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ianmarsh · 10-12-2008, 07:27 AM

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I found a Rikenon 55mm/f1.2 manual focus lens attached to an old Pentax film camera in my loft. I now use Sony DSLRs so am selling the lens. A buyer has asked, and I quote:

"1 - your lens has or not has "A" Setting on the Aperture Ring?

2 - i must use this lens ONLY in "M" mode + green button? or i can use AV mode without limits?

3 - using your lens, Displaying Aperture in the viewfinder? "

The lens has no "A" setting on the aperture ring, but I don't know the answers to the other questions and don't have access to a Pentax DSLR right now.

I'd be grateful for any information.

Ian

Last edited by ianmarsh; 10-12-2008 at 07:38 AM.

Nick Siebers · 10-12-2008, 08:32 AM

#2 - M mode, or Av only if the lens is wide open. Assuming this is a K mount lens, not a screwmount.

#3 - The aperture values will not display in the viewfinder if that's what's meant.

Are you selling it here? How much? :-)

ianmarsh · 10-12-2008, 08:44 AM

Thanks Nick, just what I needed to hear.

It is a K-mount (sorry, should have mentioned that).

It is up on eBay UK. I'mot sure if I am allowed to provide a link, but a search for "Rikenon 55mm f1.2 Pentax" or a PM will find it. I know nothing about the lens (obviously!) but on advice from some manual focus lens specialists I am aiming high with a BIN. I am open to offers though and will ship worldwide.

Thanks again

Ian

ianmarsh · 10-12-2008, 08:58 AM

Thanks Nick, just what I needed to hear.

Ian

audiobomber · 10-12-2008, 09:02 AM

There may also be other issues with mounting this lens on a Pentax digital camera body. See Incompatibility Warnings at the bottom of this page: Pentax Lens/Camera Compatibility - Mark Roberts Photography

ianmarsh · 10-12-2008, 09:11 AM

Thanks Dan, some useful info there. I think I am OK as the lens doesn't have a P setting on it but I'll pass all this on to the potential buyer.

Photomaximum · 10-12-2008, 09:40 AM

Ian,

I would take your time and figure out if you can use that lens somehow. A lot of guys will do all kinds of things to make fast 1.2 lenses work on different bodies. I would test that lens first. Use film if you have to (shoot slides).

Some of those 1.2 lenses have wonderful bokeh that is is not possible with other slower, more "modern" lenses. Canon fans will debate each other which has the better boken, the Canon 85/1.2 L ($$$) or the old Rokker 58/1.2...

ianmarsh · 10-12-2008, 10:02 AM

I have had a look around but as far as I can tell the adapter needed to mount the lens on my Sony DSLRs contains an element. This will hurt the IQ and make the lens a 66mm f1.4 equivalent. This isn't so attractive as I already have an excellent Minolta 85/1.4.

I could change the mount as the registration distances for Sony and Pentax are close but this risks ruining a perfectly decent (and I understand valuable) lens. I'd rather sell this lens and buy an old Minolta 50/1.4.

I gave up on film/slides ages ago. It is only the combination of AF and digital that got me back to photography. 'Fraid it has got to go.

richard64 · 10-13-2008, 05:11 AM

Originally posted by ianmarsh

I know nothing about the lens (obviously!) but on advice from some manual focus lens specialists I am aiming high with a BIN. I am open to offers though and will ship worldwide.

I wish you luck on that but a BIN of £225 seems rather high. For example, here's the Pentax equivalent, K50/1.2, which has a slight paint loss, but described as "optics perfect" and sold for £135 last week.

Richard

stevebrot · 10-13-2008, 08:55 AM

Yikes! You are correct. This is a very rare lens. Condition (based on your eBay pics) is excellent as well. The mount is vanilla K-mount and is not the poisonous Ricoh P mount. As a non-A lens, it will meter in M mode on modern Pentax dSLRs.

Steve

ianmarsh · 10-13-2008, 09:15 AM

As I said, I have no idea about its quality, but I have been told it is very rare. Condition is perfect as far as I can tell. The BIN price is the top of the range suggested by two more expert users of K-mount lenses. As noted in the text, this lens is different from most other 55/1.2s (including the Pentax version) in that it has nine aperture blades, not 8. Don't know if that makes any real difference, but I am hoping a rich collector thinks it does!

Miserere · 10-13-2008, 09:29 AM

You're facing stiff competition, Ian. Here's the same lens, branded by Cosina, being offered at a lower price in the US.

ianmarsh · 10-13-2008, 10:38 AM

Though comments are appreciated I really wasn't looking for a pricing discussion as I have interested buyers lined up. The OP asked for info and wasn't a sales pitch.

I know I aimed high but as I noted I am open to offers (unlike the Cosina). Mine is also in the EU so avoids potentially costly import duties on a US lens.

Miserere · 10-13-2008, 11:12 AM

Originally posted by ianmarsh

Though comments are appreciated I really wasn't looking for a pricing discussion as I have interested buyers lined up. The OP asked for info and wasn't a sales pitch.

I know I aimed high but as I noted I am open to offers (unlike the Cosina). Mine is also in the EU so avoids potentially costly import duties on a US lens.

Duly noted.

10-12-2008, 07:27 AM	#1
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7	Rikenon 55/1.2 on Pentax DSLR 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. I found a Rikenon 55mm/f1.2 manual focus lens attached to an old Pentax film camera in my loft. I now use Sony DSLRs so am selling the lens. A buyer has asked, and I quote: "1 - your lens has or not has "A" Setting on the Aperture Ring? 2 - i must use this lens ONLY in "M" mode + green button? or i can use AV mode without limits? 3 - using your lens, Displaying Aperture in the viewfinder? " The lens has no "A" setting on the aperture ring, but I don't know the answers to the other questions and don't have access to a Pentax DSLR right now. I'd be grateful for any information. Ian Last edited by ianmarsh; 10-12-2008 at 07:38 AM.

10-13-2008, 09:29 AM	#12
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	You're facing stiff competition, Ian. Here's the same lens, branded by Cosina, being offered at a lower price in the US. Last edited by Miserere; 10-13-2008 at 11:11 AM.

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10-12-2008, 08:32 AM	#2
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	#2 - M mode, or Av only if the lens is wide open. Assuming this is a K mount lens, not a screwmount. #3 - The aperture values will not display in the viewfinder if that's what's meant. Are you selling it here? How much? :-)

10-12-2008, 08:44 AM	#3
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thanks Nick, just what I needed to hear. It is a K-mount (sorry, should have mentioned that). It is up on eBay UK. I'mot sure if I am allowed to provide a link, but a search for "Rikenon 55mm f1.2 Pentax" or a PM will find it. I know nothing about the lens (obviously!) but on advice from some manual focus lens specialists I am aiming high with a BIN. I am open to offers though and will ship worldwide. Thanks again Ian

10-12-2008, 08:58 AM	#4
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thanks Nick, just what I needed to hear. Ian

10-12-2008, 09:02 AM	#5
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	There may also be other issues with mounting this lens on a Pentax digital camera body. See Incompatibility Warnings at the bottom of this page: Pentax Lens/Camera Compatibility - Mark Roberts Photography

10-12-2008, 09:11 AM	#6
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7 Original Poster	Thanks Dan, some useful info there. I think I am OK as the lens doesn't have a P setting on it but I'll pass all this on to the potential buyer.

10-12-2008, 09:40 AM	#7
Photomaximum Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 108	Ian, I would take your time and figure out if you can use that lens somehow. A lot of guys will do all kinds of things to make fast 1.2 lenses work on different bodies. I would test that lens first. Use film if you have to (shoot slides). Some of those 1.2 lenses have wonderful bokeh that is is not possible with other slower, more "modern" lenses. Canon fans will debate each other which has the better boken, the Canon 85/1.2 L ($$$) or the old Rokker 58/1.2...

10-12-2008, 10:02 AM	#8
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7 Original Poster	I have had a look around but as far as I can tell the adapter needed to mount the lens on my Sony DSLRs contains an element. This will hurt the IQ and make the lens a 66mm f1.4 equivalent. This isn't so attractive as I already have an excellent Minolta 85/1.4. I could change the mount as the registration distances for Sony and Pentax are close but this risks ruining a perfectly decent (and I understand valuable) lens. I'd rather sell this lens and buy an old Minolta 50/1.4. I gave up on film/slides ages ago. It is only the combination of AF and digital that got me back to photography. 'Fraid it has got to go.

10-13-2008, 05:11 AM	#9
richard64 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: England Posts: 309	Originally posted by ianmarsh I know nothing about the lens (obviously!) but on advice from some manual focus lens specialists I am aiming high with a BIN. I am open to offers though and will ship worldwide. I wish you luck on that but a BIN of £225 seems rather high. For example, here's the Pentax equivalent, K50/1.2, which has a slight paint loss, but described as "optics perfect" and sold for £135 last week. Richard

10-13-2008, 08:55 AM	#10
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Yikes! You are correct. This is a very rare lens. Condition (based on your eBay pics) is excellent as well. The mount is vanilla K-mount and is not the poisonous Ricoh P mount. As a non-A lens, it will meter in M mode on modern Pentax dSLRs. Steve

10-13-2008, 09:15 AM	#11
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7 Original Poster	As I said, I have no idea about its quality, but I have been told it is very rare. Condition is perfect as far as I can tell. The BIN price is the top of the range suggested by two more expert users of K-mount lenses. As noted in the text, this lens is different from most other 55/1.2s (including the Pentax version) in that it has nine aperture blades, not 8. Don't know if that makes any real difference, but I am hoping a rich collector thinks it does!

10-13-2008, 10:38 AM	#13
ianmarsh New Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: London Posts: 7 Original Poster	Though comments are appreciated I really wasn't looking for a pricing discussion as I have interested buyers lined up. The OP asked for info and wasn't a sales pitch. I know I aimed high but as I noted I am open to offers (unlike the Cosina). Mine is also in the EU so avoids potentially costly import duties on a US lens.

10-13-2008, 11:12 AM	#14
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	Originally posted by ianmarsh Though comments are appreciated I really wasn't looking for a pricing discussion as I have interested buyers lined up. The OP asked for info and wasn't a sales pitch. I know I aimed high but as I noted I am open to offers (unlike the Cosina). Mine is also in the EU so avoids potentially costly import duties on a US lens. Duly noted.

Rikenon 55/1.2 on Pentax DSLR

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!