First shots with Cosina 55mm f/1.2

First shots with Cosina 55mm f/1.2 · 09:24 PM

I bought jsherman999's Cosina 55mm f/1.2 and snapped some test shots in the backyard this afternoon. The bokeh from this lens is luscious! Not sure if i will flood the Cosina Club thread with these early shots, but here are the first out of the gate...

mikeSF · 03-13-2009, 09:48 PM

these are all taken wide open (f/1.2)...i mean, is there really any other way to use this lens?

jsherman999 · 03-13-2009, 10:03 PM

Mike, those are stunning, I especially like the first one. Nice job, very glad to see you're enjoying yourself with that baby.

It does do very nicely stopped down, though also - but then just looks like another blisteringly-sharp 50mm.

Peter Zack · 03-13-2009, 10:08 PM

These are nice. I have he same lens and it is very versatile. I can't wait till spring, there are a set of extension tubes waiting and with the super speed of this lens, it can offer some creative advantages over many other lenses.

igor · 03-13-2009, 11:22 PM

lovely colors, great work!

mikeSF · 03-14-2009, 03:28 AM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Mike, those are stunning, I especially like the first one. Nice job, very glad to see you're enjoying yourself with that baby.

It does do very nicely stopped down, though also - but then just looks like another blisteringly-sharp 50mm.

i figure it does and I did happen to take just one shot at f/8...this yellowjacket (near 100% crop)...it is plenty sharp as a "nifty fifty(five)." Nevertheless, i get the feeling my aperture ring will never travel far from the amazing 1.2 spot which seems to give this lens its unique personality. Very pleased with my purchase, jsherman999 - thanks pal!

Here is the f8 test shot - these yellow flowers are from a jade plant and are the same pictured in the #1 shot above creating that blanket of yellow in the background.

mikeSF · 03-14-2009, 03:32 AM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

These are nice. I have he same lens and it is very versatile. I can't wait till spring, there are a set of extension tubes waiting and with the super speed of this lens, it can offer some creative advantages over many other lenses.

hmm, extension tubes - i was thinking the same thing today while shooting these - the close up macro ability of this lens would be icing on the cake! can't wait to see what you do with it! Thanks Peter.

daacon · 03-14-2009, 05:27 AM

Nice series the colors are making me dizzy.

Damn Brit · 03-14-2009, 05:57 PM

That last one is awesome Mike, it could have been taken directly from an antique Japanese lacquered panel.

iced · 03-14-2009, 06:47 PM

Great series, the color is fantastic, the yellowjacket nice take an as sharp as a tack, thanks for sharing.

gawan · 03-15-2009, 03:13 AM

Great examples! It seems that there is a special glow only a F1.2 lenses have, which make the images very unique!

Jonson PL · 03-17-2009, 08:01 PM

The bottom right one is phenomenal. Does the Cosina 55/1.2 function like an A-series lens ?

Peter Zack · 03-18-2009, 04:27 AM

Jonson, No it's an M series lens. No A contacts.

JMR · 03-18-2009, 05:51 AM

These are very nice and have a painterly quality to them. But I think you may want to keep sharp the areas that should be, as they look a little soft. I really like the last two.

JMR

mikeSF · 03-23-2009, 11:01 PM

Originally posted by JMR

These are very nice and have a painterly quality to them. But I think you may want to keep sharp the areas that should be, as they look a little soft. I really like the last two.

JMR

just back from vacation and missed these replies. Thanks JMR - point is well taken - i need to concentrate on keeping everything i want sharp within the plane of focus.
Here are a couple from that same bush which show more defined foreground focus...is that what you mean?

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03-14-2009, 03:28 AM	#6
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	Originally posted by jsherman999 Mike, those are stunning, I especially like the first one. Nice job, very glad to see you're enjoying yourself with that baby. It does do very nicely stopped down, though also - but then just looks like another blisteringly-sharp 50mm. i figure it does and I did happen to take just one shot at f/8...this yellowjacket (near 100% crop)...it is plenty sharp as a "nifty fifty(five)." Nevertheless, i get the feeling my aperture ring will never travel far from the amazing 1.2 spot which seems to give this lens its unique personality. Very pleased with my purchase, jsherman999 - thanks pal! Here is the f8 test shot - these yellow flowers are from a jade plant and are the same pictured in the #1 shot above creating that blanket of yellow in the background. Last edited by mikeSF; 06-08-2011 at 11:24 AM.

03-23-2009, 11:01 PM	#15
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	Originally posted by JMR These are very nice and have a painterly quality to them. But I think you may want to keep sharp the areas that should be, as they look a little soft. I really like the last two. JMR just back from vacation and missed these replies. Thanks JMR - point is well taken - i need to concentrate on keeping everything i want sharp within the plane of focus. Here are a couple from that same bush which show more defined foreground focus...is that what you mean? Last edited by mikeSF; 06-08-2011 at 11:24 AM.

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03-13-2009, 09:48 PM	#2
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	these are all taken wide open (f/1.2)...i mean, is there really any other way to use this lens?

03-13-2009, 10:03 PM	#3
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Mike, those are stunning, I especially like the first one. Nice job, very glad to see you're enjoying yourself with that baby. It does do very nicely stopped down, though also - but then just looks like another blisteringly-sharp 50mm.

03-13-2009, 10:08 PM	#4
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	These are nice. I have he same lens and it is very versatile. I can't wait till spring, there are a set of extension tubes waiting and with the super speed of this lens, it can offer some creative advantages over many other lenses.

03-13-2009, 11:22 PM	#5
igor Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA and Europe Posts: 585	lovely colors, great work!

03-14-2009, 03:32 AM	#7
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620 Original Poster	Originally posted by Peter Zack These are nice. I have he same lens and it is very versatile. I can't wait till spring, there are a set of extension tubes waiting and with the super speed of this lens, it can offer some creative advantages over many other lenses. hmm, extension tubes - i was thinking the same thing today while shooting these - the close up macro ability of this lens would be icing on the cake! can't wait to see what you do with it! Thanks Peter.

03-14-2009, 05:27 AM	#8
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	Nice series the colors are making me dizzy.

03-14-2009, 05:57 PM	#9
Damn Brit Guest	That last one is awesome Mike, it could have been taken directly from an antique Japanese lacquered panel.

03-14-2009, 06:47 PM	#10
iced Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Southwest Ga. Photos: Gallery Posts: 309	Great series, the color is fantastic, the yellowjacket nice take an as sharp as a tack, thanks for sharing.

03-15-2009, 03:13 AM	#11
gawan Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Helsinki Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,400	Great examples! It seems that there is a special glow only a F1.2 lenses have, which make the images very unique!

03-17-2009, 08:01 PM	#12
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	The bottom right one is phenomenal. Does the Cosina 55/1.2 function like an A-series lens ?

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03-18-2009, 04:27 AM	#13
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Jonson, No it's an M series lens. No A contacts.

03-18-2009, 05:51 AM	#14
JMR Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 3,332	These are very nice and have a painterly quality to them. But I think you may want to keep sharp the areas that should be, as they look a little soft. I really like the last two. JMR