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Kalimar 50mm f1.7

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Lens mount:

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Close Focus:

Macro Ratio

Year Introduced:

Tested with...

52mm

Minolta SR

f1.7-f16

.6 meters

n/a

n/a

Eos M3 - APS-C

Kalimar-50mm.jpg

     Kalimar was a distributor for re-branded cameras, lenses, etc.   Their products were made by Cosina, Seagull, Zenit and a few others.  Their products varied in quality.    This lens was probably made by Cosina for Kalimar and paired with their re-branded version of the Minolta X300s.  

     Most 50mm lenses are designed like the Contax Planar.  It is a standard design.  Because of this most 50mm lenses are excellent, including those made by third party manufacturers.   Only a few stand out as being 'bad'.   Yungnuo has managed to make a bad 50mm.   

    Thankfully Kalimar probably chose Cosina to make their 50mm lens.   It looks and feels like a Cosina build.     Build quality is typical of an 80's era half plastic lens.     

    Optically it is soft at f1.7.  No surprises there.   It sharpens up nicely by f4.    It is similar to the Series E Nikkor 50mm f1.8, both in feel and IQ.   

     

kalimar50 200000104.JPG

ISO 200 - f2.8 - 100% crop

kalimar50 100000105.JPG

ISO 400 - f4

kalimar50 200000105.JPG

ISO 400 - f4

kalimar50 100000106.JPG

ISO 400 - f8 - tight crop

kalimar50 100000107.JPG

ISO 100 - f2.8

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