T a k u m a r 1 : 3.5 f = 135mm T a k u m a r 1 : 3.5 135mm Model I
Produced Dec 1957 to May 1961. SN range 140xxx - 597xxx. AOCo Product No.324. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No.727. Updated April 2025
Produced Dec 1957 to May 1961. SN range 140xxx - 597xxx. AOCo Product No.324. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No.727. Updated April 2025
(Research Note: Since 2010 I have seen 2.27% (1402 copies) of the total estimated 61,600 copies made.)
INTRODUCTION
This pre-set lens is the M42 version of the "telephoto" optical design (5/4) Asahi-Kogaku Tele-Takumar 1:3.5 f=135mm first made in 1953 for Asahiflex cameras. It is constructed with lighter weight metal instead of chromed brass like its predecessor and out-sold it by an order of magnitude.
It is the first accessory lens made for Asahi Pentax cameras. Over 60,000 copies were sold. Until discontinued it comprised 45% of all accessory lenses sold, or 12% of all Takumars produced by AOCo. It is compact, well-built and gives sharp images.
It was initially produced in batches alongside the 3 earliest standard Takumar lenses. Copies in early batches shared the transformation from single to dual distance scales labelled "Feet / Meter" on depth of field gauges. Barely 1000 copies with single scales (labelled either "Meter" or "Feet") were produced in the manner of Asahi-Kogaku lenses, which had single scales. The introduction of dual scales required more space and harmonising of fonts (see Notes).
Unlike its successors in this focal length it has the 46mm standard filter diameter of the era, instead of the later 49mm. It led the simplification of diaphragms from 10 blades to 8 blades (and later to 6 blades).
This pre-set lens is the M42 version of the "telephoto" optical design (5/4) Asahi-Kogaku Tele-Takumar 1:3.5 f=135mm first made in 1953 for Asahiflex cameras. It is constructed with lighter weight metal instead of chromed brass like its predecessor and out-sold it by an order of magnitude.
It is the first accessory lens made for Asahi Pentax cameras. Over 60,000 copies were sold. Until discontinued it comprised 45% of all accessory lenses sold, or 12% of all Takumars produced by AOCo. It is compact, well-built and gives sharp images.
It was initially produced in batches alongside the 3 earliest standard Takumar lenses. Copies in early batches shared the transformation from single to dual distance scales labelled "Feet / Meter" on depth of field gauges. Barely 1000 copies with single scales (labelled either "Meter" or "Feet") were produced in the manner of Asahi-Kogaku lenses, which had single scales. The introduction of dual scales required more space and harmonising of fonts (see Notes).
Unlike its successors in this focal length it has the 46mm standard filter diameter of the era, instead of the later 49mm. It led the simplification of diaphragms from 10 blades to 8 blades (and later to 6 blades).
DESCRIPTION
VARIATION
NOTES
- Dual distance scales occur on the depth of field gauges of all copies from the third batch onwards. In order to make room to display the Units left of the infinity symbol the shortest focus numeral was removed (see NOTES for Single distance scales ) but lenses remain able to focus to 1.8 meters, or 6 feet regardless of the shorter scale. Minimum focussing distance was changed to match the numerals 2m ( or 7.5ft ) on later copies (before No294850) and well before coloured scales appeared (see below).
- Focus rings on most copies contain 12 finger grips, usually with 10 grooves in each. Some copies in batches 2 and 3 contain 11 grooves (e.g. No144062 and No152235).
- Earlier copies have 7 stops marked by numerals on the aperture setting rings (to No206826); later copies (from No197137) have 10. White dots mark the three additional half-stops between f4 and f11.
- On the nameplate ring serial numbers < 30000 precede the name and lose the prefix "No".
- Coloured distance scales (blue for feet and yellow for meters) are introduced gradually in the gap from 358756 to 382626.
- Some very early copies have both preset rings silver chromed (characteristic of Asahiflex lenses) instead of one. A copy with a single distance scale (metres), two chromed rings and 1.8m closest focus distance is illustrated in the Asahi Pentax K Instruction Guide (J).
NOTES
- Single distance scales in either meters or feet occur on copies in the first and second batches and numerals on the second setting ring and DOF gauge may be reduced in size. These copies have smaller (narrower) finger grip surfaces on the focus ring, although the width of the focus ring as a whole is the same.
- On the depth of field gauge only on copies in the first batch there is an infra-red focus mark ("R") located between f16 and f11. Lenses of this focal length use Infra Red focus marks again on model 353.
- Copies with single (metric) distance scales use the Asahi-Kogaku style font “meter” (e.g. No140177 and No143783) (There are no dual distance scales on Asahiflex lenses.) Fonts were harmonized when dual “Feet / Meter “scales were used in the second batch including copies with some with single metric scales, (e.g. No143560) but not all (e.g. No143783).
LENS PRODUCTION (∑ lenses) ∑n = 1402 serial numbers (SN) observed in 112 batches covering 54,555 SN min.< ∑ lenses < 68,769 SN max.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 112 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Three Styles: ▼ SN prefix "No." ▲ / ▼ ▼ Coloured distance scales.▲▲ ** half stops begin (white dots on aperture ring)
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 112 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Three Styles: ▼ SN prefix "No." ▲ / ▼ ▼ Coloured distance scales.▲▲ ** half stops begin (white dots on aperture ring)
|
▼ 140002 to 140297 (12/ 295) M or F No 140278 (F)R>6 143541 to 144188 (17/ 647) F,M or FM No 143560 (M)>1.8 No 144062 (FM) >2 151924 to 152445 (17/ 521) No 152016 (FM)>2 No 152235 (FM)>2 158170 to 158327 (5/ 157) 160871 to 161188 (7/ 317) 162140 to 162423 (8/ 283) 164151 to 164264 (4/ 113) 164449 to 164616 (7/ 186) 164932 to 165054 (5/ 122) 165274 (1/ 1) 167717 to 167850 (5/ 133) 168030 to 168415 (11/ 385) No 168091 (FM)>2 168924 to 168934 (2/ 10) ** 171203 to 171494 (11/ 291) 172281 to 172546 (10/ 265) 176560 to 177069 (17/ 509) 177549 to 177687 (6/ 138) 180205 to 180380 (7/ 175) 180469 (1/ 1) 180502 to 180677 (5/ 175) 181032 to 181043 (2/ 11) 183917 to 184243 (8/ 326) 184937 to 185213 (5/ 276) 188527 (1/ 1) 190258 to 190329 (5/ 71) 190381 to 190679 (14/ 298) 191253 to 191661 (11/ 408) 192671 to 192696 (3/ 25) 196892 to 197641 (26/ 749) 205932 to 205974 (2/ 42) 206026 to 206560 (19/ 534) 206826 (1/ 1) 207396 (1/ 1) 217311 to 217673 (7/ 362) 220797 to 221692 (21/ 895) 226795 to 228744 (43/ 1949) 234861 (1/ 1) |
Serial Numbers in 112 Batches (n /SN range)
Collection 234868 to 234894 (2/ 26) 234988 to 235010 (4/ 22) 235046 to 235091 (5/ 44) 235117 (1/ 1) 235197 (1/ 1) 235220 (1/ 1) 236853 to 237713 (19/ 878) 244282 to 245179 (24/ 897) 254683 to 255751 (30/ 1068) 267036 to 268005 (23/ 969) 272506 to 273660 (34/ 1154) 286256 to 287096 (20/ 840) 287114 to 287245 (6/ 131) 288838 (1/ 1) 294166 to 295119 (26/ 953) ▲ 301101 (1/ 1) 311358 to 312042 (16/ 684) 311899 343 SN starts 322656 (1/ 1) 326766 to 328300 (32/ 1534) 340269 to 340771 (13/ 502) 340826 (1/ 1) 340862 to 341630 (10/ 768) 354999 to 355892 (26/ 893) 358578 to 359097 (14/ 519) 358756 367233 (1/ 1) 372174 (1/ 1) 379048 to 379408 (12/ 360) 379448 to 380364 (22/ 916) ▼ ▼ 382626 to 383429 (17/ 803) 383529 to 383689 (11/ 160) 384559 to 385970 (33/ 1411) 386302 (1/ 1) 386618 to 387519 (19/ 901) 388130 to 388534 (8/ 404) 388205 389259 to 390010 (13/ 751) 391086 to 391195 (5/ 109) 391261 (1/ 1) |
391387 to 392504 (16/ 1117) 393065 to 393505 (11/ 440) 393528 to 395368 (46/ 1840) 396028 to 397928 (32/ 1900) 399107 to 399994 (22/ 887) 400049 (1/ 1) 400234 to 400553 (9/ 319) 401858 to 402475 (9/ 617) 418214 (1/ 1) 460143 (1/ 1) 460185 (1/ 1) 461081 (1/ 1) 476482 to 479077 (52/ 2595) 479983 to 482371 (52/ 2388) 482742 (1/ 1) 483368 to 485768 (52/ 2400) 486224 to 486334 (2/ 110) 567404 to 568188 (27/ 784) 568618 (1/ 1) 568745 to 568793 (2/ 48) 568885 to 569455 (13/ 564) 570157 (1/ 1) 570483 to 572209 (44/ 1726) 574399 (1/ 1) 574485 to 575775 (39/ 1290) 576660 to 578259 (44/ 1599) 579048 to 579470 (15/ 422) 579881 to 580260 (4/ 379) 354 SN starts 581502 (1/ 1) 353 SN starts 581525 to 581828 (11/ 303) 582780 to 583298 (22/ 675) 583387 to 583814 (12/ 427) 584370 to 585111 (16/ 741) 585393 (1/ 1) 588000 to 588945 (15/ 945) 588700 589006 to 589408(12/ 402) 594031 to 595341 (26/ 1310) 5978xx (1/ 1) ▲▲ |
MARKETING
This lens was available with the first Asahi Pentax cameras but not fully illustrated in the Instruction Guides (E) until the Asahi Pentax K (J). It was available in North America (Sherfy 1994) from February 1958.
The Asahi Pentax Instruction Guide (E) emphasised this as a new re-designed lens by illustrating the optical diagram;
This lens was available with the first Asahi Pentax cameras but not fully illustrated in the Instruction Guides (E) until the Asahi Pentax K (J). It was available in North America (Sherfy 1994) from February 1958.
The Asahi Pentax Instruction Guide (E) emphasised this as a new re-designed lens by illustrating the optical diagram;
An early copy is illustrated in the earliest Asahi Pentax K Instruction Guide (J) and later ones in subsequent Asahi Pentax K and S (J, E) guides.
Standard advertising in AOCo literature became;
