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darkmunk · 01-19-2008, 12:29 PM

anyone heard of a SMC 55mm 1:2?
anygood?

blende8 · 01-19-2008, 01:01 PM

It was the budget version of the K55/1.8.
Builtwise and optically I would say they are almost the same. Not sure if there is any difference at all.
Certainly a sharp, good lens.

kjao · 01-19-2008, 11:51 PM

I have got K55/1.8 and it is a very nice lens. A little soft wide open but quite acceptable (to me). Sharpened up very nicely by f2.8

cheers
Kenny

little laker · 01-19-2008, 11:59 PM

I have the 1.8 as well, and love it for close work, and portrait work.

beekala · 01-27-2008, 06:01 PM

I had a 55mm f2 (which I gave away due to scratch on front of lens which created a 'mark ' on images taken with it) - its not a bad lens, good for portraits.

One thing to pay attention to is its colour rendition - colours looked a bit saturated? Maybe mine was suffering from the yellowing these lens coatings are renowned for.

Abbazz · 01-27-2008, 08:36 PM

The 55/1.8 and 55/2 are exactly the same lens (6 element in 5 groups). Pentax needed an entry level standard lens, so it put a limiter ring inside the 55/1.8 and sold it as 55/2.0. On the early versions of the 55/2, the ring can be removed to turn the lens into a full 55/1.8.

Cheers!

Abbazz

ddhytz · 01-28-2008, 03:07 AM

Why did Pentax add an extra bit (cost increased) in an existing lens and sell it cheaper? It sounds silly.

Abbazz · 01-28-2008, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by ddhytz

Why did Pentax add an extra bit (cost increased) in an existing lens and sell it cheaper? It sounds silly.

For the same reason that in 1961, Pentax took the Asahi Pentax S3, erased the 1/1000sec. marking on its speed selection dial, and sold it for a cheaper price under the name Asahi Pentax S1. The mechanism of the shutter was not modified, so clever people at that time just bought the cheaper S1, turned the speed dial to the unmarked notch next to 1/500sec. and enjoyed 1/1000sec. shutter speed just like if they have bought the S3

It is interesting to note that the Auto-Takumar 55/2 also appeared as a kit lens for the Pentax S1, while the more expensive 55/1.8 was sold with the deluxe S3: same camera, same lens but targeting two different market segments...

Cheers!

Abbazz

01-19-2008, 12:29 PM	#1
darkmunk Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Plymouth Photos: Gallery Posts: 28	55mm? anyone heard of a SMC 55mm 1:2? anygood?

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01-19-2008, 01:01 PM	#2
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	It was the budget version of the K55/1.8. Builtwise and optically I would say they are almost the same. Not sure if there is any difference at all. Certainly a sharp, good lens.

01-19-2008, 11:51 PM	#3
kjao Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 423	I have got K55/1.8 and it is a very nice lens. A little soft wide open but quite acceptable (to me). Sharpened up very nicely by f2.8 cheers Kenny

01-19-2008, 11:59 PM	#4
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	I have the 1.8 as well, and love it for close work, and portrait work.

01-27-2008, 06:01 PM	#5
beekala New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne Posts: 10	I had a 55mm f2 (which I gave away due to scratch on front of lens which created a 'mark ' on images taken with it) - its not a bad lens, good for portraits. One thing to pay attention to is its colour rendition - colours looked a bit saturated? Maybe mine was suffering from the yellowing these lens coatings are renowned for.

01-27-2008, 08:36 PM	#6
Abbazz Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667	The 55/1.8 and 55/2 are exactly the same lens (6 element in 5 groups). Pentax needed an entry level standard lens, so it put a limiter ring inside the 55/1.8 and sold it as 55/2.0. On the early versions of the 55/2, the ring can be removed to turn the lens into a full 55/1.8. Cheers! Abbazz

01-28-2008, 03:07 AM	#7
ddhytz Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 602	Why did Pentax add an extra bit (cost increased) in an existing lens and sell it cheaper? It sounds silly.

01-28-2008, 06:55 AM	#8
Abbazz Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667	Originally posted by ddhytz Why did Pentax add an extra bit (cost increased) in an existing lens and sell it cheaper? It sounds silly. For the same reason that in 1961, Pentax took the Asahi Pentax S3, erased the 1/1000sec. marking on its speed selection dial, and sold it for a cheaper price under the name Asahi Pentax S1. The mechanism of the shutter was not modified, so clever people at that time just bought the cheaper S1, turned the speed dial to the unmarked notch next to 1/500sec. and enjoyed 1/1000sec. shutter speed just like if they have bought the S3 It is interesting to note that the Auto-Takumar 55/2 also appeared as a kit lens for the Pentax S1, while the more expensive 55/1.8 was sold with the deluxe S3: same camera, same lens but targeting two different market segments... Cheers! Abbazz

55mm?

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