Tele-Takumar / 遠いTakumar
Tele-Takumar (abbreviated from "Tele-photo-Takumar") is a name first used exclusively for the Asahi-Kogaku 1:3.5 f=135mm built for Asahiflex cameras in 1953.
It re-appeared after the name "Auto-Takumar" fell into dissuse with the production of the last batch of Auto-Takumars (1: 2.3 / 35 mm ; approx. SN 944xxx). It is re-used on current and future non-automatic long focal length Takumars (200**, 300, 400, 1000 mm), possibly for better market differentiation during the Super-Takumar reign from 1965, when the number of Takumar lenses approached one million. No changes were made to any lenses in this group in association with re-naming. Later cosmetic changes follow styles used elsewhere.
Two of three pre-existing lenses were re-named. The first M42 lenses with the prefix "Tele -" appeared after the launch of the first batch of Takumar 1: 4.5 / 500 (approx. SN 951303), which may explain why no "Tele-Takumar" 1: 4.5 / 500 exists, but curiously, two other pre-existing lenses (200 and 300mm) were re-named. One, described here under its first-given name "Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200" (product number 347), is re-named Tele-Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200** from SN 979464 (approx.) and is also given a new product number (351). The first batch of Takumar 1: 6.3 / 300 (approx. SN 899035) also lacks the name-prefix " Tele - ", but all subsequent batches from SN 968682 (approx.) are "Tele-Takumars".
All these lenses are operated manually and do not have an aperture control switch. They lack inscribed product numbers. Repair manuals use product numbers to identify components.
It re-appeared after the name "Auto-Takumar" fell into dissuse with the production of the last batch of Auto-Takumars (1: 2.3 / 35 mm ; approx. SN 944xxx). It is re-used on current and future non-automatic long focal length Takumars (200**, 300, 400, 1000 mm), possibly for better market differentiation during the Super-Takumar reign from 1965, when the number of Takumar lenses approached one million. No changes were made to any lenses in this group in association with re-naming. Later cosmetic changes follow styles used elsewhere.
Two of three pre-existing lenses were re-named. The first M42 lenses with the prefix "Tele -" appeared after the launch of the first batch of Takumar 1: 4.5 / 500 (approx. SN 951303), which may explain why no "Tele-Takumar" 1: 4.5 / 500 exists, but curiously, two other pre-existing lenses (200 and 300mm) were re-named. One, described here under its first-given name "Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200" (product number 347), is re-named Tele-Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200** from SN 979464 (approx.) and is also given a new product number (351). The first batch of Takumar 1: 6.3 / 300 (approx. SN 899035) also lacks the name-prefix " Tele - ", but all subsequent batches from SN 968682 (approx.) are "Tele-Takumars".
All these lenses are operated manually and do not have an aperture control switch. They lack inscribed product numbers. Repair manuals use product numbers to identify components.
Summary