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This month's bargains ;)
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 5:17 pm    Post subject: This month's bargains ;) Reply with quote
So I got 2 bargains this month:
-Zenit EM in it's original leather casing together with an Helios 44M and an Image 135 2.8 - 20$
-Asahi Super-Takumar 70-150 F4.5 ( only had it's original rear cap, nothing else with it ) - 20$

I'm definitely happy with my Helios 44M, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't be happier with the Super-Takumar since it seems to be a great performer and seems to be a "rare" item to find. I wonder if this one is actually the first ones coming out with the multi coating from Takumar. I read on another post that it's noticeable from the font on the front of the lens, but I can't really tell if it's the right one or not.

I'm adding pictures of the above mentioned items, hopefully someone can tell me if the Super-Takumar is actually the first multi coated one or not...


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
quick test shot with the Takumar - wide open, handheld


Crop 100%


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
At least wide open I am defintley not impressed with the Takumar. As far as I know the Takumar gift does not belong to zoom lenses.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 6:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think your image is a little front focused (the berries at the bottom look sharper).

This is an early Takumar zoom by the looks of it! I have the S-M-C Takumar-zoom 85-210/4.5 and it's excellent, so this will hopefully be great too Smile

http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=47546


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ChromaticAberration wrote:
At least wide open I am definitely not impressed with the Takumar. As far as I know the Takumar gift does not belong to zoom lenses.


Did you have one bad experience or... One really has to thoroughly inspect all inside lens elements. Since zooms have many elements there is good chance one or more will get hazed (grease condensation or other reason). Probably close to middle of the lens so a bit harder to notice. I even dare saying it's very hard to find more then 30 years old zoom that is fully clean inside.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I went to the backyard and took a couple of other test shots to a subject that is not prone to move with the wind Wink

F4.5

F5.6

F8


F4.5 100% Crop


F5.8 100% Crop


F8 100% Crop



Maybe it's still not in focus, but if that's the case I think I need to go get my eyes checked - looked focused when I was taking the pictures lol


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 7:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
ManualFocus-G, I did see that post, your model is supposed to be better than mine due to the multi-coating though. I am still wondering if my copy of the 70-150 is actually multi-coated also....


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
What I see in these pictures is not coating related for sure. I see plain old lack of sharpness and although I am not an evangelist of sharpness in photography I do think this is too soft, even for a zoom lens. Maybe I am badly used to primes.


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Have to agree with CA here, it doesn't look good. If it was my lens I'd be mad that I'd wasted $20. Sad


PostPosted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I must agree that it's not the sharpest zoom I own, but I would hardly call it a waste of 20$ lol
I think the fact that it might be the first Takumar multi- coated lens and one of the first Takumar zooms is worth that amount, but again, the value of 20$ varies depending on each individual's reality...


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Duplicate post removed

Last edited by guardian on Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:26 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:51 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
err0r wrote:
I must agree that it's not the sharpest zoom I own, but I would hardly call it a waste of 20$ lol
I think the fact that it might be the first Takumar multi- coated lens and one of the first Takumar zooms is worth that amount, but again, the value of 20$ varies depending on each individual's reality...


Agreed! Wow. Tough crowd here.

Now if you had spend $200 instead of $20 my view might be less sanguine. Look, here's the thing:

If you are enjoying the lens "as is", that's super and far be it from me to rain on your joy. Break a leg!!

OTOH, if you have qualms along the lines of some of your "admirers", your $20 lens is the kind of find I dream about. At $20, at your sole discretion, you can attempt taking the thing apart and refurbishing it. After all, even if you fail totally and it becomes "junque", all you've lost is a 20 spot! The learning experience alone would be worth that amount.

So bottom line, you cannot go wrong. You did great!

FWIW, I view zoom lenses as sorts of bellows. They breathe. And in the process, sure, they breathe in a teensy bit of dust each time you exercise them. So after many years of use, conceded, perhaps a cleanup might be prudent . . . . or not . . . . again depending solely on your personal opinion.

Enjoy your new lens. You did great!


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks guardian! I couldn't have said it any better! It's definitely in the plans to open the beast and clean it - it does have quite a bit of dust inside - all small particles, but quite a bit of them. I've done this while a few of my lens and only broke one ( didn't really break - the aperture ring's sphere disappeared in the process ).

Maybe this is why the lens is not performing at its best - needs cleaning?.. I never had a lens that was this dirty so I wouldn't know what dust might do... It's not visible naked eye, but as soon as you put a Strong light behind it you can see it...


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
err0r wrote:
Thanks guardian! I couldn't have said it any better! It's definitely in the plans to open the beast and clean it - it does have quite a bit of dust inside - all small particles, but quite a bit of them. I've done this while a few of my lens and only broke one ( didn't really break - the aperture ring's sphere disappeared in the process ).

Maybe this is why the lens is not performing at its best - needs cleaning?.. I never had a lens that was this dirty so I wouldn't know what dust might do... It's not visible naked eye, but as soon as you put a Strong light behind it you can see it...


Yeah. Based on your revelations sounds as if a cleanup/refurb job could help you out. And in addition to the dust you might have a bit of condensate on the glass. It happens in the fullness of time, especially if the lens ever was exposed to a too-warm environment, e.g., left inside a hot car . . . or whatever.

You're way ahead of me on lens refurbishing. Last one I sought to put right I bricked. It was a catastrophe, entirely my fault. Started with a fungus-amongus situation. Ended with a totally useless piece of trash. And the fungus was/is still there, absolutely resplendent, growing and laughing at me. You will come out better, I'm certain. Because you could not come out much worse. Sad


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maybe try some more test shots in better light.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I was not evaluating the lens's $20 value, all I said was price tag unrelated.
It is a low number by all means, especially in Europe with €'s conversion but performance leaves a bit to be desired that is all.
I bet you could sell it for more than that if you wished to do so, when that is the case the price was always right.

Look at ManualFocus-G's samples, those look outstanding, maybe there is something wrong with your copy, maybe something a good clean will fix who knows.


PostPosted: Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well, I got a deal: I exchanged the takumar with a Mamiya/Sekor SX 135 f2.8 - I already took a couple of shots and seems to be a great performer... I think that in the end the 20$ were worth it Wink
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