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. Serial Number range 140xxx - 597xxx. AOCo Product No.324. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No.727. Updated Nov 2018
Produced Dec 1957 to May 1961. Serial Number range 140xxx - 597xxx. AOCo Product No.324. Honeywell Pentax Cat.No.727. Updated Nov 2018
(Research Note: Since 2010 I have seen 1.15% (707 copies) of the total estimated 61,500 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.
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 = 707 serial numbers (SN) observed in 97 batches covering 48,631 SN min.< ∑ lenses < 74,392 SN max.
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 97 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Three Styles: ▼ SN prefix "No." ▲ / ▼ ▼ Coloured distance scales.▲▲
SN min. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed within 97 batches
SN max. = accumulated total of serial numbers observed between adjacent batches of other lenses.
Three Styles: ▼ SN prefix "No." ▲ / ▼ ▼ Coloured distance scales.▲▲
▼ 140002 to 140297 (8/ 295) M,F,R 143541 to 144188 (11/ 647) M,F/M 152016 to 152445 (6/ 429) 158170 to 158313 (3/ 143) 160911 to 161170 (3/ 257) 162203 to 162397 (2/ 194) 164151 to 164264 (3/ 113) 164449 to 164586 (2/ 137) 164968 to 165035 (2/ 67) 165274 (1/ 1) 167717 (1/ 1) 168030 to 168415 (10/ 385) 168924 (1/ 1) 171365 to 171467 (2/ 102) 172281 to 172533 (6/ 252) 176560 to 177069 (11/ 509) 177549 to 177687 (4/ 138) 180205 to 180380 (5/ 175) 180469 (1/ 1) 180502 to 180677 (2/ 175) 181032 (1/ 1) 183930 to 184008 (4/ 78) 184937 to 185180 (2/ 243) 190304 to 190679 (9/ 375) 191348 to 191661 (6/ 313) 192671 to 192696 (3/ 25) 196892 to 197636 (11/ 744) 206112 to 206512 (8/ 400) 206826 (1/ 1) 207396 (1/ 1) 217311 to 217525 (3/ 214) 220797 to 221622 (11/ 825) 226858 to 228744 (23/ 1886) |
Serial Numbers in 97 Batches
(n /SN range) 234868 to 235046 (4/ 183) 235197 (1/ 1) 235220 (1/ 1) 236853 to 237638 (9/ 785) 244282 to 245179 (12/ 879) 254697 to 255751 (11/ 1054) 267101 to 268005 (13/ 904) 272506 to 273473 (14/ 967) 286256 to 287014 (11/ 758) 287121 to 287245 (4/ 124) 288838 (1/ 1) 294166 to 295119 (15/ 953) ▲ 301101 (1/ 1) 311432 to 311996 (4/ 564) 326766 to 328231 (21/ 1465) 340346 to 340771(6/ 425) 340826 (1/ 1) 341295 to 341630 (7/ 404) 355075 to 355892 (14/ 817) 358737 to 359097 (7/ 519) 367233 (1/ 1) 372174 (1/ 1) 379130 to 379360 (6/ 230) 379448 to 379992 (10/ 544) ▼ ▼ 382626 to 383429 (6/ 803) 383617 to 383689 (3/ 72) 384559 to 385970 (18/ 1411) 386302 (1/ 1) 386635 to 387519 (14/ 884) 388191 to 388276 (3/ 85) 389259 to 389969 (9/ 710) 391086 to 391261 (6/ 175) |
391387 to 392504 (8/ 1117) 393080 to 393505 (7/ 425) 393550 to 395368 (29/ 1818) 396028 to 397928 (15/ 1900) 399276 to 399994 (9/ 718) 400243 (1/ 1) 401858 to 402475 (7/ 617) 418214 (1/ 1) 460143 to 460185 (2/ 42) 461081 (1/ 1) 476778 to 479077 (26/ 2299) 479983 to 482322 (24/ 2339) 482742 (1/ 1) 483380 to 485744 (21/ 2364) 486334 (1/ 1) 567404 to 568188 (17/ 784) 568618 (1/ 1) 568885 to 569455 (7/ 570) 570505 to 572209 (24/ 1704) 574399 to 575775 (20/ 1376) 576702 to 578216 (20/ 1514) 579048 to 579336 (4/ 288) 580112 (1/ 1) 581502 (1/ 1) 581536 to 581770 (4/ 234) 582780 to 583496 (19/ 716) 584370 to 585111 (8/ 741) 585393 (1/ 1) 588151 to 588847 (9/ 696) 589046 to 589339 (6/ 293) 594031 to 595223 (10/ 1192) 5978xx (1/ 1) ▲▲ |