| Author: | | New Member Registered: September, 2020 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 3 | | Review Date: August 23, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Easy to handle, minimum distortion, very well built, sharper than the M 50mm 1.7 | | Cons: | None that I can think off TBH. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: KX
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I had one of these on my first KX, using film of course and not digital.
It was more than big enough to fit on that beast. It cost me 30 quid in the early 2000s.
Focussing on my copy was lovely - smooth and damped and easy. Very well built.
The light gathering potential of the glass certainly helped on the KX focusing screen.
Bokeh - as ever with the Pentax lenses, they weren't big on aperture leaves , so bokeh could be wiry.
But even wide open, this 1.8 lens was sharper than the follow-on M50mm 1.7, and also gave great colour with out filters. In mixed lighting, exposure was also very balanced - you can see this to extremes in other lenses, but not this one. The contrast is very controlled and can render subtle changes in light reflectance and colour gradation very evenly. I cannot remember seeing any evidence of distortion.
This lens had a good way of seeing what the human eye saw in my view. And there was a 'crispness' to the image too that was rather special.
It is a pity that if they are suffering the balsam separation problems discussed below.
If you can get a nice one without that problem, go for it I say.
Recommended.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2020 Location: Leiden Posts: 8 | | Review Date: November 1, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | image/build quality | | Cons: | nothing i can think of | | Sharpness: 9
Handling: 10
Camera Used: K5
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The Pentax engineers did a great job making those old lenses work on a modern dslr. The only thing that's a pity is that the aperture value is not written to the exif info, but i can imagine that would be a little bit difficult without any electronic contacts on the lens.
If you have a pentax dslr and you can get this lens, take it, it will be worth your while.
See also all the comments from the other reviewers in this section.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2009 Posts: 94
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 23, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | something special | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-1
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This lens is special to me, something in the rendering, or contrast, i can't really pinpoint it.
My copy is mint and flawless. Handling is incredible.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2018 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: September 26, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Well built, sharp, good contrast, good bokeh | | Cons: | Some aberrations at bright apertures | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: MX, X-T3
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I liked this lens when I had it. Wide open sharpness is only OK, contrast is low, and there's spherical aberration. This makes for a vintage look that some really like and it even draws some vintage-looking bokeh. Once it's stopped down to f/4 it's very sharp across the frame, rather impressive. The contrast and center sharpness don't ever match that of the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 though. Build quality and handling is excellent as it usually is with the 1st gen K lenses. All in all an excellent lens.
| | | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 255
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 8, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build quality, equal sharp over the frame, no aberations | | Cons: | Bit less micro contrast compared with M1.7 & M1.4 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K2 to K1ii
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Very good performer from corner to corner. Wide open it is a bit soft. You only need to boost levels/contrast a bit in post for brilliant pictures. Long throw for focusing, it goes very precise. Build to last forever.
I got this as kit lens together with my 2nd hand K2 20 years ago. For both I paid € 75,-.
See also https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/390869-som...-compared.html
Original test report 1975
 | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2019 Location: Dublin Posts: 4
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 19, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very impressive quality for portraits, easy to focus, relatively cheap. | | Cons: | n/a | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Have got it just couple of months ago specifically for my new Fuji X-E3. Main purpose was to shoot portraits as I had previous experience with other ~50mm Pentax lenses and love them a lot. Can't really choose which ones I love more: Helios 44-2, Konica AR 50mm f/1.7 or my Pentax lenses (Pentax-M and Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 and the latest one, Pentax SMC 55mm f/1.8). They all are great, easy to disassemble and clean, and unique in their own way.
Never tried any scientific tests as don't care about 'razor sharpness' - it is not important for my shooting requirements or preferences. I do care more about how easy to focus, handling and of course - my personal impression regarding imaging quality.
Here I have one photo as an example. May be someone will find it useful in the same way I found many reviews on this website. Thanks everyone for sharing their experience! 
Day light, wide opened - f/1.8, camera Fuji X-E3, ACROS film simulation. No further postprocessing.  | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2018 Posts: 13
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 23, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Color rendition, flare resistance, quite fast, pleasant bokeh when fully open, sharp, little chromatic aberration, mechanica quality | | Cons: | requires stop-down metering, or fully open on automatic | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax KP
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I have been using this lens for many years now, first on my LX, now on digital. It is quite heavy, but I love the look and feel of old glass. The colors are beautiful to me, and even fully open I am very fond of the rendition. I do not mind it is not tack sharp fully open, I am not expecting this. But when stopped down it gets very sharp, sharp enough for my needs at least . The bokeh is old school, so not really blurry, the number of diafragm blades is only six after all and they are straight.
The lens is built like a tank and has an unusually long focus throw, which can be advantageous for accurate close focusing. Or annoying when you want to go from close focus to infinity or vice versa . But focusing is still smooth after all these years.
I don't know current prices, but at the time it was an absolute bargain.
Picture taken fully open against the sunlight.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2017 Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 24, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: PENTAX K-3 II
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ND16
Exposure Time 1/60
ISO Equivalent 800
https://flic.kr/p/2h4YrjN
ND16
Exposure Time 1/160
ISO Equivalent 400
https://flic.kr/p/2h4XExN
Exposure Time 1/5000s (0.0002)
ISO Equivalent 100
White Balance Auto
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2009 Posts: 25
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 2, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | excellent colors, fast, looks, built | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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Just received one today. Portraits at f1.8-f2.8 are awesome. Colors of sky and flowers are superb. This lens is a bargain.
On K-50
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f1.8
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f 1.8 - 1/160 - ISO100 +2EV
SOOC JPG NO PP
© foivosloxias June 2017
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f 2.8 - 1/250 - ISO100
SOOC JPG NO PP
© foivosloxias June 2017
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f 1.8 - 1/200 - ISO1000
SOOC JPG NO PP
© foivosloxias August 2017
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[f 1.8 - 1/60 - ISO1000]
© foivosloxias August 2017
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[f 1.8 - 1/50 - ISO1000]
© foivosloxias August 2017
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[f 2.8 - 1/80 - ISO400]
© foivosloxias August 2017
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2014 Posts: 366
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 8, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, RUGGED, smooth focus | | Cons: | Manual focus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
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I bought this lens off Craigslist and the sharpness and bokeh are awesome for the price so long as you are willing to use manual focus.
It is VERY rugged - I had a heart stopping moment where this lens and my K50 accidentally dropped about 4 feet to a thinly carpeted concrete floor. It landed on the filter thread rim of the lens bending it inward ... but everything still works perfectly well (on the K50 too)!
I bent the filter threads back out and was able to coax a lens hood onto it before taking this shot with my KS2 at f5.6 ISO400 at 1/500sec.
I've ordered a set of extension tubes but wondering if I really need them when a tight crop gets this...
Wish I could shoot this on Av mode, but stop down Manual isn't a bad alternative to get an image stabilized lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2014 Location: lamia , greece Posts: 13
2 users found this helpful
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Warsaw Posts: 83
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 25, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, fast, creamy bokeh, build quality, feel, looks goood on modern DSLR's, on APS sensor makes a dream @85mm f/1,8 lens (actually 55x1,5=@82,5mm). On top of it its cheap and widely available. | | Cons: | ....... could be SMC-A...... and AF..... and.....NAH!!!! | |
Absolutely brilliant lens that due to its wide availability is still ridiculously cheap. Build quality, handling feel is just second to none SMC-K/ Takumar type. The look of K-type lenses on modern DSLR's (which are the size of K-type SLR's) is so goood - after you try them SMC-M lenses, in comparison look to small and funny (with all regard to their optical quality).
As for the IQ - check Yoshihiko Takinami resolution charts to see that you will never ever need to check it again. Just go and use it!!!
The lens is tack-sharp!!! At f/1,8-2 equals theSMC-K 50mm f/1,2.
http://www.takinami.com/yoshihiko/photo/lens_test/pentax_normal.html
As I already wrote - on crop sensor this lens makes an amazing equivalent to: 85mm f/1,8 dream portrait glass!!!
It is actually 82,5mm, but as with real 85mm you can go all day and never be tired of using it. Finding great pictures is so fun and easy!!!
I highly recommend this lens to anyone, who is not afraid of a manual glass.
P.S.: If you want to have a more flexible version - buy a SMC Takumar 55mm f/2 or f/1,8. At P or A - you will have a TTL (working aperture) real time metering that doesn't require the use of a GREEN BUTTON.
Do remember that f/2 and f/1,8 seems to be actually identical lenses with only difference in aperture ring clicks placement. You can set a f/2 lens one click beyond f/2....... so. Buy any of them.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2014 Location: Europe Posts: 4
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 13, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Fast,Sharp,Comfortable | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: pentax *ist DS
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Hi ,
I picked this lens with a missing front ring , but other than that with no defects, the images are very sharp , the bokeh is fantastic, i love it so far, have been shooting with it for few days , changing it with my 28mm Miranda when in need for wider indoor shot
The smooth focusing was feeling weird in the beginning ,due to the much looser focus ring of the Miranda I have , but when i got used to it i begun loving it ( after a 10 minute shooting  )
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2014 Posts: 27
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 3, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $25.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | superb focussing | | Cons: | focus throw can be bit long for quick action | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: KX, GH3
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This lens has the smoothest focussing of all the lenses I ever used. Long focus throw for very precise focussing, much longer than the Pentax 50mm f1.7. This lens is ideal for videorecording, because the focussing is such a joy; turning the ring back and forth goes effortlessly and without the smallest interruptions.
I tested both 50mm f1.4 (M), 50mm f1.7 (M) and 55mm f1.8 (K) and to be honest they are all very close in picture quality, minor differences only show up while pixel peeping. I would recommend to use lenses for making nice photos and not for the sake of pixel peeping though.
Anyway I was interested in their performance wide open and at f2.0. I found the 1.4 and 1.8 completely usable wide open but with the 1.7 ca and glow start kicking in around highlights. I would say the 1.7 is better usable from f2.0, where it improves drastically. Ended up selling the 1.7 and keeping the other two, with the 1.8 as my personal favorite standard lens. It also looks best in combination with my black KX (same generation).
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 432 | | Review Date: December 3, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Everything | | Cons: | Nothing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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Smashing little lens. Let's not pick on it for being manual, cos it is, it's an old lens. The build is fantastic and the image quality is absolutely terrific. Stopped down, turn off the SR and make sure that your shutter speed is
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