& normal Pentax K mount lenses compared for bokeh.

[mfogiel]

I've always been attracted by the rendition of Pentax lenses, which looked to me better than other Japanese brands in terms of bokeh ( I am not a Canon user though, if we exclude the 50/1.2 rf). Given that 50-58 mm range is my most often used FL, I've put together a test of the lenses I managed to pick up on my way. You can make up your own mind by observing the images below. What surprised me, was the superior performance of the 55/1.8 - one of the best kept secrets in Pentax-dom. On the other hand, the 50/2.8 macro is a real disappointment.


COMPARO by mfogiel, on Flickr

 

[robry]

Happy to see your photos and comparision, I like the 55/1,8 very much too.
This one is at 1.8 on pushed triX in Xtol
[url=https://flic.kr/p/iKHMid]RIMG_0006p by robrylx, on Flickr[/URL]
Bucuresti 2013 nov demonstrations, late evening

At about f8 it tranforms itself to a really useful landscape lens. It took me some time to realize it´s qualities, though...

 

[mfogiel]

The obvious conclusions are, that the 50/1.2 is difficult to beat, as even at smaller apertures it still exhibits pleasing bokeh owing to its 8 blade aperture. The 50/1.4 is optically very similar, but even with the same 8 blades, somehow the blobs are less round. The 55/1.8 wide open has an impressive combination of sharpness and bokeh, which makes it a great portrait machine. Not bad for a $75 lens.

 

[kuuan]

nice presentation!

How would you say compare Pentax 1.2/50 and Canon LTM 1.2/50?

Pentax lenses handle so very well and render very harmoniously. You mention blades, the K mount 55mm ( and Super and S-M-C, SMC 55mm M42 Takumars ) have 6, the early f2/55mm Auto Takumar has 10 blades, is tiny, very sharp, produces amazing colrs and smooth bokeh, I keep on recommending it

 

[mfogiel]

Thanks for heads up un 55/2. The Canon is less sharp, but/and it has much worse coatings, which can be a problem or a blessing depending on how you look at it - for female portraiture it comes out quite nicely.

Canon 50/1.2 ltm

20093720 by mfogiel, on Flickr


20094115 by mfogiel, on Flickr

Note how nice is the high key background in the second shot, even if it was made at f2.8 - that's the real "Leica" glow !

 

[Pioneer]

The little Pentax 55 Auto Taks are very nice lenses. The 55/1.8 on my Pentax K has a 10 blade aperture as well and does quite well.

 

[mfogiel]

@Pioneer - are you sure? I have both the K version and the old M42 version, but they have both 6 blades. It would be nice to get a 10 blade one.

 

[kuuan]

Thanks for heads up un 55/2. The Canon is less sharp, but/and it has much worse coatings, which can be a problem or a blessing depending on how you look at it - for female portraiture it comes out quite nicely.

the 2/55 Auto Tak is a real gem imo!
thank's a lot Marek, sounds good. I read that the Pentax pretty much is the sharpest SLR 1.2/50 @f1.2, but I really dig RF lenses for mirrorless and I am tempted by the Canon LTM.

The little Pentax 55 Auto Taks are very nice lenses. The 55/1.8 on my Pentax K has a 10 blade aperture as well and does quite well.

@Pioneer - are you sure? I have both the K version and the old M42 version, but they have both 6 blades. It would be nice to get a 10 blade one.

Pioneer your's must have 'zebra' design, right? As far as I know there are two versions of the Auto Takumar 1.8/55:
The first one looks much like the Auto Takumar 2/55 and has 10 blades. Besides the super rare 1.9/55 Auto Takumar it is the only other 'zebra' Takumar.
The later is the first lens that looks like all following Super Takumars and has 6 blades, only differs insofar the diaphragm ring stops down in the opposite direction ( see: http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_e.html )

 

[Noll]

Thanks for doing this. Very Informative...just wish I had a screen larger than on my smartphone to examine your comparison!

 

[Jack Conrad]

The early f2/55mm Auto Takumar has 10 blades, is tiny, very sharp, produces amazing colrs and smooth bokeh, I keep on recommending it

Completely agree. I'd say the 55/2 Auto-Takumar is the cream of the crop, comparing it directly with the later Super-Tak, Super-Multi-Coated and SMC versions of the 55/1.8 and 55/2.

Not sure why, but out of my copies it's the sharpest wide open of those I listed and has the nicest bokeh stopped down due to the 10 aperture blades...I presume.

 

[Pioneer]

@Pioneer - are you sure? I have both the K version and the old M42 version, but they have both 6 blades. It would be nice to get a 10 blade one.

I'll go dig it out and count but I am pretty certain it is a 10 blade. It is one of the old preset auto-taks, not the more recent M42 models. I have a couple of those as well and they are 6 blade apertures for certain.

EDIT - I have checked again and it does have 10 aperture blades. It is a zebra 55/1.8. I haven't done a lot with it, too many lenses, so little time. I'll have to take it out to the park and do some tripod work to see what the negatives look like. 🙂

 

[Swift1]

I like your subject 🙂