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Production
1965 – 1971
Country
Japan
Optical
6 elements in 4 groups
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Pentax SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8
Pentax K mount
Overview
The SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8 is Pentax's portrait lens for M42 — fast, sharp, and with beautiful bokeh. Less famous than Canon or Nikon 85s, it quietly delivers exceptional results at a fraction of the price.
Verdict: The secret M42 portrait lens. Delivers results that rival more expensive alternatives. Highly recommended for portrait shooters.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Plenty of bokeh, but difficult to describe - both smooth and busy depending on the out of focus area. Negatively affected by chromatic aberration.
Color
Produces saturated, high contrast images, even wide open. Has a distinct vintage look.
Sharpness wide open
Sharpness is just about usable wide open, but not great. Performs better stopped down to around f/2.8.
Flare resistance
Flares are nothing special, but it still has a vintage feel to them.
Contrast
High contrast, higher than many vintage alternatives.
Vignetting
Present wide open.
Community Insights
Summary: The Pentax-A SMC 50mm F1.2 lens is a mixed bag, with users divided on its pros and cons. While the build quality and usability are praised, its optical performance and high contrast image rendering are seen as drawbacks by some. Sentiment: Mixed Top Praised: - Solid, all-metal build quality - Smooth focus ring with 200° rotation, suitable for video use - Produces saturated, high-contrast images Top Complaints: - Noticeable chromatic aberration and purple fringing, especially wide open - High contrast can limit dynamic range and highlight/shadow detail - Expensive compared to other 50mm F1.2 vintage lenses Use Cases: - General photography and video work - Portraits and shallow depth of field shots - Matched well with modern lenses due to high contrast Disagreements: - Some users like the unique, "vintage" look of the lens's bokeh, while others find it unpleasant Confidence: 0.8
What people love
- Excellent portrait lens
- Beautiful bokeh
- SMC coating
- Affordable
- Great subject separation
What people dislike
- Less famous than Canon/Nikon alternatives
- M42 needs adapter
- Can be hard to find
Sources (2)
vintagelensesforvideo-
https://www.vintagelensesforvideo.com/pentax-a-smc-50mm-f1-2-review/
Lens Heritage 2nd JSONsecondary
The SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8 is Pentax's portrait lens for M42 — fast, sharp, and with beautiful bokeh. Less famous than Canon or Nikon 85s, it quietly delivers exceptional results at a fraction of the price.