Mamiya Sekor 1.4/55

[woodrim]

This is one of my earliest purchases when I embraced MF lenses. I used it briefly in 2010, then again in 2014, but never really put it to good work. I knew it was sharp but now have a much better appreciation. Choosing to use it two weekends ago for the Dyxum day of the year challenge, I was able to put it to good use.

I typically, when I don't forget, shoot a blank frame every time I change lenses, then it only depends on my memory of lens rotation (also sometimes challenging). When I reviewed and processed the images, some of them struck me as unusual as if I had used my Trioplan or Primoplan. It wasn't what I expected from the Sekor. In fact, I questioned it so much that I went out again and took some similar images, even some situational test shots, to confirm. As it turns out, the lens does indeed have some very interesting art-like characteristics like the Meyer lenses I so cherish. However, this Mamiya Sekor is very sharp at f/1.4 - more so than I had remembered. I had a difficult time picking the images to share, so have probably posted too many. All with my antique NEX-5N.

[luisalegria]

Yes, art indeed.

[blotafton]

I like your selection, and the rendering! Nice work!

[tomasg]

Splendid series!

[leemik]

Great set!! love the bubbly bokeh..

The NEX-5N is a great camera.. I still use my NEX-3 more than any of my other Sony's because it so small, simple and takes such good pics.

--mike

[edri]

[Oldhand]

Very beautiful rendering with typical Mamiya Sekor colour.
Your compositions are quite splendid.
Thank you.
T

[kds315*]

Nice ones, but 12 images (!!) is not a stringent selection, so bare with me
but it's overload....

[hoanpham]

Beautiful.

[Lloydy]

Very nice, I like them all And I like the 55 / 1.8 Mamiya Sekor that I've got as well, out of 'many' lenses around the 50mm mark thay I've got the Mamiya is absolutely one of my favourite and most used lenses. But the 50 / 2.8 is very average indeed

Your 1.4 looks like a very good lens, if I see one - I'll get it.

[itsfozzy]

Nice shots!

If I were to stick my head on the line, I'd say that you have one of the non SX versions of the lens.

Am I right?

[papasito]

Time ago, someone told that the mamiya, the ricoh, the tomioka, and any more lenses 55/1,4 had similar rendering.

I don't know about it, but the mamiya is very good lens.

Only the Coated seems to be an old one, look at the high lights.

The another mamiya very good lens was the 55/1,8, the 6/5 version, not the 6/4. The last produced (6/5) had three elements in three groups at the front and three elements in two groups at the rear.

It came from the end of the DTL era and was in production in the SX lenses.

I don't know if the CS version is the same lens.

[alex ph]

Woodrim, your mention of the "antique NEX-5N" sounds well comic! I'd say mine is still an attractive futuristic lady, even if its corners are a bit shabby, and I already brought it to repair. It costed me 150 euros to replace the motherboard. Even if I could have a used camera for that price, and I extensively used mine for a while, I said to myself, well, I better have repaired the one I know than get another one with unknown trouble. But this is just a marginal note.

You shared quite a powerful set of shots with "character". I considered the 55mm Sekor a more regular lens, and never chased for it, as I already have several 50mm's.

Is it a crocodile's back on #3?

[jamaeolus]

IIRC this is the same lens I have labeled Ricoh Rikenon 55mm 1.4. It has a near flat rear element. I really like mine.

Here is a sample from mine from a few years ago with Canon EOS 60D (APS-C) then a 1:1 crop.

[woodrim]

[woodrim]

[Oldhand]

The Auto Rikenon is very similar in its reproductions and certainly excellent across the aperture range.
I also have wondered if it is the same lens as the Mamiya.
Similar depth of colour for sure.
T


#1

[jamaeolus]

gorgeous colors on that flower!