Pentax (Takumar) Takumar 7 Elements Heritage

Overview

The 'Takumar 7 Elements' refers to the 7-element optical revisions of Asahi Optical Co.'s (Pentax) legendary 50mm f/1.4 Takumar line, produced in M42 screw mount from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. According to the reviews, the story begins in 1964 with the original 'Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4', which used an unusually high count of 8 elements in a deliberate effort to 'one-up' Zeiss, then regarded as the finest lens makers in the world. Legend has it that this 8-element design was more expensive to manufacture than Pentax could charge for it, so it was replaced in 1965 by a more financially viable 7-element 'Super Takumar', earning the whole line the community nickname 'Planar Killer'. This 7-element formula continued through the 1971-1972 'Super-Multi-Coated Takumar' (7 elements in 6 groups) and the later 'SMC Takumar' produced until 1975. The Super-Multi-Coating (SMC) introduced on these later versions was a genuine game-changer at the time, significantly reducing flare and improving contrast, setting a standard that influenced modern multi-coating technologies. Notably, the reviews establish that the later 7-element iterations used a RADIOACTIVE glass in the rear element, reportedly to aid sharpness — though reviewers note the radiation level is incredibly low and not a real safety concern. The lens has 'garnered something of a legendary reputation online,' beloved for its build quality, sharpness, bokeh, character, and its historical status as a Zeiss-challenger.

Verdict: The 7-element Takumar 50mm f/1.4 is a legendary M42 classic for photographers who want a beautifully built, sharp vintage standard lens with genuine character and historical pedigree as a 'Planar Killer.' Its silky focus, satisfying aperture clicks, and durability make it a joy to use on modern mirrorless bodies via adapter. Buyers should choose their version deliberately — SMC for reduced flare, earlier versions for flare character — and be aware of the reversed focus ring and the (harmless) radioactive glass in later copies.

Optical Character

Bokeh

Known for its bokeh, which blurs backgrounds strongly at 45cm close focus, with no swirl or bubble effects.

Sharpness wide open

Widely known for sharpness, reportedly aided by the radioactive rear element in later versions.

Flare resistance

Has a propensity for flare in earlier/less-coated versions, significantly reduced in the Super-Multi-Coated versions.

Contrast

Improved contrast on the Super-Multi-Coated versions thanks to SMC coating.

Community Insights

What people love

Exceptional all-metal build quality that feels solid and well-engineered, and remains satisfying to use decades later
Incredibly smooth focus ring with a focusing throw of a little over 180 degrees, offering precise manual focus control
Satisfying, well-defined clicks on the aperture ring
Sharpness and its historical reputation as a genuine 'Planar Killer' that challenged Zeiss
Character it brings to images and its ability to blur backgrounds nicely at 45cm close focus
Robust durability — one reviewer's copy still operated and imaged well despite a chipped front element and dented filter ring
The interesting trivia and mystique of the radioactive rear-element glass in later versions

What people dislike

Propensity for flare, especially in earlier and less-coated iterations
The focus ring direction is reversed from most other manual focus lenses, which can throw off users trying to focus quickly
The many confusing versions (Super, Super-Multi-Coated, SMC; 8-element vs 7-element) make it hard to know exactly what you're buying
M42 screw mount requires an adapter for modern cameras
Some buyers are put off by the radioactive glass in later versions (though the actual risk is minimal)

Pro Tips

Remember the focus ring turns in the reversed direction from most lenses — practice before critical shooting to avoid missed focus
Use a quality M42-to-mirrorless adapter to preserve the lens's compact, satisfying handling
Prefer the Super-Multi-Coated (SMC) versions if you want reduced flare and improved contrast; embrace the earlier versions if you want more flare character
Exploit the 45cm minimum focus distance for detail and flower shots with strongly blurred backgrounds
The long 180-degree focus throw allows precise manual focus — take advantage of it for accurate results

Sources (1)

Web-grounded synthesissecondary

The 'Takumar 7 Elements' refers to the 7-element optical revisions of Asahi Optical Co.'s (Pentax) legendary 50mm f/1.4 Takumar line, produced in M42 screw mount from the mid-1960s through the 1970s. According to the reviews, the story begins in 1964 with the original 'Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4', which used an unusually high count of 8 elements in a deliberate effort to 'one-up' Zeiss, then regarded as the finest lens makers in the world. Legend has it that this 8-element design was more expensive to manufacture than Pentax could charge for it, so it was replaced in 1965 by a more financially viable 7-element 'Super Takumar', earning the whole line the community nickname 'Planar Killer'. This 7-element formula continued through the 1971-1972 'Super-Multi-Coated Takumar' (7 elements in 6 groups) and the later 'SMC Takumar' produced until 1975. The Super-Multi-Coating (SMC) introduced on these later versions was a genuine game-changer at the time, significantly reducing flare and improving contrast, setting a standard that influenced modern multi-coating technologies. Notably, the reviews establish that the later 7-element iterations used a RADIOACTIVE glass in the rear element, reportedly to aid sharpness — though reviewers note the radiation level is incredibly low and not a real safety concern. The lens has 'garnered something of a legendary reputation online,' beloved for its build quality, sharpness, bokeh, character, and its historical status as a Zeiss-challenger.

https://allmyfriendsarejpegs.com/2018/09/24/asahi-pentax-super-takumar-50mm-f1-4-lens-review/https://rowse.substack.com/p/super-multi-coated-takumar-50mm-f14https://opticallimits.com/vintage/vintage-lens-test-asahi-pentax-smc-takumar-105mm-f-2-8/