Tomioka 55mm f1.4

Inspector’s condition notes

Excellent condition. This one was made at the Tomioka factory, which is one of the best factories in Japan. The optical is pristine with no scratches. Focus and aperture are smooth like a new lens. Internal parts are tight, no internal lens rattle. The exterior shows use with the typical easily visible scratches and paint loss commonly found on the lens body.

How this lens renders

Compared to the same-spec 55mm, this Tomioka f/1.4 is the legendary "ghost lens" of the M42 line that has been rebadged as Rikenon, Chinon, and Yashinon. Its appeal lies in the gentle character and the optical heritage that collectors seek. On sharpness: wide open at f/1.4 it renders with a soft, dreamy quality, except at close range where it still holds detail well. Stop down to around f/4 and the sharpness arrives in full, remaining sharp all the way to f/8. The bokeh is the real star—it dissolves the background into a smooth, dreamlike wash, even though the blur circle size is fairly modest. The contrast at wide-open apertures is on the lower side, a result of the single-layer coating design, giving a soft, film-like tonality. RAW files come out a bit flat, but they pull beautifully in post and offer a lot of latitude. The lens also produces noticeable vignetting wide open, which works nicely as a stylistic element for controlling the mood of the image, and it fades as you stop down. This is a vintage lens suited to those who love a vintage feel in their photos, and well worth adding to a collection.

In the box

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Honest disclosure