smcforme <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

What's the story with the Rikenon 55mm f1.2? Does Ricoh still make K-mount 
lenses? Are they sold in the US? Pricey? I can't find any information on 
the net.

ANSWER:
It was introduced sometime before 1995. It was probably discontinued by 
2000. It has a  P setting to work in Program mode on Ricoh XR 
program-capable bodies (XR-P, XR-M / XR-X, XR-3P)

Good luck finding this one; it's harder to find used, or new, than the 
Pentax 85/1.8K, 85/1.4A, 135/1.8A, 120/2.8K, and 18/3.5K.

Yoshi has written that he prefers it to any Pentax 50 or 55. Others believe 
that Ricoh's 50/2 (P and non-P) and 50/1.4P perform better, the 1.4P 
beating Contax in a major test.

I suggest you be happy with one of Pentax's fine 50s or Ricoh's 50/2. I 
tried the Vivitar 55/1.2K and found its view no brighter than the view 
through a Pentax 50/1.4A. Mark Cassino or Mark Gosdin has reported that the 
Rikenon 55/1.2K delivers slower f/stops, aperture for aperture, than a 
Pentax 50/1.4A. So the speed advantage is probably nil, although focusing 
would still be a bit snappier because of the more limited depth of field.

Three shops in Europe were advertising it a while back; I wrote to two and 
got no reply:

Czech, 8490 units ($235)  I think this is new, meaning they have several.
http://members.tripod.com/I_P_F/ March 29 2002

RICOH Obj. Rikenon 55mm F1,2   8 079,- Kc at 
http://www.fotomorava.cz/zbozi.asp?kat=34&vyr=47 21 March 2001


275/142 Euro ($125), 22JAN 01  in italy http://www.nicam.it/obiettivi.asp

Anyway, here's what I have on it:

7 elements in 6 groups, 9-blade aperture, 58mm filter, 2.5 in. wide, 1.8 
in. long, 11 oz. (64mm x 46 mm x 312 g) Close focus: 2 feet (1:8.9X)

When using an f/1.2 with an electronic shutter, use aperture priority so 
you're assured of the 1.2 aperture and any matching shutter speed.The 
Pentax 1.2 can stop down to f/22. Stefan Zandburg: "Camera Magazine tested 
it with the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 and claimed it was quite on par, only slightly 
lower in quality; at full opening, sharpness and contrast were slightly 
less but it had less vignetting than Nikon." Popular Photography test, July 
95: "Exposure at film plane is very accurate from f/2 to f/11. At f/16, 
slightly underexposed (0.2 stop at infinity, 0.5 at close) but still within 
tolerance. Underexposure at max aperture was due to light falloff. 
Distortion, 1.1%, barrel. Lateral color: Dominant, will affect picture 
quality. Full click stops on aperture ring from f/1.2 to f/16. Hands on: 
Beautifully assembled and finished metal-barreled lens is heavy for a 
normal lens but balances well on larger cameras like the XRX-3PF.aperture 
ring clicks into stops smartly, but is slightly slippery. In the lab, 
overall SQF was good, the result of lower readings at f/1.2 and f/2 but 
dramatically higher in the f/4 to f/16 range. Field curvature was normal; 
there was noticeable barrel distortion. In the field: Test slides confirmed 
SQF findings: Slides were soft and lacked contrast at f/1.2, improved 
steadily through f/4, then produced very crisp slides with very good 
contrast through f/16. Substantial flare at f/1.2 through f/2.8, gone by 
f/4, but very obvious ghost images in backlit shots at all apertures. Light 
falloff was gone by f/2.8. Conclusion: For the available-light enthusiast, 
a very attractive optic at a very good price that will produce quite 
acceptable results wide open up to 8x10. Very fine optic at middle to small 
apertures, but beware of ghost images in strong backlight."

Yoshihiko Takinami, 1997: "I agree that the SMC 50/1.2 is not a very good 
choice. But I prefer Ricoh's Riken 55mm f/1.2 to any Pentax 50mm lens. It's 
really a great lens, I think. I use with my Z-1 and ME Super." Yoshi, 29 
Nov. 97: "I use the Rikenon 55mm f/1.2 with my PZ-1 and my Ricoh XR-8 
super. I believe it is one of the best value-for-the-money lenses for 
Pentax cameras. Its build quality is very good and just heavy. A bit soft 
wide open, but it is quite sharp and contrasty at one stop down, though it 
is sensitive for focus and light conditions. (?) I love this lens."

Gregory (The Who): "there are a lot of turns allowed on MF ricoh 55/1.2 
lens. i mean a lot! that little minute fine turning is make history of 
being great or average for a critical macro focus usually."

Mark Cassino, July 09, 2000: "I like the 55/1.2. The Rikenon 50 and 55, 
Kiron 105, and A200 macro are my mainstays for normal to moderate telephoto 
work, and I'd highly recommend any."

Yoshi's lens tests: Center resolution, 49 lpm at f/1.2 and f/2; 55 lpm at 
f/2.8 and f/4 and f/4; 62 lpm at f/5.6 and f/8; 55 lpm at f/11; 55 lpm at 
f/16. Corners: 35 lpm at f/1.2; 44 lpm at f/2; 49 lpm at 2.8 through f/5.6; 
62 lpm ag f/8 and f/11; 55 lpm at f/16."

Yoshi: I also tested some Ricoh K-mount lenses besides the Pentax's Here's 
the results. # Check aother post of mine about equipments, notes, etc.

***CENTER RESOLUTION***
Lens Type 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.8 2 2.4 2.8 3.5 4 4.8 5.6 8 11 16 22 32
XR-R28/3.5 x x x x x x x 49 x x 62 62 62 62 55 x
XR-R50/2 x x x x 49 x 55 x 62 x 62 69 69 62 x x
R-P55/1.2 49 x x x 49 x 55 x 55 x 55 62 62 55 x x

***CORNER RESOLUTION***
Lens Type 1.2 1.4 1.7 1.8 2 2.4 2.8 3.5 4 4.8 5.6 8 11 16 22 32
XR-R28/3.5 x x x x x x x 44 x x 49 49 55 49 49 x
XR-R50/2 x x x x 44 x 55 x 62 x 62 62 62 62 x x
R-P55/1.2 35 x x x 44 x 49 x 49 x 49 62 62 55 x x
XR-R28/3.5 : XR Rikenon 28/3.5, a unique wide angle pancake.
   XR-R50/2 : XR Rikenon 50/2, a former low-cost standard lens of Ricoh.
   R-P55/1.2 : Rikenon P 55/1.2, a present fast standard of Ricoh.

Conclusions; 1) The center resolution of XR-R28/3.5 is very good. 2) 
XR-R50/2 seems comparable to Pentax A50/1.7. "

Ricoh forum (Mark Cassino): I have three XR Rikenon lenses that have proven 
to be very good performers. These are the 55mm f1.2 (an outstanding lens, 
one of my most used lenses), 50mm f1.4 (excellent) and 24mm f2.8 (very good 
optically, though somewhat prone to flare, remarkable build quality.) I use 
Pentax bodies and have just run into these lenses by chance.


Paul Franklin Stregevsky
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