end of the month review for the EBC Fujinon Macro 55mm f3.5 lens:
please note that I irreversibly altered this lens to get it to fit flush on a standard M42 adapter... it's been noted that I am a 'butcher' for this, so I don't need the grief....
what a stupendously-capable lens this is - I had read in several reviews that the EBC coatings that Fuji had developed were the equal (at the time) of the SMC coatings that Pentax had introduced, plus the 55 Macro was supposed to be the jewel of the Fujinon line at the time... let's give it a shot!
I purchased mine from KEH, in 'excellent' condition and it is - no marks on the glass, nothing but smoothness in the focus and aperture rings, and original 'Fujinon' lens caps...
it fits (after modification) flush on the K-5 IIs body, in the M42 adapter, with no gaps or light leaks...
it is not a large lens by any stretch, but is all-metal so has a substantial feel, and the aperture ring is difficult to access when mounted on a camera - it is a smallish ring, but turns easily...
firstly, I was not surprised by the lens' sharpness - I expected it in a macro, even this old - I was, however, surprised by the amount of color and light collected by this lens...
it is only f3.5, not a fast lens, but I mostly shot indoors at f5.6 all month long, and only needed to bump up the K-5's ISO only a few times.... f3.5 on this lens can become a little glowy, with a possible loss of contrast in stronger light...
secondly, once you are in the green-button routine, this becomes such an easy lens to live with - quick to focus, beautiful color and clarity, smooth pretty bokeh, and supremely versatile...
and the shots:
and the rest of the month:
Single In Challenge - June 2019 | Flickr
I can highly recommend this lens, with a couple of caveats:
- you will have to modify it if you expect to use it on a standard-M42 adapter
- it is a somewhat rare lens, so if you can live with the above, do it