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I had a Nikkor Ais 55mm f3.5 in 2014 which I sold it just to regret all these years. Since then, I have bought many DSLRs and lenses, but never found something similar until I bought this. First of all, this lens is super sharp from f4 and sharp enough wide open. The contrast and color rendition are pleasant to most eyes. Focus ring is smooth and the aperture ring is stiff enough, in case one bumps on it while shooting. Built quality is great and for the price, this is the best lens out there. To cut things short, I am making a full feature film mostly with this lens on my Sony A6300. I love it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
So you think the Canon 50mm F/1.8 II EF lens for your DSLR is a bargain? Well, this hunk of glass is not only a fraction of the $100 Canon lens, it also one ups it in a few other ways. Usually only costing tens of dollars ($30 or so including shipping! maybe cheaper if you get a body with it), this is a lens that doesn't smell plastic all over. From back in the day when quality matters, this Takumar is supremely well made. Everything but the rubber grip is metal and the focus ring turns with just the right amount of resistance. Of course, being only manual focus, it matters they get the focusing ring right... but everything else on top of that hints quality (and being MF, it's also smaller if that matters to you). It's well built and will last you another 40 years. More importantly though, this thing is sharp. It's sharp wide open and all over. And if you step it down just a bit, it gets sharper everywhere still. The contrast that comes out of the glass is also very good. No complaints about the image quality at all. But of course it's not perfect. Or else everybody would want one and the prices will surely go up... and then no one would want one. The biggest issue of course is the manual focusing for the modern day auto focusing crowd. If you don't mind the MF, get one of those cheap AF confirm M42-to-EF adapters and you're good to go for all M42 lenses in the future. I personally buy M42 (and others like Contax/Yashica, Nikon, Pentax K) lenses for things I don't need MF. These include studio portraits (everything is under control) and maco work (MF is required here). Be careful if you have a full frame camera though. The 5D/1Ds mirrors can sometimes hit the rear element of fast lenses since they are large and closer to the sensor plane (the only one I know of is the Tak 50mm F/1.4, for which you can get the Chinon/Ricoh/Sears counterpart instead). You also need a hood if you got some earlier versions where there is no or little coatings (the Super Multi Coated, SMC, whatever else thing). Flare will degrade your overall (not really micro) contrast that can be mostly fixed in PP. It might not seem like it's worth it to jump to the manual focusing bandwagon when you need to learn another line up (or line ups considering the various brands) of lenses, the good ones, the gems, and the rare ones that you should avoid (very rare). But I find these senior lenses to each have their own personalities. They render the pictures differently than today's have-to-be-sharp run of the mill lenses. I always notice the 3D like images I get from my Takumar 105mm F/2.8 (very under rated lens if you want a good portrait)... something to do with contrast and tones for specific colors and such. Besides, this is the most economical way to get that F/1.4 and F/1.2 fast and sharp glass without having to sell your kids... which is illegal, by the way. So if you're looking for something different or you have already owned all the lenses in your camp or your wallet is a bit lighter than you would like, try these blasts from the past. No one I know has ever regretted. One final piece of info: all Takumars lenses (i.e. Pentax M42 glass) are good. No joke.Read full review
Although it was designed as the cheaper version of Takumar 50/1.4. Unfortunately it is not bad than it. I know that the 50/1.4 user always use it @F2, same as the wide open of this lens. Because of the focal length is 5mm longer, it is more fit to be used as a portrait lens on APS-C body. With open on this lens is sharp enough for portrait and the DOF is more easy to control, so I suggest this lens more than the 50/1.4.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I use my recently received PENTAX SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 with a Rainbow Camera focal reducer on my M4/3 camera. While images captured at f1.8 have a creamy, un-sharp, and dreamy quality, the lens is tack sharp above f2.0.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
A beautiful legacy lens made by Asahi-Pentax a half-century ago, with very clean glass and very minimal signs of use on the exterior — practically good as new. Very enjoyable to use with mount adaptors on my Sony and Fujifilm cameras.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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