For digital photography with the Fujifilm GFX 50s II camera together with the rotating Vertex adapter, allowing to utilize TRUE mediumformat (7x7 cm); the new Pentax SMC 55mm ƒ4 lens (latest version) definitely works better optically. The task where the first generation Pentax 6x7 Takumar 55mm ƒ3.5 lens, performed poorly - even stopped down it left a lot to be desired in my opinion (when used with a digital sensor).

Perfect, equivalent 26 mm wideangle

Used as a true 7x7 medium format lens (Via the Vertex adapter) - the focal length is perfect. I would guess it is equivalent to a 25-28 mm wideangle lens on fullframe.

Neither too wide, nor too narrow.

When I use the wider Pentax 67 SMC 45mm ƒ4 lens - it find it often a bit too wide (in 7x7 negative format). While the Pentax SMC 75mm ƒ4.5 is a bit too narrow (reminding me more of a wider normal lens).

I tested the Pentax 55mm lens at wide open aperture ƒ4 at my balcony (see above) - and it did very well. Now when stopped down, it performs of course even better. Which I will test further in the upcoming weeks.

Price ?

The lens from Japan looked pristine; really clear, clean, and with no blemishes on the metal body. For a lens hood, I discovered that the hood for Mamiya Sekor Z 50mm and Z 65mm (77mm Ø) fit perfectly: You simply pull it over in front. (no screwing in)

Price-wise, it was slightly on the sensitive side.

Originally it was $400 but the seller gave me a rebate, ending up at $360 (which i think is a good price). Then of course all the other stuff got added; Shipping, 25% SWE tax, Postal administration fee, Import fee.

Ending up at 5100 SEK / 460 €

Expensive is... relative

I mean look at what today's digital lenses cost for medium format cameras; playing in very different league (even quality wise, as they are optimized to the camera and the sensor glass stack).

Most of Fujifilm's GF lenses cost around 2000 - 2700 €, a few less, others more. When you then look at professional lenses from Canon - well those prices are at least as expensive. Or let's speak about Swedish Hasselblad... or God forbid; Leica.

So, there is that.

Everything is relative.

Fujifilm GFX sensor stack (glass cover)

Fujifilm GFX cameras contain 3 glass layers above the image sensor: in total with a thick of 3.4 mm (!) - which is among the thickest in the industry (together with Olympus MicroFourThirds cameras, but also Sony uses very thick glass layers).

Now you understand why most vintage lenses perform very poorly in the image corners - especially wideangle lenses are hopeless bad.

That is due to the thickness of the sensor cover glass, which distorts the optical quality of vintage lenses. Same like with Sony cameras; put a Leica wideangle on it - and the results look terrible in the corners; with blur, smearing and funky performance.

Usually telephoto lenses perform better, due to a more straight light path, going though the sensor cover glass. Kind of a pity, that we have to deal with such thick sensor glass. The thicker the worse the performance of other lenses on a camera (except the native lenses, which were calculated for the thick sensor glass in mind).

Even the stars are visible.

When going closer into the Diary photo; you can see Deneb in Swan (left) and Vega in Lyra (middle) gracing the NNE horizon over Stockholm tonight. Those are the main stars that later dominate the summer sky.