Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8
The Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 is a 55mm f/1.8 manual-focus lens for the M42 mount, made by Asahi Pentax from 1958-1971. It uses 6 elements / 5 groups, Double Gauss. Typical used value is $35 to $130, with most examples near $70, and it adapts to Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount with a plain mechanical adapter.
Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 specifications
Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 specifications
Why collectors want it
A well built and inexpensive entry into vintage Takumar glass with smooth focus and pleasant rendering. Some earlier examples use thoriated glass that yellows slightly over time. It is sharp stopped down and a common first adapted lens for mirrorless shooters.
Mount and adapters for the Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8
The Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 has a native M42 mount. M42 is a 42mm x 1mm screw thread with a 45.46mm register, introduced in 1949 on the Contax S and later adopted by Praktica, Asahi Pentax, Fujica, Zenit, Yashica, and Chinon. Every mirrorless mount has a shorter register than 45.46mm, so a plain mechanical adapter puts the lens at its design distance and infinity focus is preserved. Plain threaded adapter, no optics. Lenses with an auto-diaphragm pin need either an Auto/Manual switch on the lens or an adapter with an inner flange that holds the pin in. Preset lenses such as the Helios 44-2 have no pin and work on any adapter.
| Camera system | Adapter | Infinity focus | Frames like | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony E | Plain mechanical, 27.46mm | Yes | 55mm on full frame; 83mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Sony E |
| Fuji X | Plain mechanical, 27.76mm | Yes | 83mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Fuji X |
| MFT | Plain mechanical, 26.21mm | Yes | 110mm on Four Thirds (2x) | M42 to MFT |
| Canon RF | Plain mechanical, 25.46mm | Yes | 55mm on full frame; 88mm on APS-C (1.6x) | M42 to Canon RF |
| Nikon Z | Plain mechanical, 29.46mm | Yes | 55mm on full frame; 83mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to Nikon Z |
| L-mount | Plain mechanical, 25.46mm | Yes | 55mm on full frame; 83mm on APS-C (1.5x) | M42 to L-mount |
Frequently asked
What mount is the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8?
The Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 has a native M42 mount. M42 is a 42mm x 1mm screw thread with a 45.46mm register, introduced in 1949 on the Contax S and later adopted by Praktica, Asahi Pentax, Fujica, Zenit, Yashica, and Chinon. With a plain mechanical adapter it fits Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount bodies and keeps infinity focus.
How much is the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 worth in 2026?
A used Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 typically sells for $35 to $130, with most clean working examples near $70. Basis: eBay sold listings and KEH, 2024-2025. This is an estimate, not an appraisal; condition, variant, and service history move the number.
Does the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 work on Sony E, Fuji X, and MFT?
Yes. M42 has a 45.46mm register and every mirrorless mount is shorter (16mm to 20mm), so a simple M42 adapter reaches infinity with no optics. On a full-frame body the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 frames as a 55mm lens; on APS-C (1.5x) it frames like a 83mm, on Canon APS-C (1.6x) like a 88mm, and on Micro Four Thirds (2x) like a 110mm. Plain threaded adapter, no optics. Lenses with an auto-diaphragm pin need either an Auto/Manual switch on the lens or an adapter with an inner flange that holds the pin in. Preset lenses such as the Helios 44-2 have no pin and work on any adapter.
When was the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 made?
Asahi Pentax made the Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 from 1958-1971. That puts the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 9 years into the life of the M42 mount, which appeared in 1949 on the Zeiss Ikon Contax S (Dresden).
What is the optical design of the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8?
The Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 uses 6 elements / 5 groups, Double Gauss. Double Gauss designs are near-symmetrical six- or seven-element formulas that support fast apertures with good correction; fast versions show glow from spherical aberration and swirl from mechanical vignetting wide open. Some examples use thoriated glass, which is mildly radioactive and can develop a yellow tint that UV exposure reduces; the thoriated glass guide covers safe handling.
Which lenses are similar to the Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8?
Close alternatives in the same focal class are the Fujinon 55mm f/1.8 EBC (55mm f/1.8, $50 to $170), the Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7 (55mm f/1.7, $30 to $120), and the Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. (55mm f/1.2, $180 to $600). The Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7 costs less on the used market. The Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7 and The Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. are faster.
Alternatives to the Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8
Lenses within 15mm of 55mm from other makers, ranked by how close they sit in focal length, aperture, and price.
Side-by-side comparisons
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C.
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 58mm f/2
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Fujinon 55mm f/1.8 EBC
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Helios 44-2 58mm f/2
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Konica Hexanon AR 57mm f/1.2
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7
- Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8 vs Olympus OM-System Zuiko Auto-S 55mm f/1.2
Where this lens fits
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Related guides
- Thoriated glassWhy some 1950s to 1970s lenses are mildly radioactive, which catalog lenses use thorium glass, how yellow tint forms, how UV clears it, and how to handle them.
- M42 to Sony EHow M42 screw-mount lenses work on Sony E cameras: the 27.46mm adapter, flanged versus flangeless rings, auto-aperture pins, camera settings, and the APS-C crop.
- Buying checklistA step-by-step checklist for buying used manual lenses: the flashlight test for fungus, haze, and separation, mechanical checks, seller language, grades, and mount traps.