Which Takumar to buy?

[rtodorovsky]

Hi all,
EDIT:
Thanks so much guys.
The winner is the 2nd one.
All in all 30 euro, i'm sorry for the misleading information each lens was around 25 euro.

So here are some images of the package:





So first thing tomorrow i'm going out and testing, no matter the horrid weather here.

P.S.: I tested the Super and it had a lot of CA for my taste wide open, not that this is a problem in PP but.

Original question:
I just got offered this 3 takumar's and i was wondering which one to but, all are around 25 euro.

Suggestions?

[Aanything]

I'd get one of the SMC's because of multi coating, even if older versions are better looking, imho.
That's a very good lens, one of the few that can be still had for little money.

[eddieitman]

I would opt for the second one cool serial and is the newest of the lot smc coatings are really good

[luisalegria]

Very little practical difference between them I think.
I had all versions and I couldn't tell.
The SMC has better coating, so maybe under some circumstances it may have less flare, possibly.

[Nesster]

+1 on the above... save, if you like the all metal focusing ring on the Super, by all means get it. If that's not a factor, then get #2 as that's the newest as eddieitman says.

[Lightshow]

I'm biased towards the all metal version, when it flares it's not harsh like some lenses, it's actually nice.
The other 2 have newer coatings and rubber focus rings, other than that they are the same(IIRC).

[Attila]

All good.

[kuuan]

in theory I'd also say better one of the first two for the better coating
however I must say that I only found out what bad coating does once I started to use non Takumars
that is to say I hardly ever have encountered the typical issues related to inferior coating with even early Takumars
so in case you like the all metal body of the Super Tak than go for it just as well

[Arctures]

25 for all? I'll get all then! I own SMC 55/1.8 and it is a really excellent lens. Great sharpness, contrast, colors and very nice and smooth bokeh (as per my taste)

[tond]

I like the yellow color of the coating on the earlier, Super-Takumar lenses.

[RAART]

I do like the feel of the metal version however I own 1.4 and from the newer ones I have 1.7

Both of them are among my favorites in 50mm range together with amazing FD 1.4 lens

Pentax has quite unique rendering (metal ones) which I really like, even I went through trouble of de-yellowing the lens which went very successfully in just 2-3 days

In terms of sharpness I do prefer newer Takumars which gives very good results (better then Nikon 1.8 which is very sharp lens)

Hope this helps but if you get all for 25 Euro, get all of them, test them and keep whatever you like.

[visualopsins]

$25 each is good deal imho. Buy them all; resell 2 for profit -- profit might pay for lens kept!

[Aanything]

[DR.JUAN]

As all said, the newer, the better coating.

But the oldest super takumar have certain attractive to me. I prefer the old super takumar.

[pickles]

Buy the later SMC version....the coatings are not there for nothing.
I don't know what camera you'll be using, but the SMC version will have the couplings for the later Spotmatic's exposure systems.
Cheers, Pickles.

[tromboads]

shotgun the rest

[rtodorovsky]

Hehe shotgun yeah

Thanks guys, first post edited.

[raay04]

All r great lenses ,here is my review of the super takumar version http://forum.mflenses.com/super-takumar-55-1-8-and-sony-nex-3-t57017.html

congrats on your lense