There’s a special kind of thrill in discovering a piece of “new old glass” that punches way above its weight. The Super-Takumar 55mm f/2, a vintage lens first released in 1962, is one of those gems. It’s a lens with a fascinating history, a unique rendering style, and a rather spicy secret: it’s likely radioactive.

For photographers who love character, unique bokeh, and the tactile feel of vintage gear, the Takumar 55mm f/2 offers a compelling package. Let’s dive into what makes this surprisingly lightweight lens a standout choice for your collection.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Super-Takumar 55mm f/2 is its build quality. Despite weighing only 164 grams, it features an all-metal body that feels solid and durable in the hand. It uses a standard 49mm filter thread and comes with the ubiquitous M42 mount, making it incredibly easy to adapt to almost any modern DSLR or mirrorless camera.

But its most talked-about feature isn’t the metal body—it’s the glass itself. Like many high-performance Takumar lenses from the 1960s, this one incorporates rare-earth elements. In this case, that’s a polite way of saying it uses radioactive thorium in its glass elements to improve the refractive index. While I don’t have a Geiger counter on hand, it’s a well-known characteristic of this lens family, including its famous cousin, the 50mm f/1.4. Don’t worry, it’s generally considered safe to use, but it’s a fascinating quirk of photographic history!

Where this lens truly shines is in its image rendering. If you’re tired of clinically perfect lenses, the Super-Takumar 55mm f/2 will be a breath of fresh air.

The bokeh is the star of the show. Instead of producing aggressive “bubble bokeh,” this lens creates a background that feels incredibly painterly and subdued. The out-of-focus areas resemble an impasto-style painting, blending beautifully with the scene rather than dominating it. It’s perfect for portraits where you want the background to be a soft, artistic canvas that complements your subject.

When stopped down, the 6-bladed aperture produces another unique quirk: pentagon-shaped bokeh balls. It’s a distinct look that adds another layer of character to your images.

When shot wide open at f/2, the lens is reasonably sharp in the center, but the edges are quite soft. However, I discovered its secret to incredible performance. The sweet spot for this lens is between f/2 and f/2.8. In this narrow range, it retains the beautiful bokeh character while delivering exceptional sharpness that can resolve fine detail, as seen in the 100% crop of the Calla lily photo below.

To put the f/2 version to the test, I compared it against two other legendary Takumar lenses: the 55mm f/1.8 and the 50mm f/1.4. Here’s a quick breakdown of how they performed.

• Lens A (Super-Takumar 55mm f/2): Produced a pleasing bokeh with a mix of oval and its signature pentagon shapes.
• Lens B (Super-Takumar 55mm f/1.8): Very similar at first glance, but with slightly smoother bokeh in the corners and a subtle color difference.
• Lens C (Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4): The most distinct of the three, creating bright “ring bokeh” or “soap bubble” effects on the outside of the bokeh balls, along with some cat-eye shaping.

While my initial preference in the wide-open shootout was the 55mm f/1.8 (Lens B), I found that the 55mm f/2 shot in its “sweet spot” produced my favorite image overall. Its rendering was more subdued and refined, making it a more versatile portrait tool.

Absolutely, yes. This lens is a must-have for anyone looking to add a unique, character-rich prime to their collection without breaking the bank.

I would recommend this lens for photographers who:

• Are looking for a fantastic portrait lens.
• Appreciate a more subdued, painterly bokeh style.
• Enjoy the history and quirks of vintage gear (including thorium glass!).

The main challenge is finding a copy in good condition, as older lenses can have issues like sticky aperture blades or stiff focus rings. But if you can find one in mint condition, you will be rewarded with a truly special piece of glass.