View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
ccrosa00
Joined: 25 Mar 2014 Posts: 2 Location: Estados Unidos
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:27 pm Post subject: Possible prototype of 8 element Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens |
|
|
ccrosa00 wrote:
I just purchased this on Ebay from a seller in Japan. I was struck by the configuration of the depth of field index; I've never seen an R on the red line before on a 50mm 1.4 lens. I was also struck by the low serial number (1063080). I could not resist. I got into a bidding war and won it for $283--maybe the other bidder also saw a historical importance in this lens. I've received it a few days ago. What I first noticed was the silky smooth focus ring; having gotten used to the siffer rings of my other Taks, I first thought it was broken. It looks and works fine. I just have to retrain my fingers to focus properly and I getting better results with practice.
My question is has anyone else seen a Tak 50mm 1.4 with the above features (the "R", the low serial no. and the easy/smooth focus ring)? I know the index configuration exists on other Tak lens. I am thinking that since the lens was located in Japan that maybe it is a prototype or limited 1st run for the Japanese market with the configuration difference made to distinguish it from those made in the main production run or runs. But this is pure speculation on my part.
The pictures were taken with a 7 element 50mm 1.4 tak. I tried to compare images head to head, and the 7 element was definitely sharper, but the gap is closing as I get better focusing the 8 element lens. There is no yellowing of the lens elements. I own a "standard" 8 element 50mm 1.4 so I did a weight comparison. All three are Super Takumars, pre mulit coating inscriptions. The 7 element came in at 137 grams; my other 8 element came in at 142g and the subject lens came in at 141g. The 1 gram diff may be significant, I will need to purchase a second scale to compare results again but I think my scale is accurate.
Regards to everyone, hoping to receive some feedback on this, my first post. I will post pics from the 8 element when I have a chance and the weather cooperates.
_________________ Hooked on Taks
Last edited by ccrosa00 on Tue Mar 25, 2014 6:34 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
elliott
Joined: 16 May 2011 Posts: 180
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Possible prototype of 8 element Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens |
|
|
elliott wrote:
Since images don't appear for your first post on the forum as an anti-spam protection, here they are.
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
David
Joined: 13 Apr 2011 Posts: 1869 Location: Denver, Colorado
Expire: 2013-01-25
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
David wrote:
It would not be the only lens Pentax ever made that had a small run of an initial design followed by a change. The 15mm 3.5 in original K mount had a small (maybe as few as 100) run with an aspherical element before Pentax realized that it was too expensive to keep making. So they changed it and there is a slight marking difference on the two that indicates the change. This could be something similar. _________________ http://www.youtube.com/user/hancockDavidM |
|
Back to top |
|
|
themoleman342
Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 2190 Location: East Coast (CT), U.S.A.
Expire: 2013-01-24
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 8:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
themoleman342 wrote:
Prototype is a lofty assumption, imho. I see no reason to believe it's anything other than a very minor cosmetic change. Yours may be certainly be one of the first 8-element 1.4/50s but personally I wouldn't describe it as limited. It's an R vs. no R marking. They also had a font change on the nameplate during the production but those aren't really considered different lenses or from different batches.
I think the year it was produced, '64, began with the serial 766000 so there's definitely the potential for earlier ones. Are prototypes even serialed by Pentax? Perhaps someone else knows? A smoother focus could mean that the old lube has held up well (not strange at all for a Takumar!) or that it was re-lubed at some point. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:30 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lightshow wrote:
I don't see much difference other than the R. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kuuan
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 4573 Location: right now: Austria
Expire: 2014-12-26
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
kuuan wrote:
congrats on the rare find!
It certainly is the only 8 element Tak I see that has the 'R' printed, and it also looks in great condition! I believe that the earlier Preset and Auto Takumars did not have any infrared markings at all. My guess is that this lens is one of the very first batch of the 8 element Takumar and that soon the markings changed to a red line only.
once I showed a copy here that has most characteristics of the 8 element but actually turned out to be a 7 element, seems to be a transitional piece: http://forum.mflenses.com/hybrid-3rd-version-of-super-takumar-f1-4-50mm-t55617.html _________________ my photos on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections |
|
Back to top |
|
|
ccrosa00
Joined: 25 Mar 2014 Posts: 2 Location: Estados Unidos
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 3:09 am Post subject: Possible prototype of 8 element Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens |
|
|
ccrosa00 wrote:
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I agree thinking this a prototype was too much wishful thinking. However, adding the R impacted the configuration of the Depth of Field Index. To make it look balanced the white lines are twice as long as those on other 8 element lens and correspondingly the numbers are half as tall. Maybe this added to the cost of production as it probably required greater precision to paint the smaller numbers--who knows? But as a novice collector of Takumar lens I am happy to know that this is probably a very early and small run of this lens with this cosmetic modification. _________________ Hooked on Taks |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kuuan
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 4573 Location: right now: Austria
Expire: 2014-12-26
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
kuuan wrote:
good observation. I guess they made it like this to accommodate the 'R' marking at a 'different level' than the f stop markings on the depth of field index and the theory that soon they figured to better leave the 'R' out to make space for bigger f stop markings makes much sense.
whichever way, it is the only 8 element known to have this cosmetic appearance, certainly you are rightfully excited to have it!
Most of all go out in shoot with it! My 'transitional piece' is an outstanding performer, though quite sure optically 'only' a 7 element it trumped my 7 element in a test I performed, arguably even the 8 element. I bet that your's is excellent, IQ control in the first batch might even have been tighter than for later copies _________________ my photos on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections |
|
Back to top |
|
|
anktonio
Joined: 20 Oct 2012 Posts: 219 Location: Spain
Expire: 2017-02-22
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Possible prototype of 8 element Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens |
|
|
anktonio wrote:
ccrosa00 wrote: |
The 7 element came in at 137 grams; my other 8 element came in at 142g and the subject lens came in at 141g. |
... sure?
The weight can be the ultimate test for all 8 elements Tak, if I'm not mistaken, I think they are exactly 245 grams.
Happy shots! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Oldhand
Joined: 01 Apr 2013 Posts: 6009 Location: Mid North Coast NSW - Australia
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:14 am Post subject: Re: Possible prototype of 8 element Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens |
|
|
Oldhand wrote:
anktonio wrote: |
ccrosa00 wrote: |
The 7 element came in at 137 grams; my other 8 element came in at 142g and the subject lens came in at 141g. |
... sure?
The weight can be the ultimate test for all 8 elements Tak, if I'm not mistaken, I think they are exactly 245 grams.
Happy shots! |
Yep.
OH |
|
Back to top |
|
|
kuuan
Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 4573 Location: right now: Austria
Expire: 2014-12-26
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Possible prototype of 8 element Takumar 50mm F1.4 lens |
|
|
kuuan wrote:
ccrosa00 wrote: |
...I will need to purchase a second scale to compare results... |
as others just pointed out, this will be a good idea
actually should get an accurate scale myself to check out my copies _________________ my photos on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kuuan/collections |
|
Back to top |
|
|
nurkov
Joined: 21 Feb 2013 Posts: 711 Location: United Kingdom
Expire: 2014-03-09
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 10:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
nurkov wrote:
R is for infrared phototography
Quote: |
When taking infra-red photographs, the focal point shifts slightly, and therefore, the lens must be extended accordingly. The difference varies depending on the lens, and it is indicated by the small "R" index or short orange line. In infra-red photography, use this infra-red index. First, focus your lens on your subject. Determine the lens-to-subject distance from the distance scale. Then match your "R" mark by turning the distance scale accordingly. Like the photo at left, if your subject is in focus at infinity, turn the distance ring and move infinity mark to the "R" index. Also, remember to use an R2 (red) or O2 (orange) filter and special infra-red film in this special photography. |
_________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/34787419@N08/
Minolta and Canon user |
|
Back to top |
|
|
FotoPete
Joined: 20 Nov 2012 Posts: 126
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
FotoPete wrote:
congrats on the buy, gorgeous copy for the age judging from the pics! I have one of the later 8-element variants but haven't really thoroughly ascertained the difference in optics to the 7-element version. _________________ My Gear and Other Ramblings :: http://filmlensaddict.blogspot.ca/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lightshow wrote:
nurkov wrote: |
R is for infrared phototography
Quote: |
When taking infra-red photographs, the focal point shifts slightly, and therefore, the lens must be extended accordingly. The difference varies depending on the lens, and it is indicated by the small "R" index or short orange line. In infra-red photography, use this infra-red index. First, focus your lens on your subject. Determine the lens-to-subject distance from the distance scale. Then match your "R" mark by turning the distance scale accordingly. Like the photo at left, if your subject is in focus at infinity, turn the distance ring and move infinity mark to the "R" index. Also, remember to use an R2 (red) or O2 (orange) filter and special infra-red film in this special photography. |
|
Thanks for the contribution, but the question isn't what the 'R' is for, but why this lens is the only known copy to have an 'R' for the IR mark vs just a line like every other Super Takumar lens.... It's an odd one for sure. _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Lightshow
Joined: 04 Nov 2011 Posts: 3669 Location: Calgary
|
Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Lightshow wrote:
FotoPete wrote: |
congrats on the buy, gorgeous copy for the age judging from the pics! I have one of the later 8-element variants but haven't really thoroughly ascertained the difference in optics to the 7-element version. |
The big difference is the change from 3 elements in the one group(the lens is 8/6 element/group) to 2 elements in that same group(now7/6 element/group).
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Super-Takumar-50mm-F1.4-Early.html
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-S-M-C-Super-Takumar-50mm-F1.4.html
Does that answer your question? _________________ A Manual Focus Junky...
One photographers junk lens is an artists favorite tool.
My lens list
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lightshow-photography/ |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|