| Author: | | New Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 16 | | Review Date: March 2, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, unique bokeh | | Cons: | No auto aperture switch, plastic/metal build | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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I sought out this lens after hearing about its unique bokeh. I intended to use it wide open, both for the bokeh and the fact that it needs to be modified to be able to adjust the aperture since it doesn't have a manual/auto switch. The bokeh is very bubble-like. I used some super glue to keep the aperture pin depressed and was pleasantly surprised with its performance stopped down a bit. It goes from F2.2 to F16 in full stops.
It isn't the sharpest or best at controlling aberrations but it is a fun lens with a very unique bokeh. The build quality doesn't come up to Pentax or Takumar standards. The focus ring is some type of bakelite plastic and I never saw a copy that didn't have a crack or two in the focus ring. It doesn't affect performance at all and the focus is smooth with a long throw. Both these shots were wide open so the bokeh can be busy or pleasing depending on the composition and light.   | | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2016 Posts: 7 | | Review Date: March 8, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $20.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Interesting Bokeh characteristics | | Cons: | soft wide open. Plastic contruction. | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 4
Value: 7
Camera Used: Sony NEX-5N
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Fuji Photo Film Co.
Fujinon 55mm F2.2
Made in Japan
Filter thread : 49mm
Mount type : M42 with Fujifilm proprietary aperture lever. Also available in Fuji X-mount
Aperture : f2.2 to f16 in full stops
Aperture blades : 5 non-circular
Lens elements/groups : 4/4
Minimum focus distance : 2feet / 0.6m
Construction : Plastic, Metal
Coating : Non-EBC, but may still be multicoated
I bought a Fujica ST605 and this lens was attached to it. The lens needs to be modified to fit any non-Fujica camera. The aperture ring tab that communicates to the camera body needs to be ground down in order to use it on many non-Fuji cameras and adapters.
The focus ring, aperture ring and the distance scale ring are all made out of plastic. Over time they degrade and crack. Finding a good copy of this lens will become harder over time because of this.
At f2.2, contrast and sharpness is quite low. But instead you get very interesting bokeh. Specular highlights are very strong and create the "Bubble Bokeh" that people either love or hate. This is due to the Fujinon's strange lens design, 4 elements in 4 groups with the diaphragm right behind the front element.
At f4, both contrast and sharpness are massively improved. The downside is that those "bubble bokeh" turn into pentagons. Sharpness peaks at f5.6~f8.
While the lens feels cheap, it has a interesting character to it, and that's what makes it a keeper. I don't mind the specular highlights because that's why I bought it. When I don't want to see those highlights, I use the Takumars.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2013 Location: Ibiza, Spain Posts: 471
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 15, 2018 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Great bokeh, lightweight | | Cons: | Bad construction quality, no A/M switch, feels "cheap" | | Sharpness: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 6
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K50
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Got this lens in M42 mount almost as a gift when buying a 50mm Revuenon (just added 10 more euros to the final price) as the condition was not good. The glass was ok but the focusing ring cover with the distance scale was long gone.
Anyway it was completely usable and decided to give it a try.
Nothing impressive nor dissapointing about its performance stopped down.
But I got a nice surprise when I tested the bokeh wide open. Its particular soap bubble bokeh was very nice, distinctive and made the lens a keeper.
Now I use it even more than the other lens included in the deal.
If you find one in good condition and cheap enough, go for it.
Just make sure that the plastic that covers the focusing ring is not cracked, otherwise it will fall and you will have an ugly (but still usable) lens.
 Fujinon 55mm by AH AP, en Flickr
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: March, 2010 Location: Chiang Mai, Bologna, Amsterdam Posts: 1,198
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 18, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | bubble bokeh | | Cons: | no EBC | | Sharpness: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-01; K-1
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I feel compelled to write a short review, and give a high rating, because a unique lens like this cannot be evaluated in terms of sharpness, contrast, flare resistance, etc etc
If you buy this lens is because you want bubble bokeh, and the Meyer Trioplan is either not sharp enough or too expensive.
The only fault I can find is the lack of multicoating. Fuji's proprietary EBC coating was one of the best of the time, along T* and SMC. It's a pity that the cheapest "normal" options had be to produced single coated.
The optical character of this lens is given by the Zeiss Unar design, that as far as I know has almost never been used for small format lenses.
Unfortunately this lens fears stray light. It has to be used with a hood, and with some care to avoid flare and low contrast.
The bokeh is unique, very close to the Trioplan.
I have both, and prefer the Trioplan, but the Fujinon has better ergonomics, its is sharper, more flexible, and in the end it's less of a specialty lens. Though if you are looking for soap bubble bokeh, you'll get it!
Once I used the Fujinon at night, took a few nice pictures, but i felt it was like walking on eggs 
Fortunately digital cameras allow to review the picture immediately, tame the flare changing the perspective, or simply shielding the lens with the palm of the hand...
For what it does, it's a 10. No other lens does the same at this price point.
Unfortunately many examples I have seen on the market were quite "experienced". Better spend 10/15 euros/dollars more and get a nice one.
It was not designed to be a specialty lens, but nowadays it definitely is. In the 50mm range probably the most flexible, if not the best.
 Fujinon f2.2 urban bubble bokeh by spaulein, on Flickr
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2017 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: July 10, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Reasonably sharp when stopped down | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 8
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony A7RII
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Really a good lens, sharpness are not everything for me anyway. The Bokeh are fantastic. And sharp stopped down a bit. 5 aperture blades not so good but wide open bokeh bubbles. The lens have some cracks around in the plastic ring so the quality are not any good but som textile tape made it work. The coating are not advanced but no problem with a lens hood.
    
Photo taken at apertures F2,2 F5,6 and F16. To my surprise the F16 photo are sharper than i expected. Other "better" lenses get worse by F16. Some small change in sharpness from F5,6 but not much. But there are sharper lenses around for sure, but sharpness can go to far if you ask me.
 | | | | | amateur dirt farmer Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 41,679
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 2, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | clarity, bokeh, color rendition, sharpness | | Cons: | loses contrast in strong light, cheap build quality | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
Camera Used: K-5 IIs
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what a surprising little lens
for October, the Fujinon 55mm f2.2 (M42) lens was with me all month long and turned out to be a great choice...
firstly, this M42 lens was a kit lens for Fujica ST film cameras and for it to work properly and fit flush on a standard M42 mount, it has to be permanently modified - there's a nub on the mount that has to removed... I've removed this nub, knowing full-well that what I've done...
this is a tiny, near-pancake of a lens, with a plastic aperture ring, a nicely-damped focus ring, a 49mm filter ring, and a reputation for producing amazing bokeh, but needs a semi-deep hood to maintain contrast in strong light...
only a couple of negatives for this lens: a longish MFD of about 2' and since it's an older lens, a lack of modern coatings for when the light gets bright...
some of my favorites:
 fog by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 chrysanthemum by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 raffia over cornstalks by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 sunrise in fog by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
 morning sun and a turning maple by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr
overall, a fun month - this is not a lens I would suggest that you attempt to track down - there are better 55mm's out there, and easier to find in decent condition (this lens tends to turn up with the plastics in poor shape) and probably cheaper, too (my mint copy was $50), but it you are interested in older Fujinon glass, it's a great lens to own...
the rest of this lens' flickr album
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperberryfarm/albums/72157708060585474 | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2016 Posts: 1 | | Review Date: May 22, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Art lens | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Fuji XT-1
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This lens is an real " ART " lens.
The Bokeh is very special.
The rendering is strange but nice
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