A Forgotten Japanese Optical Gem?
An unusual seven-element standard lens from the early days of Japanese SLR photography.
Petri isn’t necessarily the first name that comes to mind when discussing legendary Japanese photographic optics. But the Kuribayashi C.C. Petri Orikkor 50mm f/2 suggests that the company’s early SLR lenses deserve a closer look.
Introduced in October 1959 for the Petri Penta, the Orikkor is a compact, manually operated 50mm standard lens with an M42 screw mount and preset diaphragm. What distinguishes it from many of its contemporaries is its relatively sophisticated optical construction.
Rather than the conventional six-element Double-Gauss formula found in numerous standard lenses of the period, the Orikkor uses seven elements in four groups, including a cemented triplet in the rear section. Period Japanese technical literature suggests this arrangement was developed to accommodate the back-focus requirements of a 35mm SLR.
Its glass surfaces feature Kuribayashi’s proprietary C.C. Combination Coating, a single-layer coating system dating from an era before modern multicoating became commonplace.
A reputation for character
Among vintage-lens enthusiasts, the Orikkor has developed a modest but enthusiastic following. Owners frequently praise its sharpness, attractive color reproduction, and particularly its background rendering.
Descriptions of its bokeh range from smooth and gentle to bright and sparkling, depending on the subject and lighting conditions. Some photographers have even compared its rendering with considerably more celebrated vintage lenses.
As with many early coated optics, flare resistance appears to be one area in which modern lenses have an advantage. But for photographers interested in optical character rather than purely clinical correction, that behavior can be part of the attraction.
The LensBusters test
For this gallery, we’re taking a closer look at an example of my Kuribayashi Petri Orikkor 50mm f/2, (sn 78974).
The objective is to examine its sharpness, contrast, bokeh, color rendition, and response to difficult lighting conditions, while considering how this late-1950s optical design holds up on a modern digital camera.
Is this overlooked little Japanese standard lens deserving of its growing reputation? The sample photographs will help tell the story. See the samples and my video about this lens on Youtube
Lens details: Kuribayashi C.C. Petri Orikkor 50mm f/2 · M42 screw mount · Seven elements in four groups · Introduced 1959 · Serial no. 78974.