shrinking caused by temperature Wink

CarbonR · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:21 am Post subject:

Tamron 500/8 vs. Takumar 500/4.5 :

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

I wanted to show only a few rare ones, since I guess, some may have never seen those in their life.
I started collecting (and using them) when I started working on bee / insect vision and their ability
to see ultraviolet (UV) light, needing special non-glass lenses to allow for that.

This is the fully color corrected Ultra Achromatic Takumar 4.5/85mm (for UV, VIS, IR!!) supplied with
special UV + IR filter set (about 20 know to exist):

and here an even more rare prototype version w/o full lettering (about 3 known to exist):

and this is its predecessor the Quartz-Takumar (uncorrected), also with special filter set (maybe 5 lenses known to exist, of those 2 sets, 1 full)

That is the 300mm Ultra Achromatic Takumar, even rarer (about 5 known to exist)

Here now a very special one, known to be made for the Swedish Police, the 5/135mm Quartz Takumar (only one known to exist):

The text on the box (now looking much better after some intensive loving oil care) reads:

Japanese
--------
Shigaisen-yoh-Suisyo-Renzu
Asahi-Kogaku-Kogyo-Kabushiki-Gaisya
Syowa 37 Nen 10 Gatsu Sei

English
-------
Crystal Lens for Ultraviolet Rays
Asahi Optical Industry Company
Manufactured in October, 1962

(Thanks to my friend Michio Akiyama from REDBOOK for translating it)

Unfortunately these highly specialized lenses are no longer made.

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

Thanks for sharing, Klaus! Asahi really made some interesting stuff back then.

Here's my wartime Asahi Optical Co. trench periscope. Not a lens in the true sense of the word, but definitely interesting too. I have yet to come across another wartime AOCo item.

CarbonR · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 4:47 pm Post subject:

I already saw your pics of the 135/5 on an other topic. It is rather hard to believe that even if shown in sales books, these lenses can be counted with the hand Shocked

CarbonR · Posted: Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:10 am Post subject:

Now I got the zebra Auto Takumar 55/1.8 Very Happy

Far from mint condition, as the front ring is missing, but I'll be able to wait for an other copy Smile

Mal1905 · Expire: 2011-11-18

Congratulations - it's one of the best-looking Takumars in my opinion, and the fact that it's the only zebra Takumar ever makes it even more special Wink

CarbonR · Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 4:00 pm Post subject:

Got today : an other Asahi Kogaku Takumar 58/2.4, but complete, withe caps and case Very Happy

but I missed the cased hood that the seller listed too Confused

CarbonR · Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:20 pm Post subject:

And a second Zebra Takumar !

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:14 am Post subject:

Got this : 280448320369 Asahi Kogaku Tele Takumar 135/3.5
Too expensive for a 135/3.5 I already have (the Takumar preset has the same optical formula) ? I noticed this : see the rear cap : it's an M42 cap. See the rear part of the lens : it looks like to be an original M37/M42 Pentax adapter, which is likely to value almost the bid itself, not including the lens
Very Happy

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

Yup, that's the original adapter. Congratulations! Sadly I lost my one in Hong Kong when it was copied; the machine shop made a mistake and they now refuse to return the original adapter Crying or Very sad

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 8:52 am Post subject:

Odd story, it was hk300 or a stranger factory ?

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

Of course this went through Alex, but the machine shop made the mistake...

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:05 am Post subject:

I do not charge Alex of course, but if it was a totally stranger factory, they might say that just to keep the adapter Evil or Very Mad

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:29 pm Post subject:

Now I have the Zebra in my hands. Indeed, this is a very good-looking piece of mechanics Very Happy

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

Pssstt... I have a Zebra 2/55 Super-Takumar Wink

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 9:43 pm Post subject:

Just polish it to get the zebra Razz

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

I really bought it this way; don't know what the former owner did with it... It's actually very well done.

Bad picture:

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:10 pm Post subject:

It seems indeed well done, but the aperture ring had been forgotten Confused

BTW, between the 5 lenses (Auto Takumar 55/1.8 zebra, Auto Takumar 55/2, Prinz galaxy 135/3.5, Elicar 23/3.5, Hanimex 300/4) I received tonight (I wasnt at home), I have one which achieve an hard-to-do thing : be smallest than the Takumar 135/3.5 : same 46mm filter, but shorter of something like 5-10mm. This is a preset Prinz Galaxy 135/3.5 lens (likely triplet lens), aperture has to be serviced, but it looks like if there are ~18 blades Shocked

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

Post a picture of the Prinz Galaxy; this brand is very common in The Netherlands but I always seem to find the later ones. If all elements are on the front of the barrel then you can be sure it's a triplet indeed.

CarbonR · Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:19 pm Post subject:

I miscounted : there are 7 reflections, so probably a 4/3 lens design (rear lens is approx at 2cm in the mount). I'll take and post pics tomorrow or monday Wink

CarbonR · Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject:

Here are some pics :

CarbonR · Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 5:01 pm Post subject:

Bought today in a shop : SPF + S-M-C 55/1.8, Stak 24/3.5 Very Happy

I'll not keep the lenses (maybe I'll keep the 55 then resell my current copy, as lenses are in near mint condition), but at the moment, I've no more than 85 lenses in my room (including 39 Takumar 24x36 lenses in the collection), and I'll just go to the post office, maybe I'll get my 135/4 6x7 macro Very Happy

I've also received, with a fungused 135/2.5 V2, an AOCO leather case, I'll post a picture, I'm wondering for what lens it is, as it is rather small, maybe for 50/3.5, 58/2.4 or the Takumar 35/4 Very Happy