| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 1,740
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 28, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp wide open, high IQ, colours, bokeh | | Cons: | rare, expensive, heavy on some small Pentax cameras, some barrel distortion | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: LX, K2DMD
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The K 50mm f1.2 was the first 50/1.2 for SLR that hit the market in 1975, Pentax was able to beat Nikon and Canon in the race for this formula (Nikon introduced its 50/1.2 in 1978 and Canon in 1980) that was very sought after mostly for commercial reason (as explained in this interesting article:http://www.nikkor.com/en/story/0049/). Very few people remember that Pentax was able to beat the top two names in the game and their 1975 rightfully boasts this achievement...according to Keppler in the Pentax way Pentax migrated from the S system to the K system mostly because they needed an enlarged mounting diameter for the rear element of their 1.2 that as a matter of fact is one of the most beautiful pieces of glass I've ever seen.
I don't have the Nikkor 50mm f1.2AI but I have a standard FDn 50mm 1.2 and a FD55mm 1.2, while the new Canon is a great lens I feel that in terms of sharpness and bokeh the Pentax is a better lens, the FD55m 1.2 is loaded with coma, flare and low contrast wide open and according to the already cited article even the Nikkor 55mm f1.2 wasn't that great, so the Pentax can be considered the first standard 1.2 (aspherical Canon 55m notwithstanding) that can be used wide open and not as sort of "effect lens" (for instance as soft focus).
I have the lens number 1200322, that makes it one of the earlier 1.2s made in 1975 (the one used in the official K mount brochure has a higher serial number). I paid £220 of it, besides few particles of dust is in great conditions, the building quality is top notch (even if Pentax didn't lacquer their lenses as Nikon and Canon did at the time) with a well damped focus ring and half clicks between f1.2 and f16 (single click then to f22). It's one of the few 1.2 that actually can close down to f22 and it proves it was meant to be a everyday's 50mm with more low light capabilities than the 1.4 and 55mm 1.8 siblings, so it's not a bokeh lens and I use as such for any kind of picture.
While it's small comparison to a Canonikon lens of the ear, the weight and diameter is substantial for a Pentax camera and it's large for a LX while feels at home on a Pentax K body, however looking through a LX or K2DMD viewfinder with this lens is like looking through a window in a sunny day.
In terms of IQ it's similar to the K50mm f1.4 and the Takumar antecessor, just on steroids. As written the lens works wel at f1.2 (if you are able to focus properly which is a challenge), the only optical drawback is a certain barrel distortion that I have seen in this test picture:
The following are pics taken at f1.2 on B&W (ilford XP2+) or colour (Gold 200 and Fujipro400) film with a LX/K2DMD, while I am not a pixel counter I think they show the optical qualities of this 40 years old lens:
At f11:
DOF at f22:
There is PP in the pictures, what you see if what you get from the lens, the camera and the film.
The only real drawback of this lens is that is probably one of the scarcest 50/1.2 on the market and the prices are high, besides that if you don't mind the slight distortion barrel perhaps this old lens can still compete against newer lenses.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 253
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 10, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $330.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Gorgeous bokeh, colors, contrast. SOLID. | | Cons: | Tough to focus, Learning Curve. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K3 II
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FANTASTIC lens. I have been thinking a lot about background lately as I recently purchased a DA 21mm 3.2 & DA 40mm 2.8 HD. I really like the size and sharpness of these lenses, but wanted to play around with subject isolation a bit. I did some quick searching around super wide lens and considered the Samyang and Sigma options - but after reading the reviews on this lens I was hooked. I found a good version (fingers crossed at the time) available on ebay with no bidders (which was odd.) I made a last second bid and got the lens for a few bucks more after someone tried to outbid me. It arrived a few days later and was in great condition.
Used the lens yesterday and WOW. It provides some gorgeous images, with amazing bokeh, and super sharp images. It took a bit of experimenting to figure out but I got some solid shots after only a few days of use. I actually started to like using the "Catch In Focus" on my K3 II as it provided some solid results. And yes the focus has to be spot on - but it can be done if you take your time. The Catch In focus also helped me as long as the exposure was short.
Anyway... take a look at some images I took and judge for yourself. I did use DXO OpticPro 10 to do some clean up. I considered not using it for this review, but most of the corrections were minor and I would use for any picture regardless of the lens.
I also totally understand why so many people post pics of flowers. The shots are so easy to capture and are wonderful.
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2015 Location: Stockholm Posts: 15
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 2, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh! sharpness at 1.2 | | Cons: | Can't think of a thing.. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K5 IIs
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Fantastic little lens!
Heavy but feels very balanced on my K5. Focusing is smooth but it's very crucial to get it right. When you do, you will fall in love with your pictures! 
The bokeh is fantastic (!!) At 1.2 it is best used on close subjects, taking a picture at infinity gives you a quite soft image. Stepped down to 2.8 and beyond it is razor SHARP! As many other K era lenses it does have some CA, mostly in hight contrast areas where it usually shows. It's generally fixable in PP and have not been a problem for me since I like to shoot in B/W. It works well in Av mode but with slight underexposure. Manual mode and use of green button works best for me.
last but not least: It does require a good lens-hood when outdoors !
@ f1.2
  
@ f8
 | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2014 Posts: 9
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 2, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Aperture, sharpness, ease of use | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: Pentax K5-2s
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This is a top lens, among the best f1.2 50's. I think it is only unequivocally surpassed by Canon 50 f1.2 Fdn, which has an aspherical floating-element that makes it extremely sharp at wider apertures (f1.2 for example).
Other than that this lens is one of the best 50's you can have.
Resolution tested against Canon 50mm f2.5, Pentacon 50 f1.8, Yashinon 50 f1.7, and Pentax is the best (center and corners).
 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Vancouver Island, BC Posts: 238 | | Review Date: June 12, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $255.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | FAST! sharp, bokeh | | Cons: | none that I have found | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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What can I say that hasn't already been said. I've been lusting after this lens since I joined PF and saw all the photos taken with it. Settled for a 3rd party f1.2 for a while, but never lost the desire to pick one of these up.
I've been very disciplined with regards to price, but finally got one within my budget.
As noted numerous times... razor thin DOF wide open, some aberrations, but beautiful bokeh and lovely to handle.
Still have to spend a lot of time practicing... Will not be a lens easily tamed.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 963 | | Review Date: December 22, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $390.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp! Distinctive, beautiful bokeh | | Cons: | Purple fringing (Lots of it) when wide open | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K30, KX
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There are some lens that are easily likable on the go.
This is not one of them.
This is a lens that I have coveted for so long, and at the moment of the first click, I did not just like it, I was in LOVE.
I got a mint copy. Apparently rated EXC+ by KEH with only some minor dusts, and almost invisible specks on the front element to show its age. It is hefty, and very solid.
Based on the reviews here, I was expecting that it will be difficult to focus, and the image will be soft, or lacking contrasts when wide open, . In my experience, focus when used with an O-ME53, is not that difficult because of the well-dampened focus ring and the long throw, but because of the inherent thin DOF at that aperture, a slight movement will ruin everything. The proper technique, (including breathing) has to be executed every single shot at f/ 1.2 but is already sharp at the focused area. It suffers a lot from PF though. And I have to say it twice, since this, it seems is the only weakness of this lens: PURPLE FRINGING when wide open. However, it's not as offensive as say, the FA77's PF, but indeed, there are more PF. For the pixel peepers, it needs some PP to tame the PF. But, if you can't be bothered with it, it's relatively acceptable. The lens when shot using the AV mode, meters well, though I have to compensate -1/3 for my taste. Stopped down between the f/1.2 and f/2 (1.4?), the sharpness is improved a lot, and past 2.0, it is almost too sharp (comparable to DA*55) already.
Cliche, but I should have gotten this lens earlier when I had the chance.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2014 Posts: 61
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 21, 2014 | Recommended
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Build quality. Sharpness. Colour rendition. | | Cons: | Flare | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: Sony a7r
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This lens is of awesome build quality and produces the most wonderful bokeh as described in all of the reviews.
However, it is plagued with flare on the Sony a7r.
I have not been able to source an original lens hood. The Nikon HN-3 barely helps. I have to use the hoya rubber "3 position" lens hood fully extended which compromises the corners and post processing is still required the remove the flare.
Unless you are desperate for the dreamy bokeh and low light capabilities I would suggest that Sony a7r users buy the k55 f1.8 or the ridiculously cheap but excellent m50 f1.7
| | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2011 Location: Santa Rosa, California, USA Posts: 3 | | Review Date: October 26, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | bokeh, sharpness, well-built | | Cons: | takes practice to use at f1.2 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
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Make no mistake. At f1.2, this lens takes skill and practice to master, especially for a beginning recreational shooter like me.
At first, it was frustrating because I get many more out-of-focus shots than keepers. Then I joined the Single in October challenge, which forces me to use only one lens for one month. As an added challenge, I forced myself to keep the aperture at f1.2. No PP. No crop if possible. After a week or so, I was able to improve focus rates from 10% to around 50%. My composition also improved, with less tendency to rush shots.
At smaller apertures, this lens takes great shots. Superb colors at the right exposures. Amazing.
This lens is very well built. Feels like it is bulletproof.
My experience is that once you get to know the lens, the way you work your camera with it comes in instinctively. I even just recently used this for a kids event, and was spot on with my exposures and focus most of the time I did not need to put in my DA*50-135.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2009 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 134 | | Review Date: August 5, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $9.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | wonderful bokeh that only a F1.2 could provide | | Cons: | none to speak of! | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: K20/K10
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I know I should sell this lens and make a 1000% profit but I just can't bring myself to do so...yet! This lens sat next to an SMC A 28mm - both for $9 each without even so much as a spot of fungus or ANY signs of it being used in the last 30 years!
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 14 | | Review Date: May 23, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $380.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp,great colour,nice focus. | | Cons: | None. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
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I have this mounted to my Fuji X-E1 and it works really well with it.
I wasn`t sure about buying this lens at first but after using it for a while I knew it was a winner.
There are only 2 things that are going to survive an Atomic blast,cockroaches and this lens,it`s built like a tank.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 753 | | Review Date: January 12, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $375.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | f1.2, build quality, bokeh | | Cons: | very heavy for its size, quite expensive | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-5
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A difficult lens to master......
at f1.2 sharpness is quud enough to make a decent photo (if you nail the focus)
stopped down to f2.8 resolution improves significantly
it has nice creamy bokeh, only bettered by K85/1.8 from my lens collection
generally I like this lens, but since i rarely use f 1.2 or f 1.4 I prefered to use FA43
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: egypt Posts: 435 | | Review Date: November 8, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $500.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | amazing bokeh.sharp wide open.BQ | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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I got mine a week ago in very mint condition.I like what I bought very much. the bokeh is wow!
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: July, 2011 Posts: 76 | | Review Date: August 17, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp even at wide apertures, Superb Bokeh! | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I got this lens on the cheap from a used goods store! It was sold along with an old pentax film camera [dont remember the model no.]. Anyways when sold it had lots of fungus and dust on the lens and some oil coatings on the rings. Had to spend a small sum of money to get it professionally cleaned. My good luck after cleaning no damage was done to the lens. I have observed that when some lenses are cleaned some of the coatings come off [due to the chemicals used to clean it] and this results in problems like purple fringing or ca at wide apertures. Lucky it didnt happen with this one!
I think this was the flagship lens of pentax from the film era and cost quite a bundle then and even now [sells for a high rate on ebay] and its of course because of its extreme low light capabilities,. good sharpness at wide apertures and that heavy 'pro' like feel to it! This is quite a heavy lens and when using it no amateur plastic bodies you might notice the imbalance in weight but when used on pro grade bodies it feels balanced!
I use this lens mainly for low light hand held photography and the extra stop of light is worth it!
This lens produced great pics even at its widest aperture! I would say at 1.2 its more sharp than the f1.4 pentax 50mm though some might dispute this. Unfortunately this lens doesnt have a 1.4 or 1.7, 1.8 f stop even though you can 'simulate' it by carefully rotating the fstop ring a little bit before it locks onto f2! So comparing this lens at f1.4 or 1.7 against the pentax 50mm 1.4, 1.7 is so sort of out of the question!
The Bokeh [out of focus blur] is awesome! Very creamy and lovely to look at! Amongst the pentax 50mm lenses this one is the king of bokehs!
Focusing on mf is very tricky with this one as it has a very very shallow depth of field. You need to be very careful while focusing. Even a slight shift in position of subject [just a cm] can cause the image to appear out of focus! So forget focus + recompose methods using this one!
Due to extreme amount of light coming through you will need to use a 2 or 4 stop nd filter when using it under bright sun light at f1.2 as even at iso100 and 1/4000th of a second shutter speed [ccd sensors] the image will look over exposed [though not all the times]. With the new cmos sensor based dslrs its even worse as you will get strong highlight clippings! I noticed this when my k-x showed strong blown highlights as compared to my k110d or k10d where highlights were not strongly overblown! Under shade or cloudy conditions you wont have much of a problem and its only under bright sunlight this sometimes happens!
I use this more on my Canon 5d mk2 [through means of an adapter] than on my pentax bodies! Had to remove the protruding back ring to use it else it will bang on the mirror. The rear lens element is just 2-3mm away from the 5d mirror when mounted! Inspite of a very good viewfinder the canon 5d mk2 struggles to display accurate focus through the viewfinder and hence i use live view most of the time to get focus. The same with my pentax bodies like k-x but with the k10d, k110d i have to use the viewfinder + focus confirmation dot to get pics in sharp focus!
To conclude I strongly recommend this lens to those who know how to use it! If you are an amateur then you might wanna stick with the f.17 as its less tricky [especially focusing] to use than this one and its also cheaper! But if money is not an issue, you are good in handling your dslr and lens then go ahead and buy this one! you wont regret it!
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2011 Location: Minahasa, North Celebes (Sulawesi) Posts: 586
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 4, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $580.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Looks sharper than 1.4 and feels easier to focus | | Cons: | Not cheap, Not easy to find | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K20D and Nex 3
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After dreaming and sweating blood for years, a while ago finally I got them.. yes, now I own two 'cosmetics' versions of K 50/1.2
I had about six or seven 50/1.4 from different versions before, and all that I can tell is this lens REALLY is from a different league. This lens is not your regular nifty-fifty, this lens is the absolute utopia. With this lens you create more than just images, with this lens you gave birth to art.
With f/1.2 I believe It's not necessary to say more about it's given rights. But, I'll say something about sharpness. Be it with a hairline of DOF, all details are still there, if you manage to get it to focus in the perfect light
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| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Fullerton Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 4, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $290.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, solid build, smooth focus | | Cons: | Aberrations | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K200D
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Excellent lens. I don't think I will ever get rid of this lens due to its build, glass, and focus.
The lens is surprisingly heavy for its size, and feels solid. It is built to last and balances well with a dslr body.
With the SR, it is feasible to use 1.2 and slower shutter speed while not being too grainy. The lens performed well under very low light situations even with ISO lower than 1600.
And the focus. After getting used to the minuscule focal plane, it is wonderful to focus.
I suggest buying this lens if you are wanting a challenge and desire amazing results.
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