A 50mm 1.4

Entropy · 07-31-2007, 10:15 PM

What does the A 50mm 1.4 typically run in terms of price?

I sort of recall good quality samples going for $200-300 on keh.com, although I could be wrong about that. KEH is down (again... it's almost never up!!!) so I can't check prices.

I have an opportunity to buy one mounted to an old film body for $125. Go for it, or too expensive for that model?

Edit: I see the FA 50mm 1.4 is going for $200 new, so I'm beginning to think no, unless the A has much better IQ?

little laker · 07-31-2007, 10:28 PM

$200.00 new sounds like a good price, KEH has an old used manual focus 50mm f1.4 SMC-A listed in they're flier at $199

If you don't mind me asking, what store is that lens at Entropy?

Entropy · 08-01-2007, 02:35 PM

It's at my local camera shop, they only do brick-and-mortar business. I was buying a lens case and noticed the old Pentax camera, looked more closely and saw the 50mm A lens.

jslifoaw · 08-01-2007, 03:01 PM

$125 for an A-series F/1.4 is quite a good price. They're normally in the neighbourhood of $200 give or take $50 on ebay.

I've used the K, M, and FA versions and they're all excellent if you like the 50mm view.

FotoPete · 08-02-2007, 06:02 PM

Yup I have tried the M50/1.4 and have the A50/1.4. While I like the M50 more, the A50 ain't too bad. The focus ring is still pretty smooth (albeit plastic) and the "A" aperture is certainly helpful when you need some of the program modes on dSLR or when stopdown metering becomes a bit too troublesome.

JorgeDeSilva · 08-02-2007, 07:30 PM

I bought my Pentax FA-50 f/1.4 at 222 Euros = 303.3408 U.S. dollars.... NEW!

Exellent lens!

jslifoaw · 08-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by FotoPete

Yup I have tried the M50/1.4 and have the A50/1.4. While I like the M50 more, the A50 ain't too bad. The focus ring is still pretty smooth (albeit plastic) and the "A" aperture is certainly helpful when you need some of the program modes on dSLR or when stopdown metering becomes a bit too troublesome.

In my opinion, the M lenses are the sweet spot of manual focus lenses. Some of the K lenses are quite tight, and the A lenses aren't as nice-feeling. My 2 M lenses (50/1.4 and 28/3.5) are just about perfectly damped. Too bad they function with more limitations than I'd like!

FotoPete · 08-02-2007, 08:34 PM

oh man yes I can't agree more! that M 28/3.5 is very very smooth. I have the ricoh version. Feels better then even some of the limited lenses.

Entropy · 08-02-2007, 10:06 PM

I have an M 50 f/2, and it's a nice lens, it's just WAY too much of a pain to use with the K10D's crippled KAF mount.

The issue is moot anyway - lens/camera was sold before I got back to the store.

Does anyone know why keh.com is almost always down? I've been able to reach it once in the past 2-3 weeks.

vinzer · 08-03-2007, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Entropy

I have an M 50 f/2, and it's a nice lens, it's just WAY too much of a pain to use with the K10D's crippled KAF mount.

The issue is moot anyway - lens/camera was sold before I got back to the store.

Does anyone know why keh.com is almost always down? I've been able to reach it once in the past 2-3 weeks.

I think KEH access is dependent on where you try to access it. Not so much as to physical location, but network stuff. I can access KEH anytime I want to at home, but I cannot access KEH totally at work (no, the site is not blocked).

Anyway, going back to the topic, my M 50/1.4 is my most used lens. Great build, great IQ, smooth focus, the works. I love this lens, and I don't think it would be replaced by another 50, not even an FA 50.

To tie the two paragraphs together, I bought the M 50 at KEH.

matiki · 08-03-2007, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Entropy

I have an M 50 f/2, and it's a nice lens, it's just WAY too much of a pain to use with the K10D's crippled KAF mount.

The issue is moot anyway - lens/camera was sold before I got back to the store.

Does anyone know why keh.com is almost always down? I've been able to reach it once in the past 2-3 weeks.

My work routes through Southern CA and KEH is quite fast at work, but at home (Seattle, WA), KEH is slower and I get occasional 404 messages.

Entropy · 08-03-2007, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by vinzer

I think KEH access is dependent on where you try to access it. Not so much as to physical location, but network stuff. I can access KEH anytime I want to at home, but I cannot access KEH totally at work (no, the site is not blocked).

Anyway, going back to the topic, my M 50/1.4 is my most used lens. Great build, great IQ, smooth focus, the works. I love this lens, and I don't think it would be replaced by another 50, not even an FA 50.

To tie the two paragraphs together, I bought the M 50 at KEH.

Unfortunately just the opposite here - I think the last time I was able to hit KEH was when I tried briefly from work, and I don't like shopping on company time.

hmm... I can VPN from home, that might work.

Edit: I'm quite familiar with the disparity between geography and network topology. In fact if it does turn out that I can access KEH reliably from work, it's probably one of the best examples, as I basically live across the street from where I work.