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Lens test: several Pentax 55 and 50mm and Panagor Macro 55/3
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 2:54 pm    Post subject: Lens test: several Pentax 55 and 50mm and Panagor Macro 55/3 Reply with quote
A little lens test between:
1. SMC Pentax 'K' 55mm f/2
2. Super-Takumar 55mm f/2
3. SMC Pentax 'K' 50mm f/1.4
4. Panagor 55mm f/3 (=Vivitar 55mm f/2.8 macro)

First impression:


The SMC Pentax K 55mm f/2 and Super-Takumar 55/2 are optically similar (except for the coating). The Pentax K 55/2 delivers the most vivid colors, followed by the Pentax K 55/1.4. No surprises here.

Then, the 100% crops:


Remarkable is the difference in sharpness at wider apertures between the SMC Pentax K 55/2 and the Super-Takumar 55/2, the Takumar being superior here. My guess is that the focus of the 'K' is slightly off here, as these lenses should optically be the same.

At F/2 and F/2.8 the Pentax K 50/1.4 is slightly superior to the other Pentax lenses: best sharpness / micro contrast,good colors. At F/2.8, the Panagor is not so great. At F/4, the differences get smaller. I like the rendering of the Pentax K lenses the most, probably because of the SMC coating, the image have more 'depth'. @F/5.6 the Pentax K lenses and the Panagor are pretty comparable. The Super-Takumar slightly inferior IMO because of colors: image looks flatter.

Conclusion: I think the Pentax lenses are pretty fabulous. Keep in mind these lenses are old, it seems they outerperform a 24mp sensor. The Panagor shines when you close down the aperture a bit (it's a 1:1 macro lens, so here is where it matters).


PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 12:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Super Takumar 55mm f/2 looks the best imo.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Like 1 small
good well presented test.
The smc 50mm 1.4 shows well at f2, f2.8 in comparison to the slower lenses.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
In my tests with the 55mm 1.8 Pentaxes I observed similar results. The K version has a bit more of that hazy aberration than the m42 Takumars do. I'm not sure what caused this change, maybe the replacement of the thoriated rear element, but who knows for sure. My copies of the m42 versions have been slightly less sharp than my K version but have a bit more contrast at wider apertures due to lower aberrations.

I would also have to agree that the focus on the 55mm K doesn't seem as exact as the 55mm Super Tak.


PostPosted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 9:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Steakface wrote:
In my tests with the 55mm 1.8 Pentaxes I observed similar results. The K version has a bit more of that hazy aberration than the m42 Takumars do. I'm not sure what caused this change, maybe the replacement of the thoriated rear element, but who knows for sure. My copies of the m42 versions have been slightly less sharp than my K version but have a bit more contrast at wider apertures due to lower aberrations.

I would also have to agree that the focus on the 55mm K doesn't seem as exact as the 55mm Super Tak.


If I learned one thing from doing lens test, it's how difficult it is to get accurate focus. Even with a 55/2, the DOF is really razor thin when you are critical.
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