Why takumar f1.8 and f2?

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

I was wondering if anyone knows why Takumars were produced both in f2 and f1.8 in both 55mm and 50mm. Just a marketing ploy? Are there any considerable quality differences? I apologize if this question has been raised before. Thanks

~Marc

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

Thats a good question.

It looks like the 55/2 was meant to be a little cheaper, as it was standard on the lower-end Spotmatics like the SP500 and SP1000.

One has to wonder about the utility of this distinction though. Its not obviously a cheaper lens to make.

Prometheus · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 878 Location: Garphyttan, Sweden

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

There's a theory that the lenses a bit further out of tolerance were set to f/2 - ie. the ones that didn't pass muster at 1.8. That however sounds like bunk as it would be more costly to do the test and adjustment... so I'm with the marketing theory... Pentax did that with the cameras too, selling a cheaper but near identical body but with the 1000 speed missing - yet the setting's there and the shutter's able to do 1000.

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

I looked at the dates on the AOHC site to see if they give a clue. Except for 1960-61 when the 55/2 had a break, both versions were in continuous production through various versions from 1958-1975. The details of the optical design are indentical. I think this backs up the marketing argument too.

But in those days it was much more difficult to control the consistency of quality we are used to today. I can well imagine the QC department dividing the glass into good and not-so-good, and labelling the lenses 1.8 and 2.0 respectively.

peterm1 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 224

I had previously read that it was due to marketing, with the lenses being essentially the same. They are good performers incidentally.

I think there was a time when it made marketing sense to have a lens that was marked f1.8 rather than f2. And if my memory is also correct, Nikon did exactly the same - their early 50mm f2 and their later 50mm f1.8 are said to be identical or nearly so. Perhaps this is what triggered Pentax to respond in the smae way.

Asahi Optical Co did this kind of thing on at least on other occasion - The instance that comes to mind relates to their cameras. They marketed one (was it the S1? I cannot recall without getting out my books and or the cameras themselves) which had a 1/1000 top speed. They decided to market a lower specc'ed cheaper one with a top speed of 1/500 - the S1a if memory serves my correct.

All they changed was the top plate of the camera which no longer had the 1/1000 position marked on it. You could in fact still use the camera at this speed, with the shutter set at the blank position for 1/1000.

Purely marketing! I guess it was cheaper to do this and to sell the camera for less (hence appealing to a new market demographic) than it was to re-engineer the camera and do it properly.)

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

Very interesting! For some reason my search for an all-round standard always comes back to Takumar. I have so many 50ish lenses already it's hard to imagine getting another one though.

I heard about the speeds on the camera before. I find that just hilarious.

Thanks everyone!

peterm1 · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 224

Yes I understand that - I went thru a phase where I just could not get enough Takumars. As a result I probably have 80% of the ones made in the Takumar / auto Takumar / Super Takumar / SuperMultiCoated Takumar series plus some SMC Takumars. I then stopped buying but there are a couple I still would not mind owning. (like the auto takumar 105mm which I have never seen in Australia and have only ever found on eBay.) The reason is the build quality and optical quality. While there may be some European lenses that better some of these in optical performance, the European lenses tend to quirky in design and there is no other brand of M42 mount lenses that are so consistently good across the board.

A G Photography · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 1480 Location: Bologna - Italy

I'd just wish to have an old Tak 58/2 Wink

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

A G Photography · Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 1480 Location: Bologna - Italy

voytek · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 891

Rare offered takumar Click here to see on Ebay

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

@voytek: When you post a link to Ebay, you only need to copy and paste the item number between the Ebay tags, not the full URL. I've corrected it for you! Smile

Abbazz · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 1098 Location: Jakarta

Abbazz · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 1098 Location: Jakarta

voytek · Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Posts: 891