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Crappy 55mm comparison: S-M-C Tak, Fujinon, Helios 44M-2
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PostPosted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:13 pm    Post subject: Crappy 55mm comparison: S-M-C Tak, Fujinon, Helios 44M-2 Reply with quote
I have a few 50/55mm lenses and a few more coming (Pentacon 1.8, Auto Sekor 1.4, Zebra Pancolar), so in the next few weeks I'll try to decide which ones to keep. Tonight I did a quick and dirty comparison on the kitchen table, between the S-M-C Tak 55mm 1.8, the Fujinon 55m 1.8 non-EBC (new style), and my battered Helios 44-m2 58mm 2.0. I stupidly set my camera to 4mp jpg, so resolution is not the best available. WB set to tungsten, and a Fujinon metal hood used on both the Tak and Fujinon (forgot to put it on the Helios).

I always considered the Fujinon a so-so lens, but comparing it to the Tak I might have to use it more and maybe change my mind. The Helios was incredibly more difficult to focus accurately than the other two lenses. I should have taken a shot with the Helios 44m-6 too, as I always found it very sharp, though very susceptible to flare. Will do when I receive the other 50/55mm I'm waiting for. Edit: looking at the edges of the frames too, the S-M-C Tak seems to be the better lens.

S-M-C Takumar


Fujinon


Helios


100% crops, no sharpening, in the same order as above



The original 4mp in-camera jpegs are here.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
tak sharper edge to edge, according to my old eyes. crop difference could be minor focus difference ...


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:35 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Relayer wrote:

at wide open smc takumar 1.8/55 have acceptable sharpness, but compared to other 1.8-2 50mm lenses I found that it not so sharp as I expected


Well around about 50mm primes have:- Helios 44m, two different Zuikos, hexanon f1.7 and f1.8, minolta f1.4, Vivitar macro, Oreston f1.8, Nikkor f1.8, Canon fd f1.8 and....................my Auto-tak 55/1.8 is the worst for sharpness and I bought it new.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Excalibur wrote:
Well around about 50mm primes have:- Helios 44m, two different Zuikos, hexanon f1.7 and f1.8, minolta f1.4, Vivitar macro, Oreston f1.8, Nikkor f1.8, Canon fd f1.8 and....................my Auto-tak 55/1.8 is the worst for sharpness and I bought it new.


It's something I suspected shooting with it a little, but never had any confirmation of before doing this simple test. It also has a very warm color cast, I wonder if it's due to yellowing of the lenses, even though the Fujinon lenses appear much more yellow than the Takumar's, and it has no warm cast.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Of the many 50s I own the S-M-C 1.8/55 Tak beats all of them wide open. Quality control and user error makes these tests slightly erratic, but there are good for an indication.

The results above with Tak & Helios are my findings. I do not have the Fujinon in question but they do make some sharp lenses so I am not surprised of the quality of this one. It does have a cooler WB though.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
ludoo wrote:
Excalibur wrote:
Well around about 50mm primes have:- Helios 44m, two different Zuikos, hexanon f1.7 and f1.8, minolta f1.4, Vivitar macro, Oreston f1.8, Nikkor f1.8, Canon fd f1.8 and....................my Auto-tak 55/1.8 is the worst for sharpness and I bought it new.


It's something I suspected shooting with it a little, but never had any confirmation of before doing this simple test. It also has a very warm color cast, I wonder if it's due to yellowing of the lenses, even though the Fujinon lenses appear much more yellow than the Takumar's, and it has no warm cast.


Well for all the praises on here:- I'm also not impressed with the super tak 135mm f3.5 for sharpness....could it be that some MF lenses might give better results on a Dslr, compared to a film camera.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
martinsmith99 wrote:
Of the many 50s I own the S-M-C 1.8/55 Tak beats all of them wide open. Quality control and user error makes these tests slightly erratic, but there are good for an indication.

The results above with Tak & Helios are my findings. I do not have the Fujinon in question but they do make some sharp lenses so I am not surprised of the quality of this one. It does have a cooler WB though.


But are you a film or digital user? 35mm film users are in a minority here but maybe it's me in not noticing the film guys say "you must get a 55mm tak" and so on for other lenses. If you get Om10 with zuiko 50mm for £15, what would you want a Tak for as the Zuiko is a sharper lens, same for Konica, Minolta, Canon etc
Of course a debate about colours etc in lenses is another matter.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
i shoot film. my super tak 55/2 is beyond sufficiently sharp for my simple needs ... Very Happy


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fish4570 wrote:
i shoot film. my super tak 55/2 is beyond sufficiently sharp for my simple needs ... Very Happy


Well I'm not a great photographer and crop a lot so sharpness is important to me...........enlarging sorts out the wheat from the chaff.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
aye.
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