Asahi Pentax 100mm f/3.5 · Takumar

{"overview":"The Asahi Pentax Takumar 100mm f\/3.5 is a short telephoto prime designed for the M42 screw mount, dating from the early Takumar era when Asahi Optical was establishing its reputation for compact, well-built optics. With a moderate maximum aperture of f\/3.5, it was intended as a lightweight portrait and general telephoto lens for 35mm SLR users.","market_narrative":"Sales data for this model is extremely thin, with a single recorded UK auction hammer result of £56 in January 2022 — a wholesale saleroom level rather than a dealer asking price. On that limited evidence, what a Takumar 100mm f\/3.5 is worth today sits in the modest two-figure range, and clean copies typically sell for similar money in the auction market in 2026, though condition and completeness can shift the price meaningfully.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear elements for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, and shine a torch through the barrel to check for any internal coating damage or early signs of element separation. Work the aperture ring through every stop to confirm the blades snap cleanly and are free of oil, and turn the focus helicoid end to end to check it is smooth rather than stiff or gritty, both common issues on lenses of this age.","specs":"Key specifications confirmed by the available data are limited to the 100mm focal length, f\/3.5 maximum aperture and Asahi Pentax Takumar branding consistent with the M42 screw-mount system.","faq":[{"q":"How much does an Asahi Pentax Takumar 100mm f\/3.5 sell for?","a":"The only recorded UK auction hammer price in our data is £56 from January 2022, so current value sits in that modest range, though a single result is not a reliable median."},{"q":"What is a Takumar 100mm f\/3.5 worth in 2026?","a":"Based on the limited sales history, expect a price broadly in line with the £56 hammer figure for a usable copy, with clean, fungus-free examples likely to achieve a small premium over that benchmark."},{"q":"What mount does the Takumar 100mm f\/3.5 use?","a":"It is an M42 screw-mount lens from the early Asahi Pentax Takumar line, so it fits any M42 body and most modern mirrorless cameras via a simple adapter."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Prioritise optical condition — fungus, haze and separation — followed by smooth focus action and clean, oil-free aperture blades, as these are the typical failure points on Takumars of this vintage."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Only one sales record is available and no SPECS or variant data was provided, so factual grounding is limited to the model name, focal length, aperture and a single hammer price."}