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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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SMC Pentax-A 1:1.2 50mm wide open shots
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:32 pm
Post subject: SMC Pentax-A 1:1.2 50mm wide open shots
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:32 pm
Post subject: SMC Pentax-A 1:1.2 50mm wide open shots
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So far I have tried the following ultra fast 50's:

- Porst 55mm f/1.2
- Cosina 55mm f/1.2
- SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2

But the SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2, the last incarnation of this fast fifty (and reportedly also a bit better than the K50/1.2) seems to outperform all of the above. The great thing (for Pentax owners) is of course the diaphragm automation. Not that you need it when shooting wide open... Wink

All shots below were shot wide open, except for the last one. The camera used was the Pentax K-5.

1.


2.


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5.


6.


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:53 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:53 pm
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WOW, some great portraits here, congrats Peter and what a lens Shocked


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:39 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 9:39 pm
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Thanks Pascal! And here is how it looks on my K-5:



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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:10 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:10 pm
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pich900 wrote:
WOW, some great portraits here, congrats Peter and what a lens Shocked

+1! perfection wide open! I guess it don't fit the 5D


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:13 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:13 pm
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super portrait samples with a obviously truly great lens,
congrats Peter!


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:18 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:18 pm
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Thanks for the kind words! I'm not sure if this will fit the 5D, but a leverectomy would at least be in order (all K-mount lenses need to have the diaphragm lever and protective flange removed for use on a 5D).


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:23 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:23 pm
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All optical defects of this lens caught in one single photo, shot against the sun:



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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:33 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:33 pm
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Peter wrote:
All optical defects of this lens caught in one single photo, shot against the sun

I don't see any defects Peter, are you becoming a pixel peeper Wink


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:43 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:43 pm
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poilu wrote:
Peter wrote:
All optical defects of this lens caught in one single photo, shot against the sun

I don't see any defects Peter, are you becoming a pixel peeper Wink


What! There's tons of CA, the lens is worthless! Laughing


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:46 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:46 pm
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Spotmatic wrote:
poilu wrote:
Peter wrote:
All optical defects of this lens caught in one single photo, shot against the sun

I don't see any defects Peter, are you becoming a pixel peeper Wink


What! There's tons of CA, the lens is worthless! Laughing


no, it's not worthless Peter, I'd buy you a beer or two for it Wink


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:47 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:47 pm
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kuuan wrote:
Spotmatic wrote:
poilu wrote:
Peter wrote:
All optical defects of this lens caught in one single photo, shot against the sun

I don't see any defects Peter, are you becoming a pixel peeper Wink


What! There's tons of CA, the lens is worthless! Laughing


no, it's not worthless Peter, I'd buy you a beer or two for it Wink


Please, I'd like a bottle of Chimay Dorée Wink


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:52 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:52 pm
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Nice series Peter, as always.
It seems to me that the second photo was taken a bit stopped down.


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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:56 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:56 pm
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Spotmatic wrote:

Please, I'd like a bottle of Chimay Dorée Wink


that shouldn't be any problem, I'll use my Benedictine connections


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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:33 pm
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 2:33 pm
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Good portrets.
Shame that Pentax didn´t made FF DSLR to achieve 100% performance of this lens in Digital ages.


regards semso


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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:13 pm
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:13 pm
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semso wrote:
Good portrets.
Shame that Pentax didn´t made FF DSLR to achieve 100% performance of this lens in Digital ages.


Thanks Semso! I know... but there are currently lots of rumors of a FF Pentax mirrorless going around. So who knows!

@Orio: thank you also and my bad... That one was shot at f/1.8 indeed.


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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:26 pm
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Posted: Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:26 pm
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I found another one on my card. Definitely wide open, this one! Smile



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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:38 am
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:38 am
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Spotmatic says:

" I know... but there are currently lots of rumors of a FF Pentax mirrorless going around. So who knows!"

But that should not solve the problem: FF Pentax mirrorless should be probably NOT K-mount.

regards semso


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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:42 am
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:42 am
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semso wrote:
Spotmatic says:

" I know... but there are currently lots of rumors of a FF Pentax mirrorless going around. So who knows!"

But that should not solve the problem: FF Pentax mirrorless should be probably NOT K-mount.

regards semso


Of course, but it WOULD be a mirrorless AND a Pentax, so for me that's good enough. (There are not other brands with a FF mirrorless; the Leicas are unusable because for the lack of Live View).


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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:21 pm
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Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:21 pm
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Bad light, high ISO, still a bad photographer, still wide open Smile

1. My colleague under horrid TL lighting


2. Our kids WII-ing (ISO 10000!)


3. Evan doing the same (ISO 5000)


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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:41 pm
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:41 pm
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K5+Pentax 50 1.2 should be one of the best combo right now.
The results this lens puts out look simply astonishing, it is more than usable wide open.

Last edited by ilguercio on Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:10 am; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:50 pm
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:50 pm
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Wow, that's a keeper for sure Surprised

I've been lurking around trying to find a f/1.2 I liked (descent sharpness wide open and not to bloomy), and this lens could be what I look for Very Happy

How much do I have to spend on such a beauty Peter?


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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:00 pm
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:00 pm
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Probably worth a bid Very Happy
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pentax-SMC-1-1-2-50mm-Camera-P-30-T-/360446790670?pt=UK_Photography_VintageCameras_SM&hash=item53ec4d8c0e


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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:27 pm
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Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:27 pm
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Only a great photographer can take such beautiful and focussed photographs with a very soft lens like the Pentax-A f/1/2. Congrats.
OTOH, the softness I mention may be sour grapes. Sad


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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:11 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 4:11 pm
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Awesome portraits!!!

Somehow mine remains unused as I always reach for more compact f1.7 but these pictures encouraging me to take it out.


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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:14 pm
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:14 pm
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One on its way to me!
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