A u t o - T a k u m a r 1 : 2 f = 55mm / A u t o - T a k u m a r 1 : 2/ 55
Produced 1959 to 1962. Serial Number range 159xxx - 539xxx. AOCo Product No. 341. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No. 732. Updated June 2024
Produced 1959 to 1962. Serial Number range 159xxx - 539xxx. AOCo Product No. 341. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No. 732. Updated June 2024
(Research Note: Since 2010 I have seen 1.84% (2279 copies) of the total estimated 123,700 copies made.)
INTRODUCTION
Auto-Takumar 1:2 /55 standard lens was supplied with Asahi Pentax S2 cameras. Sales of the S2 and its variants trebled those of all three previous camera models since 1957. The lens was made in 119 batches over 3-4 years on a scale not seen before; triple the production of any other lens to date. It became the work-horse standard and is still quite common today.
The optical design of the lens is double Gaussian like its predecessor the Auto-Takumar 1:1.8 F=55mm (the distinctive "zebra" with alternate silver and black grips on the focussing ring). Leaving the "zebra" styling behind, it began the first systematic changes that slowly transformed classic preset Takumar elegance into a new modern look. White distances scales were coloured and serial numbers on the front bezel lost the prefix and were placed before rather than behind the name of the lens.
I have a theory that the Auto-Takumar 2.2/55mm (which lacks a product number) and follows the successful 341 model is a "crippled" 341 used exclusively on Asahi Pentax S1/H1 cameras. To differentiate it from the always consistent 341 it underwent several cosmetic changes. (A crippled version is one made, deliberately as a marketing strategy, to open with a smaller maximum aperture, but is essentially the same.) It filled a gap in production prior to the launch of Super-Takumars.
Auto-Takumar 1:2 /55 standard lens was supplied with Asahi Pentax S2 cameras. Sales of the S2 and its variants trebled those of all three previous camera models since 1957. The lens was made in 119 batches over 3-4 years on a scale not seen before; triple the production of any other lens to date. It became the work-horse standard and is still quite common today.
The optical design of the lens is double Gaussian like its predecessor the Auto-Takumar 1:1.8 F=55mm (the distinctive "zebra" with alternate silver and black grips on the focussing ring). Leaving the "zebra" styling behind, it began the first systematic changes that slowly transformed classic preset Takumar elegance into a new modern look. White distances scales were coloured and serial numbers on the front bezel lost the prefix and were placed before rather than behind the name of the lens.
I have a theory that the Auto-Takumar 2.2/55mm (which lacks a product number) and follows the successful 341 model is a "crippled" 341 used exclusively on Asahi Pentax S1/H1 cameras. To differentiate it from the always consistent 341 it underwent several cosmetic changes. (A crippled version is one made, deliberately as a marketing strategy, to open with a smaller maximum aperture, but is essentially the same.) It filled a gap in production prior to the launch of Super-Takumars.
DESCRIPTION
VARIATION
NOTES
- Earliest copies (as illustrated in manuals) show the prefix to serial numbers as No not No. and the font cursive instead of print.
LENS PRODUCTION (∑ lenses) ∑n = 2279 Serial Numbers (SN) observed in 119 batches covering 123,666 SN min.< ∑ lenses < 134,098 SN max.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 119 batches.
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Three Styles: Focus ring F(10/12), or either F(10 or 9/12) from approx. 260316*; Aperture ring with 13 marked positions including 5 half-stops (black dots) and ▼ SN prefix "No. XXX"(unequal spacing) or No . XXX (equal spacing) to No.297173) ▲ /▼▼ SN lacking prefix ▲▲ ▼▼▼Coloured distance scales introduced▲▲▲
AOCo produced 130,892 S2 and H2 cameras and 3,600 Asahi Pentax S cameras.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 119 batches.
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Three Styles: Focus ring F(10/12), or either F(10 or 9/12) from approx. 260316*; Aperture ring with 13 marked positions including 5 half-stops (black dots) and ▼ SN prefix "No. XXX"(unequal spacing) or No . XXX (equal spacing) to No.297173) ▲ /▼▼ SN lacking prefix ▲▲ ▼▼▼Coloured distance scales introduced▲▲▲
AOCo produced 130,892 S2 and H2 cameras and 3,600 Asahi Pentax S cameras.
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No 159766 (1/ 1) No 179646 (1/ 1) No 192333 (1/ 1) No 192533 (1/ 1) No 192624 to No 192638 (2/ 14) No 196678 (1/ 1) ▼ No. 199570 to 202427 (53/ 2857) 201591 203928 to 205355 (37/ 1427) 206636 to 206747 (6/ 111) 206848 to 207386 (9/ 538) 207520 to 208567 (26/ 1047) 208829 to 209208 (7/ 379) 209345 to 210684 (28/ 1339) No . 211639 to 212961 (31/ 1322) 215654 to 216446 (20/ 792) 218164 to 220742 (64/ 2578) 219776 221723 to 222779 (19/ 1056) 224154 to 226693 (43/ 2539) 229730 to 231713 (27/ 1983) 231747 (1/ 1) 231878 to 234031 (40/ 2153) 332 SN ends 235719 to 236664 (23/ 945 238690 to 239474 (18/ 784) 240399 to 241387 (22/ 988) 242183 to 242379 (5/ 196) 242434 to 242622 (3/ 188) 243089 to 244216 (29/ 1127) 245256 to 246518 (31/ 1262) 245261 247482 to 249671 (51/ 2189) 251010 (1/ 1) 251675 to 253920 (50/ 2245) 253354 254634 (1/ 1) 256070 to 257701 (35/ 1631) 345 SN starts 258395 to 259660 (29/ 1265) 259699 to 261197 (39/ 1498) 261859 to 262016 (6/ 157) 262121 to 266446 (84/ 4325) 268119 to 268586 (9/ 467) 269832 to 272377 (65/ 2545) 271536 |
Serial Numbers in 119 Batches (n /SN range)
Collection 273716 to 275285 (37/ 1569) 275679 to 277124 (26/ 1445) 277284 (1/ 1) 278249 to 280429 (30/ 2180) 280524 to 281440 (13/ 916) 282194 to 285697 (69/ 3503) 289241 to 292458 (64/ 3217) 296169 to 297899 (36/ 1730) ▲ /▼▼ 298274 to 298445 (4/ 171) 298554 to 300112 (32/ 1558) 301288 to 302207 (17/ 919) 304220 to 307145 (49/ 2925) 307862 to 310012 (32/ 2150) 310258 to 311017 (20/ 759) 312104 to 313033 (17/ 929) 313551 to 316523 (54/ 2972) Auto-Takumar 2.2 /55mm SN starts 316889 to 317761 (19/ 872) 318083 (1/ 1) 318604 to 320228 (32/ 1624) 322738 to 323635 (13/ 897) 325898 to 326538 (13/ 640) 328359 to 329530 (21/ 1171) 328907 330447 to 334441 (57/ 3994) 335163 to 335661 (8/ 498) 335716 to 337047 (26/ 1334) 336726 337780 to 339434 (34/ 1654) 341753 to 343658 (35/ 1905) 344195 to 346035 (40/ 1840) 348338 to 350004 (36/ 1666) 354075 to 354344 (5/ 269) 354464 to 354954 (12/ 490) 357215 to 357879 (13/ 664) 357942 to 358081 (6/ 139) 359239 (1/ 1) 361252 to 362112 (19/ 878) 364260 to 366093 (44/ 1833) 368576 to 368589 (2/ 13) 369300 to 370256 (13/ 956) 372713 to 373661 (19/ 948) |
▼▼▼ 375258 to 377140 (23/ 1882) 378037 to 379001 (16/ 964) 403438 to 403616 (6/ 178) 404029 to 404385 (7/ 356) 412836 to 413586 (17/ 750) 413651 to 414066 (11/ 415) 414232 (1/ 1) 423650 (1/ 1) 423838 to 424770 (21/ 932) 425379 to 426315 (18/ 936) 427769 to 428893 (20/ 1124) by 429061 to 430087 (16/ 1026) 429240 432385 to 433326 (24/ 941) 435393 to 435534 (4/ 141) 435901 to 436381 (18/ 480) 440398 (1/ 1) 442941 to 444387 (15/ 1446) 452952 to 453602 (12/ 650) 458660 to 460119 (16/ 1459) 460174 (1/ 1) 460192 to 460510 (3/ 318) 461213 to 461337 (4/ 124) 468163 (1/ 1) 473400 to 473924 (8/ 524) 486903 (1/ 1) 487731 to 488398 (14/ 667) 488471 to 488770 (7/ 299) 502122 (1/ 1) 502492 to 503637 (31/ 1145)R 503177 504871 to 505587 (11/ 716) 506230 to 506316 (5/ 86) 506902 to 507275 (7/ 373) 507330 (1/ 1) 507423 (1/ 1) 507678 to 507990 (8/ 312) 508785 (1/ 1) 516333 (1/ 1) 518514 to 519382 (17/ 868) 519513 to 519657 (7/ 144) 520091 to 520379 (10/ 288) 539442 to 539945 (10/ 503) ▲▲/▲▲▲ Auto-Takumar 2.2 /55mm SN ends |
