Auto-Takumar / 自動Takumar
Nine (semi-automatic) Auto-Takumars were produced chronologically as below from 1958 to 1963. They offered an early solution in the path towards increasing automation for amateur photography. By successive modification during production one was transformed (in at least 3 phases) into a lens with a diaphragm that operated automatically.
These were progressive times. Lens focal lengths were expressed on name plates traditionally as "f = XX mm". On many of these lenses only the essential numerals were retained and a cut-away window for depth of field guides was introduced. Both changes were adopted and refined here for all shorter truly automatic successors to come.
In contemporary literature Auto-Takumar were enthusiastically described as automatic lenses. True automatic aperture control came with Super-Takumars which evolved from the last of the three prototypes of the Auto-Takumar 1:1.8/55mm (below). Except in name, collectively these prototypes are considered to represent the "first" Super-Takumar. All Super-Takumars have a switch near the mount that permits either manual or automatic operation of the diaphragm. The switch became a convenient location for inscribing model numbers when these were introduced in 1965.
These were progressive times. Lens focal lengths were expressed on name plates traditionally as "f = XX mm". On many of these lenses only the essential numerals were retained and a cut-away window for depth of field guides was introduced. Both changes were adopted and refined here for all shorter truly automatic successors to come.
In contemporary literature Auto-Takumar were enthusiastically described as automatic lenses. True automatic aperture control came with Super-Takumars which evolved from the last of the three prototypes of the Auto-Takumar 1:1.8/55mm (below). Except in name, collectively these prototypes are considered to represent the "first" Super-Takumar. All Super-Takumars have a switch near the mount that permits either manual or automatic operation of the diaphragm. The switch became a convenient location for inscribing model numbers when these were introduced in 1965.
Summary
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