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Optical
Seven elements in five groups
Updated
Jul 4, 2026
Cosina (Cosinon) Cosina 55mm f1.4
M42 Screwmount · 55mm · f/1.4
AI-assisted · from real reviewsUpdated 4 Jul 2026
Overview
The Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4 is an M42 screwmount standard-fast prime built on a Tomioka design, part of the broad family of 55mm f/1.4 lenses that Tomioka manufactured and licensed to numerous brands during the M42 era. Reviewers note it belongs to a lineage of very similar seven-elements-in-five-groups fast fifties, so its rendering closely resembles sibling lenses branded Cosinon, Chinon, and others. One notable detail from the community is that this particular Cosina does NOT use radioactive (thorium) glass, and it is said the curvature of its front element may be more pronounced than on some Tomioka-made copies. Cosina also produced re-branded variants such as the Fujinon 55mm f/2.2, and the community observes that labeling on Cosina lenses versus their re-branded counterparts sometimes varies slightly on the stated specs. There are no established nicknames for this lens in the reviews provided. Its cult following stems from its excellent build quality (compared favorably to Takumars), pleasing color rendition, and smooth, dreamy bokeh at a modest used price.
Verdict: The Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4 is a Tomioka-design M42 fast fifty that punches above its modest price, offering Takumar-grade build, lovely color, and smooth dreamy bokeh with well-controlled bokeh edges. Its main compromise is the dated single coating, which flares readily into strong light. It's an excellent choice for vintage-lens shooters who want a versatile, characterful standard prime that can be sharp when needed and softly cinematic when opened up.
Optical Character
Bokeh
Smooth, dreamy bokeh with non-pronounced out-of-focus edges due to low spherical aberration; becomes rounder at greater subject distances.
Color
Praised for superior color rendition, though one copy tended to oversaturate blues.
Sharpness wide open
Rated highly and sharp when desired; one user felt it was a bit sharper than their Tomioka Chinon.
Flare resistance
Older single coating flares readily, producing strong reflections and aperture-shape artifacts in direct light.
Community Insights
What people love
- Superior build quality, described as built as well as any Takumar
- Smooth, dreamy bokeh that is easy to like and renders similarly to its Cosinon siblings
- Excellent color rendition
- Strong value at around $65 used
- Good sharpness that can rival or exceed related Tomioka-based lenses
What people dislike
- Lack of modern coatings, leading to strong flare and aperture-shape reflections when shooting into direct light
- Aperture ring on at least one copy tended to turn too easily if not watched, despite still being 'clicky'
- Tendency to oversaturate blues on at least one copy
Pro Tips
- Learn your copy's color bias (e.g., blue oversaturation) and correct it in post
- Avoid direct light blasts unless you want the reflection and aperture-shape flare as a creative effect
- Shoot wide open for dreamy, smooth bokeh; stop down for crisp sharpness
- Increase distance from the subject at wider apertures for rounder, smoother background rendering
- Watch the aperture ring so it doesn't drift, as it can turn easily
Compatible Adapters
Real adapters from our shop that fit this lens mount.
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿325 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿540 · In stock
Standard · ฿1,250 · In stock
Standard · ฿890 · Out of stock
Standard · ฿890 · Out of stock
Sources (1)
Web-grounded synthesissecondary
The Cosina Cosinon 55mm f1.4 is an M42 screwmount standard-fast prime built on a Tomioka design, part of the broad family of 55mm f/1.4 lenses that Tomioka manufactured and licensed to numerous brands during the M42 era. Reviewers note it belongs to a lineage of very similar seven-elements-in-five-groups fast fifties, so its rendering closely resembles sibling lenses branded Cosinon, Chinon, and others. One notable detail from the community is that this particular Cosina does NOT use radioactive (thorium) glass, and it is said the curvature of its front element may be more pronounced than on some Tomioka-made copies. Cosina also produced re-branded variants such as the Fujinon 55mm f/2.2, and the community observes that labeling on Cosina lenses versus their re-branded counterparts sometimes varies slightly on the stated specs. There are no established nicknames for this lens in the reviews provided. Its cult following stems from its excellent build quality (compared favorably to Takumars), pleasing color rendition, and smooth, dreamy bokeh at a modest used price.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/cosina-cosinon-55mm-f14-m42.htmlhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/Auto+Cosinon+55mm+f1.4/https://www.reddit.com/r/VintageLenses/comments/10bzedw/cosinon_55_f21_here_we_go/https://toby-marshall.com/galleries/bokeh-tales/cosina-55mm-f1-2/https://rangefinderforum.com/threads/cosinon-55mm-f1-4-on-the-nikon-z5.4815852/