Fast fifty

proudtoshootpentax · 05-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Just thought this might be a fun question... I was talking with a friend last night and started wondering what percentage of Pentax owners had the 50mm f1.4. It has always seemed to me to be one of those lenses that just about everyone and their dog has just because of the price and the speed. Hope this hasn't been done before!

roy · 05-07-2008, 05:26 PM

i think you need to include image quality in that statement also. fa501.4 is hard to beat from any company..

little laker · 05-07-2008, 06:04 PM

I just had an OLD screwmount 50mm f1.4 given to me today, however I need to take it apart and clean it up.
There's literally sand and a dead insect inside

In guess that the price was right

ricosuave · 05-07-2008, 06:09 PM

i have one available.

*k100d* · 05-07-2008, 06:15 PM

reminds me of this Mike Johnston column
My Favorite Lens

VAV · 05-07-2008, 06:32 PM

Got one because of the price and speed but I hardly use it. My first choice has always been the FA 35 f/2

bigben91682 · 05-07-2008, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by VAV

Got one because of the price and speed but I hardly use it. My first choice has always been the FA 35 f/2

The 35 is another great lens. I have both and use them both extensively. Awesome little lenses......

*Votesh* · 05-07-2008, 07:28 PM

I got mine last week and took it out to shoot more than just a few pictures for the first time today. I love it. The focal length was a bit long for what I was shooting(an abandoned factory) with the 1.5x crop factor of my K10D, but otherwise it's great.

*hwblanks* · 05-07-2008, 07:31 PM

I don't own one...yet.

Some of you may think I'm absolutely nuts, but I want to sell my FA43 to get the new DA35 macro. Obviously, the 35 is slower than the 43, so a FA50/1.4 would be just right for a low-light option without breaking the bank.

Heather

Stratman · 05-07-2008, 07:37 PM

I have the SMC-M 50 MM F1.4, but would love to get the "A" version for my K10D, it doesn't play well with the manual lenses, lol

*Curbster54* · 05-07-2008, 08:14 PM

I have a Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50 1.4 and love it. Images are great and the feel of the focusing ring is sublime. The old M42 lenses with the K10D are a wonderful combination.

rormeister · 05-07-2008, 08:18 PM

I have a Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50 1.4 as well, but it's currently sitting in a foil wrap and on the window sill taking care of a little jaundice. Sheesh, it takes forever to get rid of the yellow in Seattle. One sunny day per month just doesn't do the trick

My copy is from my original Spotmatic II kit from the 70's.

K100Dave · 05-07-2008, 08:33 PM

FA 50mm 1.4 - Biggest bang for the buck in pentax's line-up. Period!

*ramshot* · 05-08-2008, 07:42 PM

The 50mm f1.7 is also an excellent fast fifty. I have both the M and FA series of this lens.

creampuff · 05-08-2008, 07:57 PM

I bought the FA50 f/1.4 then thought I didn't need it and later sold it to a friend.
Then I felt I needed it again and bought my second FA50.

When I bought my first one, it was one of three available in the shop. On my second purchase, I had a choice of six to choose from. All I can say is on both times I noticed there were small but very subtle variations in my test shots when I tested them in the shop. So if you have the chance to test before buying, that would be the best. I have found this lens to be better than the FA43 at maximum aperture.