Pentacon Auto 50mm F1.8 - Lens Review

In this video, I review the Pentacon Auto 50mm F1.8, a vintage lens that caught my eye thanks to some stunning photos in a vintage lenses group. This lens is dynamite in a small metal body, with a solid build and a unique bubble bokeh effect that’s hard to ignore.

Highlights:

- Build Quality: Solid metal construction, though my copy has a stiff focusing ring.
- Close Focus: Incredible close-focusing ability, making it a potential macro monster.
- Bubble Bokeh: If you're after bubble bokeh, this lens has it in spades, especially with specular highlights.
- Full Frame vs. Crop Sensor: Tested on both Canon 6D (full-frame) and 7D (crop sensor) – full-frame produces slightly more bokeh, but both perform well.

It's a fantastic choice for anyone who loves unique bokeh, though the bubble effect can sometimes be overkill.

Check out the video to see the lens in action, along with a special appearance by my new stand-in model, Brian

Timestamps:
0:00 - Introduction to the Pentacon Auto 50mm F18
0:25 - Short Description: Dynamite in a Small Metal Lens
0:32 - Issues with the Focusing Ring (again)
0:45 - Versions and Iterations of the 50mm Pentacon
1:05 - Lens Performance: Close Focus and Macro Capabilities
1:23 - The Lens as a "Bubble Monster"
1:40 - Introducing Brian: The New Model for Photos
1:54 - Bokeh Effects and Backgrounds
2:26 - Portraits with the Pentacon 50mm
2:50 - Comparing Full-Frame and Cropped Sensor with the lens
04:03 — Crop sensor doesn't affect bubble bokeh
04:28 - A Solid Lens
04:51 - Specular highlights make this lens a bubble bokeh monster
05:06 - Full frame and crop sensor lenses provide beautiful photos
05:27 - Lens works for portraits
06:06 - Full-frame sensors have greater bubble bokeh
06:28 - Bubble bokehs can distract in cluttered backdrops
06:44 - Small Pentacon 50mm f1.8 a bubble dynamite lens