Pentax Takumar 50mm f1.4

Inspector’s condition notes

Lens in good condition. Optics are flawless, free of scratches. Focus and aperture operate smoothly like a new lens. Internal components are solid and tight, with no audible rattle from internal elements. The exterior body shows signs of use, with easily noticeable scratches or paint loss throughout the lens body.

How this lens renders

Compared to the 50mm f/1.4 of the same spec from the same era, this Super Takumar earned the nickname "Planar Killer" for its sharpness that goes toe-to-toe with Zeiss. The all-metal body is crafted with the exquisite workmanship the name deserves. Sharpness is definitely its selling point. Wide open at f/1.4, it delivers genuinely usable sharpness with nicely balanced smooth rendering. Stop down to f/2.8, and contrast and sharpness clearly jump up — peaking around f/8, where it's tack-sharp across the entire frame. Bokeh melts the background beautifully in the classic vintage lens style. As for flare, this one handles it well when shooting into the light. If you want to play with light for mood, it's fully embracing of it. But if you'd rather avoid flare, I'd recommend using a lens hood when shooting into the light. The version with Thorium-doped lens elements produces its own distinctive color tone (you can spot it by the yellowish-brown tint on the elements when they haven't been exposed to sunlight or UV for a while — it can be corrected with white balance). It's a charm collectors seek out. A legendary lens that both performs well in real use and is truly worth collecting.

In the box

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Honest disclosure