T a k u m a r 1 : 2.4 f = 58mm
Produced May 1957 to Sept 1958. Serial number range 136xxx - 167xxx.Updated March 2025.
Produced May 1957 to Sept 1958. Serial number range 136xxx - 167xxx.Updated March 2025.
(Research Note: Since 2010 I have seen 3.81% (170 copies) of the total estimated 4,460 copies made.)
INTRODUCTION
The slowest of the 3 very different standard lenses chosen for the original Asahi Pentax (AP) camera. A pre-set lens of Heliar construction containing 5 elements in three groups. It is reputedly, the fastest and only standard lens with this optical design (F. Menchelhoff 2005). A black and chrome remake of a popular all-chrome lens; the earlier (M37) Asahi Kogaku-Takumar 1:2.4 58mm, first built from 1954 for Asahiflex IIA and IIB cameras.
The original Asahi Pentax (AP) camera was provided with three standard lenses in 1957; two original and this pre-existing design re-made in M42 screw mount. Each had a different combination of speed, focal length and optical design. This is the third and last in order of production for export and 15 batches were made in smaller quantities. It was discontinued immediately afterwards in favour of 55mm lenses.
Sears, Roebuck and Company offered this lens with the Asahi Pentax and Tower 26 cameras sold in USA. (Sherry F. C., 1994)
The slowest of the 3 very different standard lenses chosen for the original Asahi Pentax (AP) camera. A pre-set lens of Heliar construction containing 5 elements in three groups. It is reputedly, the fastest and only standard lens with this optical design (F. Menchelhoff 2005). A black and chrome remake of a popular all-chrome lens; the earlier (M37) Asahi Kogaku-Takumar 1:2.4 58mm, first built from 1954 for Asahiflex IIA and IIB cameras.
The original Asahi Pentax (AP) camera was provided with three standard lenses in 1957; two original and this pre-existing design re-made in M42 screw mount. Each had a different combination of speed, focal length and optical design. This is the third and last in order of production for export and 15 batches were made in smaller quantities. It was discontinued immediately afterwards in favour of 55mm lenses.
Sears, Roebuck and Company offered this lens with the Asahi Pentax and Tower 26 cameras sold in USA. (Sherry F. C., 1994)
DESCRIPTION
A lens designed with 5 elements in 3 groups (Heliar). Externally, lenses are black and chrome, or rarely, all black. The threaded filter ring is 46mm in diameter and the diaphragm has ten triangular blades. The barrel is made of black nickel alloy. The Asahi Pentax (AP) Instruction Guide states the viewing angle is 41° and weight is approx.155 g. The Focal Press Ltd. Pentax Guide (by Emanuel W.D.1960) records a weight of 5.3 ozs (150 g). My copy weighs 178 grams.
Collaring the barrel is a focusing ring with a distance scale on the trailing edge. Turning this ring anti-clockwise moves a helical mechanism to focus the lens closer. The focus ring and threaded nameplate are black with fine white lettering.
Nameplate style and print font are uniform throughout production, except earlier lenses (SN < 14000) have serial numbers before the name, whilst later copies have serial numbers placed after the name.
Scalloped into and equally-spaced around the circumference of focusing rings are 12 finger grips. Each grip has 10 parallel grooves cut sharp into the metal. Regular spaces remaining between finger grips form rectangles.
Distance scale units are marked on the left, either as “Feet” or “Meter” (for export and domestic markets) not both; spelling chosen to suit initial marketing in USA. Distances begin with the infinity symbol and attenuate to the RHS with the following series of numbers. Individual copies can focus significantly closer. Corresponding distance scales on 58mm Takumars are identical.
A lens designed with 5 elements in 3 groups (Heliar). Externally, lenses are black and chrome, or rarely, all black. The threaded filter ring is 46mm in diameter and the diaphragm has ten triangular blades. The barrel is made of black nickel alloy. The Asahi Pentax (AP) Instruction Guide states the viewing angle is 41° and weight is approx.155 g. The Focal Press Ltd. Pentax Guide (by Emanuel W.D.1960) records a weight of 5.3 ozs (150 g). My copy weighs 178 grams.
Collaring the barrel is a focusing ring with a distance scale on the trailing edge. Turning this ring anti-clockwise moves a helical mechanism to focus the lens closer. The focus ring and threaded nameplate are black with fine white lettering.
Nameplate style and print font are uniform throughout production, except earlier lenses (SN < 14000) have serial numbers before the name, whilst later copies have serial numbers placed after the name.
Scalloped into and equally-spaced around the circumference of focusing rings are 12 finger grips. Each grip has 10 parallel grooves cut sharp into the metal. Regular spaces remaining between finger grips form rectangles.
Distance scale units are marked on the left, either as “Feet” or “Meter” (for export and domestic markets) not both; spelling chosen to suit initial marketing in USA. Distances begin with the infinity symbol and attenuate to the RHS with the following series of numbers. Individual copies can focus significantly closer. Corresponding distance scales on 58mm Takumars are identical.
Feet ∞ 50 25 15 10 7 5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2
Meter ∞ 15 8 4 3 2.5 2 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6
Meter ∞ 15 8 4 3 2.5 2 1.7 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.1 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6
Three chrome rings complete the lens’ external appearance. Two adjacent rings near the front move independently and have uniform edges with fine knurling. Together they operate the preset diaphragm mechanism to set the aperture. On the barrel just forward of the first ring is a red dot used for selecting apertures. Eight aperture stops in black numerals adorn these rings. No available half-stops or markings (such as dots) lie between these stops. As with all lenses of this age the minimum available aperture stop available is f=22.
22 16 11 8 5.6 4 2.8 2.4
The third and largest chrome ring is fixed. Its rear end is the M42 screw threaded camera mount. On the perimeter is a bi-lateral depth of field (DOF) gauge with six numbered f stops on either side of a centre to engage the distance scales on the focusing ring above. Final production copies of this lens have a forward-pointing red triangle marking the central point of the gauge just above a single number 2.4 representing the largest available aperture. Flanking the red triangle are two black vertical lines to indicate the depth of field as read from the distance scale. The remaining set of black lines indicate 5 lesser aperture settings either side. These lines are bent to diverge away from the central point.
Production DOF gauge
▲
22 16 11 8 5.6 2.4 5.6 8 11 16 22
Pre-production DOF gauge
|
22 16 11 8 5.6 2.4•2.4 5.6 8 11 16 22
▲
22 16 11 8 5.6 2.4 5.6 8 11 16 22
Pre-production DOF gauge
|
22 16 11 8 5.6 2.4•2.4 5.6 8 11 16 22
[Pre-production copies of this lens have a long “lollipop” shaped central dot on this gauge and aperture setting “2.4” inscribed on each side, crowding the centre. The Asahi Pentax (AP) Instruction Guide illustrates copies of both styles (pps. 14,19 and 22). (See NOTES)]
VARIATIONS
- No dual distance scales on the depth of field gauge; either, "Meters" (domestic), or Feet (export), but not both. In the first commercial batch, according to serial numbers, the first 1220 units have a "Meter" (60%) and the last 506 (40%) have a "Feet" scale (in a total batch of approximately 1742).
- Nameplates differ in their arrangement of details; from and including SN 140360 serial numbers follow the name. On lenses with earlier serial numbers; the number is placed before the name.
- Small numbers of this lens were produced to match the all black AP camera offered. I have found just 5 copies (3.4% of all) among those in the first and eighth batches.
- No Infra-Red indicator on the DOF gauge.
- The layout of DOF gauges for prototypes of this lens and the Takumar 1:2 58mm were simplified before the beginning of commercial production of either lens. The Asahi Pentax (AP) Instruction Guide (EN) illustrates two designs; on a final production copy (page 22) and a pre-production prototype (in plate 17, page 14). It also illustrates the pre-production Takumar 1:2 58mm. The earlier lenses have the same design of depth of field gauges which differs from their respective production versions. At the centre of the design their maximum apertures are inscribed twice each side of a "lollipop" shaped symbol (no red triangle).
- One late batch (7th*) was (according to SN) produced between two larger batches of the Takumar 55/2.2. Several early copies from this batch are identified as having the body of one lens but markings of the other lens. Faulty(?) 55/2.4 chome rings were given 55/2.2 bodies either during, or after production? This batch consists of copies that have distance scales only in Feet, presumably destined for over-seas markets (See discussion of Manufacture in Takumarology) .
LENS PRODUCTION (∑ lenses) ∑n = 170 Serial Numbers (SN) observed in 15 Batches covering 3,508 SN min.< ∑ lenses < 5,423 SN max.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 15 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
▼ SN prefix "No" ▲; ▼ ▼ SN before name ▲▲;▼▼▼ SN after name ▲▲▲.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 15 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
▼ SN prefix "No" ▲; ▼ ▼ SN before name ▲▲;▼▼▼ SN after name ▲▲▲.
|
▼ / ▼ ▼ 136069 to 137944 (82/ 1875) 137400 ▲▲ / ▼▼▼ 144631 to 144916 (8/ 285) 145687 to 145784 (6/ 97) 145935 to 145971 (4/ 36) 146643 to 146654 (3/ 11) |
Serial Numbers in 15 Batches
(n /SN range) Collection 146755 to 147024 (16/ 269) 147377 to 147472 (4/ 95) 148421 to 149094 (29/ 673) 149146 to 149206 (6/ 60) 154618 to 154720 (7/ 102) |
1564848 (1/ 1) 156969 (1/ 1) 157024 (1/ 1) 157292 (1/ 1) 167887 (1/ 1) ▲ / ▲▲▲ |
LITERATURE
