Takumar is the name that Asahi Optical gave to its lenses, notably but not exclusively those for its own SLR cameras. Named after the Japanese-American portrait painter, Takuma Kajiwara (梶原啄磨, Kajiwara Takuma),[1] whose brother Kumao Kajiwara founded Asahi Optical.[2] The name adorned its lenses until 1975, when Asahi switched from the M42 screw mount to the bayonet K-mount. K-mount lenses were simply named "SMC Pentax". Some Takumar lenses were also made for the K-mount.
The Takumar designation was used on lenses designed for Asahi's 35 mm cameras, 6×7 cameras, and for other purposes too.[3]
Takumar lenses were made in M37 screwmount for the original Asahiflex cameras and continued into the M42 period.
Auto-Takumar lenses were a type of preset lens. The user selected an aperture then engaged a lever to energise the stopping-down mechanism. The camera would then trip this mechanism when the shutter was fired.
Super-Takumar lenses featured an improved form of lens coating (to reduce flare) and a more sophisticated stopping-down mechanism. There was a switch on the lens to select "Auto" or "Manual" modes. In manual mode, the lens would always be in the selected aperture. In Auto mode, the lens would remain wide open (at maximum aperture) until a pin on the rear of the lens was pushed in. This pin would be automatically pushed in by the camera when the shutter was tripped.
Super-Multi-Coated (later SMC) Takumar. These lenses introduced Asahi's lens multi-coating process (to further reduce reflections and flare). They also introduced a lug on the rear of the lens which moved with the aperture selected. When used with a camera body which could read the lug, this enabled the use of open-aperture metering. Examples of such cameras are Asahi's Spotmatic F and the ES/ESII. These SMC-Takumar M42 thread mount lenses included: 15/3.5 rectilinear ultra-wide angle, 17/4 full-frame fisheye, 20/4.5, 24/3.5, 28/3.5, 35/2.8, 50/1.4, 50/4 macro, 55/1.8, 55/2, 85/1.8, 100/4 macro, 105/2.8, 120/2.8, 135/2.5, 135/3.5, 150/4, 200/4, 300/4, 400/5.6, 500/4.5, 1000/8.
Pentax resurrected the Takumar name in the 1980s and 1990s for a budget line of zoom and prime lenses that lacked the Pentax "Super Multi-Coating" anti-reflective coating that reduces lens flare. These lenses are marked "Takumar (Bayonet)" or "Takumar-F" to distinguish them from the older screw-mount Takumar lenses.
Non-Asahi cameras with Asahi lenses branded Takumar include the Suzuki Press Van and two versions of the Takane Mine Six.[4]
^Suzuki Press Van: Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi, items 795–6; (in Japanese) page on "spring cameras". Takane Mine Six: Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi, items 1619, 1621.
(in Japanese)Asahi Camera editorial staff. Shōwa 10–40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi (昭和10〜40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史, Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements, 1935–1965). Tokyo: Asahi Shinbunsha, 1994. ISBN4-02-330312-7.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takumar lenses.
Comprehensive Pentax Screwmount (M42) Lens info
User reviews of Takumar lenses at Pentaxforums.com
November 11, 2023
takumar, name, that, asahi, optical, gave, lenses, notably, exclusively, those, cameras, named, after, japanese, american, portrait, painter, takuma, kajiwara, 梶原啄磨, kajiwara, takuma, whose, brother, kumao, kajiwara, founded, asahi, optical, name, adorned, len. Takumar is the name that Asahi Optical gave to its lenses notably but not exclusively those for its own SLR cameras Named after the Japanese American portrait painter Takuma Kajiwara 梶原啄磨 Kajiwara Takuma 1 whose brother Kumao Kajiwara founded Asahi Optical 2 The name adorned its lenses until 1975 when Asahi switched from the M42 screw mount to the bayonet K mount K mount lenses were simply named SMC Pentax Some Takumar lenses were also made for the K mount Takumar 1 3 5 200mmAuto Takumar 1 3 5 35mmAuto Takumar 1 3 5 35mmSuper Takumar 1 3 5 28mmSuper Takumar 1 3 5 28mmSuper Takumar 1 1 4 50mmSuper Takumar 1 1 4 50mm Contents 1 Details 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDetails editThe Takumar designation was used on lenses designed for Asahi s 35 mm cameras 6 7 cameras and for other purposes too 3 Takumar lenses were made in M37 screwmount for the original Asahiflex cameras and continued into the M42 period Auto Takumar lenses were a type of preset lens The user selected an aperture then engaged a lever to energise the stopping down mechanism The camera would then trip this mechanism when the shutter was fired Super Takumar lenses featured an improved form of lens coating to reduce flare and a more sophisticated stopping down mechanism There was a switch on the lens to select Auto or Manual modes In manual mode the lens would always be in the selected aperture In Auto mode the lens would remain wide open at maximum aperture until a pin on the rear of the lens was pushed in This pin would be automatically pushed in by the camera when the shutter was tripped Super Multi Coated later SMC Takumar These lenses introduced Asahi s lens multi coating process to further reduce reflections and flare They also introduced a lug on the rear of the lens which moved with the aperture selected When used with a camera body which could read the lug this enabled the use of open aperture metering Examples of such cameras are Asahi s Spotmatic F and the ES ESII These SMC Takumar M42 thread mount lenses included 15 3 5 rectilinear ultra wide angle 17 4 full frame fisheye 20 4 5 24 3 5 28 3 5 35 2 8 50 1 4 50 4 macro 55 1 8 55 2 85 1 8 100 4 macro 105 2 8 120 2 8 135 2 5 135 3 5 150 4 200 4 300 4 400 5 6 500 4 5 1000 8 Pentax resurrected the Takumar name in the 1980s and 1990s for a budget line of zoom and prime lenses that lacked the Pentax Super Multi Coating anti reflective coating that reduces lens flare These lenses are marked Takumar Bayonet or Takumar F to distinguish them from the older screw mount Takumar lenses Non Asahi cameras with Asahi lenses branded Takumar include the Suzuki Press Van and two versions of the Takane Mine Six 4 Gallery edit nbsp Tele Takumar 1 6 3 300 mm nbsp Super Multi Coated Takumar 1 4 5 20 mm nbsp Super Multi Coated Takumar 1 4 5 20 mmSee also editNikkor Rokkor Fujinon Zuiko Yashinon YashikorReferences edit in Japanese Niimi Kahee 新見嘉兵衛 Kamera mei no gogen sanpo カメラ名の語源散歩 Strolls in the etymology of camera names 2nd ed Tokyo Shashin Kōgyō Shuppansha 2002 ISBN 487956060X p 18 Who Was Takuma Kajiwara http www pentaxforums com forums search php searchid 5358146 Pentax Lens Series overview http www pentaxforums com lensreviews Suzuki Press Van Shōwa 10 40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi items 795 6 in Japanese page on spring cameras Takane Mine Six Shōwa 10 40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi items 1619 1621 in Japanese Asahi Camera editorial staff Shōwa 10 40nen kōkoku ni miru kokusan kamera no rekishi 昭和10 40年広告にみる国産カメラの歴史 Japanese camera history as seen in advertisements 1935 1965 Tokyo Asahi Shinbunsha 1994 ISBN 4 02 330312 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Takumar lenses Comprehensive Pentax Screwmount M42 Lens info User reviews of Takumar lenses at Pentaxforums com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Takumar amp oldid 1142746399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
