Just a note on the title for this video - the Takumar 50mm f1.4 is one of the very best early film era lenses, but I'm not saying it's the best of all, that isn't a sensible thing to claim. There some excellent film era fast fifties out there - from Nikkor, Canon, Olympus, Fujinon, Topcor, the Tomioka made lenses, Carl Zeiss Jena, Voigtländer, Steinheil München etc etc. (Apologies if I've left some out).

Oh gosh, thanks for the memories. I turn 80yrs this month and used to use one of these on a Spotmatic in the 80's. Had a load of fun and learned so much with that pairing. Did my own D&P in a darkroom I made in the back yard. Ilford film and paper. Thanks again. Ken in New Zealand

I almost died laughing when you told me not to crush and eat the radioactive glass. Thank you for that!

Hey Simon, i just wanted to let you know how much i appreciate your channel. I've learned a lot and it got me into vintage lenses which im mildly addicted with ever since. It really shaped my photography for the better. You got a lovely voice too, very relaxing.

I have the third, radioactive version, found it in an antiques store for £4 with the price sticker stuck on the rear element! Best £4 I ever spent, I love it =D

Your explanations and reasoning are as clear and sharp as the fabulous photos you share. Love your videos and your channel!

Simon, what a pleasure to find your videos ..superb presentation!!!

Keep the content coming! I absolutely love your lens roundups of the best of the best in each group. Great job!

As usual a very informative and well produced video. I was fortunate to pick up a 28mm of these super takumar lens recently very very cheap so this detailed history and explanation of their design and usage is timely.

I'm a bit late to the party, but wanted to report that today I thrifted an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP in not very good shape, however it has the Asahi Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4, serial# 1964610, attached to it in great condition. Bought the camera/lens for $60. Also has the original leather case in fair shape. I've adapted the lens to my Sony a6000 (already owned the adapter). Great bokeh, super sharp. Going to enjoy! Thanks for your great videos! Very instructive. Watching this video convinced me to return to the thrift store to make the purchase which I had passed on earlier.

Thank you for the excellent review of these lenses. I own a Super Takumar and delighted with the sharp colorful pictures it produces. The lamp you recomend clears up the yellow very quickly

Thanks Simon for a fabulous review. I have never read any reviews that is as detail in technical and aesthetic aspects. And you even shared with us its image differences on film and digital ! Keep it up !

Hi Simon, one of the most informative and excellent review seen in a long time.

One of the best videos about these great lenses, very well done.

An outstanding video with best description yet of the lens 50/1.4 version lenses. A Spotmatic F with 3rd version 50/1.4 was my first SLR. If only I had understood photography then, as I do now - I'd have never sold the camera.

Hello Simon. I've sincerely enjoyed your videos, especially this one. This one made me aware of this lens and one day in my local camera shop I noticed one in a display with some other Pentax lenses. This lens was particularly inexpensive and I thought, why not? It's worth a try and I left with a 7 element Super Takumar. I brought it home and after a few test photos found it a bit dreamy, but, oh that bokeh! I planned on using that bokeh creatively. Then, one day on another photography post someone mentioned a newer version of this lens on a Nikon Z50. He included some stopped down photos and I was wowed by them. This inspired me to try it on my Z5. All I can say is I have a new favourite lens. The colours, contrast, and sharpness are simply wonderful. I am seriously in love with this lens and I'm honestly feeling this is my best used lens purchase ever. Thank you for bringing this and other wonderful vintage lenses to my attention along with opening my eyes to lenses other than F and Z mounts.

Best explanation I heard so-far about these lenses. I have the 8 element and the 7 element-radioactive versions. I purchased the 7 element before before purchasing the 8 element by the way. It was cheaper and easier to find. I finally did get my hands on the 8 element and slightly prefer it over the 7 elements. In reality, they are like twins with slightly different personalities....

I have a pair of Super Takumar lenses that came with 2 Spotmatics I bought over 20 years ago. In 2000 I wanted a SLR film camera and found a Pentax SP500 with a 50mm Super Takumar lens in a pawn shop for $50. It's my "#1". I call it The Tank. Never been serviced, never done anything to it. The light meter still works. Seals are still good. It just works. Always. I bought a Spotmatic right after it because I liked it so much. $50 on ebay. This one is a first generation one, mid 60s. It has an 8 element Super Takumar 28mm lens and original hood. It was like new. Same deal... another tank. Light meter still works, never had it serviced. They are THE MOST reliable and mechanically solid cameras. Since then I've also acquired a K1000 and K2 with SMC lenses. All mechanical, all metal vintage SLRs from the 60s and 70s are the best cameras ever created. Mine will outlive me.

Very good .Love your explanation of each lens I have several of them. Don't have the eight element yet.

Very interesting, I rushed off to check my swag of Pentax lenses, I have various 50mm f/1.4 with IR marks to the left, however, the 55mm f/2 has its red line right on the f/4 with an R at the bottom of the line. Fascinating series on the older lenses, I was a Pentax user for many years. My latest idea is to test all my Pentax lenses on my astrophotography rigs to see just how good/bad they are. My Takumar 300mm f/4 is pin sharp-a very nice lens especially at this focal length. Keep sharing your wonderful presentations, much appreciated. From an elderly “Pom’ (Leeds) living in Tasmania where we have a great climate no pollution brilliant sunlight, and the best night sky objects compared to the northern hemisphere, and a big plus, COVID-19 free. Kind Regards from the Southern Cross Observatory-Tasmania 42 South. 😁🦘

OMG I just bought one of these (the Super Multi Coated) , along with a Spotmatic II and a Takumar 150mm f4 for AU$150. All in wonderful condition. So stoked!! Can't wait to get out there with it. Thanks for this marvelous review!!

You nailed this. Incredible video! Well written. Well shot. Well spoken. I will keep coming back!

Love this channel, I'm learning so much.

thank you, this is exactly what i needed to know and i loved the way you presented it!

Thanks so much for your insights. I bought a spotmatic f with a super multi coated 1.4 and I simply love it. Such a lovely camera with a great lense!

My primary interest is digital film making, not traditional photography, but your commentary was so well written, your video so smoothly edited, and your voice so pleasant to listen to, that I'm subscribing and looking forward to more from you.

Your videos are excellent. Much appreciated! I have the radioactive super multi coated version and it certainly has some magic. Bit nervous about the radioactive nature of it. I need to de-yellow it, but love it so far.

I really enjoyed this video. A great wealth of information.

Wonderful video. I picked up the 8 element version last autumn and fell in love with it.

Excellent insights. Perfectly done, thanks!

I recently bought an 8-element Super Takumar and coupled it with the Techart adapter to achieve autofocus. The handling of focus and aperture rings are very satisfying and it does delivers a Showa Japanese look.

Own Pentax Spotmatic SPII with the 50mm Takumar f 1.4 lens. The lens is just amazing, so smooth to use and great resolution with color slide or B&W film. Pentax cameras with Takumar lenses are a joy to use.

Intresting! I guess, like allot of ppl, i found myself down the rabbit hole of vintage lenses, after looking to understand what's up with my dad's 70-71 version of this lens, and potentially try it on my modern mirrorless Sony. No more eating lenses i guess. Thanks, great video and info :)

A fabulous informative review. Thank you.

Brilliant review, excellent, thank you. I love 'spotties' and their lenses.

Simon it tickles me to see reports on these lenses. I used the pentax system for years with outrageous results. My favorites were the 28 3.5, 35 2, 50 macro , 105 2.8. The 100 macro was excellent as well. All the 50s were pretty good including the f2. I also shot with the Vivitar series 1 90-180 macro zoom which was originally designed as a medical lense. Seeing your video was like a trip down memory lane, thank you.

Lovely Chanel . I subscribed. I have 2 takumars so far the 35m and 135m

Hi Simon, I also have a Super Takumar as an 8-element and a 7-element. Strange, because both are radioactive, even though the 7th element emits much more radiation than the 8th element. However, it appears that 8-elements may also be slightly radioactive. Greetings from Germany and thank you for your work.

Thank you for another great video. I may be a bit late to the party but I deeply appreciate all your work. I have the "Super-Multi-Coated" 50/1.4 but I'll keep looking for the 8 element version. I'm a Leica geek but I appreciate everything vintage. Of late I have been playing with old and new versions of Meyer Optik lenses. Talk about character, they have it in spades... maybe not to some folks' liking but definitely unique. One just needs to know what to do with such character... something I am still working on.

I bought the Super Multi Coated for my Spotmatic SP, and was watching the reviews, while I wait for the toy to arrive in the mail, in order to know if I did a lucky purchase. I will be taking B/W photography again. Thank you for this review.

Great video, I appreciate your knowledge so much! 👋👋

I got interested in SLR photography when I was on a ship headed to Vietnam in 1966. One of the soldiers aboard was a Pentax shooter and gave a little class on what a SLR was and, more importantly what the Spotmatic was capable of. (Thru-the-lens metering and focusing? Oh, my gosh!) I was hit with the bug and, when I came home, I bought a Spotmatic with a 55/1.8 on it. I've been shooting it, on and off, for the last 50 years or so. With all the great 1960's glass now selling at a pittance, compared to when it was new, I've been steadily building up my inventory of Super-Takumar lenses. I recently acquired an 8-element 1.4 which was in pristine shape. Lovely lens. That 8-element lens is pretty much is the queen of my Spotmatic gear. Wonderful lens. There's just something about the way they work, the way they feel, that sets them apart.

Thank you for this video from Spain.Great lenses ,i have one ,SMC TAKUMAR ,the last.

Your videos on Pentax lenses are my favorite that I’ve found on any vintage lenses. I wish someone would do a systematic comparison of the Nikkor lens system as you have of the Pentax.

Thank you for this video. Great knowledge here. Appreciate it.

Thank you for the comparison of these 50/1.4 lenses

amazing video , made me not only learn but literally i placed order for version 1, 3 and 4. i was lucky to find these on good price today. cant wait to play with and then will keep the one. but dont hold me on that, i had same plans for 4 Helios sitting in my collection :(

Great Channel Simon. Really enjoyable. I have 2 copies of the S-M-C 1.4 7 elements and it is so great, one copy sharper than the other wide open. I had one 8 element version and my copy was extremely foggy and soft wide open. Bad luck I supposed.

Very thorough and informed. If I had seen THIS video before I bought my Takumar I would likely bought the early 8, or maybe even tried to find a solid copy of a Super-Multi-Coated lens. Ahh ... hindsight. I am impressed by your expertise, at least in terms of the art and history of photography, as well as your knowledge optics. Thank you.

Thanks for the excellent video , education and for information 👍👍.

Very informative and good and solid advice. Thanks.

Wow. Thank you for your videos. This was a great video thank you

The Asahi Pentax was my first camera. I bought one with the SMC 50mm, the 28mm, and the 200mm. I sold the 200mm (foolish move) and replaced it with a Vivitar zoom. I always thought that camera and lens produced some great photos. I'm digitizing them now and the sharpness and colors are amazing.

Very detailed and skillful video !!! Purchased a few weeks ago one of the fourth type, a SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4, No. 7781474. Wonderful lens ! Use it on M42 film cameras like Praktica, Fujica, Contax without exception. Like the difference between the soft rendering at f1.4 / f2.0 and the sharper rendering at f4.0 and above. Like the smooth focusing with this lens too. I think, it's a bit radioactive ?? But i accept that, i don't take it for a pillow.

Hi Simon, I much appreciate your experiences being demonstrated here in this video. I've just purchased a Pentax KP (yet to arrive) and I was looking for some samples from the various 50mm lenses. This video was of immense help.(I used to work in the photo industry in the 70's/80's.) Cheers from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Thanks for another interesting video. I have several versions of Pentax 50mm f/1.4 s. I'm fortunate to have an 8 element version which I've been using especially wide open. I've also just purchased an s-m-c version I'm looking forward to trying. Good shooting.

About a year ago I was gifted the SMC model by a friend and fellow KZfaqr Jim Durfee. It is an amazing lens with a rendering that once you've used it for a while you can pick out of a bunch of photos quite easily. Very unique. This is a Very good video thanks for sharing it. Shoot on my fellow Americans, shoot on

Excellent - well informed. Thanks for sharing.

I have, a Pentax K 1000, & the pictures, that came out of there, will knock your socks off.

really enjoy your videos. thank you

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼Great video discussion about legendary reputeted(my hot fevourite) TAKUMAR lenses.❤

I have a Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 on my old Asahi Spotmatic that is in very good mechanical and optical condition. Mine doesn't have the IR focus markings you show but does have the "bulging" rear element. Since I bought this camera in 1965 in Vietnam, I'm confident this has eight elements. It's a real gem. Perhaps it is time to bring it out of retirement if I can get adapters for Canon EF, RP and Sony E mounts.

Love your process.

Hey! I just got my hands on two spotmatics - one with this 50mm lense, which is why I watched your video. I laughed from reading your account name as in my native language it means brain, I thought.. he couldn't possibly mean that though? Maybe it stands for something else. Lo and behold, I read your about section and chuckled so hard. Subscribed forever.

Incredible video ❤️

I've been looking for one of these at a good price - I'd better hurry up before everyone sees your video and it pushes the prices up!!! Great video, very desirable lens, thanks for the info.

Love the detailed video. Thanks for sharing! I have the 7 element, radioactive version. Im seeing the 8 element version on ebay for $350 Canadian, yikes!

Very well done video. I'm not wild about Pentax cameras, but I think it's hard to fault the lenses.I haven't been bowled over by the 8 element version, but I'm pretty sure it's down to user error.I think my favorite is the SMC.

Brilliant info, thank you 😊

Growing up in India - my dad had this on a ZENIT-E body and I used it till 1996 (I was in college) before the camera was stolen. I think it was a 7 element design and there was a golden yellow tint which I thought was a characteristic of the lens. Anyways now I am in US and own Canon L glass, and recently even got a "less expensive" Leica SL2-S. But the bokeh balls are something I miss and not easily produced on the modern glass. I had lot of examples during Diwali an Indian festival of lights. I appreciate your video on this topic - brought back some wonderful memories.

Dear Simon. I bought Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50/1.4. It arrived today. Amazing piece of glass. Thank you for advice.

I've just been given (by a friend of my grandma's) a box of "old camera bits". You should have see then look on my face when I opened up a mint condition super multi coated.... I was looking to BUY one only a few weeks ago! It's awesome.

Great video. I have all versions too. I bought that lamp on your recommendation and successfully deyellowed my SMC. Wow, what a difference!! It's by far the best lens (objectively) out of the bunch. It's more like a Zeiss lens now. The downside is it doesn't have as much character. The yellowed glass evidently affects a lot more than light transmission. My 8 elements version is still my favourite because it is special, but all versions are great. My recommendation would be to buy whichever good condition Takumar is cheapest.

Great video!

What a great review 👍😊👍

Hats off sir, I sold my Super multi coated Tak and after few days I already miss it. I can not justify twice the price for the 8 element since I always shoot wide open or at f2 at max stopped down. So I will be buying same one again. Thanks foe the vid

I've got the 7 elements version from what I can tell, it was given to me along with some other lenses and a camera very similar to the one shown in this video. I had to get up to check and see if it was the 8-element or 7-element. Though I've only recently started using it for video since I got a mount for my C300 and the shutter sticks on my Pentax camera.

A very useful breakdown, thank you. It looks like I have the least noteworthy version (7 element super takumar). However, I bought it very cheaply in a job lot with fungus inside. It was easy to clean though, due to the simple construction and high quality glsss.

Great review!

I bought a ES Pentax in new '73 it came with a SMC 50 MM 1.4, at the same time I bought a Takumar 135mm 3.5 which is the lens I mainly use, this lens is to my jaded eye is better for my type of snaps, I still use the camera when there not an 'R' in the month. Great Camera and Lens observations thanks..

I tested my three vintage 24mm lenses to see which was the sharpest and clearest, using my Sony A7Rii. This is how they came out. 1) Olympus OM-System H.Zuiko Auto-W 24mm f2.8 2) Canon FD-N 24mm, f2.8 3) Asahi Super Multi Coated Takumar 24mm f3.5

I have a Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8 which came with a Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic I picked up a couple of years ago. Easily one of my best 'normal' lenses. Very sharp and excellent color rendition. I have no idea of how many elements are in it but it is very well made and the images are excellent. I'm guessing it dates from late 1960's/early 1970's. That lens is worth what I paid for both the camera and the lens. The camera is in great shape too.

"rare earths" (lanthanum, thorium) are added to the crystal to achieve high refractive indices, but this has no influence on the reflections and/or light transmission of the crystal (a higher refractive index allows to have high power with a thinner element, that helps to reduce weight and size (it is very noticeable in the first bright telephoto lenses, 105, 135 or 200mm, they reduced weight and size considerably in the late 60s))). And it also allows better control of chromatic aberrations (in combination with low diffraction crystals).

Thanks Simon that’s very helpful video as always. I managed to find an 8 element version from the USA this morning, price looked good but when you add the import duty a bit steep! anyway bought now and looking forward to dreamy bokeh!

Probably worth a mention...the 8 element version often suffers from a slackness in the barrels, its an easy fix, but its worth adding thread lock this time..they seem to have forgotten!

I still have my Pentax spotmatic with the 50mm Super Takumar 1.8 lens that I bought in the late 1970s. Painterly is a good description for it

I have the Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 Radioactive in my collection. Radiation is there for sure, 2250 CPM worth. The only hotter lens I have is the FUJINON 50mm f1.4 Radioactive 3706 CPM, uSv/h 22.77

My favorite 50mm lens I have the 7 element radioactive copy love the lens.

In addition I find it very interesting that leica made adapters for pentax lenses before they made any other adapters. Kinda gives you a heads up. To this day if I am looking at Kodachrome slides I can still pick out the pentax shots over everything else. Thanks again

Great video! A weird but possibly useful question for others who may have bad (scratched) copy of the 8 element. Does the 7 element and 8 element versions both have the same dimensions? I mean, would it be possible to switch the front elements between the 2 or are they completely different in size? Thanks!

I love this lens! I have all four versions, plus extras because sometimes they just come with camera bodies. In the 70's, I used a Leica M4 with the Summilux 1.4 50mm, and thought that lens was amazing. Now I'd be curious to see an objective comparison between that lens and the Pentax ones. My guess would be that they're not all that different.

Brilliant. Thank you, Cheers!

Great video! I was actually thinking of getting the 8 element version but because of its protruding rear element I was wondering if I'd be able to use it with a speedbooster on my fuji?

Thank You for another Great Video, The Jansjo lamp most are led, will Led remove the yellow? searched UV but nothing comes out in market searches. again Thank you, your one of my favorite Lens reviewers and enjoy your style and critiques.

Your videos and explanations are fantastic. I bought a supertakumar f/1.4 50 mm several years ago to demonstrate to students that when I put a geiger counter over it, it's radioactive. The lens is yellowed. After watching your video, I believe that it is a 7 element 2nd gen lens with a serial number near 3 million. What m42 adapter do you use to adapt it to your sony a6000? Please consider starting a Patreon account so we can donate to you.

Loved this comparison! And the vids! Curious how you think the SMC compares to a Canon FD 50/1.4?

hi, the last version smc takumar 72-75 made, is that radio active?

will have to buy one of these for my a7 :-) . Which version of the tak 55mm 1.8 do you recommend? Thanks for yhe video by the way really well pu together

What learned tonight is that there's no trouble whatsoever finding an 8-element version so long as you have a solid $300 or so for eBay.

Great content- Thank you. With all the mid range 50s you have (all manufacturers and vintages) , a good video would be which 50(ish) lens would I choose if I was going to go shoot __?__ and why. I have a number of 50s, but depending on if I'm shooting landscape or portrait or something else, I might grab a particular lens for a particular look (even if it is in the same-ish focal length)