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Test of 8 M42 35mm lenses
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 2:54 pm    Post subject: Test of 8 M42 35mm lenses Reply with quote

I'm preparing test of some M42 lenses, I've just finished taking samples and I'm quite surprised:

e.g. Super Takumar 35/2 (PRO version), which seemed to be better than SMC Takumar 35/2 under overcast sky, is way worse under direct sunlight (wide opened).

AF Sigma SA 17-70 (reference) seems to be very good compared to M42 lenses, but it's not very fast (f/4 at 35mm).

whole list:

  • Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
  • Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
  • Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
  • Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
  • Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8
  • Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
  • Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
  • Sigma SA 17-70 macro ("35/4")

I tested sharpness and CA, not bokeh (these 35mm lenses are not ideal for macro with the exception of Flektogon, so maybe next time)

I'll upload first set of shots in a few minutes (auto converted RAWs, colors are so and so, but never mind for this test) Smile


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

results at f/5.6:



key:
http://www.abload.de/img/keyw1j.png

zipped crops (better for slide-show):
http://photoweb.xf.cz/lenses/f5.6.zip

my conclusion:

peripheral sharpness at f/5.6:

1. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
2. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
3. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
---
4. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
5. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
6. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
---
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8


central sharpness at f/5.6:

1. - 4. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
1. - 4. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
1. - 4. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
1. - 4. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
---
5. - 7. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
5. - 7. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
5. - 7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8


CA at f/5.6

1. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
2. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
3. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
---
4. - 5. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
4. - 5. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
6. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
---
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

excellent test!


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks so much for all that work - it's a very useful guide


patrickh


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

First of all...FUN to see these tests. Yeah, they may not be "precision" tests, but it's fun to see real-world subjective tests.

Looks like the Flek is the winner to me.... Very Happy


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Results at f/2.8

This is kind of stress test. Under direct sun-light all of these lenses performs much worse than under scattered light. Esp. Super Takumar 35/2 (PRO), Flektogon 35/2.4 and SMC Takumar 35/3.5. These lenses are usable wide-opened in many other situations. Under less stressing light conditions Super Takumar 35/2 PRO is comparable or slightly better than SMC 35/2 and Zeiss Flektogon is even better than both of them.

Cosinon is suprisingly good at the center.



zip package:

http://photoweb.xf.cz/lenses/f2.8.zip

my conclusion:


peripheral sharpness at f/2.8:

1. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5 (f/3.5!)
---
2. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
3. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
4. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
---
5. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
6. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2


central sharpness at f/2.8:

1. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
---
2. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5 (f/3.5!)
3. Cosina Cosinon 35/2
4. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
---
5. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
6. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
7. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8


CA at f/2.8:

1. - 2. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
1. - 2. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5 (f/3.5!)
---
3. - 5. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
3. - 5. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
3. - 5. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
---
6. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8

//fixed link


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for your hard work doing this, I tried it once. Wink The only lenses I have to compare with your test are the MC Flek and a Super-Tak 3.5/35. I'd have liked to see a MIR-24M in the mix, but I think the Flek is slightly better.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Results at f/11

Many Takumars (not only 35mm) are best at f/5.6-f/8. Results from Flektogon are almost identical from f/5.0 to f/11. But 35mm lenses from Schneider Kreuznach are best at f/9-f11, esp. their border sharpness.



zip package:

http://photoweb.xf.cz/lenses/f11.zip

my conclusion:


peripheral sharpness at f/11:

1. - 3. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
1. - 3. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
1. - 3. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
4. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
5. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
---
6. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
---
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8


central sharpness at f/11:

1. - 5. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
1. - 5. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
1. - 5. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
1. - 5. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
1. - 5. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
---
6. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8


CA at f/11:

1. - 2. Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8
1. - 2. Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8
3. - 5. Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4
3. - 5. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/3.5
3. - 5. Asahi Super Takumar 35/2 PRO version
---
6. Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35/2
---
7. Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is one bonus:

50 years old Auto Takumar 35/2.3. I sold this lens some time ago, and it was a mistake. It was very poor wide-opened, but it's central resolution and ZERO CA was just stunning. Here is one old shot at f/7.1:



and pictures of all lenses:

Asahi Auto Takumar 35/2.3




Asahi Super Takumar 35/2.0 PRO




Asahi SMC Takumar 35/2.0




Asahi SMC Takumar 35/3.5




Carl Zeiss Jena eMC Flektogon 35/2.4




Cosina Cosinon 35/2.8

(this one picture was not taken by me:)



Schneider-Kreuznach Curtagon 35/2.8




Schneider-Kreuznach Baby-C (C-Curtagon) 35/2.8



PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent test! Thanks.

BTW, isn't it impressive how well the Sigma 17-70 performs?


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was impressed too. It's CA is very significant at 17mm, but very low at 35mm. The only problem is f/4 at 35mm. Flektogon and some of the Takumars would be very similar at f/4...


PostPosted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is a lot of work! Many thanks for sharing!


PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 11:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here are Vivitar 35/1.9 results. I unfortunately used f/8 instead of f5.6, but it doesn't change anything - Vivitar is best at f/7.1 and both f/5.6 and f/8 are sligtly worse, so results would be almost identical.


f/2.8



old results for comparision: http://img1.abload.de/img/028_test_m426wg.png


f/8



old results for comparision: http://img1.abload.de/img/056_test_m42bux.png


f/11



old results for comparision: http://img2.abload.de/img/110_test_m42ni5.png


PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

[quote="no-X"]Results at f/11

Many Takumars (not only 35mm) are best at f/5.6-f/8. Results from Flektogon are almost identical from f/5.0 to f/11. But 35mm lenses from Schneider Kreuznach are best at f/9-f11, esp. their border sharpness.
[/quote]

no-X

Excelent job. Thanks you

About Schneider lens, don't forget that it's a lens from 1970/71 (N°10.xxx.xxx). I beleave that in theis moment the photographs used 35 mm and 50 mm lens - both - and the 35 mm especially for great DOF, may be this circumstance did that Schneiders designers choosed F/11 or lower as better diaphragms. Perhaps the coated of this era wasn't so good.

Rino.


PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

@no-X Thanks for a great piece of work. I'm sure it's of great help to the community.


PostPosted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Very interesting! Thank you for the thorough work and sharing it with the rest of us.


PostPosted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 4:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I owned three 35mm lenses in m42 mount, and I sold them all, because none was better than 18-55 kit lens.
1) a cosmetically good mamiya sekor sx 35 /2.8, whose rear I had to grind to sit on the m42-eos adaptor. Bad performer, even stopped down.
2) a minty super-tak 35/3.5. Nearly as bad as the mamiya, worse than kit lens even stopped down.
3) a battered mir 37/2.8. Terrible wide open, and very bad closed down.

Since I have read favourable reviews on the three lenses mentioned, I assume they were all lemons. But be cautious. Copy variation is not a problem only of soviet lenses.
I got rid of them, along with a pentacon 30/3.5 that was much better, with nice saturated colors from wide open. I just sold it because I did not find it special at the time, but it is one fine lens.