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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 3247
Location: The Netherlands
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 Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 2:01 pm Post subject: lens test SMC Pentax 45-125mm f/4 |
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caspert79 wrote:
The SMC Pentax 45-125mm f/4 has the same optics as its predecessor, the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 45-125mm f/4 that was introduced in 1975. A pretty old zoom design in an unusual zoom range (which I find quite practical by the way). Despite its age, the lens has a pretty good reputation, at least under the Pentaxians on the Pentax forum. Let's put it to the test. Click on the images to see them in the intended quality.
@45mm:
 test@45mm by devoscasper, on Flickr
@45mm, the lens is already sharp wide open. Even the corners are sharp at full aperture, but they improve a bit more when stopping down. CA's are clearly visible in the periphery, but those are easily corrected in PP.
@80mm:
 test@80mm by devoscasper, on Flickr
PS focus it on the bricks.
Resolution is about perfect centrally at all apertures. Considering this is a 42.6mp image, I think the corner resolution is pretty good already wide open. It becomes about perfect @ f/8. CA's not really an issue at this focal length.
@125mm:
 test@125mm by devoscasper, on Flickr
Very good resolution all over the frame at all apertures.
CA's not really an issue here.
Conclusion: for most trips, I would only need this lens + a wide angle of choice, which is very practical IMO. Resolution is very good at most apertures and focal settings. CA's seem to be an issue only at the wide end, but are easily corrected. Build quality and handling are great, and at 612 grams it's not very heavy either. I hope to share some more images as soon as the weather improves.
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For Sale:
Steinheil Auto D Tele Quinar 135mm f/2.8 (Exa)
ISCO Isconar 100mm f/4 (Exa)
Steinheil Cassarit 50mm f/2.8 M39 (Paxette)
I'm always interested in trading lenses! |
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Ultrapix
Joined: 06 Jan 2012
Posts: 584
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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Ultrapix wrote:
Very interesting, thanks for your effort to stimulate our GAS with your sharing activity 
about this one, I like everything but the one-touch layout, so this time I am on the safe side |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009
Posts: 7602
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
This lens perform much better than my Zoomar 50-125mm f/4.0! 
_________________
The best lens is the one you have with you.
https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/ |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 3247
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 3:48 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
| Ultrapix wrote: |
Very interesting, thanks for your effort to stimulate our GAS with your sharing activity
about this one, I like everything but the one-touch layout, so this time I am on the safe side |
I prefer one-touch myself, but it doesn't stop me from buying two-touch lenses when necessary
| calvin83 wrote: |
| This lens perform much better than my Zoomar 50-125mm f/4.0 |
The Zoomar is an interesting historical milestone though. I hope you didn't pay the usual Ebay price for it though
_________________
For Sale:
Steinheil Auto D Tele Quinar 135mm f/2.8 (Exa)
ISCO Isconar 100mm f/4 (Exa)
Steinheil Cassarit 50mm f/2.8 M39 (Paxette)
I'm always interested in trading lenses! |
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calvin83
Joined: 12 Apr 2009
Posts: 7602
Location: Hong Kong
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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calvin83 wrote:
| caspert79 wrote: |
| calvin83 wrote: |
| This lens perform much better than my Zoomar 50-125mm f/4.0 |
The Zoomar is an interesting historical milestone though. I hope you didn't pay the usual Ebay price for it though |
I paid $250 for a M42 copy with the original 2x converter. I think it is fair price consider as the lens is in excellent condition with the original TC.
_________________
The best lens is the one you have with you.
https://lensfever.com/
https://www.instagram.com/_lens_fever/ |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 3247
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
| calvin83 wrote: |
| caspert79 wrote: |
| calvin83 wrote: |
| This lens perform much better than my Zoomar 50-125mm f/4.0 |
The Zoomar is an interesting historical milestone though. I hope you didn't pay the usual Ebay price for it though |
I paid $250 for a M42 copy with the original 2x converter. I think it is fair price consider as the lens is in excellent condition with the original TC. |
Sound like a good deal!
_________________
For Sale:
Steinheil Auto D Tele Quinar 135mm f/2.8 (Exa)
ISCO Isconar 100mm f/4 (Exa)
Steinheil Cassarit 50mm f/2.8 M39 (Paxette)
I'm always interested in trading lenses! |
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D1N0
Joined: 07 Aug 2012
Posts: 2542
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 7:51 pm Post subject: |
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D1N0 wrote:
I think this lens performs very well, especially when it comes to subject rendering. Sharp and contrasty and great colors.
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pentaxian |
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visualopsins
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
Posts: 11097
Location: California
Expire: 2025-04-11
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| Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2024 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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visualopsins wrote:
| Ultrapix wrote: |
Very interesting, thanks for your effort to stimulate our GAS with your sharing activity
about this one, I like everything but the one-touch layout, so this time I am on the safe side |
In general I feel the same about one-touch, however this lens is the exception!
@caspert79 Thank you for the test! Nice to see my suspicions confirmed. 
_________________
☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮ like attracts like! ☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮☮
Cameras: Sony ILCE-7RM2, Spotmatics II, F, and ESII, Nikon P4
Lenses:
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Takumar 1:4 f=35mm, 1:2 f=58mm (Sonnar), 1:2.4 f=58mm (Heliar), 1:2.2 f=55mm (Gaussian), 1:2.8 f=105mm (Model I), 1:2.8/105 (Model II), 1:5.6/200, Tele-Takumar 1:5.6/200, 1:6.3/300, Macro-Takumar 1:4/50, Auto-Takumar 1:2.3 f=35, 1:1.8 f=55mm, 1:2.2 f=55mm, Super-TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28 (fat), 1:2/35 (Fat), 1:1.4/50 (8-element), Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17, Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/24, 1:3.5/28, 1:2/35, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/85, 1:1.9/85 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:2.5/135 (II), 1:4/150, 1:4/200, 1:4/300, 1:4.5/500, Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50, 1:4/100, Super-Multi-Coated Bellows-TAKUMAR 1:4/100, SMC TAKUMAR 1:1.4/50, 1:1.8/55
M42 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35
Contax Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 28-70mm F3.5-4.5
Pentax K-mount SMC PENTAX-A ZOOM 1:3.5 35~105mm, SMC PENTAX ZOOM 1:4 45~125mm
Nikon Micro-NIKKOR-P-C Auto 1:3.5 f=55mm, NIKKOR-P Auto 105mm f/2.5 Pre-AI (Sonnar), Micro-NIKKOR 105mm 1:4 AI, NIKKOR AI-S 35-135mm f/3,5-4,5
Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B), Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (151B), SP 500mm f/8 (55BB), SP 70-210mm f/3.5 (19AH)
Vivitar 100mm 1:2.8 MC 1:1 Macro Telephoto (Kiron)
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Ultrapix
Joined: 06 Jan 2012
Posts: 584
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2024 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Ultrapix wrote:
| visualopsins wrote: |
| Ultrapix wrote: |
Very interesting, thanks for your effort to stimulate our GAS with your sharing activity
about this one, I like everything but the one-touch layout, so this time I am on the safe side |
In general I feel the same about one-touch, however this lens is the exception!
@caspert79 Thank you for the test! Nice to see my suspicions confirmed. |
I have several one-touch lenses: Vivitar S.1 28/90 and 70/210; Tamron SP 60/300, Minolta 70/210, and several others, but when it comes to the pleasure of using them, the only one that I like is the 28/90, where the combination of the very fast focusing range and the general handling, also due to the small diameter, makes it quick and pleasant; in all other cases, the dominant feeling is that I cannot grip the lens firmly enough due to the fear of shifting the focus or zoom. |
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Vintage_Photographer
Joined: 10 Jun 2024
Posts: 84
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| Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2024 2:27 pm Post subject: |
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Vintage_Photographer wrote:
My vintage zooms are split roughly 50/50 one touch and zoom rings. My preference is one touch for simplicity finding the controls. The worst with zoom rings is the Minolta 35-70. It's too easy to get the zoom when looking for aperture or vice versa.
_________________
Current gear list:
Mamiya 645 TL Pro with 80mm and 110mm Sekor C, Rolleiflex SL35 with Rollei HFT 50mm/1.8, Rolleinar 135/2.8, 200/3.5, Pentacon 28/2.8 and Horizont 35/2.8, Minolta SRT100X, Rokkor 35-70mm f/3.5, Rokkor 100-300mm f/5.6.
Fuji X-E2 and X-T4 with Fuji 18-55 AF, 18-135 AF, TTArtisans 27/2.8 AF, 7.5/2 Fisheye, 35/1.4, 7Artisans 18/6.3, Samyang 12mm/2 AF, Tamron SP90 (on Nikon adapter), Ilford Sportsman, Zeiss IKon Contina II and Zeiss Ikoflex 1 TLR. |
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caspert79
Joined: 31 Oct 2010
Posts: 3247
Location: The Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2024 2:53 pm Post subject: |
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caspert79 wrote:
| Vintage_Photographer wrote: |
| My vintage zooms are split roughly 50/50 one touch and zoom rings. My preference is one touch for simplicity finding the controls. The worst with zoom rings is the Minolta 35-70. It's too easy to get the zoom when looking for aperture or vice versa. |
I guess everyone has his own preference. I like to do everything in 1 movement, so I prefer one-touch. I don't care about focus or focal length changing in the meantime; I'm used to refocus and determine the crop I want before each seperate shot. Still, one of my favorite zoomlenses is the Mamiya Sekor C 105-210mm f/4.5 ULD, which is two-touch.
_________________
For Sale:
Steinheil Auto D Tele Quinar 135mm f/2.8 (Exa)
ISCO Isconar 100mm f/4 (Exa)
Steinheil Cassarit 50mm f/2.8 M39 (Paxette)
I'm always interested in trading lenses! |
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Ultrapix
Joined: 06 Jan 2012
Posts: 584
Location: Italy
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| Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2024 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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Ultrapix wrote:
| Vintage_Photographer wrote: |
| My vintage zooms are split roughly 50/50 one touch and zoom rings. My preference is one touch for simplicity finding the controls. The worst with zoom rings is the Minolta 35-70. It's too easy to get the zoom when looking for aperture or vice versa. |
That one is awful I agree. Today I also received the 28-85, and being larger no problems at all. |
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