Author: | | New Member Registered: February, 2019 Posts: 15 2 users found this helpful | Review Date: February 9, 2020 | Not Recommended
| Rating: 7 |
Pros: | Feels nice | Cons: | Images no better than M series 50mm f2 or f1.7 | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 7
Camera Used: Mainly film
| | A neat lens that takes superb images on par with the superb Series M 50mm lens and the rather plastic A Series of later years. I mainly use film so I don't over-process my images through any on-board digital camera technologies, and minimise any software edits that boost up the actual image.
An f2 never bothers me as I rarely take pictures that need f1.8 or lower.
I can only rate this lovely lens at 7 as, by 2020, the rear lens element (not the rear lens but the next element in) has glued-together glass and this separates after a while, giving a hazy and discordant viewing through the lens. See the diagram, above. I have one like this, and had two f1.8 equivalents that also had varying stages of what is called "separation" that is expensive and difficult to repair. Be careful not to buy one like this. Even if yours looks fine, as the years go by, this design will fail in all lenses due to the mechanics of the material used to snug the glass together. So check yours is in perfect condition by shining an LED torch up the lens to see if you have blooming haze or light discordance in that back end. Don't shine into our eyes directly and don't stare too long.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Posts: 9,895 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: December 31, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $27.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp, fantastic rendering and build | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K20D, K-r, K10D, K-50, K-S1
| | This is one of the hidden gems of the Pentax lineup. Everyone says the SMC-M 50 1.7 is the best value in photography, and it is an absolutely great value. Yet this lens probably edges it by just a little bit. The bokeh is as good as I've ever seen - and I have the SMC K 50 1.2 which I guess sets the bar on bokeh - but this is just about as good albeit slightly different.
The rendering is to die for.
I think the fact that this lens is an f1.8 design artificially "handicapped" to f2 actually makes this the better lens between it and the f1.8 counterpart. If you've been around a while, the old saying is that manufacturer's lenses are always at their best at about 1/3 of a stop down from wide open, which is where they're perfectly sharp. Well with manual lenses that wasn't possible because the first click is always a full stop... but with this one, the "wide open" aperture is 1/3 stop down from the lens design. Which means it's very sharp and the bokeh is like wide open bokeh. Win-win as far as I am concerned! (the "Plastic Fantastic" 35 2.4 lens is built - willingly or not - on the same principle, which is why my copy is super sharp from wide open). Sharpness - Great as I've said - from wide open. Microcontrast - I have to mention it because it's great as well. The tone transitions are beautifully rendered. Rendering - could it be improved? I'm not sure Aberrations - much better controlled than a K series should be! I don't remember it being a problem, ever... the fact that it's technically not "wide open" even when wide open at f2 might have something to do with that as well. Handling - perfect Bokeh - perfect. In-focus to out of focus transition about as good as K 50 1.2.
Recently I bought some metal hoods for my K and M lenses... the 5 dollar ones you find easily online. They have helped with contrast wide open when shooting in harsh light. But beware you should use a smaller hood if you shoot this lens on full frame, I only shoot APS-C.
Here the K 55 f2 is at the very left with its friends M 100 2.8 (center) and K 55 1.2 (hogging the K-50).
Here it is on the K-50 at f2
K20D, f2 red car by ChristianRock, on Flickr
K20D, f2 - in focus to out of focus transition Leaf in the Water by ChristianRock, on Flickr
K10D, f2 - included because it got a lot of likes on flickr (for my standards...) Foosball bokeh by ChristianRock, on Flickr
K20D, f5.6 1939 Chevy Painel by ChristianRock, on Flickr
K10D, f2.8 K 55 f2-f2.8 test by ChristianRock, on Flickr
| | | | Pentaxian Registered: May, 2016 Posts: 3,722 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: August 19, 2018 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | sharp, pretty close focus | Cons: | CA | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3ii
| | In the center, at f2 (max aperture) it's at least as sharp as the FA 50/1.4 at f2, with just slightly less contrast; it's much sharper than my M 50/2 at f2. The same holds at f5.6, although by then the M catches up. It's about as large as the FA 50/1.4. Solid build quality.
| | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2017 Location: Vienna Posts: 28 | Review Date: April 2, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | sharp | Cons: | none | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K3
| | on APS-C a very good old lens.For the first time a had some problems with overexpose but by a little training my problems disappeared an i had some fun with this lens.I can recommend this glass. | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2018 Posts: 8 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: March 21, 2018 | Not Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 7 |
Pros: | Colour rendition, contrast, build quality and handling | Cons: | Sawtooth bokeh from 2.8-4.8 and midframe and corner softness on FF | Sharpness: 6
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 7
Camera Used: Sony a7
| | I got a copy of this lens in beautiful condition. The handling and built quality is great. This lens is the same lens as the K55/1.8, but this one has a baffle which stops it mechanically down to f/2.
I tested this lens on a full frame Sony a7.
The bokeh is quite smooth, but the sawtooth bokeh at 2.8 and 4 are really annoying. It's weird that no one mentions this.
Wide open the lens is sharp and contrasty enough in the centre. The centre is at its best at f/5.6 and f/8. The corners improve when stopping down. At F/11 the corners are only "good", not excellent.
The extreme corners never get sharp. The softness is visible at 1:1 magnification on a 28 inch uHD screen.
At f/11 the diffraction kicks in. The centre lose a little bit of sharpness.
The lens is not flare resistance as modern lenses. A lens hood is a must.
On a full frame the lens performs better at close distances. So I can recommend it for portrait use, not for landscapes.
On an APS-C camera the lens should perform way better.
| | | | New Member Registered: September, 2016 Posts: 3 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: September 13, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Value! Sharp at f2.0. | Cons: | No a-setting for aperture. Maybe a tad long focus throw. | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-30
| | Runs circles around the Pentax-M 50mm f2.0, which is the only other classic normal lens I own. Very nice bokeh and not soft at all at f2.0. Meters perfectly on my K-30. Wonderful build quality. Focus throw is very long, which may or may not be to your liking. All images at f2.0 with corresponding 100% crop. | | | | amateur dirt farmer Registered: December, 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Posts: 41,249 | Review Date: April 1, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | well-built, superb handling, amazing color rendition | Cons: | loss of contrast in strong light | | An amazing lens - supposedly less desirable than the K55/1.8, but I cannot see why...
Superb handling due to it's quality construction and well-damped focus ring. Sure, it's not an 'A' lens, so you have to remember to think a bit before you shoot (green button, dude), but how hard is that? You're using a 40-year-old manual lens; you're going to have to be involved in your shot, period.
Color rendition, smooth bokeh, reasonable MFD - it's all here in one package.
I used this lens for the Single In February challenge and it did not disappoint: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperberryfarm/albums/72157663633315590
If you are wanting to try your hand using manual lenses, this is a good place to start.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 1,740 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: June 7, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | building quality, | Cons: | some people might consider too "slow" | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1000
| | The so called K55 mm f2.0 was originally designed as budget kit lens for the original K1000 (the ones with a serial number on the top plate that were produced at the time the other K series were made) in the same way the Takumar 55mm f2 was the kit lens for the SP1000 that the K1000 replaced.
As the Takumar f2 was the same lens as the Takumar f1.8 with a different diaphragm (Pentax didn't produce "cheap" gear, they preferred to de-rate the specs of the upper range and sell it as low range, it's sufficient to remember the case of the SP500), so the K55mm f2.0 is the same optically speaking as the K55mm f1.8, of course the K55s were carry over Taks in new dress so we might say all four lenses are the same and the same considerations apply: they are all very good.
The K55 mm f2.0 is the rarest of these four lenses because the original K1000 was produced for a short lifespan and the lens was available just with the camera while the f1.8 could be bought separately, when the K series was discountinued in the last 70s and the production of the K1000 was supposedly moved to Hong Kong (1979, or at least there are adverts of the first K1000 with brown leatherette from that year) the cameras were delivered with the new budget lens, the M50 mm f2.0.
IMO these lenses are optically superior to the M lenses and I would recommend a K55mm also because the image in the viewfinder is bigger and therefore more 1:1, while M cameras have a bigger viewfinder so the image is alreay at natural size with the 50mm.
Here there are some samples, they are all film, non post processed scans from negative, not that great but true to what you can on print: | | | | Inactive Account Registered: November, 2013 Posts: 9 | Review Date: November 9, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | everything | Cons: | none | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
| | perfect portrait lens on crop sensor
centre sharp ++++ great colours , smooth quality manual focus
great lens on par with the pentax M 50mm f2 | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2013 Location: Jakarta Posts: 2 | Review Date: May 2, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $70.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Everything | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
Camera Used: K5
| | fast, sharpness, color saturation, bokeh, everything is excellent
difficult to find weaknesses of this lens, here are the sample shot: https://www.flickr.com/photos/roe_groho/sets/72157643498217064/ | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: California Posts: 2,223 | Review Date: January 26, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Very sharp and contrasty wide open | Cons: | The stopping down with green button for some, not me | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
| | This is an absolutely wonderful lens for portraits, and other subjects: Big Eyes by Palenquero, on Flickr
| | | | New Member Registered: October, 2011 Posts: 5 | Review Date: September 28, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Sharp, great colors | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: K2000
| | Not as popular as its "faster" 1.8 sibling, but awesome nonetheless.
I prefer center-sharp lenses as they add more depth to the images, making them appear lifelike.
This lens delivers the goods for so little, an outstanding performance! | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2011 Location: Niagara Posts: 3,905 4 users found this helpful | Review Date: August 27, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Sharp, smooth bokeh | Cons: | | | Great colour and sharpness from this lens. I had not used it because I have a copy of FA 50/1.4 and it sat with some other film relics I inherited. Had I known of its quality, I might never have purchased the FA 50/1.4 because, besides the extra stop in speed and "A" pin, I find the 55/2 nicer in many aspects.
It is surprisingly sharp. Below, taken at f5.6 using hyperfocal scale: Market Day by _Matt_T_, on Flickr
It is AMAZINGLY flare resistant. I don't think the FA 50/1.4 would have done so well here: Sunset on Dialtone by _Matt_T_, on Flickr
The colours are generally stunning: Calming Lake Ontario by _Matt_T_, on Flickr
And the bokeh is smooth and in my opinion appealing: Japanese Parasol I (Coprinus plicatilis) by _Matt_T_, on Flickr
In general a very well behaved lens with a useable focal length, especially for portraits: | | | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2012 Posts: 111 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 7, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | Sharp, Beautiful Colours, Well Built, | Cons: | Focus Ring is a little long if you need to be quick | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-r, K1000
| | Used this constantly on my old K1000, then on my K-r afterwards. It's hard to describe how wonderful this lens is as a basic, dependable lens. I've had numerous people comment on it's quality, and it's a great buy, especially as they are now going for around $40 on Ebay.
If you want a lens that is great for plants, portraits, and a few landscapes, this is the one.
I actually never knew of the existence of it's f1.8 brother until now, but I don't think it would make that much of a difference: I get on fine with f2, and it'll probably be cheaper too.
| | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Tasmania Posts: 349 | Review Date: May 13, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Very sharp, excellent bokeh | Cons: | Manual | | I have only had this lens a short while but it has fast become my favourite. Very sharp pics with excellent bokeh on a K-7 for such a cheap lens. 55mm is an excellent walk around size on a DSLR. I haven't given it a ten as I don't have anything similar to compare it to yet. | | |