There are four main versions of the legendary Takumar 50mm f1.4. This video explains the similarities and differences between each version. It goes on to recommend the best version to buy....depending on your photographic style.

Note on the dates: Takumar lenses as a group were made between around 1959 to 1975.

The Takumar 50/1.4 was made from 1964 to 1975.

Just a note on the title for this video - the Takumar 50mm f1.4 is one of the very best, but I'm not saying its the best of all. There some excellent film era fast fifties out there - the Nikkor, Canon, Olympus, Topcor, the Tomioka made lenses, Carl Zeiss Jena, Voigtländer, Steinheil München etc etc.


Correction on the narrative: The focus ring of the SMC Takumar is made of rubber not plastic!

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