[mgvh]

Ah... 50mm lenses... So many to choose, most of them reasonably priced, each with its own strengths and character (or not).

I somehow have accumulated a few.

• M50 f1.7: exquisitely engineered
• A50 f1.7: I seem to do better w/ this than the M50 f1.7
• K50 f4 Macro: My sharpest 50mm
• DA 50 f1.8: Most fun when I just want to shoot

Each one has its place, so why would I sell any of them? If I had to pick one, I'd probably stick with the DA, but I would really miss the K50 macro.



I also have an 45mm Auto Chinon f2.8 pancake and a Super-Takumar 55mm F1.8 that offer their own unique pleasures.



I'm not totally addicted. I've sold an A50 f2, Rikenon XR f1.8, and a Sears f2.


So, how many 50mm lenses do you have?
Favorite?
More telling, which ones have you let go?

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Last edited by mgvh; 11-23-2014 at 08:10 PM.

[Rimfiredude]

FA50 1.4
50 f1.7M
50 f2A
50 f2 Ricoh
Thinking about a Takumar 55 f1.8 Of all 4, I like the Ricoh the best maybe because of the ease to focus and it is the sharpest.

[Na Horuk]

I've seen some really stunning with 50mm f4 macros posted on these forums. I wonder how it compares to the modern DFA 50mm f2.8 macro??

On topic: I have only a few 50mm lenses. The M 50mm f1.7 seems to be quite enough. I also have:
Industar 50-2, which is a tessar ripoff and has quite nice rendering, but edges are not very good. It also has an odd preset aperture system and its base is not wide enough to cover the Pentax K-mount, so buying a flanged adapter might be the better option. I like this lens. Maybe I shouldn't, but I do. I think it was a great buy for the $25.
Miranda 50mm f1.9. Somehow this lens renders things very.. delicately. Not super sharp, completely plastic, but its rendering is very different from the "good" lenses and the typical Soviet bokeh lenses. I keep it because I wouldn't get much selling it.
And then there is the Helios 44-2. Not really 50mm, but there are rumours the Pentax 50mm are actually 53mm, so its all the same ballpark. I don't have to say much about the Helios 44-2, its a well known lens on these forums, but I don't use it very much. Very sharp in centre when stopped down, though! Wide open, in my opinion, its nearly useless, not sharp enough.

Edit: I hope some of the Nifty Fifty collectors post in this thread! There are at least a couple on this forum that I know of

[juanma_1]

Only one: Pentax-FA 50mm 2.8 Macro

[Boris_Akunin]

50:
Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 50/1.4
Pentax-M 50/1.7
Revuenon MC 50/1.7 (Pentax K)

50-ish:
Minolta Rokkor-PG 58/1.2
Helios 44-2 58/2.0

I'll keep the Rokkors, the others are just waiting to be sold. I might replace the 50/1.4 with an MD 50/1.2 if I find one at a good price but I think I'm set.

[hcc]

Pentax FA50mm f1.7
Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4

The FA50mm f1.7 is sharp and AF. But the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 is my special lens.

Why? The VL58mm is fast and MF (it works very nicely at night). The lens is a tank, very solid (metallic body) and its IQ is outstanding. I share some experience with the VL58mm f1.4 in a couple of threads:
FA31mm f1.8 vs VL Nokton 58mm f1.4
Tidal bore
In the second thread, I was shooting with my older K-7 at sunset. The light conditions were borderline, with other shooters stopping rapidly incl. a Nikon full frame. I was very glad to have the VL58mm enabling me to shoot much later than anyone else with great shots.

my 5 cents....

[Kerrowdown]

Just the one, she's all the "Special Lady" I need (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2).

Edit: I don't count the "Femme Fatale" (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2.8 Macro) as a real fifty even though she is, because she real up close and personal "Lady".

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Last edited by Kerrowdown; 11-22-2014 at 03:31 PM.

[Lowell Goudge]

Super tak 50/1.4- 8 element
K50/1.4
A 50/2
XR rikenon 50/2
M50/1.4
Cctv 50/1.4 c mount for Q

Like the supertak the best

[Boris_Akunin]

Just the one, she's all the "Special Lady" I need (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2).

You're my Hero!

[Kerrowdown]

You're my Hero!

Your such a smooth talker.

[Boris_Akunin]

Your such a smooth talker.

Don't worry, I don't have any designs on your Special Lady. I Promise!

(BTW: 2⁹ posts, yay!)

[tvdtvdtvd]

Adding them all up, I'm a little embarrassed to say "Quite a few". Most of them have only come into my hands over
the past year. I had only a single SMC M 50/1.7 that served me well the past twenty years. But the focusing ring
on that lens has begun to slip, which prompted a replacement, which ignited a LBA bargain bender. I've been picking
up lots and cameras with lens attached, (for the lens), ever since. So....

SMC M 50/1.7 My old workhorse that is now in need of a servicing to tighten up the focusing ring.
SMC A 50/1.7 The lens I purchased as a replacement for the above lens and has become my current 50.
SMC M 50/1.7 Acquired as part of a lot. I forget what I was after in that lot, (K2, perhaps), and the 50 was a bonus.
Super Tak 50/1.4 Because I wanted a 50/1.4.
SMC M 50/1.4 Because I wanted a K-mount 50/1.4.
Industar 50/3.5 Because I wanted an old Russian lens to fiddle with on the Q.
SMC M 50/2 Because my partner knows I'm on a LBA Bender and she found it at a garage sale for $5.

I will eventually sell two of the 1.7s and the 50/2 is a very dirty beater which will serve as a guinea pig for my
first attempt at a lens CLA. The rest all have their worthiness to each get a day in the sun from time to time.

[6BQ5]

Asking people how many 50mm lenses they own is like asking how many pairs of socks are in the closet! Let's see...

A 50mm f/1.4 - Why? Passed down from my father. It's a very sharp and colorful lens.
FA 50mm f/1.4 - Why? Because of the color rendering, contrast, and sharpness
FA 50mm f/1.7 - Why? It's a different design from the f/1.4 and I appreciate its sharpness wide open
D FA 50mm f/2.8 - Why? It's my sharpest lens. Period. I use it for negative film scanning.
Industar 61 L/Z 50mm f/2.8 - Why? A gift from my cousin in Russia. Sentimental value. It's also sharp too for a 4 element design!

Like Boris_Akunin, I have some 50-ish mm lenses too.

Helios 44-2 - Why? The bokeh is incredible!
Yashica Yashinon DS-M 50mm f/1.7 - Why? A gift from my wife to match my Yashica TL Electro X. Crisp and sharp!
A couple Super Takumar and SMC Takumars on my Spotmatics - Why? Sharp and they match the body.

[flaviopetrone]

I just got the Pentax-A 50mm 1.7 , My first prime lens, I really love it.
Then, in few days I will receive the 35mm 2.4 but I have read a lot about it so I already know that it won't disappoint me!

[Wingincamera]

I only have one, the FA 50mm F2.8 macro.
Close to it I have a Asahi SMC Takumar 1.8 55mm. Because of the M-42 mount I have only used this lens once.