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Super Takumar vs. Super Multi-Coated Takumar
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PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:38 am    Post subject: Super Takumar vs. Super Multi-Coated Takumar Reply with quote

I'm looking to get a Pentax 135mm f/3.5 Takumar, and i've noticed that this brand has a couple variations - the 'Super Takumar' and the 'Super Multi-Coated Takumar'. Does the extra coating add anything special to the lens? I know these variations exist in the other focal lengths pentax offers too like the 50mm versions..


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It adds better contrast and flare protections I think Confused
For the price they usually go, your better of getting the S-M-C version.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, there many variations of the 135mm. The two better versions are the S-M-C 135/3.5 and the S-M-C 135/2.5 V2 (6/6 construction). There are very sharp even at widest opening. The S-M-C treatment is very efficient, I never use the hoods with my S-M-C, even faced to the sun, and I get rarely flare Wink


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ill go against the majority and recommend the Super Takumar. I have owned or do own the whole series except the M37 one. My personal favourite is the preset Takumar. Although, I think the Super Takumar is the better one. Coatings are evil.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Super Takumar has AFAIK also a coating, the "S-M-C" one is just a little more advanced.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

In some posts i found (in mine too) that we accept to have two ot three versions of one lens. We say that one of them better, but we recognize to use one that there isn't which we said better.

Perhaps we not choose the sharper or the contrastier lens, but we choose the IQ of the lens.

From there, we used the pentacon pre-set 2,8/135 and not the CZJ 3,5/135, or both but not ONLY the CZJ which is the sharp and contrast of the two.

This could be applied to the ST and S-M-C or SMC.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:28 pm    Post subject: What S-M-C coating does Reply with quote

Coatings reflect off-axis light (which is also reduced by using a hood) which otherwise gets reflected around inside the lens "fogging" the image; i.e. more contrast is achieved because less off-axis light pollutes the image; darker details are not washed out by extraneous light.

some have experienced better uncoated performance on dSLR due to less contrast; coatings can make lens' contrast higher than dSLR can capture, resulting in loss of detail in darker regions of image.

S-M-C lenses have higher image IQ, with much more information in darker regions, however, the camera may not be able to capture all of it.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 5:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Super takumar are singlecoated. SMC are multicoated. The preset and Auto-Takumars are not coated at all.

To discuss other lenses that I have or had. Auto-Takumar 85/1.8 vs Super Takumar 85/1.9. The former I believe have a much more "clear" image then the Super Takumar. Sure it has less contrast, but thats fixable in the rawconversion and I don't see that as a problem really.

The same applies to the others aswell, I find the image to be more crystal clear then the others. This is completly unscientific and might be my brain that play me. But thats how I think it is.

Solution is to get all of them, before people start recognizing just how good the takumars are and prices go up with 700% on some of them. You can still find the 135 and 55 for under 10$ now and then.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

zewrak wrote:
Super takumar are singlecoated. SMC are multicoated. The preset and Auto-Takumars are not coated at all.

My Auto-Takumar 35/2.3 was definately coated.

Super-Takumars can be Multi-Coated. Asahi used experimental MC layers before they officially launched their 7-layered S-M-C. Later Super Takumars can have this MC (according to different sources it has 3-4 layers)


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Most post war lenses are coated - the Auto Takumars are coated. The simpler coating has its charms, as Zewrak says, a diffrent flavor. I like it quite a bit.

no-X is correct about some Supers being super multi coated - there are different stories, whether fewer coatings, or fewer (internal) surfaces getting the treatment. The SMC / S-M-C designation capitalized on the multi coating, but really mainly indicates the aperture coupling mechanism on the mount.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Relayer wrote:
Hi
I have 3 version of Takumar 2.8/105: old preset uncoated, Super Takumar and Super Multi Coated. important that old preset have 8 blades aperture instead 6 in other. I'm try to compare this lenses and found that "SMC" and preset versions have slightly more smooth bokeh and sharpness than "Super".


Hi, Relayer.

2,8/105 pre-set, uncoated?

Which the black and chrome or all black one?

Do you include the contrast in the sharpness or the SMC has more contrast than the pre-set one?

Thanks Relayer.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Relayer wrote:
Hi
I have 3 version of Takumar 2.8/105: old preset uncoated, Super Takumar and Super Multi Coated. important that old preset have 8 blades aperture instead 6 in other. I'm try to compare this lenses and found that "SMC" and preset versions have slightly more smooth bokeh and sharpness than "Super".


I have the 8 blade preset too. Sold my Super Tak one. Because once again, in my opinion the preset whooped Super tak.

The one I got is all black, with only a chrome ring behind the aperture rings.


PostPosted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 11:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Relayer wrote:
estudleon wrote:

2,8/105 pre-set, uncoated?
Which the black and chrome or all black one?
Do you include the contrast in the sharpness or the SMC has more contrast than the pre-set one?


body all black. SMC have same contrast as preset version.


Thanks.


PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I found this interesting article on the net talking about the coatings on the takumar 50mm lenses. Echoes what some of you have said

http://www.pbase.com/carpents/nlsr1m6


PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 12:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The SMC helps with haze glare and flare, i.e. situational. Outside these conditions, the differences are minor contrast wise. The way the lenses react to light is different - the Autos (like old single coated Leicas for example) react 'quicker' but then get into the light bloom thing - which is a very nice effect.


PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 8:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nesster wrote:
Most post war lenses are coated - the Auto Takumars are coated. The simpler coating has its charms, as Zewrak says, a diffrent flavor. I like it quite a bit.

no-X is correct about some Supers being super multi coated - there are different stories, whether fewer coatings, or fewer (internal) surfaces getting the treatment. The SMC / S-M-C designation capitalized on the multi coating, but really mainly indicates the aperture coupling mechanism on the mount.

I recollected one more thing - SMC Pentax (K) had 7-layered MC just like SMC Takumars (M42), but these MC layers were applied to more surfaces. Asahi exactly said:

"Now that these lenses have been upgraded - with multi-coatings applied to many glass surfaces which previously were only single-coated, we have also given them a new name: SMC Pentax lenses."

It means, that SMC Takumars haven't multi-coating an all surfaces and I understand, that not even SMC Pentax lenses are multi-coated on all surfaces ("applied to many glass surfaces" - not to all glass surfaces - just more than for Takumars) - or did I comprehend it in a wrong way?