SMC Takumar 135/2.5 v2 vs Mamiya Sekor SX 135/2.8

[caspert79]

There are some rumors here and there on the internet that the Mamiya SX 135/2.8 is a great lens. After the necessary conversion to make it fit a normal M42 adapter, I decided to test it against the SMC Takumar 135/2.5 v2.

First, the whole picture.


Then, the 100% center crops:


Both lenses are both very sharp in the center, considering these are old lenses and this is a 42+ mp sensor.
Colors/ contrast are better from the Pentax, but probably nothing a little post processing couldn't fix.

Then, another picture to test the corners:


The 100% corner crops:

Both lenses perform pretty well. The Takumar is slightly more contrasty and sharper at wider apertures.

Then, the bokeh:


The Takumar has a 8 bladed aperture, whereas the Mamiya has 6 blades. But the bokeh octagons of the Takumar have sharper edges; the bokeh of the Mamiya is actually a bit softer. Lens test was done without a hood: the Mamiya seems to suffer a bit because of it, at least in some pictures.

Conclusion: the Takumar is the winner for me, but the Mamiya is close. The Mamiya 135/2.8 can be found quite cheap. I had mine in perfect condition from Japan for 56 €, shipping included. To use them on a M42 adapter, one has to do a little conversion (google Mamiya SX conversion).
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[papasito]

Thank you for sharing. Very nice job, as always you do

I can see the Takumar as the sharper and with more contrast.

But I'm sure that the veiling of the Mamiya should go out with a good shade. The images of the center will improve so much.

The Mamiya has warmer rendering and this can reduce the sensation of contrast and sharpness,

By the way, in the corner pics the Takumar presents more CA.

Mamiya's bokeh is softly, I like it more.

With white control, "+1" in the camera control of contrast and a good shade (perhaps useful anyway) using the Mamiya perhaps you don't need PP. But with the Takumar CA you must use PP to show a FF image.

I put my 2 cents for the lighter Mamiya using it at F/3,5 to F/5,6.

[caspert79]

Agree, you’re right about the CA!
And I will definitely do a contrast comparison again once i have a hood for the mamiya!

[Sciolist]

Good test . Thanks for putting it up. I'd agree, I'd like to see how the Mamiya compares with a hood fitted. Obviously a hood would be required on the other lens too.

[caspert79]

[caspert79]

Actually just found out the Mamiya has a built in hood 😳😂😂

[KEO]

[visualopsins]

[Sciolist]

[caspert79]

[Oldhand]

[caspert79]

Ok, I did another test, this time with a third contestant, the Yashinon-R 135mm f/2.8. All lenses with a hood.

First how the picture is rendered by all three lenses (@f/5.6):



Then, the 100% crops, center and corner:



Sharpness and contrast already really good from the Takumar wide open, both in center and in corner.
@f/2.8 in the center, the Takumar shows best contrast, and possibly slightly more sharpness than the Mamiya.
The Takumar deals much better with reflections than the Mamiya. The Yashinon-R is awful.
Corner performance of the Takumar better than the Mamiya, with less chromatic aberrations. It seems that the focus point in the corners is somewhere else between the two lenses, which could explain the difference. The Yashinon-R remains awful at all apertures.

Conclusion: the Takumar is still my favourite. It's not a flawless lens. It can show quite some CA's under certain circumstances. But sharpness, colors and contrast are excellent already at @f/2.5 and the pictures always seem to 'pop'.