Legacy Lenses 7 - Pentax Super Takumar 85mm F1.9

This is an interesting lens. Its strengths are to have a very wide aperture and yet to be compact. It weighs 350g.

It's a 6 elements by 5 groups construction with a reasonable lens coating, but not on par with the later SMC coating. Don't forget to use a lens hood.

Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 85mm F1.9
(do not copy without permission)

This is a very well constructed lens, all-metal, no plastic. It takes 58mm filters and the model shown above has an M42 thread mount and automatic diaphragm, with a manual/automatic switch.

The lens is pretty sharp at the center at medium apertures and has some softness wide-open, but the bokeh quality is very good, making it a very versatile lens for portraiture at large apertures. The diaphragm has 6 blades, so take care with out of focus highlights when using small apertures, unless you like hexagons =). At smaller apertures, it's very sharp.

It was made between 1971 and 1972. Not a very expensive lens.

Not my favorite 85mm but it's a nice lens to be used with Canon EOS bodies and all mirrorless systems.