Asahi 58mm f/2.4 Takumar (Heliar type)

[Spotmatic]

I've shown a few examples with this lens before. This lens is seldom seen because it was sold with the Asahiflex (in M37 mount) and the first Pentaxes (in M42 mount). I'm lucky to have both versions.

What makes this lens interesting and unique is that it is still the only 35mm SLR standard lens that was designed around the Heliar type (five elements in three groups). All other lenses, from all makers, were mostly designed around the Gaussian design. Also, the 58mm f/2.4 Takumar is the fastest Heliar type of any format (as per Frank Mechelhoff's great site). It may not be the sharpest standard lens I own, but this lens will always be very special to me because of its unique design.

By the way, the last photo is a great testament to the designers of the Pentax K10D. That one was made handheld at 1/6s!

1.


2.


3.


4.


5.


6.


7.


8. Handheld at 1/6s!

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"Old Takumars never die; they just fade away"

Pentax K-7 + Pentax 645 + Bessa RF 10,5cm Heliar, Bessa II Apo-Lanthar and a 'little' bag full of MF lenses. The lens list is * here *.
My fast 80s: Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 83mm f/1.9 - Super-Takumar 85mm f/1.9 - S-M-C Takumar 85mm f/1.8 - FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited - Cyclop 85/1.5 (Helios-40 innards) - Komura 80mm f/1.8 - Komura 85mm f/1.4 - Accura Supertel Tc 1:1.9 f=85mm - Jupiter-9 2/85 - Meyer Görlitz Primoplan 7,5cm 1:1.9 - Carl Zeiss Jena 75mm f/1.5 Biotar - Carl Zeiss Jena 80mm f/1.8 Pancolar - Canon 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. - Canon 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical - Enna München Ennalyt 85mm f/1.5 - Olympus Zuiko Auto-T MC 85mm f/2

[trifox]

spotmatic --- wow!!

love them ...

the first one is EXCEPTIONAL ..

tf
_________________
Stan

Flickr.com
CAMERA, LENS, SHUTTER REPAIRS and LENS MOUNT CONVERSION - info@cameraserviceone.com, www.cameraserviceone.com

[horvlas]

The 4th one really pops out!

[no-X]

#1 and #2 are exceptional

Is the register distance of M37 similar to M42?
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(almost) complete list of Helios lenses

[patrickh]

Excellent set to demonstrate this unusual lens. Quite a testament. I must admit to being very impressed with the 3 taks I have acquired so far (I have a 105/2.8 on its way). Thanks, as always the presentation is very professional.


patrickh
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DSLR: Nikon D70 Nikon D200 Canon 40D
MF Zooms: Kiron 28-85/3.5, 28-105/3.2, 75-150/3.5, Nikkor 50-135/3.5 AIS // MF Primes: Nikkor 20/4 AI, 24/2 AI, 28/2 AI, 28/2.8 AIS, 28/3.5 AI, 35/1.4 AIS, 35/2 AIS, 35/2.8 PC, 45/2.8 P, 50/1.4 AIS, 50/1.8 AIS, 50/2 AI, 55/2.8 AIS micro, 55/3.5 AI micro, 85/2 AI, 100/2,8 E, 105/1,8 AIS, 105/2,5 AIS, 135/2 AIS, 135/2.8 AIS, 200/4 AI, 200/4 AIS micro, 300/4.5 AI, 300/4.5 AI ED, Arsat 50/1.4, Kiron 28/2, Vivitar 28/2.5, Panagor 135/2.8, Tamron 28/2.5, Tamron 90/2.5 macro, Vivitar 90/2.5 macro (Tokina) Voigtlander 90/3.5 Vivitar 105/2.5 macro (Kiron) Kaleinar 100/2.8 AI Tamron 135/2.5, Vivitar 135/2.8CF, 200/3.5, Tokina 400/5,6
M42: Vivitar 28/2.5, Tamron 28/2.5, Formula5 28/2.8, Mamiya 28/2.8, Pentacon 29/2.8, Flektogon 35/2.4, Flektogon 35/2.8, Takumar 35/3.5, Curtagon 35/4, Takumar 50/1.4, Volna-6 50/2.8 macro, Mamiya 50/1.4, CZJ Pancolar 50/1,8, Oreston 50/1.8, Industar 50/3.5, Sears 55/1.4, Helios 58/2, Jupiter 85/2, Helios 85/1.5, Takumar 105/2.8, Steinheil macro 105/4.5, Tamron 135/2.5, Jupiter 135/4, CZ 135/4, Steinheil Culminar 135/4,5, Jupiter 135/3.5, Takumar 135/3.5, Tair 135/2.8, Pentacon 135/2.8, CZ 135/2.8, Takumar 150/4, Jupiter 200/4, Takumar 200/4
Exakta: Topcon 100/2.8(M42), 35/2.8, 135/2.8
C/Y: Yashica 28/2.8, 50/1.7, 135/2.8, Zeiss Planar 50/1.4, Distagon 25/2.8
P6 : Mir 38 65/3.5, Biometar 80/2.8, Kaleinar 150/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8
Enlarg: Rodagon 50/5,6, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, Vario 44-52/4, 150/5.6 El Nikkor 50/2,8,63/2.8,75/4, 80/5,6, 105/5.6, 135/5.6 Schneider 80/5.6, 80/4S, 100/5.6S,105/5.6,135/5.6, 150/5.6S

[Spotmatic]

Thanks everyone!

[no-X]

Thank you
_________________
(almost) complete list of Helios lenses

[cilinderman]

Man, I won't get tired to say it ... You are a great photographer with a great sense!
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5D & Fujica ST801|| Carl Zeiss Planar MM 50/1.7 (departed for resurrection) || Carl Zeiss Distagon 28/2.8 AEJ || Meyer Orestor "Pentacon" (relabeled) 135/2.8 || Carl Zeiss Jena 135/3.5 || Carl Zeiss Sonnar MM 85/2.8 || Carl Zeiss Flektogon MC "White" 35/2.4 || Olympus Zuiko OM MC 21/3.5 || Super Takumar 55/1.8 || Rollei Planar HFT 50/1.8 || "The three tenors" from Orio (Nikkor pre-AI 85/1.8, 135/3.5 & 105/2.5)

[Attila]

#7 to me , awesome as always!
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Panasonic G-1
Konica 4/21,2.8/24,2/35,1.8/40,1.7/50,1.8/85,2.8/100,3.2/135,3,5/200,4.5/300,4,5/400
Konica FC-1,FT-1,FP,FM,Pearl,Pear III,Koni-Omega
Please visit my Ebay shop
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[Gurdie]

In my eyes, # 1 is absolutely great. Exposure, composition, the blending of sharp and soft, muted colors... everything. The special lens apparently inspires you. Hope you have more this kind to come.
_________________
Markku


Digital: Nikon D700, Canon PowerShot A70
Film: Nikon F2, FE, Nikkormat FTn, Zorki-C, Cosina CX-1, Yashica Electro 35 GSN
Medium Format: Agfa Isolette
Lenses: Nikkors 20/3.5 AI, 24/2.8 AI-S, 28/2 AI, 25-50/4 AI, 35/1.4 AI-S, 50/1.4 AI´d, 50/2 AI, 50-135/3.5 AI-S, 55/3.5 Micro AI´d, Nikon E 75-150/3.5, 85/1.8 AI´d, 105/2.5 AI´d, 105/4 Micro AI-S, 135/2.8 AI-S, 180/2.8 ED AI-S, TC-201
AF 50/1.8D, AF-S 24-85/3.5-4.5, AF 28-85/3.5-4.5, AF-S 70-300/4.5-5.6 VR
Third Party F-mount: Tokina SD 70-210/4-5 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              70-210/4-5      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.6
Russian: MC Zenitar-N 16/2.8, MIR-24N 35/2, MC Kaleinar-5N 100/2.8
M42: Auto Revuenon 55/1.4, Fujinon EBC 55/1.8, CZJ Sonnar 135/3.5
T-mount: Itohkogaku Higon 135/3.5, Soligor 180/3.5
-----------------------------------------

[Orio]

Nice pictures, I like #1 very much for the pose with the finger on the glass, and #6 for how you separated the planes with the DOF.

I also like much your framing style.

P.S. If I remember correctly, the Heliar should be based on the Tessar scheme plus the addition of a glass to the front group. Is that correct?
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Ave atque vale
Orio

[Spotmatic]

Thanks for the kind words!

Orio: you are correct. If I may add the pictures from Frank Mechelhoff's site (http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_e.html):

The optical diagram of the 50mm f/3.5 Asahi-Kogaku Takumar (Tessar type):


The optical diagram of the 58mm f/2.4 Takumar:

_________________
"Old Takumars never die; they just fade away"

Pentax K-7 + Pentax 645 + Bessa RF 10,5cm Heliar, Bessa II Apo-Lanthar and a 'little' bag full of MF lenses. The lens list is * here *.
My fast 80s: Asahi-Kogaku Takumar 83mm f/1.9 - Super-Takumar 85mm f/1.9 - S-M-C Takumar 85mm f/1.8 - FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited - Cyclop 85/1.5 (Helios-40 innards) - Komura 80mm f/1.8 - Komura 85mm f/1.4 - Accura Supertel Tc 1:1.9 f=85mm - Jupiter-9 2/85 - Meyer Görlitz Primoplan 7,5cm 1:1.9 - Carl Zeiss Jena 75mm f/1.5 Biotar - Carl Zeiss Jena 80mm f/1.8 Pancolar - Canon 85mm f/1.8 S.S.C. - Canon 85mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical - Enna München Ennalyt 85mm f/1.5 - Olympus Zuiko Auto-T MC 85mm f/2

[walter23]

After I saw this thread I knew I had to find one. The heliar in large format is a classic and much sought after lens, and playing with one of a similar formula on my DSLR was too much temptation to resist.

Anyway, after some searching and reading it began to sink in that this is a pretty rare lens and that finding one might be very difficult... and just when I'd given up hope I actually found one in a used store, for less than $100! Alas it is in the pesky M37 mount but there's an adapter on the way, I guess, and at worst I can rig something up with gaffers tape

This has got to be the only time I've ever sought out something rare and collectible and actually found it at a reasonable price! I don't collect for collection's sake, I collect to shoot, so damnit I deserve it

[walter23]

BTW, where can I see more images from your lens? Thanks

[Siswono]

wooo ... wunderbar !!!
very nice shot