The surprising SMC Pentax 45-125mm f/4

[caspert79]

This lens was first introduced in 1975, as the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar. It does a remarkable job if you ask me. It's sharp, has great contrast, good bokeh, and pretty decent CA control. It has the superior build quality Pentax used to have in those times. Several Japanese sources say that Zeiss was involved in its development (mainly the glass), but I didn't find an official source. Click on the images for full size. What do you think?

smcPentax451253 by devoscasper, on Flickr
The upper image actually shows a weakness of this lens: distortion. In all other regards, very good results IMO.

smcPentax451252 by devoscasper, on Flickr

smcPentax451254 by devoscasper, on Flickr

smcPentax451256 by devoscasper, on Flickr
The lens produces pleasant bokeh.

smcPentax451257 by devoscasper, on Flickr

smcPentax451258 by devoscasper, on Flickr

smcPentax451259 by devoscasper, on Flickr
In extreme contrast situations, wide open, you will see some CA. But, honestly, this is not bad....

smcPentax4512510 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Wide open:
smcPentax4512511 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Very good detail throughout the frame:
smcPentax4512512 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Good bokeh transition:
smcPentax4512513 by devoscasper, on Flickr

Good 3D pop (although focus is a bit off the subject):
smcPentax4512514 by devoscasper, on Flickr

smcPentax4512516 by devoscasper, on Flickr

In summary, I am more than pleased with this lens. Its focal range is a bit strange, but I actually like it. Adding a 24mm or 28mm lens will provide me with the focal range I use in 95% of the cases.

[lumens pixel]

Looks very good!

[stevemark]

Interesting - thanks for sharing your experiences with the lens. Many moons ago, in Zurich, I nearly bought one - but decided otherwise. Maybe a mistake ?!?

The "odd" focal length is as result of the zoom design limitation all manufacturers had before Canon introduced their game-changing FD 2.8-3.5/35-70mm. Earlier zooms all were limited to about 45mm because they traditionally were constructed as four-group zooms:

1) Focusing group (front group)
2) Variator
3) Compensator
4) Master lens (rear group)

The latter of course - on SLRs - was limited to about 45mm focal length (mirror box!).

Minolta had their 3.5/50-100mm (1964), Mamiya the Sekor CS 3.5/45-90mm (1977??), and around 1980 CaMiNikon all were producing a 3.5/50-135mm lens. At least the Canon nFD and the Minolta MD 3.5/50-135mm are pretty good ... I don't know the Nikon as it is pretty scarce here in Switzerland.

Yeah, I'll get one of these oddities as well if have an opportunity

S

[caspert79]

[stevemark]

[caspert79]

Sorry, typo, I actually meant the 50-135mm. There are quite some hi res images on Flickr.

[connloyalist]

These pictures look really good. I had seen this lens on the Pentax lens list. I am often intrigued by lenses in non-standard focal lengths and this one qualifies. Pentax has several lenses in somewhat unusual focal lengths

Regards, C.

[blotafton]

Good shots! Very acceptable image quality. Thanks for posting.

[D1N0]

The sharpness rendering of this lens is very good. Bokeh is a bit strange but you can get used to it. Typical for zoom lenses because of the many elements I guess.
For close ups it can be particularly nice:
Red and green by The lens profile, on Flickr

[jamaeolus]

The lens seems good. I must comment though, on the compostion. Excellent work!

[calvin83]

Much better and much more useful than my old Kilfitt 50-125!

[Alsatian2017]

[stevemark]

[quote="Alsatian2017"]

[Alsatian2017]

[quote="stevemark"]

[caspert79]

[takumat]

I had seen that the 45-125mm also came from the Asahi-Zeiss collaboration, although I did not know there were different mentions and that they came from Japan. In the absence of some official documentation, do some of these mentions appear to be reliable ?

Now, there is the case of the SMCT/K 85/1.8. It was also produced at the same time period as the SMCT/K 15mm, the K 28mm f2 and the SMCT/K 45-125mm. I guess it could have also benefitted from the Collaboration.

[caspert79]

[visualopsins]

[takumat]

It’s my understanding that the Takumar 15mm did came out of the Collaboration, and that, when Asahi and Zeiss split, they also split some developments around this lens : Asahi would have the exclusive use of an aspherical element, while Zeiss would issue their lens with a floating element (or group?). It comes from a published article in a collectors’ periodical not on the web (I could probably find the reference on my computer). Gerjan probably needed and did not find official documentation fron Asahi about this.

[visualopsins]

[visualopsins]

Gerjan says the M42 15mm marked 4ft/1m has the aspherical element, that there may be variations marked 3ft without the aspherical element, while other sources suggest only the bayonet version is marked 3ft and does not contain aspherical.

Nothing here https://takumarguide.weebly.com/takumarology.html or here https://takumarguide.weebly.com/1--35--15-44002.html

[D1N0]

I think Pentax only started working with Zeiss when they were developing K-mount. Some may have also been produced as Takumar for legacy customers.

[visualopsins]

[jajong]

Nice photos taken with this Pentax zoom. I used to use the pentax 75-150mm a lot on film: that is a good zoom as well.
I saw the zoom nikkor 50-135mm being mentioned in this topic. I use this lens often together with the 25-50 nikkor zoom. It is a very nice combo, be it heavy. For those interested: at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCsGAD you will find a small album with pictures made with the 50-135mm. I made these to see if I will use this lens on digital too. I think I will....

Cheers
Jan

[stevemark]