Anyone using Rikenon XR lenses?

[Nikkornos]

Pulled out the old Ricoh XR-1, and XR-X collection.

Found the Rikenon 50mm F2, Rikenon 50mm F1.7 and a Rikenon 24-40 F2.8.
Unfortunately, a Rikenon 16mm F2.8 lens is cloudy.

The Rikenon 50mm F1.7 in my remembrance was a pretty sharp lens, although the contrast was not very high. Put on the k-x and the results are nice.

Anyone still have Rikenon lenses? If you come across them, its worth buying as they should be dirt cheap now.

 

[felixcat8888]

Pulled out the old Ricoh XR-1, and XR-X collection.

Found the Rikenon 50mm F2, Rikenon 50mm F1.7 and a Rikenon 24-40 F2.8.
Unfortunately, a Rikenon 16mm F2.8 lens is cloudy.

The Rikenon 50mm F1.7 in my remembrance was a pretty sharp lens, although the contrast was not very high. Put on the k-x and the results are nice.

Anyone still have Rikenon lenses? If you come across them, its worth buying as they should be dirt cheap now.

I had 2 Rikenon 50mm F1.7 and sold away one last week. I also have a 50mm F2 and a 35-70mm F3.5-4.5

 

[Nikkornos]

Nice!

The Rikenon 50mm F2 was one of my workhorse many donkey years ago.

It still gives a very nice feeling on the k-x, I like it.

It may have less contrast than the SMC, but it is nice it its way.

 

[snapnut]

Rikenon 16mm F2.8 lens is cloudy.

This looks interesting... may be worth repairing.
A pentax lens like this would be pretty expensive.

I came across a Rikenon-P 105mm macro (suppose to be a dine clone) once on ebay going at a cheap price... I pass it cause it had some problems.

 

[felixcat8888]

This looks interesting... may be worth repairing.
A pentax lens like this would be pretty expensive.

I came across a Rikenon-P 105mm macro (suppose to be a dine clone) once on ebay going at a cheap price... I pass it cause it had some problems.

Once a glass becomes cloudy, it cannot be cleaned. I have a Canon FD mount 50mm F1.2 which has also become like that and no shop can service it already.

 

[pinholecam]

Just watch out for the extra 'A' pin on the PK-R mounts.
Some are known to get stuck on the Pentax mount contact pin, making the lens stuck in the camera.

The pin can be removed or glued in.
But I've not seen many lenses worth the risk and trouble (though they can be cheap).
There is one though....
55/1.2
Oddly I found one in Taiwan (ShiLin) in a flim development shop mounted on an old Ricoh SLR.
Too bad, price was not that good, and it had some funny 'ding' on the mount.

 

[Nikkornos]

Yes, the old Ricoh program lenses are not compatible with Pentax Auto-Focus bodies. These lenses have a “P” on the aperture ring.

The Ricoh P lens has a ball bearing contact on the rear flange. This will get catch the hole that holds the AF cam on Pentax AF bodies. The lens would get stucked tight on the body. Many have fallen into this trap before.

The Ricoh program lenses will be OK on manual focus Pentax bodies – no AF cam or hole to get stuck on. It is simple to modify this by removing the ball bearing.

Just mounted the Ricoh 50mm F2 and the Ricoh 28mm F2.8 on the k-x. Man, the Japanese do not make lens like these anymore. The results are simple very nice. Really hidden gems of Pentax family lines. I wonder did Pentax supplied optics to Ricoh.

 

[pinholecam]

Yes, the old Ricoh program lenses are not compatible with Pentax Auto-Focus bodies. These lenses have a “P” on the aperture ring.

The Ricoh P lens has a ball bearing contact on the rear flange. This will get catch the hole that holds the AF cam on Pentax AF bodies. The lens would get stucked tight on the body. Many have fallen into this trap before.

The Ricoh program lenses will be OK on manual focus Pentax bodies – no AF cam or hole to get stuck on. It is simple to modify this by removing the ball bearing.

Just mounted the Ricoh 50mm F2 and the Ricoh 28mm F2.8 on the k-x. Man, the Japanese do not make lens like these anymore. The results are simple very nice. Really hidden gems of Pentax family lines. I wonder did Pentax supplied optics to Ricoh.

I would think some were done by Cosina.
Looks like their finger print on the build standard and some lenses look similar except for the front rim which will say Vivitar/Cosina/Rikenon/etc.
Pentax ones are still better in build quality (more solid feel).

 

[creampuff]

Ricoh have a legacy of making middle of the road cameras and lenses that won't break the bank. Most Rikenons are average lenses and mostly made by Cosina if I am not mistaken.
I find the lenses lack the punchy color rendition of Pentax lenses. Contrast is average only.
Have a Rikenon 135mm f/2.8 in K mount in mint condition, not a single speck of dust even. Anyone interested can make me an offer.

 

[Nikkornos]

Agreed. The lenses are not as punchy, and the contrasted is slightly muted.
In rendering some scenes, I actually prefer such a lens. Had been to some old China towns, and the atmosphere looks good on such old lenses.

Saw you pictured posted on the web using the 135mm Nice.

I like that lens. Please check PM. Cheers!