Cosina 55 f/1.2

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Archive 2009 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #1 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

I see one for sale on the B&s forum and was curious how this compares to C/Y 50 f/1.4 planar T* wide open, bokeh, microcontrast etc. I'm very happy with the Zeiss, but you know how it is, always looking for something else. The only thing about the Ziess is the 6 bladed hexagonal aperture. Is the Cosina viable at f/1.2. I know the Zeiss is a little soft at f/1.4, but not bad in the centre at all. I am tempted by other 50's like the Siggy, and ZE 50, but another 1/3 stop and I prefer slightly longer FL would be nice. What would be the best choice for sharpness wide open and nice bokeh, but also sharpens up to have excellent corners by f/8 at worst, as I would also like to use it for landscape sometimes.

Oh this would be on a 5D for now.

Jun 19, 2009 at 05:16 AM

trumpet_guy
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p.1 #2 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

I can't help you on the Cosina, Whayne, but I do think the Siggy 50 is calling your
name.

Jun 19, 2009 at 05:56 AM

ovredal73
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p.1 #3 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Or a Noct...

Just open up your wallet. Open your wallet.... Let the money out....

Actually on a second note, Ulrik just returned my Voigtlander 58/1.4 and that is one great lens. I forgot completely how well made, sharp and okeybokehy that lens is.

Jun 19, 2009 at 09:14 AM

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p.1 #4 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

I've had a Revuenon 1.2/55 some time ago (made by Cosina)
It was tak sharp at f1.2 (the sharpest f1.2 i'veen) but it had heavy glow on bright objects and less saturated colors and also some blue fringing.
But the sharpness was stunning!

Jun 19, 2009 at 11:36 AM

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p.1 #5 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

ovredal73 wrote:
Or a Noct...

Indeed, the Noct fits the OP's description.

Assuming the OP doesn't want to part with that much money, the best alternatives to the Noct, from all the tests I've seen here and elsewhere, are the Konica AR 57/1.2 and the Rokkor 58/1.2.

I've recently been using my new Rokkor and it fits the OPs needs very closely. Very sharp wide open, excellent (and versatile) bokeh and it seems to hit maximum resolution around f4 and holds fairly well, right across the frame, up to about f11. On the other hand, I did need to shave my 5D mirror in order to get infinity.

I have no idea how the Cosina would compare.

Jun 19, 2009 at 02:28 PM

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p.1 #6 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

The only downside to the Cosina 55/1.2 that I see is that it is susceptible to flare. As another poster said about Revuenon 55/1.2 (same lens as the Cosina) it is nice and sharp wide open and has a very nice bokeh (better than the Rokkor 58/1.2, IMHO).

Jun 19, 2009 at 02:57 PM

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p.1 #7 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Like many older/fast lens I am sure there is sample variation. Ask the seller for a sample pic wide open, and another stopped down. The sample I have seen online from this lens show a dreamy look wide open, and fairly poor FF sharpness stopped down (for landscape type shots). It also seems to be have excessive flare and ghosting.

Somthing like the Siggy or a Zuiko 50/1.2 would be my recommendation. The Zuiko 50/1.2 is the best corrected and sharpest 50mm lens I have owned (too many). Almost no CA and sharp into the very corners for great landscape results, and great Zuiko color.

Jun 19, 2009 at 04:22 PM

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p.1 #8 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

I have both Cosina 55/1.2 and Planar 50/1.4. Actually I have more than that - will publish comparison one day.

For now I'll say that Planar is sharper wide open than Cosina and has better contrast (being f1.4 and Cosina is f1.2), but by 2.8 I can't see any difference in sharpness - both are stunning. Cosina's colors are on the cooler side, whereas Planar has very neutral. Bokeh is certainly better with Cosina's 9 blades.

Cosina is certainly faster - in bright conditions it took 1/3200s to get the same exposure as for Planar at 1/1600s, but in dim light the difference was not as big - 1/100s vs 1/80s.

Zeiss has better build but Cosina is also very good comparing to modern plastic wonders.

All in all, I think they both leave Canon 50/1.4 in dust and I have all but stopped using it after running the comparison. The biggest drawbacks of Canon for me were 1) ugly bokeh and 2) excessive macro-contrast and lack of micro-contrast at the same time in harsh lighting conditions. It would overexpose highlights and underexpose dark areas at the same time, while in the middle everything looked flat with not enough contrast. In the same conditions both Zeiss and Cosina did not have over/under-exposed areas and shown good detail in every area. One good thing I have to say about Canon though is that it's f/1.4 is better in terms of light sensitivity than all other f/1.4 lenses I tried and is almost as good as Cosina's f/1.2 - the exposure time was the same in some cases.

Forgot to add: I might sell Planar one day because I tend to use 85mm more than 50mm, but I'll probably never sell Cosina because it is rare and it gives me a blast when I am shooting with it

Few days ago I did some night-time video at the local pub zone and let me tell you - wow! I especially liked a very artsy-shaped flare that it caught sometimes from lights of passing cars, I have never seen anything like this!

Jun 20, 2009 at 12:18 AM

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p.1 #9 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Here is some video test with it: http://www.vimeo.com/5241766. I think it's wide open, but I don't remember exactly.

One good thing about Cosina is that it is easy to adapt to Canon by using PK-EOS mount and taking out two pieces without breaking them, so that later they can be attached back to restore its original condition. Many other lenses in PK-mount (all original Pentax ones AFAIK) will require cutting off pieces from the lens which I'd hate to do.

Jun 20, 2009 at 02:55 AM

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p.1 #10 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Sorry for the late reply and I wasn't ignoring this thread, but I have had no internet since posting this question.

Thanks for the replies much appreciated. I certainly don't want to spend big dollars on such a lens, I'm saving up for the 24 TS-E II

Paul, how's that Zuiko 50 f/1.2 wide open? Is the centre at least sharpish and what's CA like between f/1.2 and f/2. I don't mind vignetting either at these apertures.

I know the Sigma could be the one, but have been hesitant because of the focus issues. Although I manually focus when shooting f/1.2 - f/2.8 anyway.

I haven't seen whether the ZE 50 f/1.4 offers much improvement over the C/Y Planar, but I assume the 9 bladed aperture would render a nicer bokeh?

Jun 24, 2009 at 01:08 AM

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p.1 #11 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
Sorry for the late reply and I wasn't ignoring this thread, but I have had no internet since posting this question.

Thanks for the replies much appreciated. I certainly don't want to spend big dollars on such a lens, I'm saving up for the 24 TS-E II

Jun 24, 2009 at 05:49 PM

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p.1 #12 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

I also get the impression that the focusing issues are mostly confined to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 on Canon cameras for some reason. The copy I used on a D700 focused perfectly at all distances, and was an absolutely superb lens. I did think that it overexposed compared to my other lenses however.

Jun 24, 2009 at 06:03 PM

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p.1 #13 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Bokeh is very crazy, like the olympus. I got mine for $150.00 not bad for f/1.2

Jun 24, 2009 at 06:10 PM

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p.1 #14 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

The Zuiko 50/1.2 is the sharpest 50mm lens I have tested for FF (well over ten, including the Rokkor). The bokeh is not that crazy on the the Oly 50/1.2, but it is on the 55/1.2. Many don't consider that the Zuiko 50/1.2 was one of the last, and best, fast 50mm lens ever designed. The Sigmalux 50 is the only one I can think of being an obviously newer design. Here's a shot wide open from my Zuiko 50/1.2:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jun 26, 2009 at 11:26 AM

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p.1 #15 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

pdmphoto wrote:
The Zuiko 50/1.2 is the sharpest 50mm lens I have tested for FF (well over ten, including the Rokkor). The bokeh is not that crazy on the the Oly 50/1.2, but it is on the 55/1.2. Many don't consider that the Zuiko 50/1.2 was one of the last, and best, fast 50mm lens ever designed. The Sigmalux 50 is the only one I can think of being an obviously newer design. Here's a shot wide open from my Zuiko 50/1.2:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Looks quite sharp and the bokeh is okeh, but not buttery smooth

Doesn't look like much vignetting if uncorrected.

Again about the Sigma, a recent thread on the Canon forum doesn't inspire confidence on the Af when focusing out past 3m/10ft.

Jun 26, 2009 at 12:01 PM

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p.1 #16 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

wiregen wrote:
Bokeh is very crazy, like the olympus. I got mine for $150.00 not bad for f/1.2

Those are pretty ugly oof highlights. I think my Zeiss C/Y is better.

Jun 26, 2009 at 12:03 PM

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p.1 #17 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

trumpet_guy wrote:
I can't help you on the Cosina, Whayne, but I do think the Siggy 50 is calling your
name.

tim aren't you one of the guys having issues

Jun 26, 2009 at 12:04 PM

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p.1 #18 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
trumpet_guy wrote:
I can't help you on the Cosina, Whayne, but I do think the Siggy 50 is calling your
name.

tim aren't you one of the guys having issues

Whayne,

Yeah, I have issues. Oh, you mean with the LENS?

Jun 26, 2009 at 05:03 PM

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p.1 #19 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

trumpet_guy wrote:

Whayne,

Yeah, I have issues. Oh, you mean with the LENS?

Oh are we talking lenses

Jun 27, 2009 at 05:50 AM

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p.1 #20 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
pdmphoto wrote:
The Zuiko 50/1.2 is the sharpest 50mm lens I have tested for FF (well over ten, including the Rokkor). The bokeh is not that crazy on the the Oly 50/1.2, but it is on the 55/1.2. Many don't consider that the Zuiko 50/1.2 was one of the last, and best, fast 50mm lens ever designed. The Sigmalux 50 is the only one I can think of being an obviously newer design. Here's a shot wide open from my Zuiko 50/1.2:

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Looks quite sharp and the bokeh is okeh, but not buttery smooth

Doesn't look like much vignetting if uncorrected.

Again about the Sigma, a recent thread on the Canon forum doesn't inspire confidence on the Af when focusing out past 3m/10ft.

Same with me here. My sharpest lens seems to be my OLY 50 f/1.2, only rivaled by my OLY 100mm f/2 ED.

I use my wide and standard Zuikos often for Panoramas. They make some excellent pano-lenses, they are not only sharp, but lightweight, which is important when putting on a pano head.

Here is an example of the sharpness of the Zuiko f/1.2 50mm.
Just look at the brick buildings behind the boats and the detailed foliage of the trees.

Here is the link to the original pano size:
http://www.pbase.com/rudiknust/image/114067614

This image is copyrighted by the owner

Jun 27, 2009 at 10:20 AM

ovredal73
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p.1 #21 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
wiregen wrote:
Bokeh is very crazy, like the olympus. I got mine for $150.00 not bad for f/1.2

Those are pretty ugly oof highlights. I think my Zeiss C/Y is better.

Personally I love this kind of bokeh. That second shot is like an impressionistic painting.

Jun 27, 2009 at 11:07 AM

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p.1 #22 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

IDURITA wrote:

Same with me here. My sharpest lens seems to be my OLY 50 f/1.2, only rivaled by my OLY 100mm f/2 ED.

I use my wide and standard Zuikos often for Panoramas. They make some excellent pano-lenses, they are not only sharp, but lightweight, which is important when putting on a pano head.

Here is an example of the sharpness of the Zuiko f/1.2 50mm.
Just look at the brick buildings behind the boats and the detailed foliage of the trees.

Here is the link to the original pano size:
http://www.pbase.com/rudiknust/image/114067614

This image is copyrighted by the owner

That's got a lot of detail, very impressive.

Jun 28, 2009 at 12:09 PM

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p.1 #23 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
Those are pretty ugly oof highlights. I think my Zeiss C/Y is better.

"Ugly" is perhaps insufficient to describe this lens's OOF performance. Those that seem to like it are doing some heavy rationalization.

Jun 28, 2009 at 10:02 PM

Mike Deep
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p.1 #24 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

I hope I'm not the only one who sees half a set of spider legs here. Cool shot.

Jun 28, 2009 at 10:39 PM

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p.1 #25 · Cosina 55 f/1.2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
trumpet_guy wrote:

Whayne,

Yeah, I have issues. Oh, you mean with the LENS?

Oh are we talking lenses

Anyway, yes I have some focusing issues out around 7m and beyond.
I sent the lens and my 5D to Sigma in hopes they will correct it.

In most cases the issues wouldn't affect my shooting very much, since
how often does one wish to shoot wide open with a distant subject?

But I did send it in, and hope it comes back better.
In your case, if you are adept at manual focus, it's probably worth
a try with it anyway. It's a special optic.

It does cover all the bases, and given it's relatively affordable, might be worth a try. I do manually focus at large apertures, but the AF would be nice in certain situations.

Cheers

Well, I called Sigma in Ronkonkoma, New York. They have my 5D and my 50/1.4
sitting on the shelf waiting for a tech to calibrate the lens. The chap on the phone
was courteous and friendly. He said this is the busiest time of the year for them,
and also some of their workers are on vacation, so it will be close to a three week
total turnaround for me, shipping included.

So, not exactly lightning speed, but if the job is done right I'll be pleased.

Jul 03, 2009 at 01:43 AM


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