Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8 Lens Review

Well know lens, many people says the best lens in  Asahi  Pentax product line.color rendering, sharpness, "bokeh" just excellent. SMC Takumar 1.8/85mm very well built mechanically, real competitor of another famous lens: Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 1.8/80mm. Perform well as close-up and portrait lens.This lens have full aperture meter coupling (for Spotmatic-F, ES full aperture metering system).It has a little tricky Auto-Manual switch you can switch to any position if lens mounted on right Asahi film camera.In any other situation to change mode need to push a little button on the mount surface.Almost every maker best lenses are in this focal length I have many of them like Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f1.5, Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 80mm f1.8, Nikon-Nikkor-H 85mm f1.8, Helios-40 85mm f1.5.They have not much quality difference, but each lens has own personality. This Super-Multi-Coated Takumar has the best out focus background "bokeh" from all of them. Biotar 75mm f1.5 the best wide-open performer you can't see any visible difference lens is stopped down or not in sharpness. I have the latest version of Takumar 85mm f1.8 with K-bajonett also, M42 version is significantly better as the price shows on the market.

Lens

Asahi Pentax SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8 M42
Related resources:

Takumar 85mm

Forum

http://www.aohc.it

Early Pentax Takumar Lens


Fact Sheet

Vendor name Type Product year
Asahi  Pentax
Super Multi-Coated Takumar
1973-1979
Focal Min(mm) Focal Max(mm) Focus Min(cm)
85
85
0.85
Aperture Max Aperture Min. Barrel length(mm)
1.8
16
 
Elements In Group Diaphragm action Weight (g)
6 in 6
Auto|Manual
340
Filter Size (mm) Push on diameter (mm) Angular field
58
   

User Comments

The 85/1.8 SMC Takumar is one of the best lenses Pentax, or anyone else, has ever made. Prices are pretty high for an M42 mount lens. Someone else will have to fill you in the functional differences in the mounts.

(Josef Brugger)

The SMC 85/1.8 has a 6/6 optical design and is a valuable and very collectible lens.

(Michael R.Freeman)

 


 
Comments (2)
rollei planar 80mm f2.0 HFT
2Monday, 08 August 2011 23:21
i'll add this to my list :D however have you tried the Rollei Planar 80mm? how does this match up?
looking for a Pentax 85mm (SMC or older Takumar or similar) lens
1Wednesday, 24 March 2010 12:02
hi

i'm looking for a Pentax 85mm (SMC or older Takumar or similar) lens that also has an extra soft-focus controller ring.

anyone knows this particular model intended mainly for portrait photography?

Add your comment

Your name:
Subject:
Comment: