[johnkrumm]

Well, the honkin' big new Pentax fifty arrived today, so I spent several hours trying it out. Yes, it is heavy. In fact it's heavy enough that at first I had second thoughts. I was thinking they should call it the Jesus lens because that's what I say when I pick up the camera now. But after a day shooting I really became used to it and had a good time. It's a keeper.

If you click on any of the following images you will go to smugmug where you can see the full sized shot and see exif. I've done some contrast and shadow and exposure adjustments on many, but no color adjustments. Sharpening is Lightroom default. Shot raw with the K1.

Seems to be ideal for people who like to take flower photos. Focuses much closer than most of my older lenses...




Contrast is very high, more than the limiteds. I found myself lowering contrast and boosting shadows more than normal. Should be a great rainy day low contrast light lens.




It passed the stuff on a shelf test...




Cats proved no challenge to this lens as well...








I really like the colors. Fairly neutral but rich, that's my impression...




After I took this boring shot the lady with the cane waited for me, then shook her cane at me and said "I really don't like those things." It's not a subtle lens. You will be noticed. Could be a hostility magnet in some cases if used without care...




But I think I'm going to keep using it for city shots because I like the color and contrast so much...




A self portrait....




It totally failed the hipster in a cafe test. Downright embarrassing next to my iced coffee.




More lovely color...




Heavy crops of course are no problem, provided you focus properly, etc...




Perfect for fields of flowers...




Surprisingly decent bug lens in a pinch. This is a crop, but it does focus much closer than most of my older lenses. My Tamron 28-70 2.8 can get a little tighter, I think.






Contrast is so high that on bright days you might find yourself with too many dark shadows and want to use a less contrasty lens. I had to boost the shadows way up in this shot...




Pretty colors...




A flare test. After I boosted the shadows way up I noticed some on the bottom left. Doesn't look to be an issue...




As for ultimate resolution it's hard to say. I think it's tuned more for contrast and microcontrast. The 43 limited might actually be a tad sharper right in the middle, but this lens is more even across the frame...




Still just love the colors...




These two have no curve or shadow adjustments so you can see the contrast....






Action shots that worked, but there were plenty that didn't. It's not a fast focusing lens. Medium, I would say. And silent.






So, in conclusion, it isn't a lens for everyone, but I think I'm going to use it a lot.

[gmans]

Big series and photography well done. Thank you and Shared. Cheers

[RGlasel]

Very impressive! Like you say, great contrast, objects just jump off the screen. Very smooth bokeh probably helps with that as well.

[torashi]

I'm surprised you didn't get hit by a cane. XD

[monochrome]

Fabulous post and varied images

and you know you’ve created the lens’ eventual nickname, right?

[Paul the Sunman]

Very smooth bokeh is the main conclusion I draw from your images.

Thanks.

[SSGGeezer]

Nice series! it is a smooth operator it seems.

[johnkrumm]

Fabulous post and varied images

and you know you’ve created the lens’ eventual nickname, right?

It's the sort of lens that needs a name. When I first saw it I was thinking a tripod mount would not look out of place on it...

[cmohr]

Seems to be all it was said to be, and from all the different types of scenes you've posted, not "just" a portrait lens, but an "allrounder".

Conrgats on your new lens.

cmohr

[seventhdr]

Hey, That's Duluth. I remember walking down those streets two years ago when I was over from New Zealand.

Interesting city and port.

Regards

Chris

[Digitalis]

This lens appears to be very well corrected - well controlled LoCa, decent control of Flare, no visible PF*



*if you have to pixel peep to find it, it's not that much of an issue.

[torashi]

It's the sort of lens that needs a name. When I first saw it I was thinking a tripod mount would not look out of place on it...

Certainly not if you're going with the Brenizer method and using a gimbal head to center the movements on the exit pupil (or was it the entrance one?).

[Gianclaudio]

Wow! Great, helpful review and beautiful photos.

The downside is, you have triggered buyer's anxiety.....

[beachgardener]

fantastic, this looks like a great lens

[surfar]

Fat Fifyy it is....bring on the Twide twenty!