| Author: | | Giveaway winner! Registered: December, 2007 Location: beantown Posts: 944 | | Review Date: November 27, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp. | | Cons: | can't get three more | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: KX, KM, K20D
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This was a lens that came with a KX body and needed some fungus rescue.
I didn't read anything about this lens and instead, just put it to use and let result speak.
WOW! "Just a 1.8"... No... great at 1.8!
It does all the things the M50/1.4 and seems a bit more stable wide open.
For my taste in Bokeh quality, it is nice.
On the digital, very nice.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 15
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 23, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | built, sharp, bokeh | | Cons: | only 1.8 ? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
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Very surprised with the first photo taken using this lens. Bokeh is very comfortable. Frankly, it is beyond my expectation who just bought this lens for training. Sharp even wide-open, of course, it is
difficult to focus with standard K5 (without Katz-eye). A pleasure to make a picture with.
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 3,757 | | Review Date: October 23, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great bokeh, excellent micro-contrast, all-metal construction | | Cons: | a bit of CA wide open | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-x
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I've had lots of fifties: A/M/FA 50 1.4, M/F 50 1.7, Vivitar 50 1.7, Chinon 50 1.9, Takumar 55 1.8/2, SMC Tak 50 1.4, K 50 1.4. I don't think any of them was bad. In fact, in my experience all fifties have been excellent, but this one, the K 55 1.8, is a keeper for me. I'm never going to sell it. It's gorgeous--I was lucky to find a near mint copy. I'd have to spend hundreds for the FA 43 or the DA 55 to get slightly better IQ.
As sharp as, if not sharper than, the sharpest fifties (perhaps the Tak/ K 50 1.4 was a bit sharper at f1.8), with wonderful bokeh, better than most in this respect, perhaps surpassed--again--wide open by the Tak/ K 50 1.4. However, I prefer this one to the K 50 1.4, because I don't use much 1.4 for portraits, and because of the extra 5mm. Like the Taks 50 and 55, it has great microcontrast (which isn't as great with the A/M/F/FA). The Takumars are good value--yet recently their prices have gone beyond the prices of the K series equivalents, most probably due to competition from Canon and M4/3 owners.
No notable weaknesses: a bit of CA wide open, but seemingly less than with the Takumar 55 1.8.
It's my portrait fifty, my other portrait lens being the excellent Rokinon 85/1.4.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: Melbs Posts: 1,239
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 30, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Romantic | | Cons: | Romantic | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K10d
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K series, M series, FA, Tak, who really cares honestly? The fact of the matter is it's a 55mm K mount that looks boring, but smells and feel exquisite.
Feels? really? Yes. All this nonsense of it being butter smooth. correct! And when you are dealing with fast lenses you need the focus to be quick and easy.
Compared to focusing on a Helios 44m for example. Focusing is more an event.  You have to pre torque your fingers in grip in order to take the weight of the thing if you are going to focus is quickly. With this little thing, you just blow at it and it falls into line.
That never really bothered me with the Helios to be honest. But its important! If you want anyone to be in focus under a single meter at f1.8 you had better be able to move that ring quickly. and thank Christ you can.
Its a bit scary but i haven't come across a poor focusing pentax M, K, or Tak piece of glass. Even the dirty ones that look like they have been buried in mud for the past 20yrs still are smooth.
Why am I talking about a focus ring? Because it's important.
Optically you already know what its like. It's Good. Sharp everywhere and with that bullsh1t "painterly quality" you often hear in reference to the Taks. Ie.. its blend from in and out of focus (I cant believe I'm even caring about such a thing) coupled with its small depth of field, along with its ability to be sharp at 1.8 for peats sake, makes things look dam pretty.
Now, contrary to popular belief, this doesn't transform into a 80mm+ lens when used on a crop sensor. The depth relations (being of 55mm) are retained. You are getting physically lens image tho as it has a Field of View comparable to a traditional 80+mm lens when used on said crop body.
80mm+ lens are fun for portraits because of the flattening that occurs to shapes around the composition.. This lens has the flattening if you will (or depth relationship) of a 55mm.
So don't buy this thinking its a 80mm lens. Its not. Its a 55mm lens with the Field of View reduced to a 80mm odd lens when used on a crop body.
Who cares? I'm not sure. Whats the point? It just annoys me shirtless when ppl run around in circles exclaiming to have found this mystical portrait lens of qualities that would make Babylon itself weep..
This actually brings me back to the fact that I listed it as being romantic as both a positive, and a negative. I mean, it's a lens. It's not going to cure your marriage and it's not going to turn you into Picasso. In order to describe that mystical quality tho, that feeling of itchiness when using it, that shortened gate you have when running after that blonde in the street with those heals whom would have made a wonderful political statement if she has just stayed under the do not eat meat sign long enough.. That care you have walking through an antique store... Well it's all apparent when you use it.
It's romantic because it controls you, and it's romantic because you love submitting to its stupid requests at 2am in the morning even tho you know the dog has water but she insists it "looked" empty when she was half asleep sleeping walking through the kitchen some hours earlier.
Sigh.
Just take photos with the dam thing.
ISO 800, f1.8 s1/20th f8ck all light, yet still sharp enough to show bits of her hair. This also shows the shallow depth of field you are using and why being able to cycle through the focus ring quickly is uber uber uber important :P In this case.. I wasn't quick enough. I wanted the scarf to be the focal point with the hair getting softer and softer as it bleed into the gold and earthy tones behind it.
Nickers. Just because I can. ISO1600 this time with f1.8 again, still usable even with all that noise. Awesome.
Now for some colour. f2, iso100, s=1/20th
Sif you'd buy a new one.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2010 Location: Aarhus Posts: 15 | | Review Date: September 8, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $8.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | build quality, sharp, bokeh, handling, fast, smoothest focus ring | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K7, LX, KM
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This is a wonderful lens. The 55mm focal length is very useful on both film and digital SLRs. The sharpness is outstanding. The build quality is solid and the focus ring is smooth and easy to focus.
I really enjoy using this lens and I can recommend it for use on both film and digital SLRs.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2011 Posts: 9 | | Review Date: December 30, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | everything | | Cons: | nothing | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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Just a damn fine little lens
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Richmond, Virginia Posts: 36 | | Review Date: December 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $28.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | build, sharpness | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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I have the K55 f1.8, M50 f1.4, Helios 58 f2. Each of them have their own characteristics and each is very special in their own way.
I love the build of the K55. It just feels right on my camera and I like that it has a bit of extra reach for portraits. It's the equivalent of 85mm in full frame for apsc cameras. It's sharp enough at f1.8 and has a mild glow which is even more pronounced in bright white areas, both of these traits work very well for portraits. With a hood it works well during harsh sunlight wide open and it gives that soft skin glowy look to portraits which makes great pictures. It's color rendering is very good.l It's not as contrasty as the M50 f1.4 I find. It's bokeh is excellent. I rate the M50 f1.4 higher by just a hair but when one takes price to performance ratios... well they're equals. Luckily these are still cheap... and very few old Pentax glass is any more. The only greater performance to price lens in my opinion in the pentax line is the Pentax-M 50mm f1.7
Yeah... I've got three 50s and I don't plan on selling any of them... they're that good.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanbelmonte/6477512707/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanbelmonte/6477512229/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanbelmonte/6477511913/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ivanbelmonte/6477512931/ | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2011 Posts: 118
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 9, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp, colorful, 3D rendering, unique bokeh | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I think it is a 9.5, so I rounded off to a 10.
Compared to other fast 50s, its strength is unique 3D-like rendering, pleasing colors and silky smooth bokeh, very much like the well-regarded SMC Takumar 50/1.4.
50/2.8 macro and F/FA50 1.7 are no doubt the sharpest wide open pentax 50's, but this lens is very usable wide open unlike the f1.4s.
I would put it about even with M50/1.7 in terms of value and performance, but the K55/1.8s are a bit harder to come by.
Here's a test shot @ f1.8 cropped , texture start to show better stopped down one or two clicks , out of focus area has a glowing effect to it
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,542
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 8, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp - Colors - Contrast | | Cons: | None really | |
This may be the sharpest 50mm-ish lens I own. Super super sharp even wide open, colors rendered are bright and clear, bokeh is superb. It is larger than the Pentax-M 50, A 50 and Super Takumars, focusing and build is great!
9 is just about the highest I would give a non AF lens, so just consider this a 10 for a manual lens!!!
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2011 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 387 | | Review Date: October 3, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Amazing Sharpness, Tight DOF | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Amazing lens that I've been using since I bought the camera, but didn't fully recognize what I had until about a year ago.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 753
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 7, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $27.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | build quality, overall image quality, cheap | | Cons: | unreliable stop down metering | |
I got this lens very very cheap....and for a price i paid it is an excellent performer. But not better than other Pentax standard lenses which i have/had (M50/1.7; A50/1.7; FA50/1.7). What makes it stand out is it's feel - this is very nicely crafted lens with dampened focus throw which is very long. It's size and weight is close to my ideal lens, it is compact but reasonably heavy and is just great joy to use.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: HAMBURG, GERMANY Posts: 6 | | Review Date: June 13, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | solid, sharp, handling | | Cons: | - | |
My best lens - itīs a very special baby. Wonderful bokeh and perfect smooth focussing. If you can get one of these - keep it. In my opinion its better than all 50mm lenses i know. Itīs one class with the FA43 and DA*55.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813 | | Review Date: May 18, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Solid build, very sharp, fast enough for low-light shots, relatively easy focus, zero CA | | Cons: | None at all | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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This is close to perfect, a good street and portrait lens, whether in good or bad light.
I used it every day in my "Single in January" challenge, and it never let me down.
If you don't mind MF and manual exposure, and crave razor sharpness, and massive resolution, then this might just become your favourite lens very quickly.
Here's a sample
(Non working link removed)
cheers from Jack.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2007 Location: Newcastle Australia Posts: 5,284 | | Review Date: March 17, 2011 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap-ish,solid, sharp, | | Cons: | none except not af. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
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This lens for its age and its cost, is a brilliant lens that renders great photos.
Though totally MF, for the MF enthusiast, it is a lens that I suggest you do not go past.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Perth Posts: 6 | | Review Date: December 27, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, solid, cheap | | Cons: | | |
Real easy manual focusing! I have a feeling this lens gives my photos a 'filmy' touch to them as they appear rather soft and dreamy - pardon my very technical way of speech.
I don't own it long enough to comment further but I am quite fond of it so far.
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