2017
Super-Takumar 50 f1.4 - Radioactive retro
This "Tak" lens is one of the two early iterations of Super-Takumars. I picked it out of a bin of lenses, hoping that I've luckily found the rarer and (possibly?) better 8 element version. I did not. This is the single coated 7-element lens with radioactive thorium and consequent yellow casting (which a few days under this Ikea lamp can mostly sort out).
There's lots of hype surrounding Super-Taks. What's the big deal? Let's take a look.
The Super-Takumar 50/1.4 specs:
Build Quality/Handling (Amazing!!)
Wow! I love the build and mechanical quality of this lens. Its all metal body is extremely well put together - there's no plastic or rubber of any kind in sight.
Even more impressive is how smooth the focus and aperture rings are. Focus throw is just over 180° and the action is probably the smoothest of any vintage lens I've tried. The aperture clicks are wonderfully precise and the resistance on the ring is perfect. Again, this is the 'best' aperture action I've experienced on any vintage lens. This lens is mechanically more satisfying than my Minolta MCs and Canon FLs, which also have excellent build quality.
In spite of all that metal and glass, the Tak remains fairly light and compact and handles really well on the A7s (and looks good doing it, too).
Image Quality (Interesting)
Of course, excellent build quality isn't enough to make a lens good. So, how does this lens perform optically? Well, as is the case with many ancient, single-coated lenses (this model was first produced in the late 60s), the image quality is a bit of a mixed-bag. Some would say that it's full of 'character'.
Here are a couple of full-resolution shots on the Sony A7s (click photo for 100% view on flickr).
There's lots of hype surrounding Super-Taks. What's the big deal? Let's take a look.
The Super-Takumar 50/1.4 specs:
- 7 elements in 6 groups
- Weight - 230 grams
- Length - 38 mm (65 mm with adapter)
- Filter size - 49 mm
- Min. focus distance - 0.45 m
- Aperture - 6 blades, f1.4 to f16 in half stop
Build Quality/Handling (Amazing!!)
Wow! I love the build and mechanical quality of this lens. Its all metal body is extremely well put together - there's no plastic or rubber of any kind in sight.
Even more impressive is how smooth the focus and aperture rings are. Focus throw is just over 180° and the action is probably the smoothest of any vintage lens I've tried. The aperture clicks are wonderfully precise and the resistance on the ring is perfect. Again, this is the 'best' aperture action I've experienced on any vintage lens. This lens is mechanically more satisfying than my Minolta MCs and Canon FLs, which also have excellent build quality.
In spite of all that metal and glass, the Tak remains fairly light and compact and handles really well on the A7s (and looks good doing it, too).
Image Quality (Interesting)
Of course, excellent build quality isn't enough to make a lens good. So, how does this lens perform optically? Well, as is the case with many ancient, single-coated lenses (this model was first produced in the late 60s), the image quality is a bit of a mixed-bag. Some would say that it's full of 'character'.
Here are a couple of full-resolution shots on the Sony A7s (click photo for 100% view on flickr).
@f1.4
@f1.4
And at various apertures on the a6000.
@f1.4 (focus on archer's head)
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@f2.8
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100% center crops @ f1.4 - f2 - f2.8 - f4
Wide open the lens shows the typical glow that many vintage fast 50s have at f1.4. Still, it's possible to get decent results wide open, but I probably wouldn't shoot distant subjects at that aperture, but who would?
At f2 the contrast and sharpness improve significantly, and by f4 the lens is very sharp across the frame. Also, CA is pretty well controlled after stopping down.
Bokeh is interesting. It can be harsh in demanding situations such as when there's a large separation between subject and background. Also, specular highlights can show outlining due to spherical aberration. However, I usually really like the look this lens produces at wide apertures, even if it doesn't always have what's considered "good" bokeh.
At f2 the contrast and sharpness improve significantly, and by f4 the lens is very sharp across the frame. Also, CA is pretty well controlled after stopping down.
Bokeh is interesting. It can be harsh in demanding situations such as when there's a large separation between subject and background. Also, specular highlights can show outlining due to spherical aberration. However, I usually really like the look this lens produces at wide apertures, even if it doesn't always have what's considered "good" bokeh.
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f1.4
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f2.8
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Vignetting performance is slightly better than average for this type of lens - visible at f1.4 and improving quickly stopped down.
f1.4
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f2
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f2.8
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f4
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One area where this lens shows its age is flare resistance. Yes, it is single-coated, but that's no excuse for the ridiculous amounts of ghosting flare that can spring up, especially when shooting bright light sources at night. Veiling flare can also be an issue with light sources just outside the angle of view.
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Conclusion
The Super-Takumar is a good looking lens with excellent build and mechanical quality. Optically it has that vintage "character" that some like but others might not. I like its decent sharpness wide open (which becomes excellent stopped down), good CA resistance, and good bokeh. However, the poor flare resistance is a bit of a letdown. Trying the later SMC Takumars is definitely on the list, though.
Related reviews
Sample Images
The Super-Takumar is a good looking lens with excellent build and mechanical quality. Optically it has that vintage "character" that some like but others might not. I like its decent sharpness wide open (which becomes excellent stopped down), good CA resistance, and good bokeh. However, the poor flare resistance is a bit of a letdown. Trying the later SMC Takumars is definitely on the list, though.
Related reviews
- Canon FD 50mm f1.4
- Canon FL 55mm f1.2
- Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.7 Planar T
- Jupiter 3
- Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AI-S
- Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 SMC
Sample Images
