How do Takumars work on K-1?

M 42 Takumar lenses were introduced with the famous Asahi Pentax in 1957. They were high-class lenses at the time. But how will they work on a modern full frame DSLR?

I have tested some Takumar, Auto-Takumar, Super-Takumar and S-M-C/SMC-Takumar lenses for sharpness and colour rendition on K-1. Other optical qualities are not tested. 

Comments are given for centre sharpness and corner sharpness respectively, from wide open to 8, where most lenses are at their peak. Photos showing colour rendition will follow.
Pentax D FA 100/2,8 Makro WS is used as a reference. 

The conclusion for the lenses I tested is: Yes, they work very well with K-1! There are some very sharp lenses among these veterans. Some even outperform the reference! There are also a few that are not worth using. 
As for colour rendition, all lenses give clear red, blue, green and yellow.

A scale from 1-10 is used for sharpness. 
Very soft is used when points are <6
Soft is 6-6,5
Fair is 7
Good is 7,5-8
Very good is 8,5-9
Excellent is 9,5-10.

The very best lenses are marked with a 🤪, the very good ones with a😀, and the good ones with 🙂.

For a presentation of M42 Takumar lenses, see: M 42 Takumar:

Under construction.

(There are some problems connected to uploading of photos when editing. Temporarily, I hope..)

35/4: 🙂 Centre: Good at 4. Very good at 5,6 and 8. 
         Corners: Good from 4 through 8.

55/2,2:😀 Centre: Good from 2,2 through 2,8. Very good from 4. Excellent at 8.
           Corners are very soft at 2,2. Soft at 2,8. Good at 4. Very good at 5,6. Exc. at 8.

58/2,4:😀 Centre sharpness is very good at 2,4. Very good to excellent from 2,8 through 8.
           Corners are fair at 2,4, good from 2,8 through 5,6. Very good at 8.

50/4 Makro: 😀Centre is very good wide open and excellent from 5,6.
             Corners are good wide open. Very good from 5,6.           

105/2,8:😀 Centre: Soft at 2,8. Very good at 4. Excellent at 5,6 and 8.
             Corners are soft wide open, good at 4, very good at 5,6 and 8.

135/3,5:  Centre: Fair at 3,5. Good at 4. Very good at 5,6. A bit softer, fair, at 8.
             Corners follow centre sharpness! 

200/5,6:  Centre: Fair at 5,6 and climbs to good at 8.
             Corners follow here, too.

200/3,5: Soft at 3,5. Fair at 4, good at 5,6, while it softens a bit at 8.
             Corners: Fair at 3,5 and 4. Good at 5,6 and 8.

 For more about Takumar lenses, see Takumar

35/2,3:🙂 Centre: Soft at 2,3. Fair at 2,8, good at 4. Very good at 5,6, falling to good at 8.
           Corners: Soft at 2,3 and 2,8. Fair at 4. Good to very good at 5,6 and 8.

35/3,5: 😀Centre: Very good at 3,5, and excellent from there!
           Corners: Soft wide open. Good at 5,6. very good at 8.

55/2:  Centre: 😀Very soft at 2, soft at 2,8. Very sharp at 4. Excellent at 5,6 and 8.
         Corners: Very soft through 2,8. Good at 4, very good at 5,6 and excellent at 8.

55/1,8 (Zebra):🤪 Centre: Fair at 1,8. Very sharp at 2,8. Excellent from 4.
           Corners: Fair at 1,8. Very sharp at 2,8. Excellent from 4.

105/2,8:🙂 Centre: Soft at 2,8. Fair at 4. Good at 5,6 and excellent at 8.
            Corners: Soft through 5,6. Good at 8.

For more about Auto-Takumar lenses, see Auto-Takumar

20/4,5: Centre: Fair at 4,5. Good at 5,6 and 8.
           Corners: Soft at 4,5 and 5,6. Good at 8.

28/3,5:🙂 Centre: Soft at 3,5. Fair at 4, good at 5,6 and very good at 8.
           Corners: Fair at 3,5 and 4. Good at 5,6. Very good at 8.

50/1,4: 🙂Centre: Fair wide open, good at 2. Very good from 2,8 through 8.
           Corners: Fair at 1,4 and 2. Good from 2,8 through 8.

105/2,8: 🙂Centre: Fair at 2,8, good at 4, very good at 5,6 and 8.
            Corners: Fair at 2,8.Good at 4 and 5,6. Very good at 8.

135/3,5:🙂Centre: Good wide open through 4, 5,6 and 8.
                 Corners: Very close to centre sharpness.                

150/4: 🙂 Centre: Good at 4 and 5,6. Very good at 8.
                 Corners: Good from 4 to 8.

200/4: 😀 Centre: Good to very good all the way. 
                 Corners: Good to very good.

300/4: 🙂 Centre: Fair at 4. Good at 5,6 to 11.
                 Corners: Good from 4 to 11.

Zoom 75-150: Tested at 150/8 only: 

For a presentation of Super-Takumar, see Super-Takumar

50/1,4:🤪 Centre: Fair at 1,4. Good at 2. Very good at 2,8 and excellent from 4.
                 Corners: Values as for centre.

85/1,8:🙂 Centre: Soft wide open, fair at 2,8. Good at 4 and very good at 5,6 and 8.
           Corners: Soft at 1,8 and 2,8. Good at 4 and 5,6. Very good at 8.

           Comment: This is a famous lens, and expensive even today. This test does not confirm              the quality. There is a dent on the front ring of my sample. Has it been damaged inside?

More tests will follow.

For more information about S-M-C-Takumars, see S-M-C Takumar