Super-multi-coated Takumar 35mm f3.5 review
Amongst vintage lenses, Takumar is one of the
iconic names, but are they really that good or is it just internet hype?
I’ve been meaning to try them for years, but they are a bit rare here in Italy and due to their reputation prices are often inflated.
Last year I was finally able to buy three of them and I’ve been using them on and off since then.
Today’s subject is the 35mm 3.5, built sometime between 1971 and 1980
The lens is made of metal, it weights around 150g, it is 34 to 37mm long and it has an external diameter of 58mm, with a 49mm front thread.
The iris has 5 blades, the aperture is clicked and it goes from f3.5 to f16. On the side there’s the auto-manual selector for compatible camera bodies.
The focusing ring is textured, it turns 150 degrees and minimum focusing distance is 45cm.
As we can see on the front element, this was the first series of lenses produced by Asahi with multicoating.
The M42 mount has a flange distance of 45,46mm.
This lens is very compact and light so it feels right at home even on small mirrorless cameras.
The aperture ring is narrow but the texture still makes it easy to grip, while the focus is precise and with the right amount of resistance.
As you would expect from an f3.5 lens, sharpness wide open is very good with slightly softer corners and by f8 it gets very sharp all over the frame.
Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled and even pixel peeping I wasn’t able to see any significant amount.
While saturation is a bit low, the contrast is very modern but still not punky.
Specular highlights can show some hard edges, but overall backgrounds are smooth with hints of swriliness.
Flares and ghosting are very well controlled, even when shining a light directly into the lens.
35mm 3.5 doesn’t sound like an exciting lens and it is not, but for the time it was produced, it is impressive how good it is.
Now we’ll have to see if the two other lenses I got along with it are as good.
I’ve been meaning to try them for years, but they are a bit rare here in Italy and due to their reputation prices are often inflated.
Last year I was finally able to buy three of them and I’ve been using them on and off since then.
Today’s subject is the 35mm 3.5, built sometime between 1971 and 1980
The lens is made of metal, it weights around 150g, it is 34 to 37mm long and it has an external diameter of 58mm, with a 49mm front thread.
The iris has 5 blades, the aperture is clicked and it goes from f3.5 to f16. On the side there’s the auto-manual selector for compatible camera bodies.
The focusing ring is textured, it turns 150 degrees and minimum focusing distance is 45cm.
As we can see on the front element, this was the first series of lenses produced by Asahi with multicoating.
The M42 mount has a flange distance of 45,46mm.
This lens is very compact and light so it feels right at home even on small mirrorless cameras.
The aperture ring is narrow but the texture still makes it easy to grip, while the focus is precise and with the right amount of resistance.
As you would expect from an f3.5 lens, sharpness wide open is very good with slightly softer corners and by f8 it gets very sharp all over the frame.
Chromatic aberration is extremely well controlled and even pixel peeping I wasn’t able to see any significant amount.
While saturation is a bit low, the contrast is very modern but still not punky.
Specular highlights can show some hard edges, but overall backgrounds are smooth with hints of swriliness.
Flares and ghosting are very well controlled, even when shining a light directly into the lens.
35mm 3.5 doesn’t sound like an exciting lens and it is not, but for the time it was produced, it is impressive how good it is.
Now we’ll have to see if the two other lenses I got along with it are as good.
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