A Big Takumar

usayit · Jul 20, 2009

I've been really really good about not spending any cash on my collection/camera stuff for a while but I just could not pass this one up. I knew it was going to be large but I had no idea it would be this large. Its still smaller than most of Canon's large super telephotos but I was always under the assumption that older manual lenses were quite a bit smaller in size to their modern AF cousins. Not really sure about the practicality of this lens but it sure does attract attention amongst my Takumar collection. With a min focusing distance of 10m, it was going to get difficult to shoot quick test shots around my rather small property.

It will be a fun lens to have during camping/hiking trips. It will take practice but I need to try it out on some birds too...

Attached photos

1) Takumar 500mm f/4.5 makes my DSLR look puny
2) Wide open at a tree hole those darn squirrels like to call home. A bit of CA around the leaves.
3) flowers stopped down to f/8.

Not bad at all for a lens built several decades ago....

Plankton · Jul 20, 2009

Awesome find! I have been looking around for one of those for a while, hows the focus action? I know the all of my Takumars are awesome and smooth when focusing, except for my 300mm which is a little tight.

usayit · Jul 20, 2009

The focusing on this lens is very smooth as with most takumars.. maybe a tad stiff. From the amount of dust that had accumulated on this lens, I wouldn't be surprised if it hadn't been used for many years. I bet it should loosen up nicely after a few uses. The focusing ring rotates a full 360 degrees from 10m to infinity. The good news is that the glass is absolutely clear.