[Peter Zack]

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

---

Well the mailman had a present for me today. I took a few test shots with the lens and damn it's fast! It has razor thin DOF when wide open and seems very sharp.

I got it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/Pentax-55mm-f-1-2-1-1-2-f1-2-Cosina-Cosinon_W0QQitemZ160...d=p3911.c0.m14

Anyway these are just a couple of quickie test shots since I didn't have much time to use the lens. But well worth it and it's going to be fun to use!.

Metering is the same as all M series lenses, put in in manual mode and I took 4-5 shots in Av just to give it a try. The lens seems consistant and with about -1.7 Ev added in, it seems to expose just fine across the range.

Focus is smooth and it is built as well as the old Takumars. Solid and a great feel. No play in the focus ring what so ever. Nicely damped for fine focus. 58mm threads which match some Pentax lenses. Big plus since no extra filters are needed (CPL etc).

Aperture is accurate and it has 9 blades, a nice even and fairly smooth bokeh. OOF areas look very good. It's fun to look through it wide open off the camera. Just a huge glass tube!

I'll do some more tests this weekend as time permits. I like it though.
Wide open f1.2 ISO 400 1/125th

100% crop of above

Wide open ISO 100 1/4000

100% crop. The focus point was the reddish spot on the bud.

F8 1/125 ISO 100

100% crop and the focus point was the stems just under the bud where they meet the stalk.

---

Last edited by Peter Zack; 10-21-2008 at 12:33 AM.

[roentarre]

Congradulation, Peter.

It is certainly appearing sharp in the crop image. The colour is clean as well given such a low lighting condition. Sure you are into the realm of f1.2

I am at work and taking a quick peek into the forum.

[sharko]

Wow that's a great price and very tempting...would save a ton of money over the 50mm Pentax version at nearly $600

[Peter Zack]

I think it's well worth it. I don't have a Pentax version to compare (and couldn't afford it either) but it seems to be a great lens for a cheap price.

[J.Scott]

Congrats Peter! Looks like a great lens at a reasonable price.
I'll be looking forward to seeing more images from this stellar lens.

[deejjjaaaa]

Wow that's a great price and very tempting...would save a ton of money over the 50mm Pentax version at nearly $600

at ~$400... (thx to M$ live cashback)

[John Kovarik]

Congrats, Peter, and nice test shots. I see the last (up to now) of the $235 units sold today. The only one out on eBay at the moment is out of CA for $325.........

[Peter Zack]

Yeah I wish that cashback deal was available outside the USA. With around 30% off, it makes a good deal a steal.

[Miserere]

Peter, I already posted these on another thread, but I've decided to also hijack yours, if you don't mind

I thought I should post the reason why I got this lens in the first place. Here are some examples of no-light shooting, all but one hand-held, with the K10D. This is the first time that I've seen hand-held shots turn out brighter than what I could see with my own eyes. The light was not as bright as the photos make it out to be. Needless to say, I was shooting wide open all the time.

f/1.2 1/25s ISO1600



f/1.2 1/30s ISO1600



f/1.2 1/30s ISO1600



f/1.2 2s ISO100



f/1.2 1/20s ISO1600

[rparmar]

Got my copy today, thanks to Mis. Here are a couple of rather normal shots, not really showing off the lens. Wait until I take it into a pub!

So far it seems to have decent sharpness. The colours are a bit mild (I've worked on these shots). Handling is great; physically the lens is a treat.

Rook



Vertical

[sharko]

Would love to see more shots from this lens

I ordered a copy myself the other day.

[vizjerei]

Yah!~ hehe more new toy!

[Miserere]

Here are a couple of rather normal shots, not really showing off the lens. Wait until I take it into a pub!

Robin: Bye Dear, I'm off to the pub!

Wife: Well isn't that nice, and you're leaving me here, are you?

Robin: But it's not for fun, I have to test a lens for my blog. Honestly...

[John Kovarik]

Right on, Mis.........it is always a startlement to me to see the LCD screen scene brighter than the room - folks say, how you dodat? I say I have 1.2 reasons................

[Miserere]

folks say, how you dodat? I say I have 1.2 reasons................

I might have to borrow that reply