Pentax · M42 screw mount · 1964–1971
This is the fast standard lens Asahi paired with the Spotmatic, and its brochure called it an ideal standard partner for that camera. It arrived in 1964 with eight elements and was redesigned with seven within a year or two, and both versions read Super-Takumar on the front ring. One reviewer's 8-element copy had a very warm character and very smooth bokeh, but it was soft at close range wide open and sometimes flared and fringed in bright light. On a mirrorless body, focus peaking and magnification make f/1.4 far easier to nail than a 1960s finder did. Some 7-element copies carry thoriated glass, which turns yellow-brown over the decades and tints everything warm. Strong light or UV can fade that tint. A plain M42 adapter doesn't press the aperture pin, so set the Auto/Manual switch to M, or buy an adapter with a pin-pushing flange and leave it on A.
Known forVintage warm tones
On a mirrorless camera
It’s a M42 screw mount lens, and its mount sits 45.46 mm from the film. Every mirrorless mount below sits closer than that, so a plain adapter ring fills the gap and the lens still focuses to infinity. On a smaller sensor it frames tighter, like a longer lens.
Thoriated glass
Some or all of this lens’s production used glass with thorium oxide in it, which is mildly radioactive and turns yellow over the decades. The yellow cast shows in photos and fades under strong UV light. Our guide to thoriated lenses covers how to spot it and what sources say about handling it.
Versions
This page is the single-coated Super-Takumar. Asahi launched it in 1964 with eight elements and moved to seven elements in six groups soon after, in 1965 or 1966 depending on the source. The 8-element lens has the infrared focus mark to the right of the 4 on the depth-of-field scale and the deepest rear element, and weighs about 245 g against 230 g for the first 7-element version. Some 7-element copies use thoriated glass, and none of the sources we read put it in the 8-element lens. In 1971 the 7-element design got Asahi's multi-coating as the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar, later badged SMC Takumar. Those multi-coated versions have their own page.
Copies with thoriated glass go yellow-brown with age, which warms the color until the glass is bleached with strong light or UV. Otherwise expect the usual age faults: haze, fungus, oily blades and focusing grease that has dried or stiffened.
New to old glass? How to check a used vintage lens covers haze, fungus and the rest in detail.
Buying guide
We'd buy a 7-element Super-Takumar from a US dealer, like the $96 delivered one from a 99.9% seller, or pay $147 for a tested copy graded N MINT from Japan. There are at least 136 for sale and most ask $130–300 delivered, a band Japan dealers set with early 8-element copies at about $190–430, while 7-element lenses from US sellers ask about $90–150. Some 7-element copies have thoriated glass that yellows and tints warm, which strong light or UV can fade, so expect an amber look in several photos, and ask for a flashlight shot through the back for haze and fungus. It needs an M42 adapter, with the Auto/Manual switch on M for a plain one or on A with a pin-pushing one, and the model page lists the adapters by camera. Skip the $63 copy from a seller with no feedback, far under the market for this lens.
$91.75est. delivered
The lowest delivered Super-Takumar 1.4 here from a seller with feedback, at $92 from a 100% US seller, titled Excellent. The glass looks yellow in the photo, the warm cast thoriated copies get, so ask for a flashlight shot to rule out haze as well.
Asahi Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 Lens M42 Mount for Pentax Zenit Praktica Excellent
$96.20est. delivered
Titled 7 elements, so you know which version you're getting, and it looks clean in the photo, at $96 delivered from a 99.9% US seller. That's well under the band for the lens most people adapt.
ASAHI PENTAX 7 ELEMENT SUPER-TAKUMAR 50MM F/1.4 M42 MOUNT LENS #1
![[N MINT] PENTAX Super Takumar 50mm F/1.4 Standard MF Lens For M42 Tested Japan](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xU4AAeSwkOJqrMvj/s-l500.jpg)
$146.98est. delivered
Graded N MINT and titled tested by a 99.9% Japan dealer, with an Asahi Pentax metal cap in the photo, at $147 delivered, near the bottom of the band. Ask what the test covered and whether the glass shows any yellowing.
[N MINT] PENTAX Super Takumar 50mm F/1.4 Standard MF Lens For M42 Tested Japan
![CLA'd ▶ 8 elements [NEAR MINT+] Pentax Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 Lens M42 JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/9tAAAeSwl5xp7WRZ/s-l500.jpg)
$299.99est. delivered
Titled CLA'd, an 8-element copy graded NEAR MINT+, at $300 delivered from a 99.6% Japan dealer. That's the top of the band, but it's a service claim for $129 less than the other serviced 8-element lens here.
CLA'd ▶ 8 elements [NEAR MINT+] Pentax Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 Lens M42 JAPAN
![[EXC+5] Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 8-Element M42 Lens Tested Read Desc](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zEgAAeSwGNdqwYc0/s-l500.jpg)
$239.39delivered
Titled 8-element, the early version collectors want, and tested, at $239 delivered with free shipping from a 100% seller, right at the median. Ask for a photo of the depth-of-field scale, where an infrared mark just right of the 4 confirms it.
[EXC+5] Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 8-Element M42 Lens Tested Read Desc
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 12, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$91.75est. delivered
$79.00 + $12.75 shipping
Buy It Now$79.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled Excellent. Glass looks yellow in the photo.
Seller: puliadura
100% positive
Used$96.20est. delivered
$79.00 + $17.20 shipping
Buy It Now$79.00
Good buy
Titled 7 elements. Looks clean in the photo.
Seller: thephotosource
99.9% positive
Used$146.98est. delivered
$119.99 + $26.99 shipping
Buy It Now$119.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Dealer grade N MINT, titled tested. Metal cap in the photo.
Seller: good-price-samurai-finds
99.9% positive
Serviced$299.99est. delivered
$239.99 + $60.00 shipping
Buy It Now$239.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled CLA'd. 8 elements, dealer grade NEAR MINT+.
Seller: manaco_shop_japan
99.6% positive
Used$239.39delivered
$239.39 · free shipping
Buy It Now$239.39
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 8-element and tested. Dealer grade EXC+5, free shipping.
Seller: yama-4448
100% positive
![RARE![Serviced & Tested] Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 8 Elements Vintage 194](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Up0AAeSw1cJqedJC/s-l500.jpg)
Serviced$429.00delivered
$429.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$429.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Titled serviced and tested, 8 elements, hood in the photo. The glass looks deep yellow there, so ask for a shot of the depth-of-field scale to confirm 8 elements.
Seller: cross2069
100% positive
Used$63.16est. delivered
$55.00 + $8.16 shipping
Buy It Now$55.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Seller has no feedback, and $63 is far under market. The glass looks yellow in the photo.
Seller: striker_collectibles
No feedback yet
Used$128.98est. delivered
$113.98 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$113.98
Check the seller
Seller name and feedback weren't on the card, so check them first. Graded Near Mint, caps in the photo.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
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Pentax · M42 screw mount
From 1971 into the mid-1970s
Thoriated glass
$100–$160 typical ask
Pentax · M42 screw mount
Thoriated glass
$65–$110 typical ask
Helios & Industar · M42 screw mount
From 1966
$110–$180 typical ask
Canon · Canon FD
From 1973
$100–$160 typical ask
Minolta · Minolta SR (MC / MD)
Early 1970s–1977
$70–$120 typical ask