Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8

Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 | S/N: 1308819

Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 Standard Prime Lens - Good Condition | Legendary M42 Screw Mount Prime featuring Super-Multi-Coated Glass and Butter-Smooth Manual Focus

Introductory Paragraph The Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 (often noted as Super-Multi-Coated) is widely celebrated as one of the finest manual focus standard prime lenses ever engineered. Crafted by Asahi Optical Co. in Japan, this lens is universally revered for its legendary 7-layer Super-Multi-Coating treatment, which provides extraordinary resistance against flare while generating jaw-dropping color contrast and tack-sharp details. Outfitted with the time-honored M42 screw mount, this highly scannable Pentax masterpiece is a massive favorite for analog purists and modern digital mirrorless filmmakers seeking its signature creamy bokeh and silky mechanical operation.

Key Features

• Advanced 7-layer Super-Multi-Coating (SMC) optical formula, drastically cutting down ghosting while maximizing natural saturation.

• Fast f/1.8 maximum aperture geometry, rendering beautifully thin depth-of-field separation and providing confident low-light capabilities.

• Classic 55mm standard focal length mapping, offering a highly flattering perspective for street documentary and natural portraits.

• Tactile Auto/Manual aperture switch override architecture, allowing for seamless stop-down exposure tracking on modern digital adapters.

• Renowned mechanically dampened brass focus helicoid path, providing an incredibly uniform, smooth, and precise manual focusing action.

• Compact precision-machined all-metal barrel chassis construction, displaying the peak of vintage Japanese industrial durability.

• Universal M42 thread screw mount design, making it highly adaptable across nearly all vintage film and modern mirrorless camera lines.

Condition Report Good condition. Body: Shows standard light signs of past creative handling, including minor cosmetic paint scuffs on the black anodized metal barrel and typical light rubbing along the raised ridges of the knurled focus ring. The rear M42 mount threads are clean and thread smoothly. Sensor/Optics: The internal glass elements are bright and clear. The optics are free from internal fungus, heavy haze, optical separation, or deep structural scratches; typical minimal micro-dust is visible under tight inspection lighting but does not alter performance or image clarity. Mechanics:Fully operational. The signature manual focus ring rotates beautifully with perfectly balanced dampening across the entire range, the aperture selection ring clicks cleanly into each stop, and the internal multi-coated aperture blades are completely dry, free of oil, and snap open and shut instantly.

Specialist Note "The SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 is widely celebrated among vintage lens enthusiasts as the benchmark for tactile mechanics. The focus throw on these lenses is legendary—it feels impossibly smooth, making precise manual adjustments an absolute joy on both film bodies and modern mirrorless rigs. Thanks to Pentax's revolutionary multi-coating layers, this lens handles harsh backlighting beautifully, retaining rich micro-contrast and yielding an organic, swirling bokeh that gives images a completely transparent, high-end vintage signature."

What's Included

• Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 Standard Prime Lens (S/N: 1308819)

Technical Specifications

• Brand: Pentax (Asahi Optical Co.)

• Model: SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 (Super-Multi-Coated)

• Lens Type: Prime Lens

• Lens Mount: M42 Screw Mount

• Focal Length: 55mm

• Maximum Aperture: f/1.8

• Minimum Aperture: f/16

• Focus Type: Manual Focus

• Category: 2. Lenses ▸ Prime Lens

• Battery Type: None Required (Fully Mechanical)