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Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9

The Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 lens is legendary for its superior build quality, exquisite optics, tack sharpness, and second-to-none bokeh. The version I acquired for testing turned out to be a rather rare iteration, featuring a minimum aperture of f/10 (instead of the usual f/16 or less common f/20) and 6 aperture blades (versus the usual 8).

Where to buy: ebay, Amazon

Excellent sharpness, colors and contrast
Very little barrel distortion(-0.40% average over all aperatures)
Low lateral chromatic aberration
Fast and bright f/1.9 maximum aperture allows for shallow depth of field and for good results in low-light photography
Quite sharp at center wide open at f/1.9 and sharpest across the frame by f/5.6
Excellent image compression for a good bokeh effect
Ideal for weddings, portraits, and other close up work

Find it on eBay!

Pros & Cons of the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 85mm f/1.9 Lens

Pros	Cons
➕ Exceptional bokeh with smooth background blur	❌ Prone to yellowing due to thorium coating
➕ Solid build quality and vintage appeal	❌ Manual focus can be challenging for fast-paced photography
➕ Sharp images, especially at f/2.8 and above	❌ Radioactive elements in the lens (minimal risk)
➕ Compact and well-balanced for its class	❌ Slight vignetting wide open
➕ Great for portraits with classic rendering	❌ Can be difficult to find in good condition

First Impressions

One of the first things I noticed when I unboxed the Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 was just how solid and compact it felt in hand. There’s a certain elegance to this lens that you don’t often find in modern glass. The all-metal construction, combined with its relatively small size for an 85mm lens, gives it a reassuring heft without being cumbersome. It’s a lens that feels like it’s built to last, with the smooth operation of the focus ring and the satisfying click of the aperture ring adding to the overall sense of quality.

The Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 isn’t just about looks, though—it’s a lens with a history. Introduced in the early 1960s, this lens quickly became a favorite among portrait photographers for its excellent optical performance and beautiful rendering. It’s a lens that’s been around for decades, yet it still manages to hold its own against more modern counterparts.

Specifications

Specification	Details
Model	Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9
Type	Prime
Focal length	85mm
Focal format	Full-frame
Magnification	0.11x
Max aperture	f/1.9
Min aperture	f/16
Aperture Blades	6
Angle of view	28°
Optical formula	5 Elements in 4 Groups
Minimum focal dist.	0.85m (2.8ft)
Filter thread size	58mm
Lens hood	Optional
Mount type	M42 (Universal Screw Mount)

Features

Feature	Details
Focus ring	Manual
Autofocus	No
Image stabilization	No
Optical coating(s)	Yes - Single-coated (Super-Multi-Coated in later versions)
Front element rotation	Yes
Internal focusing	No
Lens extension while focusing	Yes
Focus hold/lock button	No
Physical aperture ring	Yes
De-clickable aperture	No
Architecture	SLR

Image Quality

When it comes to image quality, the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is a lens that delivers results that are nothing short of stunning, especially considering its age. Wide open at f/1.9, the lens produces images with a beautiful, dreamy quality that’s perfect for portraits. The center sharpness is quite good, with a soft, almost ethereal rendering in the out-of-focus areas that adds a touch of magic to your shots.

Stopping down to f/2.8 or f/4 sharpens things up significantly, with excellent detail across the frame. The lens handles contrast well, delivering rich, deep shadows and bright highlights without losing detail. Colors are rendered with a natural, slightly warm tone that adds a pleasing depth to your images. The lens’s single-coating does a decent job of controlling flare, though you might encounter some ghosting if you’re shooting directly into a strong light source.

Sharpness

The Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 isn’t the sharpest lens wide open, but that’s part of its charm. At f/1.9, it offers a softness that’s perfect for portraits, giving skin tones a flattering, smooth appearance. The sharpness improves considerably as you stop down, with the sweet spot being around f/4, where the lens delivers excellent detail and clarity. The corners remain a bit softer, but this can actually work to your advantage by drawing attention to the subject in the center of the frame.

Bokeh

The bokeh quality on the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is one of its standout features. The combination of the 85mm focal length and the f/1.9 aperture creates a shallow depth of field that melts backgrounds into a smooth, creamy blur. The bokeh is soft and pleasing, with highlights rendered as rounded orbs that add a touch of elegance to your images. It’s the kind of bokeh that makes portraits pop, with a beautiful separation between the subject and the background that’s hard to replicate with other lenses.

Build Quality

With its all-metal construction, the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 feels as solid as a rock. This is a lens that was built to withstand the rigors of professional use, and it shows. The focus ring is buttery smooth, with just the right amount of resistance to allow for precise adjustments. The aperture ring clicks positively into place, giving you full control over your exposure without any fuss.

However, like many lenses from this era, the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 lacks modern conveniences like weather sealing or a built-in lens hood. You’ll need to be careful when using it in adverse conditions, but with a little care, this lens will last you a lifetime.

Manual Focus Performance

Manual focusing with the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is an absolute joy. The focus throw is long, allowing for precise adjustments that are crucial when working with the shallow depth of field at f/1.9. The smoothness of the focus ring makes it easy to nail focus, whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or close-ups. This lens encourages you to slow down, to take your time with each shot, and to enjoy the process of creating an image.

The lens’s M42 mount makes it compatible with a wide range of cameras, from vintage Pentax bodies to modern mirrorless systems with the right adapter. This versatility, combined with its excellent manual focus performance, makes the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 a favorite among both film and digital photographers.

Feature Breakdown

The Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is a simple, straightforward lens, but that’s part of what makes it so appealing. It’s fully manual, with no autofocus, no image stabilization, and no electronic connections. But what it does offer is a solid, reliable design that’s easy to use and produces beautiful results. The single-coating on the optics helps to reduce flare and improve contrast, though it’s not as effective as the multi-coatings found on modern lenses.

The lens’s compact size and light weight make it an excellent choice for portrait photographers who value portability and ease of use. The M42 mount is another point of interest, as it’s compatible with a wide range of cameras and can be adapted to many modern mirrorless systems, adding to the lens’s versatility.

Optical Construction

The optical design of the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is relatively simple, with 5 elements in 4 groups. This simplicity helps to keep the lens compact and lightweight, while still delivering excellent image quality. The single-coating on the elements helps to reduce reflections and improve contrast, though it’s not as advanced as the multi-coatings found on later versions of the lens.

Despite its age, the optical performance of the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is impressive, particularly when it comes to portraits. The lens produces images with a pleasing balance of sharpness and softness, with a natural rendering of colors and contrast that adds depth and dimension to your shots.

What Could Be Better

As much as I love the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9, it’s not without its quirks. The single-coated optics mean that flare and ghosting can be an issue, particularly when shooting in bright, direct light. The lens also suffers from some chromatic aberration, especially in high-contrast scenes, which might require some correction in post-processing.

The minimum focusing distance of 0.85m can be limiting if you’re used to getting up close to your subjects. And, of course, the manual focus operation means it’s not the best choice for fast-moving subjects or action photography.

Lastly, while the build quality is excellent, the lack of weather sealing means you’ll need to be careful when using the lens in less-than-ideal conditions. With a little care, however, this lens can last you a lifetime.

Conclusion

The Asahi Pentax Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is a lens that has earned its place in the hearts of portrait photographers around the world. It’s not perfect, but its imperfections are part of what makes it so endearing. This lens offers a unique combination of vintage character and optical performance that’s hard to find in modern glass. Priced between $200 and $400 on the second-hand market, it’s an affordable way to add a bit of history and personality to your photography.

Whether you’re a seasoned photographer looking to experiment with vintage lenses or a newcomer curious about the charm of classic glass, the Super Takumar 85mm f/1.9 is a lens worth considering. It’s a lens that invites you to slow down, to enjoy the process of creating an image, and to appreciate the beauty of imperfection.