Dilemma on Lenses (Please Help)-- FA 50mm f1.4 vs DA*'s 50mm focal point

*afroed* · 09-22-2009, 12:23 AM

Today I cross the sand again and bought the DA* 16-50mm. Last time I did that, I ended up returning it without even open the box. Now I'm really contemplating on getting his big brother, the DA* 50-135mm. In order for me to do so I have to put a bunch of other lenses on the market including the FA 50mm f1.4 and that's where the problem comes. The nifty fifty has been my magic bullet. I try moving away from it by using my other lenses but nothing I have in my arsenal can beat it at portrait. I'm getting to a point where I don't want to worry about gears for a while.

What I want to know is can I give up my 50mm ninja for the DA*? Do those two lenses perform at the same level with the 50mm f1.4 at that respective focal point? I don't care too much about losing on the wide aperture and the speed now. In the long future, I plan on getting one of those limited prime. I just hope Pentax would introduce more with wider aperture (f1.2 ideally). Please my Pentax people, HELP!!! Any input you can give me would be great (picture comparison with each lens, etc). I try to search the forum to see if this has been discussed before but I couldn't find any thread. If it has, please lead me to it. Thanks in advance.

cooldude14es · 09-22-2009, 01:01 AM

Hello.

DA* zoom lenses are excellent performers and as good as a zoom lens can be throughout its focal range, BUT... I dont think they are better at 50mm than FA50, firstly because 50mm is their extreme focal point and depending on your copy you may find some weakness (my DA* 50-135mm is not that perfect at 50mm).

Secondly, you should consider weight, 50-135mm is quite heavy. Apart from that, in my opinion, SDM lenses need to be redesigned in order to improve all those SDM failures that many people are experiencing.

When DA*55mm appeared there were some people reviewing it and comparing it with FA50 1.4 and difference was not really obvious, most of them shared the same opinion about both lenses being quite similar on IQ...

I hope that helps.

creampuff · 09-22-2009, 03:13 AM

Buying lenses is not an either this or that kind of choice.
Both the FA 50mm and DA* 50-135mm serve different uses.
The solution is to own both, which I did and which I see no contradiction whatsoever.

*farfisa* · 09-22-2009, 12:29 PM

I agree with needing them both.

Though the 50-135 will be great for your portrait needs, the FA 50 1.4 is a great workhorse lens, faster focusing, sharp at wide apertures and absolutely tiny and non-intimidating in comparison.

I'd see what else you could get rid of first.

*afroed* · 09-22-2009, 01:02 PM

Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I'm going to hold off on buying the DA*50-135mm. I have a wedding to shoot in November so I'll probably wait till the end of October to get it. Meanwhile, I'll see if I can muster some fund for the Sigma 10-20mm or a macro lens. I can't believe I was about to part with the FA 50mm. I have problem