Tele-Takumar / 遠いTakumar
Tele-Takumar (abbreviated from "Tele-photo-Takumar") is a name first used exclusively for the Asahi-Kogaku 1:3.5 f=135mm built for Asahiflex cameras in 1953.
It re-appeared after the name "Auto-Takumar" fell into dissuse with the production of the last batch of Auto-Takumars (1: 2.3 / 35 mm ; approx. SN 944xxx). It is re-used on current and future non-automatic long focal length Takumars (200**, 300, 400, 1000 mm), possibly for better market differentiation during the Super-Takumar reign from 1965, when the number of Takumar lenses approached one million. No changes were made to any lenses in this group in association with re-naming. Later cosmetic changes follow styles used elsewhere.
Two of three pre-existing lenses were re-named. The first M42 lenses with the prefix "Tele -" appeared after the launch of the first batch of Takumar 1: 4.5 / 500 (approx. SN 951303), which may explain why no "Tele-Takumar" 1: 4.5 / 500 exists, but curiously, two other pre-existing lenses (200 and 300mm) were re-named. One, described here under its first-given name "Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200" (product number 347), is re-named Tele-Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200** from SN 979464 (approx.) and is also given a new product number (351). The first batch of Takumar 1: 6.3 / 300 (approx. SN 899035) also lacks the name-prefix " Tele - ", but all subsequent batches from SN 968682 (approx.) are "Tele-Takumars".
All these lenses are operated manually and do not have an aperture control switch. They lack inscribed product numbers. Repair manuals use product numbers to identify components.
It re-appeared after the name "Auto-Takumar" fell into dissuse with the production of the last batch of Auto-Takumars (1: 2.3 / 35 mm ; approx. SN 944xxx). It is re-used on current and future non-automatic long focal length Takumars (200**, 300, 400, 1000 mm), possibly for better market differentiation during the Super-Takumar reign from 1965, when the number of Takumar lenses approached one million. No changes were made to any lenses in this group in association with re-naming. Later cosmetic changes follow styles used elsewhere.
Two of three pre-existing lenses were re-named. The first M42 lenses with the prefix "Tele -" appeared after the launch of the first batch of Takumar 1: 4.5 / 500 (approx. SN 951303), which may explain why no "Tele-Takumar" 1: 4.5 / 500 exists, but curiously, two other pre-existing lenses (200 and 300mm) were re-named. One, described here under its first-given name "Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200" (product number 347), is re-named Tele-Takumar 1: 5.6 / 200** from SN 979464 (approx.) and is also given a new product number (351). The first batch of Takumar 1: 6.3 / 300 (approx. SN 899035) also lacks the name-prefix " Tele - ", but all subsequent batches from SN 968682 (approx.) are "Tele-Takumars".
All these lenses are operated manually and do not have an aperture control switch. They lack inscribed product numbers. Repair manuals use product numbers to identify components.
Summary
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
