Matt White wrote:

Gisle Hannemyr wrote:

I am getting one of these old M42 manual lenses for use on a slightly
newer 1.3x crop DSLR via an adapter. The price for the Super Takumar
is considerable higher than the price of the Pentacon - but neighter
will break the bank - so the price doesn't matter. The Pentacon is
mint, the Super Takumar shows some wear, but the glass is in good
shape and the controls are smooth.

Which one is the best (resolution, contrast, colour)? I am aware
that the Super Takumar is almost one stop faster, so I am leaning
towards that one - but would like to hear from someone that has
actually used either lens.

I understand that the old lenses have some limitations compared to
modern lenses - e.g. that there is no aperture coupling, and that they
won't meter on a modern camera. But how do these 30 year old (?)
lenses compare /optically/ to modern 50 mm lenses such as a Canon or
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4?


I have both the Super Takumar 50/1.4 and the Pentacon 50/1.8. The
Pentacon is decent (I've always suspected I have a bad copy), but the
Takumar is nothing short of amazing. That extra 2/3rds of a stop has
saved many of my shots from blur in low light; I'm allergic to flash. I
don't have an EF or Nikkor 50/1.4, and I've never done any scientific
tests, but my Takumar is at least as good as my EF 50/1.8 and Series E
50/1.8.

One thing to be careful of on EOS bodies (which I assume the 1.3x crop
DSLR is) is that on some wide and normal M42 lenses, the rear lens
element is so far back that the mirror will actually collide with it
when it's near or at infinity. I can't use my wide and normal super taks
on my EOS film bodies because of this. I don't know if this will happen
to you, but it's something to watch for.

- Matt

You make a very common mistake.in your expectations. Compare the two
lenses at f8 and f11 - typical optimal settings.

I believe the Pentax will sell itself.

(The mistake - wider openings are for focus, being the most shallow in
DOF. Narrower openings are for shooting. Unless you buy a really big
bucks lens, don't expect wide open shots to represent what the glass
really can do.)

Jan