{"id":87071,"date":"2026-05-10T11:17:04","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T10:17:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=87071"},"modified":"2026-05-10T16:57:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T15:57:25","slug":"review-super-multi-coated-takumar-28mm-f-3-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-super-multi-coated-takumar-28mm-f-3-5\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Super<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Today I\u2019m looking at another vintage lens: the Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f\/3.5, made by Asahi Optical Co. before the company became Pentax. Over the years, this lens has earned a legendary reputation among vintage wide-angle lenses, praised for its sharpness and coatings that were considered exceptional for their time. Naturally, I wanted to see if the hype was real. Does it still hold up today, or is it simply a relic carried by nostalgia? Let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf<\/a>)
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!
\n\"\"Sample images in high resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Nikon Zf | Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 28mm f\/3.5 | f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n28mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n75\u00b0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nf\/3.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nf\/16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n0.4 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n49mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nM42<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n212 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n58 x 41.5 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n7 \/ 7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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Lens construction | Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 28mm F3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\nBuy used: eBay.com<\/a>, eBay.de<\/a> from $90 (Advertisement)<\/strong><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

I picked up this lens specifically to test it for myself and see whether it still lives up to its legendary reputation today.<\/p>\n

Variations<\/span><\/h2>\n

There were three different versions of this lens. The first two lacked multi-coating and were sold under the Super-Takumar name.<\/p>\n

The first version (1962\u20131966) used a different optical design from the later models and featured a 58mm filter thread. It also came in two variants: an early version with a minimum aperture of f\/22, and a later one with a minimum aperture of f\/16.<\/p>\n

The second (1966\u20131971) and third versions (1971 onward) shared the same optical design and a 49mm filter thread.<\/p>\n

The third version \u2014 the one I\u2019m reviewing here \u2014 was the only model to feature Takumar\u2019s (later Pentax\u2019s) Super-Multi-Coating.<\/p>\n

Handling and Build Quality<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is a very compact and light lens at only 212 g, despite being made entirely of metal and glass. The focus ring has a gentle scalloped design and turns smoothly with a pleasant resistance of about 100\u00b0. Distance markings in both meters and feet are engraved and filled with paint.<\/p>\n

Next is the depth of field scale on the barrel, followed by the aperture ring. It is marked in full-stop values, except for the maximum aperture of f\/3.5. The ring clicks at all marked apertures, with click stops between the markings up to f\/11. There are no intermediate click stops between f\/11 and f\/16.<\/p>\n

,<\/p>\n

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Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

At last, there is a MAN-AUTO switch, which is used when metering at max aperture. When on Auto, the aperture is closed to the set value when you click on the shutter button, while on Manual the aperture is closed to the set value at all times.<\/p>\n

The M42 screw mount, often called the “Universal thread mount,” was a dominant standard for SLR cameras from the 1940s through the mid-1970s.\u00a0<\/span>The M42 mount originated in East Germany with the <\/span>Contax S<\/span> (1949) and was standardized by Praktica.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f\/3.5 on a Praktica camera<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While the mount was originally developed in East Germany, Pentax made it widely popular. It is often referred to as the \u201cPentax screw mount.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is also a pin on the mount that allows the camera to stop down the aperture during exposure or when previewing depth of field in auto-aperture mode. However, this mechanism does not work as intended on mirrorless cameras when using simple mechanical adapters. Instead, the lens stays stopped down at the selected aperture, requiring stopped-down metering.<\/p>\n

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Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we\u2019ll look at three areas of the image \u2014 center, mid-frame, and corner \u2014 as highlighted below. Focus was set on the center of the image.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Infinity chart | Super Multi Coated Takumar 28mm f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wide open, center sharpness is very good, the midframe is just acceptable, and the corners are very soft. Heavy blue and orange fringing is visible from the midframe outward, reducing perceived sharpness. Stopping down to f\/5.6 brings center sharpness to an excellent level, though the midframe and corners improve only slightly. Corner performance becomes passable at f\/8 and acceptable at f\/11. At f\/16, center sharpness drops slightly, while the corners improve further.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the points of interest for portraits at the portrait distance: the very centre, the centre\u2019s inner periphery\u00a0 (1\/3 rule intersection), and the centre\u2019s outer periphery (1\/4th intersection).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Portrait Sharpness Points of Interest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here, I focused independently on the center, mid-frame, and corner areas to account for field curvature.<\/p>\n