| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: August, 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 233
8 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 1, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast. Beautiful Construction. Smooth Bokeh. Bragging Rights. | | Cons: | No "A" setting means no EXIF data. No better than other 50mm's when stopped down. | |
Softness Controversy: Contrary to reputation, this lens isn't really soft wide-open. It is quite usably sharp. Three factors contribute to the "softness" reputation:
1. The depth of field when used on an APC camera at f1.2 and about 6' distance is roughly 3". (For those nice flower pictures others have posted, the distance is about 3' and dof is about 1/2"). Given that almost any 3-D object you photograph will be bigger and deeper than a couple of inches (that includes a person's face), some portion of the picture will always be "soft".
2. There is a certain type of spherical aberation that shows up as a "coma" around pictures taken at f1.2 (it only shows under certain lighting conditions), but it contributes to the "softness" factor.
3. Contrast is lower at f1.2, so it appears less sharp. (This is true even if using the FA1.4 wide open).
Those three points aside, if you take a picture wide open against a flat object using a tripod, I think you'll be surprised at the wide-open sharpness of this lens. I have a large collection of autofocus and manual 50mm lenses, F, FA, DFA, A, M in 1.4, 1.7, 2.0, 2.8, flavors and the 1.2 will hold its own against any of them. (Stopped down, they all perform very similarly)
The Bad: The reality of it is at f1.2, if you do the mathematical calculations for f stops (in terms of how much light area being let in), it really is only 1/3 stop faster than an f1.4 lens. In fact, in actual usage, I discern little to no difference in speed difference between this lens and my FA1.4. Disappointing, but true.  (Update 2/10/09: I have upgraded to a K20 and strangely enough, I can now see a clear difference in brightness of the pictures between my FA@1.4 and K@1.2  )
The Good: If this lens is no faster (in practice) than a 1.4, why am I recommending it? This lens is a joy to use. It is more than just the smooth focusing, the feel of the metal and the low light ability (which I have in almost all K and M series lenses). The relatively rarity of this lens, the reputation, the nice bokeh, the shallow DOF, and even the weight lends a certain excitement and challenge to using this lens which just makes it so much more fun than just "taking a snapshot" using an autofocus lens. (Or perhaps it is just the price, 4x that of a M f1.4 lens, which is very nearly as nice in most regards.)
Useful Tip (No Stop Down Metering Necessary!): Most people probably never bother using M and K series lenses under the camera's AV mode. This is because Av mode can only be used wide open for lenses that don't provide "A" functionality. However, in the case of THIS lens, the Av mode is invaluable because why else did you want a f1.2 lens? To use it WIDE OPEN of course. So in essence, the most useful f-stop setting (f1.2) is available for use in Av mode on this lens. (It still won't work with the flash, but then again, you didn't get a f1.2 lens to use with a flash did you?) So no more green button! 
Update 2/10/09: I recently found out from some other forum members that you can apply a piece of scotch tape to the area on the lens where the camera contacts are to prevent them from shorting. The result is you can now use all "K" and "M" lenses in Av mode for the first 3 stops by adjusting the aperature ring and compensating by setting the Exposure compensation by the same amount. This allows much more accurate metering and faster usage than the "Green" button stop down method. It works really well and does not damage the lens in any way!
When you decide to get your own 50mm f1.2 lens, don't fool yourself. For quick and efficient work, this lens is no match for a FA1.4. The purpose of this lens is for thoughtful composition, use of creative DOF, interesting bokeh, and possibly most important, to have a unique piece of Pentax history. If you're going to stop it down all the time, why bother? Any of the other 50's will do and probably be much cheaper.
Oh yeah, and I recommend getting a hood due to the extremely large and exposed front element causing flare and reduced contrast.
| | | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 255
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 4, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | K-build quality, bright, sharp, contrasty | | Cons: | Rare, rather expensive | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1ii
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Besides the K35 F2.0 this one also got on my way. My very first camera was the black Pentax K2 with the K55 F1.8, I still have that camera and now in 2020 the lens that was made for it is in my cabinet too. This lens feels like a hand grenade, coupled on a K1 this is a 1.5 kg combo. My copy is quite mint with clear and clean glass in it and everything works as intended.
This is a good lens for what it is, it shines in low contrast evening shots. Always use the hood, also in the dark. Be aware you must underexposure in that kind of situations, the standard metering wants to overexpose to daylight but that is not what you want. It is also better to shoot in RAW, wide open the RGB-diagram must be adjusted manually at 16 bits to collect all the sensor has caught without having bandings.
Focusing wide open must be done in live view and the 8x magnify function, this is very accurate. Using just the viewfinder, "in-focus" beeps and focus-peaking are not adequate enough, the DOF is extremely narrow nearby. Wide open nearby objects are rendered nice and sharp, at infinity wide open shots are quit soft and hazy. This lens is made for object isolation nearby, so this is OK.
I compared the K50 with my M50 F1.4 and K55 F1.8. Besides weight, a half stop difference, an even more narrow DOF and smoother bokeh wide open there is very little in between the 1.2 and 1.4. At F2.0 and further on the differences are negligible, both lenses perform superb and shine with contrasty and super sharp images between F2.8 and F8. The K1.8 stays a little behind those two, over the whole range not as crispy. The DFA 28-105 comes in at F4.5 and also is not as crispy as the two primes. I also like the color rendering of the two bright primes better, more vivid.
In case you own a F1.4 this F1.2 adds little functionality. But it is so nice build, feels so sturdy, and looks so great on your camera that am very happy owning and using it now. It is the best and most versatile 50mm I own. Here are some recent shots, all wide open:
K 1.2 shot wide open, flower in the center was my focus point:
M 1.4 shot wide open, same flower in focus:
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2015 Location: Lower Saxony Posts: 181
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 21, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $309.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | creamy bokeh, sharp and contrasty wide open; tolerable vignetting wide open | | Cons: | starts more soft up to f/2.8 than SMC 1.4/50 | | Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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Wide open and up to f/2.8 it seems to be a little bit more soft than the SMC 1.4/50.
But it is able to produce sharp and contrasty pictures with open f/1.2 apperture at less than 2m subject distances;
depending on light situation and motive.
Bokeh is creamy and you can create nearly impressionistic backgrounds.
Some not post processed jpgs for example;
click into to enlarge original out of camera jpgs.
ISO 100, camera 35mm DSLR Pentax K-1, all open f/1.2 aperture.
harsh noon light
warm afternoon light
hazy noon light
hazy but also harsh noon ligt
(nice f/1.2 spin off: ugly power poles - here are a lot - become nearly invisible - left frame border)
noon light, f/1.2 dof
Edit 2016 12 21:
the shortest days noon.
K-1; K 1:1.2/50; @f/1.2; linked to ooc jpg.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: February, 2016 Location: Moab, Utah Posts: 90
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 17, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $575.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, color rendering, shrpness in that order | | Cons: | heavy, big, rare | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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Best dreamy bokeh from Pentax. I also have the K 50mm f1.4, Takumar SMC 50mm f1.4, M 50mm f2, A 50mm f2. Without a doubt, this one offers the best bokeh. This lens is all about the bokeh and speed. You pay for it and everything else suffers as a result. Fine, fine bokeh. A big difference even just from f1.4. Call it "twice the bokeh" if you will from 1.4 IMO. I see no difference between this and the SMC 50mm f1.4 as far as colors, contrast, overall image "look" when compared at f1.4. It's not razor sharp at f1.2, but then you can't really expect that. "Dreamy" from f1.2-f1.4, where sharpness begins creeping in. When you compare with the Super Tak or SMC Tak 50 1.4, you get further degrading of bokeh quality due to the 6 bladed aperture vs. 8 bladed that you get with K 50 1.4 or K 50 1.2. I've not tested the early variant Takumar 50 1.4 with 8 elements and 8 bladed aperture.
The 50mm f2 lenses don't compare. They're different lenses for different purposes. The 50mm f2 M and A offer slightly better fine contrast and punchier colors, and more 3d pop.
I gave this lens all 10's except for handling, which I gave an 8. It's big and heavy. Actually it's small for an f1.2 50mm, but the aperture ring can be hard to find by sense of feel due to the large diameter and ring not sticking up a bit. A little higher aperture ring would be nice. I could probably give it a 10 for handling since it's smaller than any other 50mm f1.2 lens out there that I know of for 35mm film or sensors.
This lens needs a lens hood. Not so much for contrast or flares (it actually resists quite well), rather to protect it. It's compact & heavy and so seems to want to go nose first into anything and everything it sees.
*For anyone curious and wanting to compare 50mm lenses from Pentax, I did a YouTube review video while comparing them for myself. You don't need to collect them all like I did, just check my video:
https://youtu.be/G22LGiKngp4 | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2007 Location: Warsaw Posts: 338
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 15, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | it is f1.2, it is unique, creative DOF and bokeh | | Cons: | manual focus | |
It is old, it is heavy, difficult to focus because narrow DOF.
It creates beautiful bokeh, more smoothly than that from FA50/1.4 even with bigger apperture.
It is full metal with quality of typical K series lens.
Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2
1/500s f/2.0 at 50.0mm iso200
Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2
1/750s f/1.2 at 50.0mm iso200
more shots are here http://www.pbase.com/piotreks/k50 | | | | | 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
.
| | | | | 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.
  | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2023 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 17, 2024 | Recommended | Price: $399.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | At 35mm scale, this bad boy gives you the capabilities of much larger format lenses. Everything that happens to color and blur with it has a pleasing and elegant quality, warmth and texture. So much light! Stunning | | Cons: | Expensive. Punishing to manually focus. Requires practice, a suitable focusing screen that relates well to your eye, and lots of attention to detail | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: LX
| |
A thrilling, painterly lens to look at the world through.
The way it diffuses from sharp, in-register elements to bokeh is poetry.
Some images to give an idea of the lens and how things look through it
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2017 Posts: 462
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 6, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $230.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | bokeh, sharpness, colours, build | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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Regarding built quality which is great, I wish the aperture ring was like in M series lenses, i.e. bigger, easier to hold and rotate. Otherwise no issues regarding built quality. Bokeh is really smooth and colours are great. Great portrait lens. Almost no need for adjustment of colour output of this lens. Very powerful colours. It really shines in darkness at f1.2. No issues with focusing this lens with focus peaking at f1.2. At normal portrait distance it works great without any aberrations at f1.2. You may run into problems with them if you try to use this lens as a macro lens at minimum focusing distance. Then it's not easy to focus because dof is so shallow. They don't make lenses of this quality any more.
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2014 Posts: 27
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 17, 2018 | Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 5
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Was searching for an affordable copy for years and finally managed to get a combination of a K2 body, the smc 50mm f1.2 and a K 200mm f4 for just 135 euro. All in great condition. I kept the K2 and the K 200mm f4 but was not impressed by the 50mm f1.2.
What I like about the lens is the build quality, the relatively small size and the contrast wide open. For a f1.2 it has very good contrast, probably thanks to the SMC coatings. What I don't care for is the sharpness wide open, the amount of CA and the quality of bokeh. For sure the backgrounds are very much blurred and smooth looking, however I personally find the bokeh to be a bit boring. It does have the thinnest depth of field from all 50mm Pentax lenses, so if you really are longing for that it will do the job. But for some reason I like the bokeh of my smc 55mm f1.8 more. I think the transitions from sharp to out of focus areas are more pleasing with that lens, it feels more natural and gives a better 3D effect. Also the sharpness wide open is just better. There's plenty of bokeh to play with even using a f1.8 lens, and I would certainly not regard the f1.2 to be 'in another leage'. In the seventies, the f1.2's where not especially develloped for their quality of bokeh but in order to get the highest possible shutter speed in low light conditions. Using digital sensors, the necessaty of such an aperture is gone.
It all comes down to personal preference, but I sold the 50mm f1.2 since it is so popular and one can get a good price for it. I am a collector of Pentax K lenses but I just didn't think I would be using it a lot. Imagine that for about the same price you can buy a K 28mm f3.5, K 55mm f1.8 and a K 135mm f2.5 all at the same time. And if you're lucky, even a K 200mm f4 
A f1.2 lens with K mount that I do recommend is the Revuenon or Rikenon or Vivitar series 1 55mm f1.2, Tomioka made, 9 aperture blades, great sharpness wide open, very nice bokeh with lots of character. Bit lower contrast wide open then the Pentax 50mm f1.2 but that can be corrected in post.
| | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2017 Location: Norwich Posts: 4
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 27, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, build quality, colour rendering, sharp | | Cons: | CA in f1.2 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Panasonic Lumix GX80
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I was lucky enough to get this lens in a giveaway from a person that didn't know (and didn't want to learn) its value with a lot of other Pentax equipment. It is in a pristine condition, both in build and optics, not even a hint of dust, so I guess I've hit a jackpot.
Mine is a late version, and is supplied with a hood. I only changed the Photax UV filter that it had on, as it must have seen a lot of action, and replaced it with a Hoya Pro1 Revo UV(0).
Technically I don't have a lot to say. You get a fully manual lens, which works wonders in photos and shooting 4k videos as well. I could never ask for better bokeh than this. It feels artistic/dreamy and gives a whole new dimension in what you shoot. Additionally, the colour rendition is just amazing. Its weight can be a problem in some cases as the weight balance is not optimal in a m4/3 body which I use it in (Panasonic Lumix GX80/85). However, as a construction, it feels as solid as it gets. Also the focus ring is smooth and a joy to use. The aperture ring feels robust.
High contrast areas should be avoided from what I've seen so far, when A is set to f1.2. I can see CA but nothing that makes the result unusable. The sharpness is more than excellent in f1.4 and jawdropping from f2 onwards (I still cannot believe the details it gets).
Overall this is now my favourite lens, even for walking around, taking the crown from my Pentax-A 50mm f1.7. They're simply in entirely different leagues, and I absolutely LOVED the latter (and still do).
 | | | | | 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).
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;)
;)
