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First pictures to MFlenses. Takumar 300 6.5
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:13 pm    Post subject: First pictures to MFlenses. Takumar 300 6.5 Reply with quote
Thought it appropriate to post a few pics from my Sigma SD15, Takumar 300 6.5 combination. This is a lens, although difficult, concealing a tremendous amount of virtue by way of its weight. For guitar people, it is like the first time you pick up a Gibson SG. I seems incomprehensible that such a thing could be so light. The last picture is from early this Spring, and using a Pentax DSLR (K5IIs.) The remainder are from this morning, using the SD15. I realize the quality of the photos may not be top notch, but thought some might be interested.





PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
This lens?

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Tele-Takumar-300mm-F6.3.html


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for sharing.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
marcusBMG wrote:
This lens?

http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/Tele-Takumar-300mm-F6.3.html


Yes, that lens. It does not get stellar reviews and the price reflects it. I got mine in near mint conditions: caps, hood, tripod bracket, and original case for $45 at one of the main resellers here in USA. Its not an easy lens, but it is a lot of fun. I cannot imagine a lighter 300 lens.

Thanks for looking.

Best regards,


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 3:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The tamron adaptall 300mm f5.6's (Ct300 and 54B) are both lighter, but if the quality is like my tak 200mm 3.5 then I'm sure thats a good lens to check out. Whats the CFD btw?


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 5:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With these long lenses, focus is very critical. Having such a slow speed makes focusing even more difficult. The last image looks sharper to my eyes; perhaps the other ones weren't precisely focused. Overall, the ratings are probably accurate, but if you're having fun, have at it. I have a Topcor 5.6/300 that although not stellar, does a decent job, and a Meyer Orestegor 4/300 which is very good, but a beast. I'm still in search of 300mm with reasonable size and excellent quality (and cheap).


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It is with embarrassment that I admit, I am not sure of the acronym CFD, as it relates to photography.

I agree with the comment on long lenses and focus precision. In the first three pictures, I have two things working against precise focus: 1) I had shoulder surgery about 10 days ago and have only limited use of my right hand 2) Sigma, while making it possible to use some MF lenses with the SD15, did not go out of their way to accommodate attempts to manual focus: the focusing screen is about the least contrasty I have ever seen; the auto focus indicator light is way off.......Not that I am a superb photographer in the best of conditions, or the greatest of equipment.

Thanks for the comments.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi wayno, welcome to the forum. Smile

CFD stands for Closest Focusing Distance.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
DigiChromeEd wrote:
Hi wayno, welcome to the forum. Smile

CFD stands for Closest Focusing Distance.


But I think MFD is more common. I also had to think long about CFD, especially as in German nobody would name it closest but MINIMUM distance to the object opposed to infinity. Nobody would say most far away distance instead of infinity, which would be the other extreme...


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I could not find MFD/CFD on the web. I just stepped it off, and it appears to be in the 20 to 21 foot range. I am a football (American) referee, so you can rely on my ability to march off yards.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
woodrim wrote:
With these long lenses, focus is very critical. Having such a slow speed makes focusing even more difficult. The last image looks sharper to my eyes; perhaps the other ones weren't precisely focused. Overall, the ratings are probably accurate, but if you're having fun, have at it. I have a Topcor 5.6/300 that although not stellar, does a decent job, and a Meyer Orestegor 4/300 which is very good, but a beast. I'm still in search of 300mm with reasonable size and excellent quality (and cheap).


I am principally on your side. As from 300mm there are so much more factors than just the lens quality that makes the difference between a good and a bad picture. To find the correct focus especially on EVF cameras is rather tricky over all and the risk to blur the picture due to camera shake should not be underestimated as well. Additionally for long distance shots the "dirty" air may cause additional problems and of course the movement of the target plays a role if animals or plants (wind) are the object. Only if you overcome those first hurdles then the lens itself comes into the play. Finally it is extremely annoying if everything is observed and well done and the lens delivers nevertheless a bad result. Therefore I wouldn't even try it, when I know in advance that the result would be in the optimum case only average or even below due to the low quality of the lens. However, I still believe that nearly all of the well known primes of the camera manufacturers are able to deliver acceptable quality. I already gave away a Tamron 300mm and a Tokina 400mm lens because under no circumstances they have been able to deliver acceptable quality. Unfortunately my Topcon 300mm lens is out of service (aperture blades), but besides that my 300mm MF lenses from Pentax and Minolta can deliver rather acceptable quality under good conditions and circumstances. I cannot say anything about the newer and/or other Tamron or Tokina tele lenses, but the old ones which I had are rather for the waste. It is no wonder that a real good modern 300mm lens has a price tag of several thousand Euros. My Minolta AF 300mm APO lens had a recommended sale price of apprx. 4.000 USD in 1994 and is still not really cheap nowadays:
http://forum.mflenses.com/minolta-af-300mm-f-4-apo-g-hs-t71048.html
BUT it delivers as expected.


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 9:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
wayno wrote:
I could not find MFD/CFD on the web. I just stepped it off, and it appears to be in the 20 to 21 foot range. I am a football (American) referee, so you can rely on my ability to march off yards.


It's not an official international term but used on regular basis in forums like here. No wonder that you haven't been able to find anything about. However, for me MFD is rather clear if used in combination with lenses but I was not aware of CFD like you. Wink


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The sharpness on that last picture is rather impressive.

Welcome to the forum : )


PostPosted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 10:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
StillSanj wrote:
The sharpness on that last picture is rather impressive.

Welcome to the forum : )


Thanks for the comment. The K5IIs (last photo) is a pretty good camera for manual focus. The SD15 is sort of a project for me. I love the rendering of the Merrill Foveon cameras could not resist the fire sale price on SD15 at Sigma Outlet. I intend to be diligent in my effort to improve my manual focus performance with it. It may not be enough. It's pretty obvious Sigma creates their DSLR cameras with the idea that you will use Sigma AF lenses, and only Sigma AF lenses.

I should have given up and used the Pentax this morning. The Cardinal hatchlings were out in numbers and providing quite a show.

Best


PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 8:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Welcome!
I agree, that last shot is a cracker. Nicely detailed.

After a quest for 300 and 400mm lenses for my a6000, and shooting with a number of them, I can tell you it's not easy to nail a sharp result hand held. Especially w/o image stabilization, manual focusing, no EVF with focus aids.
So no need for explanations, these are decent results.

That's an interesting Pentax. If it's anything like the S-M-C Takumar 300 f/4 I got, then it should be a satisfactory lighter/smaller sibling.
The f/4 is also relatively light for its class.

I've tried the very light Tamron CT-300, a Tokina 300 f/5.5 in primes, and Tokina 100-300 f/5 zoom. Like tb_a posted, they all are lacking that last bit of performance in sharpness to make them excellent and keepers. Given the difficult shooting conditions long lenses impose, more so.

After a long road, I found the best performance from newer models. A Tokina AT-X 100-300 f/4 SD and Tamron SP 60-300 f/3.8-5.4 23A. Both are heavy but the Tamron can be hand held easily. Only the Takumar made the grade for vintage glass (with affordability in mind.).


PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 8:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
WNG555 wrote:
Only the Takumar made the grade for vintage glass (with affordability in mind.).


Having the same Takumar 300/4 lens I can confirm that it delivers. However, I still didn't compare it directly to my Minolta ones, the MD 300/4.5 and the AF 300/4 APO. But the AF APO lens is without any doubt the best of my lenses in that range.
A sample picture from the MD 300/4.5 can be seen here: http://forum.mflenses.com/minolta-md-tele-rokkor-300mm-14-5-if-t71450.html
Maybe I will find sometimes somebody who is able to fix the aperture of my Topcor 300/5.6. I think it would be worth to reactivate it.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 10:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks again.

A non performance aspect of the 300 Takumar 6.5 lens that I notice is that, even though they are available at such bargain prices, a huge percentage of them seem to be in great, "near mint" shape. I speculate that 1) the general difficulties associated with long range photography- even with today's modern cameras 2) the fact that these lenses are so slow, lead to a great percentage of these lenses being purchased, used a few times, and then relegated to the closet because of frustration with the difficulty of getting good results. Considering the difficulty I have had in getting good results with a digital camera, I cannot imagine I would be nearly so patient with the lens if I had to spend considerable time and money, i.e film and film development time and expense, in the same effort with a film camera.

Even though light in weight, the lens still retains that amazing "built like a tank" Takumar feel that gives so much satisfaction in ownership and use. It never ceases to amaze me that a lens like this- after sitting idle in its case for half a century- can be pulled out and, not only look like new, perform like new. No stiff focus ring. No sticky aperture or pre-set ring.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 13, 2015 12:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
wayno wrote:
Thanks again.

A non performance aspect of the 300 Takumar 6.5 lens that I notice is that, even though they are available at such bargain prices, a huge percentage of them seem to be in great, "near mint" shape. I speculate that 1) the general difficulties associated with long range photography- even with today's modern cameras 2) the fact that these lenses are so slow, lead to a great percentage of these lenses being purchased, used a few times, and then relegated to the closet because of frustration with the difficulty of getting good results. Considering the difficulty I have had in getting good results with a digital camera, I cannot imagine I would be nearly so patient with the lens if I had to spend considerable time and money, i.e film and film development time and expense, in the same effort with a film camera.

Even though light in weight, the lens still retains that amazing "built like a tank" Takumar feel that gives so much satisfaction in ownership and use. It never ceases to amaze me that a lens like this- after sitting idle in its case for half a century- can be pulled out and, not only look like new, perform like new. No stiff focus ring. No sticky aperture or pre-set ring.


I think your analysis bring's it to the point. Wink

The best lens doesn't help if one doesn't know how to use it. Same is true for cameras.

However, I also share your view on Takumars. I have a rather big and almost complete collection of Takumar primes in M42 from 17 to 300 mm as they are usable on all of my cameras, especially on both of my DSLR's Pentax and Sony and up to now I had never any troubles nor any defective or faulty lens. In terms of built quality they are really top class and their optical quality isn't bad as well.
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