Starting to Review Takumar 135/3.5

Laurence · Last edited by Laurence on Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

I'm working on a writeup and review of my Takumar 135 (old style with pre-set ring).

I have scanned a couple of negatives from my first "comparison" shots, so thought I would put them up here for sort of a preview.

They are not the best scans Shocked

, and I'm now thinking I had better push the scanner to its maximum resolution, then go ahead and back it down to about 5-6MP for the full crop.

That said, these are showing the difference in depth of field between wide open f:3.5, and f:8.

I'll stop down to f:22 when I set things up for a writeup and images for Attila's MF review pages.

Luckily, I have this fine waterfall and forest area near the house, so I'll be able to get some nicer shots to go with the review (I think...).

I should have a comprehensive set of images and review text next week. In it, I will get some "closest focus" shots as well, to try to represent the corner-to-corner sharpness on a subjective basis.

One thing I do like about this lens is that it is compact and light...and I think it has beautiful black and chrome styling. My jury is out on overall quality until I get all my negatives developed.

Does anyone else have experience with this older Takumar lens?

Attila · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 16006 Location: Budapest,Hungary

To make a good scan not easy, some of them our members like Katastropho and Peterqd solve successfully for reviews best if you can take shoots with DSLR.
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Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my Ebay shop to support my reviews !

Laurence · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:26 pm Post subject:

Attila · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 16006 Location: Budapest,Hungary

I had this one.

http://www.mflenses.com/gallery/v/japenese/takumar/takumar_135mm_f3_5_chrome/
_________________

Olympus E-1,Bessa L,Bessa RF,Olympus OM2n,Nikon FA,Yashica Eletro 35 GN,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carl Zeiss Jena:Flektogon 2.8/20mm,4/25mm,2.4/35,2.8/65mm,4.5/4cm Tessar, 8/500mm Fernobjektiv
Pancolar 1.4/55mm,1.8/50mm,1.8/80mm,Tessar 2.8/50mm,Biotar 2/58mm,1.5/75mm,1.5/7,5cm
Carl Zeiss: Sonnar 2.8/135,2.8/180mm,Tessar 4/135mm
Nikon: 3.5/20mm,2.8/28mm,1.4/35mm,1.4/50mm,1.2/50mm,2/50mm,1.8/105mm,2.5/105mm,4/200mm macro,4.5/300mm
Pentax: Pentax 1.2/50mm,1.8/85mm,4/200mm
Helios: Helios-40 1.5/8,5cm,Helios-44-1 2/58mm,Helios-44-2 2/58mm
Olympus OM: 3.5/18mm,3.5/21mm,1.4/50mm,3.5/55mm macro,2.8/135mm,2/90mm macro,35-70mm,60-250mm
Meyer: 4.5/35mm Primagon,Primoplan 1.9/58mm,1.9/75mm,2.8/100mm,Orestegor 2.8/135mm,4.5/40 Helioplan
Leica: 4/100 Macro Elmar,2.8/90 Elmarit last version
Please visit my Ebay shop to support my reviews !

Laurence · Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject:

Attila · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 16006 Location: Budapest,Hungary

Ballu · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 3:56 am Post subject:

I have this lens (Takumar preset). In terms of sharpness, this is master... I have so many 135mm lenses, but no one can beat in terms of sharpness... but again, I got the lemon of Pentacon 135mm (some cleaned the fungus with sharp knife, seems like) and Jupiter (I have no idea, the lens is best you can think of of, but horrible quality pics.. I think some re-assembled the multiple broken lenses.. as I can smell grease from few feet)...
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-Ballu
http://balyanpage.blogspot.com/

Laurence · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:12 am Post subject:

This certainly shows the divergence of viewpoints! There are certainly a lot of factors, not the least of which is a "lemon" lens that might not relate to that particular lens group in general.

Without yet making a full-rez scan, I cannot tell if this Takumar lens is going to be the sharpest kid on the block. When I had the Leicaflex SL2 with my 2.8/135 Elmarit-R, I was generally quite pleased. That old Leicaflex was my "dream" camera at the time and I used it for several years.

The Elmarit 135 was a supremely built lens, but didn't make me do any backflips for sharpness when enlarged to 8x12 or so, and seemed conducive to flare. On the other hand, I am not expecting superior results from the Takumar. But...the (subjective) proof will be in the viewing.

I've lucked out and will have a dedicated Nikon 35mm scanner! The guys in the local camera club are letting me borrow it for my "testing" comparisons! I'll pick it up in the morning. I'll feel better about the scans, I'm sure.

Avneesh, sounds like you are quite pleased with the older Tak! By the way, I saw your very nice image of Niagara Falls in your link. One thing you might want to consider is to rotate it a couple of degrees clockwise to level it out.

Laurence