[T a k u m a r 1 : 2.3 f = 35mm (J prototype)]
A u t o - T a k u m a r 1 : 2.3 f = 35mm
A u t o - T a k u m a r 1 : 2.3/3 5
Produced Sept. 1958 to 1963. Serial Numbers 165xxx - 945xxx. AOCo Product No.335. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No.721. Updated April 2023.
A u t o - T a k u m a r 1 : 2.3 f = 35mm
A u t o - T a k u m a r 1 : 2.3/3 5
Produced Sept. 1958 to 1963. Serial Numbers 165xxx - 945xxx. AOCo Product No.335. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No.721. Updated April 2023.
(Research Note: Since 2010 I have seen 3.52% (689 copies) of the total estimated 19,600 copies made.)
INTRODUCTION
This lens is a remarkable achievement for AOCo and still one of the fastest wide angle lenses available.
This large, fast wide-angle Takumar was designed initially as a manual lens (J) and then as an optically identical semi-automatic Auto-Takumar; the common surviving form today. The Asahi Pentax K operation manual (J) for the domestic market illustrates the manual form. Overseas markets later received the semi-automatic with two naming styles introduced over the production period.
This is the second Auto-Takumar created after the distinctive standard ("zebra") Auto-Takumar 55/1.8 launched with the Asahi Pentax K. The semi-automatic form is unavailable when the Asahi Pentax K operation manual (E) was printed in Japan in September 1958 and the little Takumar 1: 4 35 (329) briefly remained the pioneer wide-angle among the 9 lenses then advertised with the camera for export.
It was sold with a new smaller (and cheaper) 35mm Auto-Takumar lens for most of its production period and remained popular until replaced by the Super-Takumars.
Four filters were available each, with its own leather pouch. A hood that slips over these when fitted also comes with a pouch.
This lens is a remarkable achievement for AOCo and still one of the fastest wide angle lenses available.
This large, fast wide-angle Takumar was designed initially as a manual lens (J) and then as an optically identical semi-automatic Auto-Takumar; the common surviving form today. The Asahi Pentax K operation manual (J) for the domestic market illustrates the manual form. Overseas markets later received the semi-automatic with two naming styles introduced over the production period.
This is the second Auto-Takumar created after the distinctive standard ("zebra") Auto-Takumar 55/1.8 launched with the Asahi Pentax K. The semi-automatic form is unavailable when the Asahi Pentax K operation manual (E) was printed in Japan in September 1958 and the little Takumar 1: 4 35 (329) briefly remained the pioneer wide-angle among the 9 lenses then advertised with the camera for export.
It was sold with a new smaller (and cheaper) 35mm Auto-Takumar lens for most of its production period and remained popular until replaced by the Super-Takumars.
Four filters were available each, with its own leather pouch. A hood that slips over these when fitted also comes with a pouch.
DESCRIPTION
VARIATION
- Copies in the first 4 batches have 8 full aperture stops marked by numerals and no half stops. Those in later batches have the same 8 full aperture stops and an additional 3 extra half stops marked by white dots between f=8 and f=2.8 (a few copies in batches 5,6 and 7 lack half stops).
NOTES
- The military mark "E-P" framed in a diamond shape may be stamped into the base opposite the low end of the distance scale. Van Oosten (1999) illustrates this marking on one of his own lenses and I have several (see above). Peter Kitchingman (2008), who discusses these markings on Canon lenses of the same era, claims that lenses so marked were sold on cameras and as accessories through US Army PX stores to military personnel in Japan and Korea from 1953-1974.
LENS PRODUCTION (∑ lenses) ∑n = 689 Serial Numbers (SN) observed in 53 Batches covering 15,848 SN min.< ∑ lenses < 23,280 SN max.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 53 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Four Styles: ▼ SN prefix "No.";f= 35mm;SN follows name; "Japan", later "Lens made in Japan"▲ / ▼▼ Coloured distance scales.▲▲/▼▼▼ Snapshot settings coloured orange ▲▲▲
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 53 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Four Styles: ▼ SN prefix "No.";f= 35mm;SN follows name; "Japan", later "Lens made in Japan"▲ / ▼▼ Coloured distance scales.▲▲/▼▼▼ Snapshot settings coloured orange ▲▲▲
▼ 165845 to 165990 (4/ 145) no half stops 166155 (1/ 1) 166524 (1/ 1) 179889 to 180161 (12/ 272) 182861 to 182973 (8/ 112) 184305 to 184520 (10/ 215) half-stops, PX (E) 194104 to 194457 (23/ 353) 202869 to 203368 (29/ 499) 213753 to 213925 (20/ 261) 329 SN ends 216457 to 216643 (13/ 247) 216883 (1/ 1) 223430 to 223927 (18/ 497) 231722 (1/ 1) 336 SN starts 238177 (1/ 1) 239625 to 240088 (19/ 463) 257796 to 258232 (19/ 436) |
Serial Numbers in 53 Batches
(n /SN range) Collection 258286 (1/ 1) 259667 (1/ 1) 261250 to 261714 (16/ 464) 262029 (1/ 1) 269171 to 269710 (30/ 539) 277115 to 277265 (8/ 150) 277299 to 277738 (22/ 440) 280504 (1/ 1) 281627 to 282084 (17/ 457) 281960 E-P 295145 to 295250 (4/ 105) 297929 to 298255 (10/ 326) ▲ "Lens made in Japan" 307225 to 307718 (28/ 493) 310151 (1/ 1) 337204 to 337532 (19/ 328) 346108 to 346810 (25/ 702) ▼▼ 370319 to 371124 (33/ 805) 379432 (1/ 1) 507357 (1/1) 507492 (1/ 1) |
512774 to 513338 (16/ 564) 601530 (1/ 1) 601662 (1/ 1) 601683 to 601814 (10/ 105) 631917 to 632263 (16/ 346) 632405 to 632445 (7/ 40) 667815 to 668087 (11/ 346) 684496 (1/ 1) 687102 to 687597 (30/ 495) 700848 to 701488 (21/ 640) 704298 to 704575 (14/ 277) 336 SN ends ▼▼▼ 749202 to 750281 (49/ 1079) 794464 (1/ 1) 816115 to 816551 (15/ 436) 820291 to 821012 (28/ 721) 820874 878964 to 879950 (45/ 986) 944014 to 945461 (22/ 1447) ▲▲/▲▲▲ |
MARKETING
A further three 35mm lenses were marketed with this lens; Takumar 1:4/35mmn (329), Auto-Takumar 1:3.5/35mm (336) and Super-Takumar 1:3.5/35mm. Cost varied from 円 21,000 (1958) to 円 17,300 (1963) domestically. Note: Brochures usually carry early 335 version as illustrated below; lacking half stops around aperture ring.
A further three 35mm lenses were marketed with this lens; Takumar 1:4/35mmn (329), Auto-Takumar 1:3.5/35mm (336) and Super-Takumar 1:3.5/35mm. Cost varied from 円 21,000 (1958) to 円 17,300 (1963) domestically. Note: Brochures usually carry early 335 version as illustrated below; lacking half stops around aperture ring.
No wide angle lenses were available in the Asahi Pentax Instruction Guide (EN) for the first (AP) camera but two were for sale in the Asahi Pentax K Instruction Guide (J). This guide advertised and illustrated a Takumar 1:4 / 35mm and a Takumar 1:2.3 / 35mm. The illustrations are of early prototype versions. The former has lugs on the forward preset ring not found on the production version (see 329). The latter is a manual version that seems to have been produced only domestically. It is illustrated below for comparison with the Auto-Takumar that it became.
A manual version of the lens is illustrated in Asahi Pentax K Instruction Guide (J). It is the prototype [Takumar 1 : 2.3 f = 35mm (J)] developing into an amazing fast Semi-Automatic version (335). The focus ring and the setting ring have been transposed to accomodate the semi-automatic mechanism? Their optical designs are similar and they differ in weight (250g versus 305g).
LITERATURE
Sherfy (1994) indicates the cost varied from US$124.50 to US$65.00 and that "approximately 15,000 units may have been produced".
Shashin Salon Special Issue (1959-1961?) (in A4 format) This publication contains a full report on Asahi Pentax product developments to 1959 and the marketing of the Asahi Pentax K with the first Auto-Takumar. The same photograph of a manual Takumar 1:2.3 35mm (above) is as an illustration in this article along with all other lens (including the amazing 1:8 1000mm lens).
Sherfy (1994) indicates the cost varied from US$124.50 to US$65.00 and that "approximately 15,000 units may have been produced".
Shashin Salon Special Issue (1959-1961?) (in A4 format) This publication contains a full report on Asahi Pentax product developments to 1959 and the marketing of the Asahi Pentax K with the first Auto-Takumar. The same photograph of a manual Takumar 1:2.3 35mm (above) is as an illustration in this article along with all other lens (including the amazing 1:8 1000mm lens).