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 - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .