Auto-Takumar 2.8/105mm

[Rolf]

Hi

here some shots of today with Auto-Takumar 2.8/105mm.
S/N 320xxx, so built around 1959/1960. Bought this lens in near unused condition few month ago but used it only 1 or 2 times.

All shots with 1DsMkIII and ISO 50 and mainly wide open.

Here the lens



and here some shots







Thanks for viewing and any comments.

[Nesster]

Very nice results. I like the Auto Takumar range, and wouldn't mind having one of these myself. Nicely sharp wide open.

[peterqd]

I don't have this length lens yet so I'm interested to see your pics Rolf. It looks super-sharp and the colours and contrast are very nice. The bokeh could maybe be a little more smooth. On the whole from what I see, I like it very much.

[patrickh]

Fine shots as always Rolf. I like this lens a lot - partly because of focal length, but it is a high quality lens.


patrickh

[Rolf]

Thank you. Yes - 105 mm is really a good focal lenght, I thought this this morning too !

[peterm1]

These photos demonstrate well, the high quality of these lenses. Thanks for posting them.

I have several variants of the Takumar 105mm f2.8 and find them all to be excellent. Included in this are a couple of the early pre-set versions with both 49mm and 46mm filter diameter (all black and black / chrome ) and a later SMC version. I do not have the auto Takumar version of the 105mm though and would like to get one. I also have several other auto Takumars (35mm, 50mm, 135mm) and find them charming to use on the early pre Spotmatic cameras. Several months back auto Takumars were turning up regularly on eBay and I had intended to find one of these in 105mm but never did. Like a fool I assumed they would keep appearing given the popularity of these lenses and the number made back when they were new. But now you seldom see them. Blast I should have done it when I had the chance.

[andyw]

Fantastic images, great lens!!

[CarbonR]

This is also the 4/4 version. Bokeh seems to be quite interesting

[Rolf]

I do not look every day into EBay to find Taks - but this one was the only Auto-Tak 105 mm I found within a long period.

[rbelyell]

hey rolf, great shots as always! ive been thinking lately that there is a real hole in my lens collections from 85mm to 135mm, and that the tak 105 might be a very good, and reasonably priced, selection to fill that gap. from your photos i may just go ahead and get one!
tony

[martinsmith99]

I really like the last but one image. The bokeh from the background works really well.

[visualopsins]

Great lens presentation. Thank you Rolf!

[ManualFocus-G]

Beautiful lens and super shots! Thanks for sharing!

[Spotmatic]

Superb lens in the hands of a superb photographer. What else could we ask for?

I must admit (ashamed) that I don't own either the pre-set or Auto version of this Takumar. I did not buy it last time at the fair because of the 75mm Biotar which ate my budget for that day

[patrickh]

@rbelyell

also take a look at the nikkor 105/2.5 - IMHO possibly the best lens in that range and not really overpriced.


patrickh

look for an AI version

[rbelyell]

hey patrick, thanks for the tip. can i get the nikkor to mount on my canon? i heard they dont play nice together...

[Rolf]

Nikon lens price approx. 200-250 € or 300-375 $ !!!

[rbelyell]

thats a big difference from the tak, which i just saw at less than $100usd!

[estudleon]

Very nice pics (the first, my #1).

The lens is fantastic. But I have a doubt. Which version of the 105 is the best?

The Auto, Super, S M C? 4 or 5 elements? Till I saw at the forums, they have similar rendering and sharpness.

What's your opinion about?

Rino.

[Rolf]

Hi Rino,

thanks for your comment.

I can´t give you an answer. I´m not a "friend" of discussing too much about lenses - whether this one is better or another one etc.

A "poor" picture will be not better due to another lens - on the other side you can manipulate today any picture with a lot of PP to reduce lens problems etc.

regards

[estudleon]

Hi Rolf.

You can be right. It's only an old game that with the PP perhaps does not have sense already.

But I can't avoid to ask miself why not to use only one lens and PP. Perhaps that old game. . . .

My best regards Rolf.

Rino.

[Spotmatic]

Unfortunately I cannot make a soft lens look sharp in PP, other than by stopping down. (The 80mm f/1.8 Komura I have is very soft wide open; it's one of my softest lenses).

[patrickh]

@rbelyell
I mount all my nikkors on my Canon 40D without any problem (and I have a wide range of nikkors). I do know some lenses (which could include a nikkor) give clearance problems for the mirror on the Canon 5 FF camera.


patrickh


There are plenty of samples around the various photog sites showing how good that 105/2.5 is. Also do a search on this forum and you will see quite a few as well

[rbelyell]

i have no doubt its a great lens. i took a cursory look on ebay and the cheapest one i saw was over $300usd, some into the $500s and that might be too rich for my blood right now...but i will keep looking! thanks

[patrickh]

Wow I had no idea they were that expensive now. I bought mine four years ago for a lot less.


patrickh