| Author: | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2012 Posts: 43
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: April 23, 2013 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpest lens I've ever owned, neutral colors, nice bokeh | | Cons: | minor color fringing, easily corrected in pp | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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Absolutely the sharpest lens I have ever had, sharper than my FA35F2. Sharp from F1.7 throughout the aperture range with peak already at F2.8 center and border sharpness the same. please go neutral colors. Some minor color fringing, easily corrected in pp.
Gallery: https://goo.gl/photos/JaRk4rR7ogcuWEJX9 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2011 Location: Lost in translation ... Posts: 18,002
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: September 24, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, build, rendering, bokeh ... | | Cons: | 55 mm filter, but that's about it ... | |
Bonjour,
This is an excellent lens and is one of the best of my multiple 50/55/58's ... even better than a few f/1.4 lenses, in some aspects.
Sharp from wide open and nice bokeh. The build of this lens is excellent and a joy to handle.
Would love to try out the faster f/1.4 version, but I do not think that there would be an enormous advantage of an extra stop.
Will try to post a nice sample image later. Allez et bon courage, J
Edit - sample image - Wide open and near MFD ... ISO 200 @ 1/100s due to slight breeze
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2010 Posts: 750
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 17, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small size, sharpness, colour rendition | | Cons: | focusing ring not so nice as on K series lenses, stop down metering | |
A very good lens, on par with FA43 Limited in terms of sharpness and colour rendition, although not so convenient to use as FA Limited...
In terms of build quality I believe original Pentax lenses, aka K lenses have a bit better, more substantial feel and bit smoother focusing....but Contax is not slouch either...
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2017 Location: Bayern Posts: 177 | | Lens Review Date: May 11, 2020 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $200.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | zeiss rendering (C/Y adapted). | | Cons: | none yet | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1
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for the paltry $200 for this lens, it's a steal (even figuring another 20 for the CY-K adapter). Love the planar rendering (esp f4-8) and a joy to focus. Although a split prism or replaceable focus screen would be idea.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2015 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 2,752 | | Lens Review Date: April 23, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: No |
Price: $175.00
| Rating: 5 |
| Pros: | Smallish, lightweight | | Cons: | The adapting process leaves much to be desired | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 4
Value: 4
Camera Used: K1
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I believe this is the Contax version of this lens.
I purchased it already converted to the Pentax K mount. It had a Leitax adapter on it.
When adapting this lens to the Pentax K mount, one must install a large spring. This spring is what controls the aperture ring.
The spring did not work properly and periodically came off. I never knew what aperture I was actually shooting at.
You get what you pay for. Don't kid yourself that this is a modern Zeiss lens. I was so frustrated and disappointed in both the operation of this lens and it's dull images, that I ended up throwing the lens in the trash, as I would not ever sell such a disappointing lens to anyone else.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2016 Location: Warsaw Posts: 32 | | Lens Review Date: March 26, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: None indicated
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, colors, | | Cons: | Mods for PK | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-3
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This is a probably a Holy Grail on "normal price" 50mm lenses. In fact this lens is better than version f/1.4 (C/Y), but f/1.4(C/Y) is better than modern Z* mount version Planar.
I have a SMC-M, SMC-A with f/1.7 - Planar beat this lenses. Planar beats my SMC-K 50mm f/1.4 of course in sharpness.
Colors is typically for Zeiss'es with T* coating. Generally this lens better using for landscapes, street photos. In portrait CZJ MC Pancolar is the best choice when You think about lenses from Germany.
Porst 55mm F/1.2 @4 have a comparable sharpness with this lens, but Planar is a bit sharper.
First photo @2.8, second @5.6 (the best aperture). Third is a 100% crop @5.6   | | |
