Hahahah, Oosty! I haven't ridden a bike in a while, and it didn't come back as easy as I thought
But thanks for your comment! I have to add contrast back in most cases but the resolution of the lens is definitely there. Blows my mind when I consider its age.
I recently picked up a Takumar 200mm f/3.5 and when I got it, it looked totally hopeless. I swear there were several families of spiders living in it. I could hardly see through it. I just finished reconditioning it and it now looks like it just rolled off the assembly line! An almost perfect reconstruction and cleaning if I do say so myself. It's got an 18 leaf aperture iris which I think is very unusual. Still it renders in the typical "Takumar" style. After having this lens completely apart it really strikes me as a work of art in sophisticated simplicity. If I ever design a lens I hope it's like this!
It's still raining this morning but I was able to pop out at around 7am between rain clouds a nick some candids of the neighbors having their daily flibbertigibbet session. I can't wait to bring this puppy out for a good run under some interesting lighting. Anyway here's what I got this morning.
I recently added a Canon 7D to my long-term Pentax toolbox. Over the years, I've cycled through so many of the SuperTaks. Now with the 7D, I'm reacquiring a select few, and this time they're SMC versions.
Today I had a brief amount of time to test an SMC Takumar 100mm f4 Macro lens. It was a soggy day with dusk approaching. This Abutilon (called flowering maple but not related to the common maple tree at all) was a willing subject.
Bifurcator wrote:
Awesome pics BTW!!! Where were those taken if I may inquire?
They were shot at a Buddhist Shingon mission in Hawaii. I am pretty stoked to be able to use my Tak's on the Canon, although they are a LOT easier to shoot with my E-P2.
Bifurcator wrote:
Tak's on the Canon... Ooo, tell us more! Which ones, camera, and how?
Tak's....gotta love 'em....the best in show is the SMC Takumar 85/1.8, followed by the Super-Tak 50/1.4 and the Macro-Tak 50/4. The Super-Tak 35/3.5 and SMC 28/3.5 round out the litter.
I have shot all of them on my m4/3's bodies (GH1, GF1 and E-P2)....they render nicely.
I just recently picked up an Optix v5+ chipped adapter (M42-EOS) and have shot only the 85 and the 50mm on the 5DmkII. Manual focus on the Canon is a learning curve for me compared the the magnified EVF's on the m4/3's cameras.
I'll post more Canon shots this week.
BTW......I wouldn't have even considered going this route if it wasn't for this particular message thread.
But, so, the 50 and the 80 just work as is on your 5D? I ask because others here have said most if not all Takumars won't work. Something about mirror clipping or something. <shrug>
Yes, some M42 lenses, including some wide angle Taks will hit the rear mirror of the 5D (and maybe other EOS bodies) when focusing to infinity. Doing that forces the rear element to expand into the mirror box. This is the site that tells all.
I've been happy with a chipped, cheap adapter on my Canon 7D. It's actually a little easier to use than the classic one for Pentax K-mount bodies that has been in use for the past 20 years. So far my two SMC Taks clear the 7D innards.
I've been manually focusing on my Pentax DSLRs for the past 6 years. But I've used third-party microprism split focusing screens including the Katzeye ultrabright during the past two years. I've stayed with the 7D screen because it's quite bright, and Liveview @ 10x works quite well when the camera is tripod mounted. I am debating getting a Katzeye for the 7D (they suggest professionals do the install, though the guide shows the process to be not that dicey) as I like the product and shot with similar screens the prior three decades on film SLRs. Also my eyes ain't getting better with time.
But, so, the 50 and the 80 just work as is on your 5D? I ask because others here have said most if not all Takumars won't work. Something about mirror clipping or something. <shrug>
I haven't yet tried the wide Tak's for the reasons MDeliquento states below...but, the 5D2 mirror box seems to have less problems with mirror clipping than the 5D. (Threads have speculated tighter manufacturing tolerances in the 5D2).
I dunno.....I am just happy to be able to use a few lenses from my Spotmatic days.
MDelinquento wrote:
I've been manually focusing on my Pentax DSLRs for the past 6 years. But I've used third-party microprism split focusing screens including the Katzeye ultrabright during the past two years. I've stayed with the 7D screen because it's quite bright, and Liveview @ 10x works quite well when the camera is tripod mounted. I am debating getting a Katzeye for the 7D (they suggest professionals do the install, though the guide shows the process to be not that dicey) as I like the product and shot with similar screens the prior three decades on film SLRs. Also my eyes ain't getting better with time.
I got a diagonal split prism Brightscreen for the 5D2. Took two seconds to install. I am pretty happy with it.....but, for me, manual focus is still less than perfect.
