Asahi Pentax 500mm f/5 · Takumar

{"overview":"The Asahi Pentax Takumar 500mm f\/5 is a manual-focus super-telephoto prime built for the M42 screw mount, dating from the early years of Pentax's Takumar line. It was designed for distant subjects such as wildlife, sports, and aviation, and pairs naturally with classic Pentax SLR bodies.","market_narrative":"At UK auction the Takumar 500mm f\/5 is a thin market: the only verified hammer result on file is £138 from June 2022, which gives a working reference point for what a usable copy sells for at saleroom level today rather than a retail asking price. With a single data point the true value range is uncertain, and condition, completeness of the case and hood, and the presence of clean glass will swing the price either side of that figure.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear groups for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, since long teles spend a lot of time pointed at humid skies and often sit unused for years. Check the aperture blades for oil, work the long focus helicoid through its full travel to feel for stiffness or grease migration, and look down the barrel for any signs of element separation or coating scratches. Confirm the M42 thread is clean and undamaged and that the tripod collar, if fitted, rotates and locks securely.","specs":"Key documented specifications are limited: a 500mm focal length, maximum aperture of f\/5, and an M42 screw mount consistent with the Takumar series.","faq":[{"q":"What is an Asahi Pentax Takumar 500mm f\/5 worth today?","a":"Based on the single verified UK auction record, a Takumar 500mm f\/5 sold for £138 hammer in 2022, which is the best available guide to its current value."},{"q":"How much does a Takumar 500mm f\/5 sell for at auction?","a":"Recorded UK saleroom data shows one hammer price of £138; with so few sales the realistic price for a clean, working example can vary noticeably around that figure."},{"q":"What mount does the Takumar 500mm f\/5 use?","a":"It uses the M42 screw mount, so it fits Pentax Spotmatic-era bodies directly and other cameras via an M42 adapter."},{"q":"Is the Takumar 500mm f\/5 a good buy for the price?","a":"For users who want an inexpensive manual super-telephoto and can live with a slow f\/5 aperture, the low hammer price makes it accessible, provided the glass is free of fungus and haze and the focus moves smoothly."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Confidence is low because SPECS and variants are empty and SALES HISTORY contains only one verified record, limiting both technical detail and market analysis."}