Can´t stop the thing I started... (Mamiya/Sekor SX 21mm F4)

[BenediktW]

Hi folks!

Some days ago I won this great auction

Click here to see on Ebay

and I´m getting closer to a complete Sekor SX setup.

I´m going to write a little bit about thins lens as soon as it arrives, and I´ll show you some examples. At the moment there´s only bad weather in western Germany, and my schedule is full of annoying stuff (working for university, business appointments, administrative work), but I just had to announce the acquisition of this very rare piece.



We´ll see how it behaves on my D50, it´s going to have a hard time competing with my 20mm F4 Nikkor I´m afraid.

By the way, if anyone can use a Sigma,Tokna, Takumar or Bayonet, just tell me, just the Mamiya stays here with me.


Greetings
Benedikt

[LucisPictor]

Wow! Benedikt, what a great price! Congratulations!
Let's hope the lenses are allright.

[Farside]

Nice catch at that price. Even if one or two are duds, you'd still be ahead.

[poilu]

congrats Benedikt!

[BenediktW]

Later than I hoped, but finally, here are the first shots with the 21mm F4 Mamiya.

The character is very parallel to the 28mm F2,8, it´s again those uncredible colours.






Unfortunately, the 21mm causes even bigger problems with the AF indicator in my D50 (the M42 adapter with correction lens must be the reason). The sharpness indicator remains green for a rather big interval, while with my Nikkors, there is just one single point the camera recognises as sharp. So you never really know when it´s sharp, and while one can more or less judge the sharpness through the viewfinder with the 28mm F2,8, here it´s simply impossible. But I´ll keep working and testing. The results are way too promising... It´s only that the junk ratio is pretty high at the moment.

What do you think about the samples?


Greetings
Benedikt

[Orio]

The samples look very nice.
I think that focus variations should not be a huge problem with a 21mm lens.
Unless you always shoot wide open (which you shouldn't) or very close up, the DOF inherent to this superwide lens should be enough to abundantly cover for the tolerance range.

-

[BenediktW]

Well, the problem is that the Mamiya/Sekor SX lenses have a pin at their M42 mount which needs to be pushed for the aperture blades to close. So you select an F-stop, and the pin normally gets pushed by the MSX or DSX camera when you push the button. But my D50 doesn´t push anything, and it would only be possible with much bricolage to keep it pushed constantly, but on the one hand, I still want to be able to change lenses on my adapter, and on the other, I don´t want to damage the lens mechanics.

[LucisPictor]

Anyway, it's nice to have a 21mm lens in your set-up!

[Richard_D]

Looks pretty good to me.

[BenediktW]

Thank you all, the only problem is that the crops look awful in detail. But this was my first day out with the lens, and the AF problem fully came clear to me afterwards.

But now for something completely different in between...
Does anyone have an idea, what kind of Takumar I have acquired as by-catch?
(Link to the auction is in the first post)



(What an ugly photo - the lens looks pretty normal in reality, not as greasy and icky...)

I assume it´s an early series with K-bayonet, it´s a 28mm F2,8, but there´s nothing written on it apart from "Takumar Bayonet". The focus feels wonderful (completely different from my old Nikkors, much more like my 24mm F2,8 Vivitar, a bit gummy and sticky, but good). The aperture ring is locked at F8, no idea if it´s out of order or maybe I´ve overlooked a little switch.

Is this a good lens? It´s usable on Pentax DSLR, right?

I´m going to sell it as I can´t use it anyway. So if anyone has a hint about what would be a fair price, please tell me.


Thanks and regards

Benedikt



Edit and PS:

I found it on the web.

http://www.pbase.com/betsypdx/28

Looks very nice I think, a pity I can´t use it.

[peterqd]

[BenediktW]

Hi Peter!

Sorry, overlooked your reply completely.
Thanks for the Takumar info. I´m desperately trying to sell the thing, but noone seems to be interested... Even with the few available Pentax lenses in mind... Well, I´ll continue trying.

As far as the road is concerned, you´re right with both observations
There is some barrel distortions, but it´s not this bad, because the road also bends.


Greetings
Benedikt