I ordered the Pentax 67 SMC 55mm ƒ4 wide angle lens - which i got to a nice price (second hand) due to that the seller unexpectedly had a rebate on it and free shipping - in total 3600 SEK or 320 €. I do have to add 25% Swedish tax, Swedish postal administration fee - how silly isn't that - as well a minor import tax.

So, my final price should be somewhere around 4700 SEK / 415 €, I believe.

Why this particular lens is important to me

I only aim at this lens, because I'll be using it digitally with the Vertex 7x7 cm sensor method. It strikes a perfect balance between too wide / too narrow in perspective, when using the square format.

The first generation, big glass Takumar 55/3.5 simply doesn't hold up digitally. It can be done - and yes, I did it with post processing. Because when you get a final result of almost 150 MP images - you'll make the image smaller and sharpen them slightly (with Topaz), correct for chromatic aberration etc - and the results will look a lot more pleasant. Sure. But it is (digitally) really my weakest Pentax 67 lens, with broad borders showing rather mushy details... even stopped down... to ƒ11

On film, the old Takumar is absolutely fantastic - and i prefer it at all times if i use a wide angle lens. Giving that moderate, beautifully soft, cinematic bokeh. But this doesn't apply in the same way for digital images taken with the rotating Vertex 7x7 cm method.

Too narrow

The Pentax 67 SMC 75mm ƒ4.5 often feels too narrow to me. Especially when you present a photo in a quadratic format which in itself has a tendency to look "less wide".

Too wide

On the other hand - the Pentax 67 SMC 45mm ƒ4 - is a bit too wide for my taste (more often than not, I mean). Again, I only speak of the 7x7 cm Vertex method, because it utilizes the entire image circle of the lenses. So, a Pentax 67 wideangle lens of 45mm ƒ4, really stays wide.

I think 45mm is equivalent to a 22 mm wideangle lens (on a fullframe camera). That's pretty wide. Especially on a quadratic format, it takes more effort to fill it with excitement and meaning. I tend to end up with boring images instead. (my fault !)

(I know, it is a matter of composition. Which in fact can be quite tricky to judge with the Vertex method; because you never see the entire image frame... Not until you've stitched the 4 image parts together, at home on the computer...)

see illustration below

Seem to have risen in price lately...

Many other (honestly) mint Pentax 67 SMC 55mm ƒ4 lenses (the latest or third generation), appear to be higher priced nowadays with around 4400 kr (or more) + 450 kr shipping, plus the Swedish 25% tax on top - making the sum end at a more sensitive level of 6300 kr / 558 €.

Perhaps the price increases have started lately, because the info that it is a very sharp lens has spread more - which makes people choose it over the other two, older versions. No, I don't know why it has risen in price. Perhaps they get fewer ?

But nobody uses those lenses FULLY (in their original 6x7 format) with digital cameras (unless you do the 7x7 cm Vertex method, of course). For film, the differences in optical sharpness between the three generations of 55mm lenses - are negligent !

Film responds far less sensitive to optical differences

- compared to how sensitive digital sensors respond.

So, if you use only film rolls - then you really don't need to put a lot of extra money into the latest Pentax 67 lenses. Because you will hardly see any difference. Except when choosing long telephoto lenses, perhaps.

Example: Pentax 67 SMC 105mm ƒ 2.4

Three version where made. But the optical formula was never changed. The oldest with yellowing glass, is the cheapest, while the newest version will go for at least 1000 € .

When I looked for the Pentax 67 SMC 105mm ƒ2.4 lens - i chose the oldest (or next oldest) model when i bought it year 2016; and paid something around 4000 SEK / 350 €.

Still being affordable.

Now the newest version, costs a whopping 1000 €. Yet - you will not see any difference when using film !! The optical formula never changed between the three 105mm ƒ 2.4 versions.

So, there is that.

You can save your bucks, and straighten your mind.

It is also about knowledge.

When to choose a later version ?

A tip is to do your research. Pentax forum is a unique, well kept library around everything Pentax had to offer. Here for example, are listings on all the Pentax lenses ever made.

There you can read about all the lenses, which versions exist and other stats. From M42 screw mount lenses, to modern primes, to larger medium format lenses like Pentax 645 and Pentax 6x7. Often attached are various user opinions with images and reviews. It is a delight to read the enthusiasm there, and checking out details when things get of deeper interest. For example prior the potential purchase of a second hand lens.

So; SOME Pentax 67 lenses got a new optical (better) formula . While others remained unchanged in their optics. It is good to know, which one is which.

When a new version is optically considerably better than the old - it is a good goal to buy latter of course. Pentax 67 SMC 55/4 is such a classic example, if sharpness is your primary goal. Other lenses like the Pentax 6x7 105mm ƒ2.4 are not really different between each of the three versions.

But the price difference is rather large !

The most extreme of all Pentax 67 lenses

Then there is one example of truly extreme second hand price development: It is the 75mm lens versions. One is of slow aperture ƒ4.5 - and cost around 60-120 €

The other one, is the Pentax 67 SMC 75mm ƒ2.8 AL - for the facile price of 3000 €. Do not ask me why. Bright aperture obsession, perhaps ?! It has soared like crazy. Back in year 2016 - it was around 1200 €. Now it is 3000 € .

It's insane.

A tip is following; why not choose the equally bright Pentax 67 SMC 90 mm ƒ2.8 instead - for the price of around 300-400 € instead of 3000€ ? You then save 85-90% for an equally bright lens - which is only slightly narrower than the 75mm AL lens.

What's the rush ?! Problem solved.