| Author: | Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Ascending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 24 | Veteran Member Registered:November,2006 Location:Variable Posts:669 6 users found this helpful | | Review Date: August 17, 2007 | Recommended |Price:$200.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Fast portrait lens with very good sharpness (even wide open), great contrast, solidly built, no autofocus | | Cons: | Much sought after (can be expensive), no autofocus | |
The 85/1.8 Auto-Takumar shouldn't be put in the same category as the 85/1.8 S-M-C Takumar as they are not the same lens. The 85/1.8 Auto-Takumar, like its successors the 85/1.9 Super-Takumar and the 85/1.9 S-M-C Takumar, is a 5 element/4 group lens, whereas the 85/1.8 S-M-C Takumar is an improved design with 6 elements in 6 groups. You can find more information about Pentax 85mm lenses on Frank Mechelhoff's website here:
http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_85mm.html The 85/1.8 S-M-C Takumar has more sharpness and contrast below f/4.0 than both its predecessors and the 85/2.0 SMC Pentax M lens. It is perfectly usable wide open, has a marvelous bokeh and much less purple fringing on digital than the FA 77 LE. It is the must sought after lens of all the screw mount Pentax 85s but it usually goes for less than the 85/1.8 SMC-Pentax K, despite the fact that the latter shares the very same optical formula. Cheers! Abbazz | | | | | | Senior Member Registered:September,2006 Posts:181 | | Review Date: October 31, 2007 | Recommended |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Fast, Very Well Built | | Cons: | Its screw mount? | |
This review is for the SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8. I am very impressed with the optical qualities of this lens, and think it lives up to its legend of being one of Pentax's best lenses. Its sharp, fast, very well built, a dream to focus, has beautiful bokeh. I have yet to see signs of CA, despite shooting some very contrasty scenes. When looking for examples on the net, before purchasing, I was unable to find many good examples. After shooting with this lens for a couple of days, I have to believe the reason for the lack of quaility samples has to be due to focusing errors.(Non working links removed)
| | | | Veteran Member Registered:April,2008 Location:USA Posts:1,901 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: September 19, 2008 | Recommended |Price:$500.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, nice color, build quality | | Cons: | screw mount | |
An absolute joy to use, especially after looking at the results. I haven't used this lens a whole lot yet but so far I really love it. I am also new to Takumars and the focus is sooo smooooth on these lenses. I like the look of the colors this lens produces also. Great in low light and great bokeh in most situations. Certainly plenty sharp!! I am liking the manual focus lenses also because I like the control and it gives me a feel of bonding with camera/lens and subject. I am new to all this also so keep that in mind when vieiwing the photos I have posted. BTW I hated giving this lens a 9 rating because of the average 10 before. I quess I gave it a 9 because its a screw mount. The lens I purchased is in near mint condition so thats the only reason I paid that high of a price. Still, its a bit high. Wish the price of Takumars would go back down but there has been a new birth of interest since they are known for a high image quality and you can't say enough about the quality of build. A real dream!!  | | | | Senior Member Registered:December,2007 Location:Denmark Posts:146 | | Review Date: November 29, 2008 | Recommended |Price:$320.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Build and IQ | | Cons: | That it's manual everything - but you knew that | |
This review is for the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85/1.8. Optically, this has got to be the best lens I have ever owned. It is simply wonderful, very sharp and with buttery smooth bokeh. It is sharp wide open beyond my wildest expectations. Looses a little bit of contrast at 1.8, but picks up at 2.0. DOF at 1.8 is of course very thin, and with the limitations of viewfinders on DSLRs (which are optimized for AF with slow kit zoom lenses), focusing is difficult, even though a split screen helps quite a bit. It is the perect potraiture lens. Even though the crop factor means that 50s have replaced the focal length in terms of field of view, I much prefer the more flattering compression of perspective of ranges between 70-100 mm. Oh, it's built like a tank. | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered:May,2008 Location:Rhode Island Posts:4,180 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: December 25, 2008 | Recommended |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Sharp--lots of contrast--built like a Rolls | | Cons: | | |
Auto Takumar f1.8 This is not merely a lens; it is a high-crafted work of art! On this model, the aperture ring is out on the front, adding an exotic touch to it. Performance? The lens does all the things you want a lens to do, providing great sharpness, contrast and colors. It is the one lens I use which does not require any post processing. The fact that this baby was made in the early 60s, makes you wonder what has been going on in lens technology these past 40+ years. It is sharp even wide open. If I search for criticism, I could say the focus ring requires a bit more force than I would like, though it moves so smoothly I feel almost guilty for complaining. All this, by itself, is enough to make me love the lens. But, as icing on the cake, its simplistic elegance is so overpowering the lens almost generates feelings of idolatry in its owner. Honestly, it is a genuine treat just to hold the lens in your hands, turning the focus ring to and fro. I need mention this was gifted to me-- by the original owner--the joys of family! I think I have made a case for why I give a 10. | | | | Forum Member Registered:June,2007 Location:Eilat, Israel Posts:51 | | Review Date: March 1, 2010 | Recommended |Price:$140.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp even wide open, great color rendition, wonderful bokeh, solid built, smoooooth... | | Cons: | For me, because of my bad eyes, non-autofocus | |
This is the best lens I've owned; ever! Just last weekend I sold nearly all of my manual Pentax lenses, accessories and cameras. Nearly... I kept this lens.
It will continue to give me great pleasure on my K10D and 5D Mark II... If you ever have the chance to acquire the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 1:1.8/85
get it; you will not regret it... Cheers,
Michael | | | | Site Supporter Registered:February,2009 Location:Cork Posts:1,900 | | Review Date: November 20, 2010 | Recommended |Price:$265.00 |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | Build, Quality, Bokeh, Sharpness | | Cons: | Price | |
This is a very good lens. Build is unsurpassed, all metal. It feels like quality. Focussing on a K20D with a Katz Eye split prism is relatively easy, you have a 330 degree throw to work with allowing easy micro adjustments.
It is sharper than its older sibling the f/1.9 maybe a bit too sharp at times for my intended purpose of portraits. Colour rendering is a bit colder than the f/1.9 as well, it is more Zeiss and less Pentax.
Metering on the K20D with Katzeye was actually spot on @ f/1.8, I tended to use +0.3 and +0.7 the further I stopped down.
So why a 8? The price I paid above was last year from a more high end dealer, who generally had Zeiss and Leica stuff and did not know what to do with this. Ebay and even here on our Marketplace show a completely different set of prices. $500 is the norm now, and that takes it into FA77 territory, where it is completely outclassed in every way with one exception, it is easier to use this on non Pentax cameras. Sample image:
K20D, ISO100, 1/20s, f/1.8 - Maximus | | | | Pentaxian Registered:August,2009 Location:Perth, Western Australia Posts:680 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: February 15, 2011 | Recommended |Price:$400.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | excellent IQ, compact, fast and well built | | Cons: | rare and expensive, manual focus | |
This review is for the later SMC version. I bought this lens after first considering a new FA77mm Limited and a used A*85mm F1.4. I received my lens in the mail yesterday and after only a few test shots decided that I made a good decision. I am extremely happy with it! This lens is 90% as good as an A series 85mm F1.4 for a third of the price. It is also lighter and much more compact. IQ is excellent: it is fast, sharp (even wide open) and has a very smooth, pleasing bokeh. It is extremely well built and despite being almost 40 years old my well cared for example makes contemporary plastic lenses look and feel like toys by comparison. I don't believe the screw mounting is much of an inconvenience. Stop down metering is no problem with fast lenses and aperture priority operation is easy and intuitive. In my opinion, it is easier to use fast screw mount lenses on a DSLR than later K-mount lenses without an 'A' position (ie. using the green button method in manual mode). At F1.8 the lens gives sharp and surprisingly contrasty and colourful images even in low light. Bokeh is smooth and pleasing but focus can be hard to get right especially due to the very narrow depth-of-field. In such cases a photo's success can depend on where the point of best focus is placed. (In the images I have attached, I focussed on the eyes which I believe gave the best effect.) All photos taken with K10D at 400 ISO: F1.8, 1/60s
100% crop: (best focus on left eye)
F1.8, 1/60s
100% crop:
F2.8, 1/50s
100% crop
F2.8, 1/50s
All in all a fun lens and one to admire and enjoy for its build quality even when not taking photos with it. If there is a fault with this lens, it is the (increasing) cost and, due to their age and rarity, the difficulty in finding a good one (without scratches, fungus etc) for a reasonable price. They are fast becoming collectors' items and the fact that screw mount lenses are not limited to Pentax cameras only (but also Canons and Nikons) will only elevate prices higher. | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered:June,2009 Location:Tumbleweed, Arizona Posts:5,750 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: October 2, 2011 | Recommended |Price:$360.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Image Quality, Sharpness, Bokeh | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 10 Value: 10 | |
I acquired the lens through a member here on the MarketPlace. For a 50 year old lens, its wonderful. Excellent Image Quality, sharpness, contrast and coloring. Build and glass are superb. Ability to focus even with my old eyes is excellent. The only slight negative it has, is having to extract the M42 adapter from the camera in the dark when I shoot in the evening. So I am considering just removing the clip on the adapter, so that it will just stay on the lens. This lens also compares very favorably with the Contax Carl Zeiss 85mm f2.8 Sonnar T* (mount changed from C/Y to K). Slightly different characteristics. | | | | Veteran Member Registered:November,2006 Location:Singapore Posts:3,202 | | Review Date: January 16, 2012 | Recommended |Price:$245.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Sharp even wide open w great color rendering and smooth bokeh. Built to outlast me, buttery smooth focusing, the best manual lens I''ve ever had, and I've had a lot. | | Cons: | The price is a bit on the high side. But It'd cost a lot more if it's made to the same standard with the samematerial. | | Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 10 Value: 10 | |
I've had the lens before, but really didn't use it much except a few quick snaps on my kids. Maybe It's because my previous copy was too new (like brand new), I dared not scratch or add any mark on it. Sold it because I didn't want to baby it. Just got another well used copy, man, I'm glad I did. I decide to sell the A*85 but keep this one. It's smaller and lighter than the A*85, no rubber focusing ring, optically almost as good, mechanically even better, and of course cost a lot less. I'm stil keeping the FA77 for its size and AF, but I don't think I'd have as much fun when using it. Now I'm in the process of selling all my manual lenses but keep this one alone. | | | | New Member Registered:March,2012 Location:Berlin Posts:9 | | Review Date: May 27, 2013 | Recommended |Price:$280.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | a lovely object that takes beautiful pictures | | Cons: | strongly hexagonal bokeh | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 8 Value: 9 Camera Used: Canon 5D mkIII | |
Awesome lens. It feels great the second you pick it up. On the camera it is even better, especially on a full frame where the field of view is really nice not just for portraits but for slightly wider mid-shots too, where its absolute sharpness really shines and often gives pictures a 3D kick. I concur will all the other positve qualities already mentioned. It absolutely blows away my other 85 - a Jupiter 9 - in every way, except that my Jupiter 9 has a lovely circular diaphram. The Tak gets strong hexagonal bokeh stopped down. Thats just a preference thing, and it occassionally makes me still reach for the Jup. The long focus throw sometimes means a missed shot or too, but that seems pretty normal at this focal length. | | | | Site Supporter Registered:September,2013 Location:Texas Posts:503 2 users found this helpful | | Review Date: November 4, 2013 | Recommended |Price:$175.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | Excellent color rendition, fast, sharp, great mechanical feel | | Cons: | price | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 7 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 10 Value: 6 Camera Used: Multiple Canon EOS | |
My copy has fungus and suffers from reduced global contrast, particularly at f1.8, so my review reflects that. (I'll update this review once it's CLA'd.) Despite the fungus, it's still a very strong performer and it holds up quite well to the merciless acid test of astrophotography. It has a little more CA than I'd like to see, but it's not excessive. I own numerous M42 taks (most of the line) and so can accurately compare with the others. Many people have commented on the excellent sharpness of the lens, and I agree it's quite sharp. To me, though, the most outstanding feature is the really excellent color rendition. Colors look natural and balanced, especially compared to many other lenses, including those from the modern era. I'm intrigued by what makes the color look so much better, so I plan to set up a spectrograph to measure it against some others. I'll put that in the separate posting, of course. The combo of outstanding color rendition, combined with high sharpness and good bokeh (and of course the legendary takumar mechanical feel) makes this a very enjoyable lens to use. | | | | Forum Member Registered:December,2012 Location:Warsaw Posts:83 2 users found this helpful | | Review Date: March 9, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$400.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, contrast, color redintion, bokeh. | | Cons: | None - very rare | | Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 10 Value: 10 | |
Beautiful piece of metal and optical glass and a joy to use.
Pure pleasure to see the results.
Get one if you can and wish. Here is an interesting page about 85mm lenses: http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Pentax_Takumar_85mm.htm | | | | Site Supporter Registered:November,2010 Location:California Posts:2,223 2 users found this helpful | | Review Date: May 25, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$400.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Very similar to the SMC Tak 85/1.9 | | Cons: | Wide open not fully sharp | | Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 10 Value: 10 Camera Used: K-3 | |
I reviewed the 85/1.9, please refer to it on this forum. Here are some photos I took with both lenses, the /1.8 and the /1.9. No PP has been added, they are SOOC. You decide! Photos were taken with a Pentax K-3 on a tripod, AV mode, ISO 100. WIDE OPEN: SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f1.9-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f1.8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr @F/2.8 SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f2.8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f2.8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr @F/4 SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f4-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f4-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr @F/5.6 SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f5.6-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f5.6-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr @F/8 SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f8-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr @F/11 SMC-Takumar85mmf1.9@f11-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMC-Takumar85mmf1.8@f11-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr Update: December 27, 2014: I had not used this lens for a while and found that it is indeed spectacular for low light and indoor portraits, also excellent for out doors. Here are some samples with this lens: SMCTakumar85-1.9-RedHair2-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMCTakumar85-1.9-Bass-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr SMCTakumar85-1.9-Santa-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr | | | | Pentaxian Registered:March,2007 Location:Greater Copenhagen Area Posts:430 | | Review Date: July 31, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$200.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Build, bokeh and image quality | | Cons: | Not many | | Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 9 Value: 10 Camera Used: K20D and K-5 | |
The Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F1.8 deserves all the praise it can get. It is simply a great lens and certainly one of the best Takumars. I have both this lens and the slightly older Super-Takumar 85mm F1.9. The S-M-C Tak is both sharper and more flare-resistant, so I would classify it as the better lens. Examples taken with the K20D - almost wide-open:
#1
#2
Examples taken with the K-5:
#3 - wide-open
#4 - approx. F4-5.6
Addendum: The older Auto-Takumar 85mm should have a thread of its own. It's a much older lens, and the optical formula is different. | | |
Honestly, it is a genuine treat just to hold the lens in your hands, turning the focus ring to and fro. 
