end-of-month review: Porst Color Reflex MC Auto 55mm f1.4 (M42)
I had hoped that there would be a bit of the Porst 55/1.2 in this lens and the month would be that much more interesting....
there isn't and it wasn't - I was completely bored with the lens by week two...
why bored?
because I currently have 12 55mm lenses and this outshines none of them; to be perfectly fair, there is nothing wrong with the lens - it has nice bokeh (at f2 or beyond), produces great color, focuses clearly, but....
it does nothing notable...
supposedly, this is one of the Tomioka-designed lenses, but I can't see that it outshines my Cosina 55/1.4, which shares the design....
the build quality is just OK - it doesn't feel like it is going to fall apart in your hands (I'm looking at you, Flektogon), but it's nowhere near my Super Tak 55/1.8....
the huge 1.4 aperture is nice in low-light, but I can't say that it's any easier to work with than any other fast 55mm I have...
the bokeh is beautiful at f1.4 through f2 - but anything beyond that is hexi-bokeh time and, while nostalgic and sometimes interesting, can become frantic and tiresome...
examples of good bokeh:
and not-so-good:
overall, however, this is a competent lens that will reward your patience and talent:
and the rest of my month:
Single In Challenge - April '20 | Flickr
my final thoughts are that I can recommend it, but it'll probably be overpriced because of the name on the lens and supposed ties to Tomioka....
and that I'll probably sell it off, simply because it never sparked any joy for me....