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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-16-2017, 02:55 AM
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The lens had a limited run (1996-97) that contributes to its rarity. Most Japanese sites hint that it was made by Cosina. From my recollection, RioRico who was very active back then was looking for this lens to be his carry-on light 28mm lens prime.
As an additional info, Ricoh introduced the 55mm f1.2, 45mm f2.8 and100mm f3.5 macro all on the the same year (1996). As far as I know, Cosina created the 55mm f1.2 and the 100mm f3.5 macro lens and manufactured and supplied it to different brands like Vivitar and Ricoh. That is why the Cosina, Vivitar and Ricoh version of the 55mm f1.2 are all the same lens and are different from the M42 Tomioka design which is its predecessor ( I believed there is a Cosinon 55mm f1.2 version). The Rikenon 55mm f1.2 was also manufactured for just a year (1996-97) that is why it is also rare. This is just my conclusion and would like somebody who actually knows the history if he ever reads this thread to comment.
Mounted on a Ricoh GXR:
On a K5ii:
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-01-2015, 12:45 AM
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Recently acquired the lens from a local lens importer from Japan. Had been eyeing one from an online auction in Taiwan but got this instead. Now I got both twins - the 45mm f2.8 pancake as the other. Both are plastic build but with a metal mount. Both do not have the Ricoh pin. Does not have a smooth play compared to the takumars - and does not have half clicks in between aperture. It ain't a K28 f2 but will beat it in terms of weight as it is easy to bring it along on your shirt pocket if you need a wide angle.
Sample shots:
Forgot to mention: 1st sample pix is wide-open and all SOOC at f5.6 except the portrait which needs some curve adjustments. Notice also the purple fringing on the last picture - which most old lenses do have.
Edit: Posted the wrong portrait. That was taken by FA100 3.5. Corrected w/ additional pictures.
100% crop of flower:
ISO 1600 f5.6:
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
04-20-2023, 05:24 AM
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So, I was checking the FB marketplace when a message pops out for a new K1 body for sale. I thought to myself, yeah right, but the pictures were convincing so I gave the seller a message asking for its background. The seller said that they needed the money badly hence the low price. It belongs to her uncle and guarantee that it was new and wasn't used and they do not have any lens to test it with. I didn't haggle for a lower price and agreed to meet and inspect the unit and bring in a new memory card and lens. Hell, for that price if the unit was used it would still be a winner as long as the camera was fully functional.
After 3.5 hours travel over 85km of traffic jam, I arrived at the meeting place. They gave me the box of the K1 and noticed that it was dilapidated and had packing tape on the sides. Physical check of the unit turned out fine and unit looks clean except for some traces of dried white liquid substance that was present in the memory card chamber and the back of the LCD flip screen. Looks like water damage or some liquid substance that was spilled over the unit. Put the lens on and performed some test and the unit works as intended. I told her, I just needed to know the shutter count of the camera and see if the pictures were OK when viewed on a laptop. Testing the shutter count and this pop out of my screen:
ME: :) Pulled out my wallet and paid her.
I guess I'm now a member of the FF club.
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
04-20-2023, 06:40 PM
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She did came w/ her Parents (she is in college) and I had the opportunity to talk to his father. Her uncle was recently in the country and the camera came from Canada. They were selling the camera because nobody in their family is a photographer or knows how to use it. I reviewed the pictures posted on the FB marketplace upon coming home and confirmed that the picture of the box was indeed what I got - but there where two units. Mine was just partially viewable in the background, the one highlighted was mint. Another ad was posted and listed as new for $US1000.
I did not inquire on how the uncle got the units from Canada. I can only conclude that my unit even though the exterior of the box was not presentable but the inside was OK. On how the traces of liquid got into the camera, I can only guess that it was either purchased "AS IS" - somebody spilled something at it at the store/display OR it recently happened by accident. Now, on how the uncle got his hands on two units....was there any camera store in Canada that went under during Covid and sold the units on sale?
Firmware version on my unit is ver. 1.0 and I will be updating soon. Still have that GRIN in my face :). This score out ranked finding a new CV 90 APO in Hong Kong for $US400 and purchasing the Pentax K28 f2 "Hollywood lens" for $US200.
Taken using the "Hollywood" lens wide open:
Taken using CV 90
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-16-2021, 07:00 AM
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X-posted from the 20mm Lens Club
Soligor 20mm
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
02-28-2021, 06:46 AM
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A lower model K2 should be made in my opinion. The K1 iii can have the 45mp sensor. A 24 mp K2 can be the light affordable FF w/ the K3iii tech. It just make sense in the line up.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
03-15-2021, 09:20 PM
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Forum: Pentax Full Frame
02-28-2021, 05:31 PM
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It seems that almost everyone is expecting just one FF lineup model from Ricoh. I guess that would be the case and by concentrating on DSLR, that will be the direction for now. The slow releases of camera body from Ricoh probably made everyone expect a much better spec body than the previous model K1 hence almost everyone wants it to be a higher model.
But not everybody wants a high spec body. Some, like me just wanted a simple small FF body that I can take everywhere without the high price tag for entry. Hence the logic of wanting a lower spec K2. But I rest my case, Ricoh may not have the resources to maintain a two body FF lineup like the competition. We who have a smaller budget for our hobby would need to settle and wait for years for the FF body to settle at a bargain price. Unless we go mirrorless and get the Z5 now selling at about $1k.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
02-17-2021, 06:59 PM
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OMG, with the longest lockdown record in SEA, I hope that it is not just the only reason for the delay. I believe Fuji has also been producing products in the Philippines and yet we do not hear any news of delays.
No wonder they could not release any pricing yet on the K3iii. I became a Pentaxian because of the these two factors that I evaluated when I was picking my 1st DSLR about more than a decade ago: colors and price. Of the two, if Ricoh is going for higher prices for future body releases then I guess they may loose more of their enthusiast market since a part of their existing customers were lured to their fold because of the bang-for-buck when you get into a Pentax gear.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-22-2020, 08:27 AM
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Just give me a fast 17-28mm prime lens and not too costly. Make it light like the DA 50 & 35.
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
10-11-2019, 01:24 PM
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I too am interested on adapting 7artisan M lenses on my GXR just to have a native cheap M lens on the A12. But I already have too many lenses in K mount. I was suppose to buy the 28mm f 1.4 early this year in Hong Kong but the stores were still closed when I went to Mongkok and that morning was the only shopping opportunity I have that time. I did not went home empty handed though, a voightlander store just opened up and had a brand new 90 lanthar vc ii in k mount. :)
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
08-14-2019, 07:35 PM
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With what I got, DA21 w/out thinking if AF is needed. If I got a lot of spare time, it would be a hard to choose between the K28 f2 or the Cosina 55 f1.2.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-28-2019, 05:24 PM
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This was my 1st prime lens and at first hated it because it was a purple fringer. But upon learning how to use it, it became my favorite macro and portrait lens. Sadly, my copy had developed signs of rear fungus which I read was a common occurrence specially in tropical climates. Yes, it was originally made by Cosina and rebadged by Pentax but with Pentax lens coating. If you can source a good copy, don't hesitate on getting one.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-10-2019, 02:02 AM
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The 3.5 was my 1st prime and hated it because it was a purple fringer BUT I had learned how to use it and master it and love how it renders.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-24-2018, 11:29 PM
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Damn, I have spent all my money for a new car! Good thing it is still a prototype, I guess it will be ready before Christmas. Now, who to rob......
Wait...2019?
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-30-2019, 07:05 AM
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Geez, people lighten up a bit. Quite a bunch of different opinions regarding a re-release of an updated good lens. The important thing is that Ricoh is still in the game and continues to support the Pentax brand. Remember that nobody forced you to use their equipment. It was your decision to use Pentax or stay with the brand.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
01-30-2019, 04:37 AM
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The HD FA 35/2 will be paired with the new no frills cheap FF camera....can't resist.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
11-12-2018, 02:05 AM
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I believe in having the right specs without going over board on the budget, I suggest an AMD Ryzen CPU, Gigabyte motherboard w/ 4 RAM slots, 2 x 8GB RAM (total of 16GB then you can buy another pair if you want to upgrade in the future), 500GB SSD (for OS and programs), 4 TB Western Digital Red SATA drive (for files and storage) and a not too expensive video card. If you want redundancy, pick a motherboard with RAID 1/ mirroring capability and just use two 4 TB WD Red SATA drives so you won't have to worry about losing files if you ever experience a failure in one of the drives.
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Forum: Pentax News and Rumors
09-25-2018, 12:33 AM
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Looks like the flash is out. Personally, I rarely use a flash but I see a lot of pictures from Ricoh GR fans using it and they may be disappointed if there is no way of putting an add-on flash unit.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-24-2018, 04:08 AM
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My favorite is the cosina 55 f1.2 and soligor 20 f2.8 for bokeh. For macro, it would be the vivitar 55 and tokina 90 "bokina". For portraits, its the vivitar 85 f1.4 similar to the samyang and the pentax version of the cosina 100 f3.5 - fa100 f3.5( yep, cheated a bit). Oh, forgot about the sigma 30 which I also use a lot for environment portraits.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-23-2018, 01:18 AM
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I guess it is the main reason for its short run production (plastic construction). It was released and bundled with thr Ricoh XR 8 Super. Both pancake lens 45 & 28 I believe was made by Cosina. Japanene blogs also point out that the Rikenon XR 55mm f1.2 which is also had a short run production was also bundled with the Ricoh XR 8 Super and is also made by Cosina.
The twin pancake lens may be made of plastic but they are very good. Also, I need to mention that it has a metal mount.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-22-2018, 11:43 PM
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Sorry, don't have any other Rikenon 28mm lens. I do have a Pentax M 28 f2.8 and the 28 aspheric was much better specially on close-ups. The overall construction of the lens is a bit plasticky and might turn you off unlike the 21 limited. If you can get it for a $100 then it might be worthy in your collection. I would recommend the 21 limited more if you have limited funds.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-22-2018, 11:15 PM
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What can I say, LBA is really bad. I have the legendary Hollywood K 28/f2 and it should be the ultimate 28mm one ever needs but this Rikenon XR 28 aspherical had me before I lusted for the Hollywood. You see the Rikenon lenses (45mm f2.8 and 50mm f1.7) started my path in acquiring other prime manual lenses. During that time I only have the kit lens 18-55 and the 55-300 and a 100mm macro and was content until I tried reading this forum regularly and was teased by the low cost on entry to the two primes I just mentioned.
On a APS-C camera such as the K5ii and the GXR, this lens rocks. It is very usable wide-open and very sharp at f8 and f11. I still don't have a full frame camera and can't comment about its usability on FF but a Japanese blog I read using it on an A7 was not particularly favorable (weak corners).
And keep looking, you should be able to get it for less than $300....got mine for about a $100.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
02-25-2018, 03:34 AM
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Soligor 20mm f2.8 on a Ricoh GXR A12
Using a Raynox 250
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Forum: Pentax Compact Cameras
03-04-2018, 02:07 AM
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The Ricoh GXR concept was launch ahead of its time. It was quite expensive when it was introduced and was not patronized by a lot of photographers. It became highly recognized when the A12 M module was introduced, suddenly you can use all of your legacy lenses (not only Leica lens) via an adapter.
I think Ricoh made a mistake in dropping the GXR line. Imagine if they just created a bigger body that has a built-in EVF/OVF and a bigger hand grip than can take 24 Mp APS-C and FF modules. The Leica M mount can be retained and they can develop modules that can do AF on Pentax lens. The lensor (lens + sensor module) could be limited to a few modules such as a 28mm (or wider) and 50mm just like before.
For upgrades, you only need to buy the new sensor module with the latest sensor version available. But in the end this are just wishes/want and may never see the light of day of reality.
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