The Pentax Spotmatic 35mm film cameras were classics, and were equipped with some of the finest lenses produced at that time. This video features one of those lenses -- an Asahi Super Takumar 50mm f1.4., from one of the first cameras in the Spotmatic line, dating to the late 60's. It belonged to my good friend's grandfather and was in need of repair. The threaded end of the lens barrel was badly dented and both the front and rear elements had fungus blooms. I straightened the end of barrel so I could thread out the "beauty ring," and removed the elements. These were then disassembled and cleaned with an alcohol-hydrogen peroxide mixture, and reassembled. The result -- a perfect lens. The Asahi 50mm M42 screw mount lens is one of the finest 50 mm, normal lenses ever produced for a 35mm camera -- film or digital. It has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity because it can be easily adapted for use on a micro four thirds camera, such as the Olympus E-PL1. The E-PL1 cannot fully exploit the glass in this lens, due to its smaller sensor size, but the quality of this lens is nevertheless immediately apparent. It exceeds the optical quality of the ubiquitous Canon 50mm f1.8, or the Nikon E series 50mm f1.8, although in their favor, both of those excellent lenses can stop down to f22 (compared to a minimum of f16 on the Asahi). Part of the Asahi's charm, in addition to its superb optics and precision and balanced barrel adjustments, is the bokeh produced by its well shaped and positioned aperture blades. These beautiful lenses are well worth their modest price in today's market. (The pictures of the Asahi lens were taken with an Olympus C7070 -- another marvelous camera. But that's a different story.) Musical credit: Bucky Pizzarelli and Frank Vignola, from their album, Moonglow. Enjoy.