[RioRico]

O Pentaxians! I have not asked such a question here before! In just 6 hours, an eBay auction ends. Starting price US$150, BIN for $200, no bids as of yet. Cosina MC 55/1.2, looks like a KM mount (no A visible) but with f/1.2 who needs aperture automation? Seller says it's rare, in perfect condition, was little-used to test medical cameras, was cleaned & inspected by a pro. Does this sound like a good deal? Has anyone used such a lens? This would be my fastest by far, about 2/3 stop better than the FA 50/1.4 (actually 1.5). Any quick suggestions would be most welcome. Thanks!

EDIT: I searched the lens DB, no hits. I found the Cosinon 55/1.5 Club but this lens just says Cosina, not Cosinon, so I don't know if they're the same. This has 58mm filter thread. Should I spend or save my precious few dollars? Help!

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Last edited by RioRico; 04-10-2009 at 04:55 AM.

[Vylen]

i eagerly await someone to say "No" and then bid for it themselves :P

[RioRico]

i eagerly await someone to say "No" and then bid for it themselves :P

What, would our comerades do that?!?!?!?!? But it *has* been noticed and bid on now, so BIN is gone, and it'll probably go for over US$200, beyond my puny limit. Bother.

Oh well, might as well try to salvage this thread. What's the general consensus of cheap no-name brands that generally don't make it into the Lens DB, like:

• Access
• Tou/Toyo
• Lentar
• Albinar
• Makinon
• Isco Westron
• Opticam
• Suntar
• Focal
• Rexatar
• Cambron

???

I have at least one of each of these, and I wonder just how foolish/sage I am.

[RawheaD]

[QUOTE=RioRico;553882]=Oh well, might as well try to salvage this thread. What's the general consensus of cheap no-name brands that generally don't make it into the Lens DB, like:

• Access
• Tou/Toyo
• Lentar
• Albinar
• Makinon
• Isco Westron
• Opticam
• Suntar
• Focal
• Rexatar
• Cambron

I wouldn't call Isco Göttingen a cheap, no-name brand

Isco - Camerapedia.org

[sajah]

According to this post https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/374079-post20.html Cosina and Cosinon is the same. And I believe I also found out about this from another source but couldn't remember where.

On a related note, few days ago I found a very cheap Canon FL 50mm 1.2, I searched internet and found someone was able to convert the FL mount to K mount, albeit losing infinity focus and funny way of focusing. I'm still wavering whether it's a good idea to buy and convert the mount or not. Besides, I'm not sure about the optical quality, not much info of that FL lens on internet, unlike Nikon and Minolta 55mm 1.2 which are highly regarded.

[RioRico]

I wouldn't call Isco Göttingen a cheap, no-name brand

Ah, you caught my ringer! Ya, I'm rather happy with the Isco Westron 35/3.5 M42, total cost US$27, even if it's filter size is 54mm! Luckily it came with a metal hood.

I ask about the no-names because of a quandary: I'd like to have an affordable, portable kit of versatile lenses, but there are trade-offs between speed (aperture), speed (of use), flexibility, quality, and cost. I know, sell off all the cheapies and invest in only superduper Pentax glass. That may take awhile. Bother. Meanwhile I have all these cheap primes to play with, er I mean to test. Spare time? What's that?

[thePiRaTE!!]

According to this post https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/374079-post20.html Cosina and Cosinon is the same. And I believe I also found out about this from another source but couldn't remember where.

On a related note, few days ago I found a very cheap Canon FL 50mm 1.2, I searched internet and found someone was able to convert the FL mount to K mount, albeit losing infinity focus and funny way of focusing. I'm still wavering whether it's a good idea to buy and convert the mount or not. Besides, I'm not sure about the optical quality, not much info of that FL lens on internet, unlike Nikon and Minolta 55mm 1.2 which are highly regarded.

Generally speaking one can convert lenses designed for cameras with longer registrations to shorter, but not the other way around. Canon being 44mm and Pentax 45.46 means you'll be missing infinity by a fair bit. Its also why there are so many Canon converters for lenses (including K) out there.

Fwiw, I wouldn't bother unless you have a specific love for the lens in question or got it free. There are several f1.2 options available to the K-mount shooter which give decent performance, not the least of which are the Pentax A and K 50/1.2's. For cheaper (and tying-in with the OP), the Cosina 55/1.2 is a good lens and is only cheap because it is native K-mount. The Tomioka Yashinon 55/1.2 which shares some lineage (and performance) with it, but is a native M42 lens goes for double.

K.

[sajah]

Yeah, you're probably right, it's not worth the hassle. Thanks for replying anyway.
Regarding Pentax K mount alternatives yea there's A 1.2 and Cosina 1.2 sold locally here, but being in Korea they're expensive, all used lens generally more expensive here, sometimes I really wish I live in US

[Just1MoreDave]

You don't need to rush with this deal, it will probably come up again from the same seller. That's how I got mine. I like it, and it's a good deal, and easier than a mount conversion. I think f1.2 requires a split prism screen and/or some skill to be useful.

[RioRico]

You don't need to rush with this deal, it will probably come up again from the same seller... I think f1.2 requires a split prism screen and/or some skill to be useful.

With 1.2 hours left, bids are now over US$200 and thus beyond today's budget, so I'll calm down, take it easy, no rush, whew. F/1.2 will just have to wait. And I already have a split-screen on the K20D. Skill takes longer.

[OregonJim]

With 1.2 hours left, bids are now over US$200 and thus beyond today's budget, so I'll calm down, take it easy, no rush, whew. F/1.2 will just have to wait. And I already have a split-screen on the K20D. Skill takes longer.

LBA withdrawal is not pretty.

Go out and buy a lens cap or two. It will help ease the pain.

[RioRico]

LBA withdrawal is not pretty.
Go out and buy a lens cap or two. It will help ease the pain.

This jones is too much, dude. I'll have to hit all the junk shops, see if there are any binoculars I can dismember. Or maybe an old Lomo or Diana, so I can put a Genuine Optical Lens on a K-mount. Oh, this hurts...

[Just1MoreDave]

With 1.2 hours left, bids are now over US$200 and thus beyond today's budget, so I'll calm down, take it easy, no rush, whew. F/1.2 will just have to wait. And I already have a split-screen on the K20D. Skill takes longer.

With mine, I figured I would lose but just had to bid a bit over $200. I was surprised to win. If that seller had some nice lens-porn photos of the front and rear elements he would probably get 10% higher prices.

[PentHassyKon]

..........
EDIT: I searched the lens DB, no hits. I found the Cosinon 55/1.5 Club but this lens just says Cosina, not Cosinon, so I don't know if they're the same. This has 58mm filter thread. Should I spend or save my precious few dollars? Help!

Here you go: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/41357-cosina-55mm-1-1-2-club.html

Also, when searching for something with less than 4 characters (such as 1.2), use the advanced search - there will be a custom google search at the bottom:

here's what you'll get when you search for 55mm 1.2: 55mm 1.2 - Google Search


And to answer your question whether you should buy it or not:
I too contemplated buying the same lens. Seeing as the M50 1.4 is around 75-125 and the A50 1.4 is about 100-200, I think that a start price of $150 is fair, considering it is a 1.2. If you read through the threads shown in the 55mm 1.2 search you'll see that this lens is quite good.

Also, there is a K 50mm 1.2 in the marketplace, albeit at a higher price.
In the end, only YOU can determine whether to spend or save YOUR precious few dollars.
As for me, after reading through all the 55mm 1.2 and 50mm 1.2 threads, I'm waiting to receive my copy

Hint: If you check the sellers completed listings, you'll find he sold quite a few of these beasts. Who knows? - he might have a couple more to sell, as Just1MoreDave has indicated

[jsherman999]

In my opinion, it would be a good buy at $250 (for a like-new copy.)

It's a remarkable lens - it does stuff in OOF that no other lens I've ever used quite does, including the VL Nokton 58 1.4, and stopped down to f/2, is very, very sharp already.

f/2