> For prime lenses longer than 300, the Takumar 400/5.6 is "OK" but cannot > focus closer than 8 m.
This is interesting, My 400mm 5.6 SMC Takumar is excellent, I like it better than the 500mm 4.5 quality wise. I think the key is the 400 is both slower and 5 element instead of the 500mm 4.5's only 4 elements. > For what it lets you do--add a K-mount 1.4X TC and > get a K-mount 700/6.3--the Takumar 500/4.5 is a steal at $400 to $500. But > it cannot focus closer than 10m, and you must be prepared to > support it with > a heavy-duty tripod and ballhead. TC's & 35mm are evil. I only use them on 67. As far as the 500 4.5 goes, I am able to hand hold it no problem @ 1/500 and 1/1000. I dont find the 10m focus limit a problem, the field of view is still pretty small at 30m with a 500mm. > I think there were three versions. The > first had a simpler lens formula and is best avoided. The first was a 500mm F5, it might not be a telephoto design and could be quite good but I never tried one. > The second > was single > coated. The third (SMC or Super Takumar) is multicoated. > These are the 500 4.5's . They are manual aperture Tele-Tak and SMC-Tak, same designs. There wasnt any 500mm Super-Taks, the largest were 300mm F4. JCO
