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Archive 2011 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Is there a problem with the Super Takumar 35mm f/2 lens (49mm filter thread) hitting the mirror of the Sony A850 or A900 or somehow interfering with the mechanics?

When I plug in this lens into my A850 with a M42 adapter, I get "Camera error" message unless the AF settings is on the "M" manual focus mode. Also after taking a few pictures and then moving back and taking another the camera went into this same "camera error" mode when I pressed the shutter.

I have used this lens + adapter combination on my A700 and a Maxxum 7 film camera without any problems at all.

Also the lens does have a pin that protrudes slightly a few mm from its mount and when the lens is focused towards infinity, its rear element does protrude into the mount by a few mm as well. I now notice that there is some abrasion on the rear element housing. I hope this wasn't a case of a mirror hit like I hear about with Canon 5D FF cameras. I hope the Sony FF cameras do not have this problem too.

Finally, I noticed that with the Sony A850, unlike with the A700, the center AF point is not lighting up and is very difficult to see indoors. The circular in focus green circle does not light up but to make sure that the cross sensor is on the right part of the subject, I need to be able to see its outline which I can't see very well. Is this normal?

Oct 15, 2011 at 04:42 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Did you set "Release w/o lens" in the camera menu?

I doubt the lens poses a mirror issue on this camera, particularly if there is no issue on the other Minolta cameras as the unique mirror in the FF Sony's allows even more room. You might have a mount issue if anything. The FF Sony's are very accepting of most lenses which cannot be used with Canon actually.

You need a chipped adapter for focus confirmation on the FF Sony's.

Oct 15, 2011 at 05:04 PM

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

I upgraded to camera firmware to v2 and also have a chipped M42 adapter therefore although the Release without lens options is enabled that shouldn't matter. When the camera starts up the focus motor whirs for a good amount of time when the AF confirm adapter is installed with a lens even though it is a manual focus lens. The AF confirm chip must be reporting that an AF lens is really attached rather than a manual focus lens A-mount lens like the STF.

If I leave the body AF drive setting at "A" then I get a camera error -- this didn't happen with my A700. If I set it to "M" for manual focus then I don't get the error.

The previous owner of this lens had a spotmatic so I doubt that the abrasion to the rear lens cell ridge came from that. I did have to tighten that cell after I unmounted it from the A850 and was checking for damage.

I really don't want to damage my A850 by using this lens if indeed it is not physically compatible with the A850.

Here is a shot taken with the Sony A850 + Super Takumar 35mm f/2 (M42,49mm filter size).
Only square crop, white balance and exposure corrections were made.
35mm 1/60th sec, f/2, ISO 200, + .69 EV push

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6114/6248678848_ed4b6a0eed_z_d.jpg

Edited on Oct 22, 2011 at 02:20 PM · View previous versions

Oct 15, 2011 at 09:50 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Hmm. Only things I can think of beyond an incompatibility with this lens would be either a problem with the chipped adapter where the chip might not be aligning correctly with the contacts of the a850 or a problem specific to this copy of the lens (seems strange the lens cell was loose). I would suggest leaving the camera in Manual focus mode with manual focus lenses in general though.

Wish I could offer something more solid but this is one lens I have not used on my a900. Other lenses which are notorious for interfering with the mirror on a Canon, such as the Pentax Tak 28 3.5 and the 50 1.4, work perfectly with my a900 so it seems odd the 35 would present an issue.

Oct 15, 2011 at 10:03 PM

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

I updated my previous post with a sample image with the Camera and this lens.

Oct 15, 2011 at 10:06 PM

mawz
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Try an unchipped adapter, I've seen similar behaviour from a chipped & adapted Rokkor 58, it's a peculiarity of some chips.

Oct 22, 2011 at 11:18 AM

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Well I've already ordered another AF confirm chip with a flange for the stop down pin. That should keep the pin from interfering with any mechanics in the camera.

Due to my eyesight I can't really work with manual lenses without AF confirmation unless I'm shooting with the much brighter and split prism manual focus cameras.

Oct 22, 2011 at 12:05 PM

mawz
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

HopeIsEternal wrote:
Well I've already ordered another AF confirm chip with a flange for the stop down pin. That should keep the pin from interfering with any mechanics in the camera.

Due to my eyesight I can't really work with manual lenses without AF confirmation unless I'm shooting with the much brighter and split prism manual focus cameras.

A split prism might help, but you'll be hard pressed to find an OVF brighter than the A900/A850's. Note the lens in question is not the easiest to focus wide open, it's sharp but of only moderate contrast (I've got the later SMC version and regularly have issues focusing it accurately even with good MF SLR finders, I use it on several Yashica's as well as my Minolta Maxxum 7's). It's just a finicky lens to focus with.

Oct 22, 2011 at 01:25 PM

debuggerus
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

You might want to shoot a few frames with this adapter without the lens attached. I suspect you will have the same problem.

Oct 22, 2011 at 02:43 PM

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

This problem may have been caused by having DMF turned on. I think I had it on when I used the Takumar 35mm f/2 with the A850. I now have DMF turned off in the menus (I don't like its whirring noise and behavior -- no substitute for real ring hypersonic motor AF) and I will try the lens again.

I'm also trying to buy another copy of this lens that hopefully does not have the yellowing problem.

Feb 23, 2012 at 12:59 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

HopeIsEternal wrote:
I'm also trying to buy another copy of this lens that hopefully does not have the yellowing problem.

You should be able to get rid of the yellowing by putting the lens under UV light, either sunlight or artificial. The yellowing is caused by the use of radioactive glass and, unless there is a version of this lens which does not use the same glass, is going to be present (or perhaps has been eliminated using UV light) in all of these lenses.

Feb 23, 2012 at 01:29 PM

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Yes, I know that. Just never been comfortable with choosing the right type of UV lamp and how exactly to get the deyellowing done.

I happened to come across a 50mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/2 for < $100 for both so I figure I can always get my money back by reselling them if the new lens has yellowing too.

Tariq Gibran wrote:
You should be able to get rid of the yellowing by putting the lens under UV light, either sunlight or artificial. The yellowing is caused by the use of radioactive glass and, unless there is a version of this lens which does not use the same glass, is going to either be present (or perhaps has been eliminated using UV light) in all of these lenses.

Feb 23, 2012 at 01:33 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

HopeIsEternal wrote:
Yes, I know that. Just never been comfortable with choosing the right type of UV lamp and how exactly to get the deyellowing done.

I happened to come across a 50mm f/1.4 and 35mm f/2 for < $100 for both so I figure I can always get my money back by reselling them if the new lens has yellowing too.

That sounds like a great deal for both lenses.

Feb 23, 2012 at 01:34 PM

HopeIsEternal
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Tariq, do you know exactly what UV light I need to buy and how long will be needed to fully deyellow the 35mm f/2? Mine is very yellow,probably fools the camera meter and it is a pain to fix the color tint on every picture especially when no is no reference white area to color balance with.

Feb 23, 2012 at 01:39 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

HopeIsEternal wrote:
Tariq, do you know exactly what UV light I need to buy and how long will be needed to fully deyellow the 35mm f/2? Mine is very yellow,probably fools the camera meter and it is a pain to fix the color tint on every picture especially when no is no reference white area to color balance with.

I don't. What I have read works is to place the lens on top of aluminum foil and sit both in a window which receives direct sunlight. I think this may take a number of weeks to work and, of course, if you live somewhere which is not sunny, it's a no go.

Feb 23, 2012 at 01:56 PM

AhamB
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

There are UV LED flashlights on ebay. Shouldn't be difficult to find a suitable one (very cheaply too).

Feb 23, 2012 at 03:37 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

Tariq Gibran wrote:
I don't. What I have read works is to place the lens on top of aluminum foil and sit both in a window which receives direct sunlight. I think this may take a number of weeks to work and, of course, if you live somewhere which is not sunny, it's a no go.

in the seattle area it'll take about 5 years that way. i'd just go to the nearest hardware store and get the cheapest uv light you can stick in an articulated desk lamp and use that. don't place it so close that it super heats the lens and find out which element is the yellow one (most lenses it is a rear one) and position the lens so that one is closer to the light source. i'd use a mirror instead of aluminum foil as well to maximize light reflected.

Feb 23, 2012 at 03:59 PM

Tariq Gibran
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Super Takumar 35mm f/2 & Sony A850 mirror

sebboh wrote:
in the seattle area it'll take about 5 years that way..

Yep. Here in Florida, I would probably use the window method with foil (using a mirror might catch something on fire!

Feb 23, 2012 at 04:56 PM


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