Asahi Pentax 35mm f/2.3 · Auto-Takumar

{"overview":"The Asahi Pentax 35mm f\/2.3 Auto-Takumar is a moderately wide-angle prime from the Auto-Takumar line of the late 1950s, built in M42 screw mount for Asahi's early SLR bodies. The f\/2.3 maximum aperture made it a relatively fast 35mm for its era, aimed at available-light reportage and general wide-angle work before the faster f\/2 Super-Takumar superseded it.","market_narrative":"At recent UK auction, hammer prices for this lens have typically sat in the £80–£120 band, with a median close to £90–£110 based on 2024–2025 saleroom results. Two earlier 2022 results of £150 and £250 sit well above that range and reflect either exceptional condition or stronger collector demand at the time; as of 2026, clean user-grade copies are what a 35mm f\/2.3 Auto-Takumar typically sells for at wholesale auction level, with buyer's and seller's commission paid on top of those hammer figures.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear elements for fungus and haze, which are common in Takumars of this age, and check the aperture blades for oil migration that can make the semi-automatic diaphragm sluggish. Look for coating scratches and cleaning marks on the front element, any sign of element separation visible as a rainbow or mottled edge, and confirm the focus helicoid turns smoothly without grinding or dry patches, since old grease on these Auto-Takumars often needs re-lubrication.","specs":"Wide-angle prime of 35mm focal length with a maximum aperture of f\/2.3, supplied in M42 screw mount for Asahi Pentax SLR bodies.","faq":[{"q":"What is an Asahi Pentax 35mm f\/2.3 Auto-Takumar worth today?","a":"Recent UK auction hammer prices sit in the £80–£120 range for typical copies, with a median value near £90–£110 across 2024–2025 results."},{"q":"How much does a 35mm f\/2.3 Auto-Takumar sell for at auction?","a":"Most examples sell for £80 to £120 at UK saleroom level, though exceptional or earlier results have reached £150 and £250."},{"q":"Why is the price range so wide?","a":"Condition drives the value — clean glass, smooth focus and clean aperture blades push the price toward the upper end, while hazy or oily copies sit at the lower end of the band."},{"q":"Does the M42 mount affect value?","a":"The M42 screw mount makes the lens adaptable to most mirrorless systems, which supports steady demand among users as well as Pentax collectors."}],"confidence":55,"reasoning":"Nine auction records give a reasonable price picture, but empty specs and facts arrays limit technical detail and force conservative confidence."}