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This is a very good lens for portraits or any photos that require a shallow depth of field. When used wide open, the depth of field at minimum focus distance is razor thin. The out-of-focus effect is very pleasing and the background just melts - this allows for the subject to be isolated from its surroundings in very striking manner. My copy is one of the earliest versions with the metal focus ring and thorium coatings. I converted it to fit my Sony a57. This lens is fairly straightforward to convert to modern cameras and there are numerous tutorials that explain how (as well as pre-made kits). After conversion, the lens will most likely need to be ajdusted for infinity focus. In the later models, this is straightforward but the earliest versions (like mine) require more disassembly to access the screws that lock the focus ring in place. I've taken some landscape photos with the lens too and these are OK, but that's not where the lens excels. Shallow DOF, portraits and beautiful bokeh are the strong points of this lens. If that's what you're after then you will love it. If you don't want to perform the conversion, then the lens performs fine using a "standard" adaptor with a corrective optic but you wouldn't be getting the most out of it in that case. Stopped down, the lens is sharp. Wide open, it's fairly soft but sharpness is good after one or two stops. The lens is big, quite heavy and very well engineered.Read full review
Mine came modified for EOS mount. Typically, there will be only 4 screws holding the lens mount. For original mount, there will be a total of 8. My lens belonged to the 3rd generation. Serial numbers 270xxxxx Unlike today's F1.2 lenses with large front diameters, it sports a mere 55mm filter ring. The weight is hefty and does make a mirrorless camera body tilt forward more than usual. Compared with my Nikon 50/1.2 AIS, this has comparable contrast, is sharper wide open, oily smooth bokeh and surprisingly acceptable chromatic aberration, fixable with today's digital tools stopping down to F2, the nikon is slightly sharper but both will give more than satisfactory results. Works well with B+W filters.
This lens has met my expectations completely. The main attraction of this lens for many people is the thin DOF it can provide, and the way it renders out-of-focus areas. I have been happy with how mine does both of those things. This lens is usable wide open, in certain situations. If it's a bright shot, you will have glow, but otherwise it is surprisingly sharp at f/1.2. At f/2.0 the glow is pretty much gone. It takes very nice photos on film. If you're thinking of using this on the NEX, and you're goal is to be able to shoot in low-light situations, you might consider the Sony SEL50F18 instead. It's a stop slower, but with OSS you can actually hand-hold slower shutter speeds than you could with this Rokkor, and you have autofocus as well. The Sony can't replicate the 1.2 DOF, of course, and the Rokkor is better at smaller apertures (f/5.6 and smaller). In fact, I figured this Rokkor was optimized for wide-open use, and would not do so well stopped down, but I was happy to find I was wrong. This lens is quite good at smaller apertures, even though this is not the main reason people buy it.Read full review
This lens is just plain amazing. It's sharp wide open with very creamy and smooth bokeh. It's like a magic lens in that everything you shoot turns into art. Built like a tank but beautifully crafted at the same time. It's definitely a must MUST HAVE lens!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I was afraid in the beggining, buy a manual focus lens for a price of a AF one was a risk move, but now it's one of my favorite lens. Sharp, great and unique DOF.