T2i I just found 3 old Pentax lenses, are they any good with the T2i?

A

altar

Active member
Hi all,
I only had the Canon 50mm f1.8 and the 18-55mm for my 550D, and I just found (as in stole from my father in law) 3 lenses:
Super Takumar 50mm f1.4
Super Takumar 28 f3.5
Nikkor 50mm f1.4

I read that I can use an adapter ring for the Takumar lenses, and I've seen some really nice footage shot with it.
Which would be the best lens between the Takumar 50mm f1.4 and the Nikkor 50mm f1.4?
Thanks
 
All great lenses.
Get the Photodiox adapters for both so you can add on Nikon and Pentax glass as you find it
Maybe you can post a side by side test of stills here from the Nikon and Pentax 50mm lenses.
 
Thanks for the advice.
I can't wait to see the difference between the two lenses.

PS sorry, am I going to need 2 different fotodiox adapters?
 
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A few things.

1. What Nikkor 50mm 1.4 are you talking about? They've been made nearly 50 years and there are at least 5 generations of them.
2. I've seen Mr. Rockmore make reference to the photodiox adapter before. I continue to wonder if he means Fotodiox, because I have never seen a Photodiox one.
3. The Super Takumar lenses are uncoated. I would not recommend them for use outdoors unless you are looking for lens flaring on purpose.
4. Are all of the lenses is very good condition and do the iris leaves move properly? If the lenses have been neglected, you might find that a more pressing issue than the quality of image from them.
 
They're straight from the 70s
And they look ok but I can't confirm their condition.
It's bad news if I can't use them outdoors because that's exactly what I had in mind...
The Nikkon lens is attached to an old FM2 camera. It's got to be 30 years old.
 
the Super Takumar 28mm is on a Spotmatic (great name...) and looking through the viefinder is seem all grainy. Is it ruined?
I'd like to mount the 50mm to see if it has the same problem... but I can't find how to take the lens off!!

PS. Ok, I managed to change the lens. The Super Takumar 50mm looks much less dirty/grainy than the 28mm that remained attached to the camera for the last 20 years. I don't know if it's dirt or if it's the coating that's gone or whatever.

If I take them to a photo shop, will the guys be able to tell me if they're still useable?

Thanks
 
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i have the supertakumar 50mm 1.4 and i can tell you its an excellent lens. I luv it. Perrone is correct in that it does flare if the sun is shining directly in it but i luv flares and even try to shoot into the sun at sunset sometimes. They have the SMC super mulitcoated versions also so i dont know which you have. its very sharp and just a beauty to work with...long focus throw and all.

I use a fotodiox m42 to eos adapter and it works very well.
 
Thanks for the input Jambredz
I have the non-multicoated, like you, although yours might be much newer I don't know.
Do you use outdoors even though it isn't coated?
Also, the 28mm appears all grainy in the Spotmatic's viewfinder, do you think that means the lens is ruined?
 
it could just be the viewfinder itself. I have a couple of old pentax lenses which, when put in my old pentax camera look dirty and grainy (dirty mirror, and dirty viewfinder) much like you descibe. However, when used on my DSLR they are clear.
 
altar said:
the Super Takumar 28mm is on a Spotmatic (great name...) and looking through the viefinder is seem all grainy. Is it ruined?
I'd like to mount the 50mm to see if it has the same problem... but I can't find how to take the lens off!!
Click to expand...

Ruined? We don't know. It's metal and glass, so there's not a whole lot to go wrong. Spots could simply be dirt, or mold. Both of which are easily fixed. Or there could be other issues. One of the failures of these is the interior coating tends to come loose. That requires opening the lens up. At that point, it's cheaper to buy another lens than repair a bad one.


altar said:
PS. Ok, I managed to change the lens. The Super Takumar 50mm looks much less dirty/grainy than the 28mm that remained attached to the camera for the last 20 years. I don't know if it's dirt or if it's the coating that's gone or whatever.
Click to expand...

Losing the coating on the lens won't cause this issue.

altar said:
If I take them to a photo shop, will the guys be able to tell me if they're still useable?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Yes, a competent shop should be able to tell you very quickly what's going on and what it would cost to repair. They might just need cleaning. And after a couple decades of non-use, I'd bet money they need AT LEAST that much.
 
altar said:
Thanks for the input Jambredz
I have the non-multicoated, like you, although yours might be much newer I don't know.
Do you use outdoors even though it isn't coated?
Click to expand...

It's not that you CAN'T use them outdoors. People did it all the time. It's that you need to exercise some caution when doing so because you will get lens flares, veiling, and lack of contrast. These lenses and their technology were abandoned for a reason! :) When we are trying to get a vintage look, going back to the lenses that gave us that look makes perfect sense. Using them for artistic effect also makes good sense. Understand their limitations, and also their strengths, and you'll do just fine.
 
Great video, really nice colors
Good acting too
Just remembering the lines while smoking so much grass is a performance
 
PerroneFord said:
photodiox Fotodiox, .
Click to expand...

Right, he means Fotodiox, am I a BillyBob?

If I were you I would still go ahead and get the Fotodiox adapters for both Nikon and Pentax for about $22 bucks each. They will fit many other great old manual lenses out there as well.
You can believe what you read here, all facts from experienced shooters, but better try them for yourself.
Great images were being captured by photographers with these lenses as far back as the 70's.
It's not always sunny outdoors. The light changes at dusk.
 
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Hi all,
Still trying to figure out exactly which adapters I should buy from Fotodiox.
About my old Nikkor 50mm 1.4: do know if it corresponds to a F lens or a G lens?
The minimum price for the F lens adapter is 80$ !? Wow! That's not what I was expecting.
Then there's the question of the "Dandelion focus confirmation chip" which makes the adapter more expensive. If I mainly use manual focus I don't need that right?
 
If your lens has an aperture ring, it's an F lens. And now you know why many of us use the basic Kawa adapters (or similar). $15.99 on EBay. I have one fitted to all my non-Canon lenses. Works great.
 
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