I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Extremely sharp through the entire aperature range, solid build
Cons:
Only manual focus, can be hard to find.
This 50mm might just be one of the better 50mm lenses ever made. Despite it's age, this lens consistently performs with lenses made currently, and outperforms many of them. Even wide open, this lens gets great sharpness on your focal point, and is fantastic for close-up portrait work.
The drawback being that it does not have auto-focus. This can become frustrating if trying to use it in instances where you need quick focus, or situations that require more speed. However, this is more of a situational con, and certainly not something that should cause hesitation on its purchase. It's best to know what to use a lens for, and when to use it, rather than try to force a lens into a use it isn't built for.
If you're an old-school shooter, love to have manual control, or just simply like the look that old lenses give your camera, the A-50mm f/1.7 is a must-have.
Of course, finding one is another challenge, and the cost seems to be rising on the ones that do come up. My opinion, however, is that it is worth every penny.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Great MF feel, solid build, bright enough
Cons:
This is a great little manual lens.. Very compact and very sturdy metal build, the manual focus has a great feel to it..
You can pick this lens up fairly cheap as obviously a lot of them were made, worthwhile if you an't afford the AF couterparts or like the feel of a manual lens.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $40.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Build quality, smooth focus, small size, sharpness
Cons:
Bokeh not as refined as the faster 50s
I found this lens to be fun to use, with a nice smooth focus throw. Images were sharp enough for me at any aperture.
I sold this lens only because I got the FA50/1.4 which (in addition to auto-focus) has subtly better (smoother) bokeh to my tastes.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $45.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Build, smooth focus, speed, sharpness, small size, beauty, ...
Cons:
No AF (duh!)
My first pentax prime (and second lens) -- bought third or fourth hand (at least) for about 35.
This is a great lens. No doubt one of the great Pentax primes.
Quite fast. Focusing ring feels wonderful. Very sharp. Great colour with a little je-ne-sais-quoi that I never could find in the FA 50/1.4.
Very highly recommended if you can get your hands on one.
I sold mine as redundant when I got the FA 50/1.4 and have been regretting it ever since.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $25.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Fast, Clean Bokeh, Build, Image Quality/Sharpness
Cons:
The build quality of this lens is excellent. Image quality and sharpness is top notch as well, which is expected of most primes. Focusing is smooth and relatively easy to handle; and the fast aperture comes in handy for those low light conditions. Bokeh is beautiful (but that can be subjective) - overall a wonderful lens for a great price (luckily I picked one up before the recent price hike of old Pentax glass after the release of the K10D).
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $70.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Image quality, compact
Cons:
Build quality
I bought this lens after reading about its great optical and build quality. What gives??? While it does indeed produce wonderfully sharp images, its build quality is terrible compared to K and M series lenses. The barrel is cheap plastic, and the aperture ring is jerky and imprecise. In fact, the construction is exactly like the A 50/2 which regularly gets disparaged for its cheap build.
Sorry, I don't mean to speak ill of a lens that takes such great pictures, but in the hand it just can't compare to a Takumar, K or M series lens. I'll keep it for the convenience of the "A" setting, but I think I'll pick up an M 50/1.7 for the better construction.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $40.00
| Rating: 7
Pros:
Compact, smooth focusing, fast
Cons:
A manual focus lens :)
This is a decent 50mm lens. For a MF lens it is fairly average. I got it as a more convenient lens to use over the M50/1.4. Compared to that lens, the A50/1.7 has the following:
1) A narrower, less smooth focusing ring
2) A delicate aperture ring (not really a problem for DSLRs where it stays at A, but but on older film SLRs it feels like it could wear out or fall apart)
3) Performance no better at any equivalent apertures. Slightly better at 1.7 than the M at 1.4, but not by much and at the next available aperture F/2, the M lens is better.
Still, for $40, it was worth it! For a DSLR at least. For old film SLRs, they deserve small M42, K, or M lenses, and maybe FA Limiteds!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharpness
Cons:
Construction, aperature ring not smooth
I can't give this lens a 10 because the construction is slightly lacking. My guess would be that corners were cut a bit because it was probably used as the kit lens for the Super Program. On the other hand, I bought mine in the 1980s with a used Super Program and it has been used constantly since then without failing. The aperature ring lacks smoothness, but that matters very little when used with my K10D since the aperature is left on "A".
The image quality more than makes up for its construction faults and I'd give it a 9.5 if it were possible. To list as a negative that it is manual focus lens seems a little silly--much like criticizing it for not being a zoom :-) If you like the focal length, it makes a great landscape prime. I don't know the current price, but it is most likely a good buy.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $40.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Very sharp, usable at all apertures
Cons:
Build not quite as nice as M series
This is a very nice lens that can be had for very good prices if you look around. Being an A lens, it is much more practical to use on a DSLR than the Ms, as metering functions normally and without limitations.
Wide open it produces slightly soft but very pleasing images and stopped down a little it is very sharp. The bokeh is smooth and never distracting.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $40.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Sharpness, low light performance, size.
Cons:
none
fantastic little lens, always in my camera bag. This is definitly one of my favourites.
When asked for the "cons", I was thinking about saying the build quality wasn't as good as the M series, but I couldn't because I've never had a problem with it.
The lens is solid compact and focuses smooth, nothing wrong with the build quality.
Very sharp, even wide open, and lets a lot of light in.
This one always goes with me when I go out of the house. I can always find a purpose for it. Very versatile.
Only "negative" thing I could say about it is that the FOV is a little narrow on a DSLR, but that's something you can expect. If you want a wider standard lens, get a 35mm...
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $75.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Image quality, ease of use, lightness
Cons:
Nothing serious
I agree with most of the other reviewers that
- This is a decent 50mm lens;
- More convenient but not optically&mechanically better than the M50/1.7,
- The aperture ring is "delicate" but this should not be a problem for DSLRs.
For those who can live without the "A" setting (which is very handy, indeed) I suggest instead a Takumar 50mm f/1.4 in good shape. I have both and I cannot decide on leaving any one of them!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $30.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Fast, sharp, fun
Cons:
none
Picked this up for $30. I don't think it's possible to get better bang for the buck. This lens would be on my camera all the time if I didn't own the FA 50 f/1.4.
Fast, fun and great in low light, or stopped down during the day, crystal clear shots you just can't quite match with a consumer zoom.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Great Build, Sturdy, Beautiful Bokeh, Smooth Focus
Cons:
No Autofocus, more like a short tele than a normal on Digital
This is a beautiful lens! Focus throw is smooth, UV filters can be hard to find, no lens hood, Great performance at f1.7, easily as good as the new f1.4s. No autofocus can be a problem, and the focal length is less than ideal to me. This lens more than any other I own has a unique look to it. Very classic and cool.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Everything
Cons:
Nothing
This is the one lens I own that really performs in an APS-C world. The resolution is fantastic and the build quality leaves me wanting for the "good old days". Take into account, though, that I've never experienced the f1.4 or any of the other highly touted "legends", and I'm young enough that the "good old days" for me are late '70's to late '80s ". I can only attest to the fact that this lens blows my other FA and DA primes away for detail, especially when I do 20x30" or larger.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $75.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Good Wide Open. "A" setting. Light and Small
Cons:
Doesn't feel as nice as the K and M series.
If you go through all the other 50mm reviews, you will see I have tried a LOT of them.
From the M1.4,M1.7,FA1.4,FA1.7,DFA2.8, Super Tak 50's, 55's and other non pentax branded 50's.
In my opinion, the 50mm1.7's are the sharpest (by a good margin) wide open up to around f2.8. After that things even out.
If you want the sharpest lens shooting wide open in low light and you don't like running around with a hood, this lens is for you.
The "A" version of course allows easy use of the flash and on camera control, but otherwise the M version is much better built and very comfortable to use (also much cheaper).
The FA version is my preferred version, but they are hard to find. I have not tested the F version, but I understand it is just as good. (Probably the only one other than the f1.2's that I have yet to test).
This lens gets a 9 because its build quality just isn't as nice as the previous generations. Otherwise it is perfectly usable and optically just as competent.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $60.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Sharp! Sturdy feel, flair control
Cons:
My sample came used from Ebay & was supposed to be in excellent shape. Unfortunately, the aperture ring has something wrong with it and the blades are not very responsive.
I finally managed to wiggle the ring over to A and started shooting. Fantastic results! I haven't had it off the camera except to take a picture of the moon with a tele-zoom. Absolutely a joy!
Sadly, the earlier problems kept cropping up. The aperture ring moved off the Auto setting as I was putting the lens back onto my camera & I had to start the whole process over again. There is definately something wrong with this particular lens, so I'm returning it.
EDIT:
Return didn't happen, so I bought a $15 Auto F2 version and scavenged parts. Life is good again! I removed the build issues as a negative because mine was obviously abused. Been using it for a while & have raised the rating to a 10 because it IS and EXCELLENT lens!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
sharp, fast, small, looks cool
Cons:
manual focus
For $50 on Craigslist, I got this lens, a Cosmicar 70-200 f/4, a Program Plus body, and a random Olympus lens (eBayed for $90). So basically I paid nothing for this =)
It's a great lens. It's sharp even wide open. The body is well-built, all-metal and compact. The focus ring is very smooth.
When I want to take low-light photos without a flash, at restaurants or bars, this lens delivers for me!!
Of course, I wish it had autofocus. Not so much for me, but so I can hand it to a friend and have them use it easily. Okay, and for me too :-) And I wish it were 35-40mm instead of 50mm, given the 1.5X crop of a DSLR. Lastly, I want a pony.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $100.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
very well made, great image quality, fairly compact,
Cons:
This is a fantastic little lens and it has good clarity even open wide at f1.7. Like most other Pentax K/M/A lenses, the build quality is excellent and the focus ring glides around nicely.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $65.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Build, "A" Lens, IQ
Cons:
none yet
I think this is my best manual focus lens, and it's just as good IQ as my DA-40 Limited. If you can get one for under a 100.00 grab it. I know you will love this lens as I do.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharpness, comptactness
Cons:
The plastic f/stop ring. Would have been better with a full metal ring.
Incredibly sharp even wide open, a great bargain especially because you can set the f/stop ring on the A position and then use the Kx0D handle to switch f/stop. I would have preferred a little more metal and less plastic, but, for the money ...
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $65.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Sharp, small, easy to focus, smooth images
Cons:
My first fast lens, used on a K100D it gave me some great results. Optically it is right up there with it's F and FA cousins. Color rendition seems to be the same. The extra small DOF and low light performance of the 1.4 is not *that* much of a difference from the 1.7 from my experience. Definitely worth the price of about $65.
This is one of the smallest non-pancake lenses out there. I'm not too sure about all the complaints regarding build quality on this one, because I find it to be rather good. Yes it has a plastic grip like all other A-lenses, but I cant say I feel the lens itself feel any less solid based on that. All in all a great buy if you don't want to spend all that cash on a new FA50/1.4.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $52.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Smooth focusing, sharp, small
Cons:
Will probably break someday
Picked up the lens on eBay and since the purchase, it has bumped every other lens I have off my K10D for general use. Still a little slow on focusing but am absolutely loving the image quality coming from this little gem.
If you can find one in good condition, buy without hesitation. In fact, I would almost consider picking up a second copy in good condition to make sure I always have one around.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, good contrast
Cons:
Sticky aperture ring
One of my favourite lenses. Gives very good results on film and digital as well. I would say I like it better with digital cameras than the "A 1.4/50mm".
On the negative side I have to mention its aperture ring. I have two of these lenses and both of them suffered from "sticky aperture ring desease." Though it is not a big problem. Recently I disassembled them and helped the problem with cleaning and some special teflon grease at the right place. No such issues since then.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $46.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp wide open, Very compact, inexpensive, long focus throw, A setting
Cons:
Feels cheaper than older MF lenses, afraid to touch aperture ring
Let me begin by saying this is probably my favorite lens to use despite the focal length being a little less than ideal on an APS-C sized sensor. Manual focus with this lens is an absolute joy with that long focus throw. This lens has convinced me to step outside of my relying-on-AF comfort zone. On top of being on of my first MF lenses, it is also my first Prime lens, and boy is it sharp. Comparing it to my brother's FA 50 f1.4, I find my lens to be much sharper and less than a quarter of the price!
I also love how compact this little lens is (well at least compared to a sigma 24-70 f2.8). On my K100D, I am able to fit the entire camera into the pocket of a hoodie. So there you go, a pocketable dSLR!
That being said, perhaps the only complaint I can think of for this lens is that its build quality leaves something to be desired. I recently picked up a Takumar 55 f1.8. The all metal build quality is soo nice. The only problems with that is switching between M42 and Kaf mount, and having to use stop down metering.
All in all I would highly recommend this to everyone looking for a fast 50 as its cost/performance ratio, i think, is the best.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $120.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Compact, sharp, build quality, smooth MF, look of the camera with tis lens mounted
Cons:
Aperture ring, price
Well built lens but more "plastic style" than M's , very pleasant to use with DSLR (smooth focus ring).
The pictures are very sharp even wide open, and bokeh is very nice (see photo).
The only problem is the increasing price (in Europe), some of these lens are sold up to $200 !
Aperture ring becomes sticky with years...For this reason, my copy is always on "A" setting
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Compact, simple design, sharp enough, good rendering, good value
Cons:
Getting old
A few observations on this fast 50.
I really appreciate the compact, almost pancake size of this lens. It has been slipped in my pocket quite often in the last few months. It is smaller and lighter than my other 50/1.7.
At about F8 I can't fault its sharpness on a K20D.
Possibly some edge softness at certain apertures.
Chromatically I haven't found any nasty surprises.
It seems to meter adequately on the K20D.
Works well on extension tubes.
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid hexagonal OOF highlights.
That said, the transition from in focus to out of focus is very smooth.
I might raise my rating to a 9 but I have to test it in a few more situations yet.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $50.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Sharp, Built quality, smooth focussing
Cons:
Focussing is a bit difficult to achieve
Excellent IQ lens with sharp images.
I used this in taking some photos of my kids and got excellent results.
There's only one thing I found difficult with this lens is getting the right focus as the tolerance seems to be very tight, compared to my other 35-70/2.8-3.5 lens.
Built quality is solid and focusing is buttery smooth.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $39.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Sharp, Quality Lens!
Cons:
Sticky aperture ring.
This lens is worth its weight in gold. On my K20D it functions as a 75mm f/1.7 lens. Great for portraits, I repeatedly get sharp images and realistic colors with this lens. Not to mention throwing the background out of focus is a breeze. The speed of this lens is more than adequate for low light photography. However I do dream of the f/1.4 version of this lens :-) In my opinion it is a keeper!!!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Great resolution, small and compact
Cons:
None, if you can use manual focus lenses.
I got this as a portrait lens to take photos of my kids on my K10D once I realised that the kit lens was not quite up to the quality I was after. I have not had an SLR before, but it wasn't too hard to get used to using the focus confirm, and I also bought a cheap Ebay split screen (from jinfinance) to help with the manual focusing. This is brilliant, and adds confidence that you have got the right focus point.
The results from this lens are stunning, and it is also great with extension tubes as a macro. All the photos I have taken with this lens are at
The build quality is gorgeous, and it is a joy to use, I can't think of anything to add. The A series lens exposures are spot on, which is not always true on the one M series lens I have.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $75.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Super sharp, great for indoors
Cons:
MF may be tricky
Not sure that this lens needs another review. Just want to say that if you are about to make a transition to the world of primes that's definitely the lens to start with. "A" setting makes it much easier. The lens is sharp and indoor portraits come out just great. I did not find this lens very helpful outdoors but it's probably because I am not skilled enough.
Here is the link to one of my pictures shot with A-50/1.7: http://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/?n=12438
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $100.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
Optical performance, "A" contacts
Cons:
Disappointing build
First off, I have to admit to paying too much for my copy of this lens. The more appropriate price would be $50 or less. After using it off and on for about two years, here are my impressions:
Excellent optical performance typical of the Pentax fast 50s
Smooth bokeh at wider apertures, though hexagonal highlights can be a bit distracting when stopped down
Build quality is a significant step down from the M and K series lenses
I would like to add a few more words about build quality. Most of the external parts of the A 50/1.7 are hard, black plastic. My copy is in excellent shape cosmetically and my expectation would be that the mechanics would follow suit. Such is not the case. Although the focus is nice and smooth, the aperture ring progresses from stop to stop with a herky-jerky motion. My understanding is that this a generic problem with these lenses due to a fragile plastic detent mechanism that is partially broken in a significant number of samples.
While the issue with the aperture ring makes the lens virtually unusable on my older k-mount film bodies, it does not affect operation when used on a modern dSLR. Normally, I would rank a lens with these build issues as a 6 or a 7, but because of optical performance and proper operation on the "A" setting, I will bump it up to an 8.
The recommendation to buy is "yes" with reservations
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $40.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Light weight, reasonably fast, very affordable, super sharp!
Cons:
loss of sharpness and contrast when shot wide open, hexagonal OOF highlights at f/2.8
This is a lens that could be recommended to anyone who has never shot a prime lens. There has always been a 50mm prime lens in my camera bag since I started taking pictures and this was the second lens I purchased for my current Pentax setup. The build quality was a pleasant surprise for me, especially given the price. Having been exposed to the cheap plastic kit lenses, this lens is a true pleasure to use. The bright view in the viewfinder, the ease of manual focus, and the small but solid construction makes it a great package, especially when you can find them for well under $100 USD.
The optical quality is simply stunning starting around f/2.8. I ran some tests at f/1.7 and f/2 and it might avoid these apertures when in contrasty situations. There's simply too much stray light bouncing around on a sunny day to be useable at these apertures. Stop it down to f/2.8 or smaller, however, and it's a totally different story. The lens gives great contrast and unbelievable sharpness at mid- to smaller-apertures.
I was fortunate to find a clean copy of this lens at a local camera shop and I'm sure glad I picked it up. I would highly recommend it for portraits and as a general walkaround lens. I'll be testing it with a UV filter and lens hood to see if I can improve the results at f/2 but it's not a deal breaker to simply use f/2.8, especially considering it is razor sharp at that aperture. The bokeh is pleasing at f/2.8, however, the hexagonal highlights might detract from a perfect score here. There's always the A 1.4 for those interested in smoother OOF areas.
What a lens. It really takes me back to the manual focus camera days and the build quality that we took for granted at the time. Imagine, a 162g lens capable of razor sharp details at f/2.8 for a grand total of $40.00 USD. Amazing!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $35.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Amazing color and sharpness
Cons:
lack of AF
I got this lens with a ME Super I purchased. Since I had an F 50mm 1.7, I didn't use it much initially. I ended up doing a comparison between the A, F and the kit DA 18-55 II set at 50mm. The A beat the others hands down. Sharper than the F at all apertures with better color reproduction.
The only drawback is I like to use fast primes indoors to capture dynamic shots and the lack of AF makes this difficult. Still, this has to be my favorite lens in terms of IQ.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $80.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Excellent sharpness and redering
Cons:
Aperature ring
The only reason this is not a 10 is that it is manual focus.
Even though it is over 20 years old with older coatings, great rendering and excellent sharpness. I use it for portraits where the only drawback is that it takes me longer to focus.
THis is the second one I own. THe first one I had from 1985 broke its aperature ring. This seems to be fragile.
I was floored as to how sharp this lens is when I compared some 50mm shots taken with kit zoom and this lens...
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $80.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
Image quality,
Cons:
i used to have this lens, and upgrade it to the autofocus one.
And i miss it.
The lens is dont know why sharper than my F50/1.7.
The bokeh is nicer and the focusing ring is smoother
The build quality is not as good as the M series, but the A functions, make it fun to used than the M series.
I really recommend this lens, if you can found it.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): N/A
| Rating: 9
Pros:
fast easy to use
Cons:
not af, if i have to say something?
I just found this lens, attached to my k1000, in a camera bag in a closet that i put it in 8years ago. I forgot I even had it (obviously). I remember that it was a difficult camera to figure out (at the time anyway and didnt want to figure it out). Now that Im into photog and understand everything AND I just bought a k20d with the standard da lens that comes with it, this is the bomb! Was looking at buying a faster lens to use and cant believe I had it. Its simplicity and ease of use on my k20d is awesome, just set the aperture and mf and bam, nice pics....i been even turning the lights down, just to take low light pics...cuz i could!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $45.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
very sharp, nice bokeh, fast, A-setting, good color rendition, compact
Cons:
build quality
This is one of the nicest standard lenses i ever used (the other would be the MC Rokkor 50mm 1.4), it's so small it's almost a pancake lens, and it allows you to take amazing pictures in about any light situation. This is a very sharp lens, with very fine color rendition, and on my K20d it allows me to exploit every setting (i don't have a problem with the all manual approach of K- and M- series lenses, but it is a user friendly experience to mount this 50mm). The aperture ring on mine was very stiff when i got it (that's why i got a reduction), and even now it's not really smooth - so i just leave it on automatic. I tried opening it up to smoothen up the ring -which is made out of plastic and does not feel very reliable- and i advise you not to go at it too loosely - there's little springs jumping away in any direction upon opening the housing, it took my a while to find them all back (but it works better now). Build quality is not so impressive, the aperture ring feels flimsy. No complaints about the focus ring though.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $105.00
| Rating: 6
Pros:
Sharp from f1.7 upwards, light, small, inexpensive.
Cons:
Purple fringing at high to low light boundaries
A good lens, light, and will work on pentax digitals using the 'catch in focus' option.
Suffers badly from purple fringing at high/low light interfaces which inhibits its use for night photography around town. However, indoor portraits are fine, with good contrast and colours.
In my hands it is not as useful as the Zeiss Planar 50mm f1.7, which has similar resolving power, but doesn't suffer from fringing.
In my opinion, the newer digital lenses (e.g. Sigma 50mm f2.8 ex dg) will perform better on digital bodies, and have the advantage of auto focus. On many occasions the f1.7 aperture is not really necessary because the k200d, k10 & k20d are all image stabilised, and you can quite comfortably use 1/30th @ f2.8 instead of 1/60th @ f1.7 in low light (preferably with a monopod).
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $85.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
A-series color; as fast as F50/1.4
Cons:
Build quality appears less than some other A lenses
I think I slightly overpaid for mine, but my copy looks almost brand new and I am very happy with it and its performance.
I also recently acquired the F50/1.4, which is great starting at f/2. But this one also starts at f/2, unlike my FA50/1.7, which for some reason likes to be at f/2.2 or above. Practically speaking, that makes the A50/1.7 just as fast as the F50/1.4. I guess each one is worth what I paid for it, given its particular strengths (I paid the going rate on the others), but the A50/1.7, in many cases, has better image quality, at least to my tastes. So that makes it a great bargain, provided it's in decent condition. The good news is there are many out there, so it shouldn't be too hard to get one, and for a good price as well. This is the one I'd choose for many portraits or other situations where I have time to set up the shot. Based on many posted pictures I've seen, I think I even prefer its overall (vivid color) IQ to the other A50 lenses, including the faster ones. I think I also prefer the IQ over the nice FA50/1.7 and F50/1.7 I've owned. I'm not pretending it has the best build quality or bokeh, but take a look at the many pictures posted on the net at the photo-base sites and see if you agree. Fortunately, everyone does not agree, so it helps to keep the market balanced.
In any case, I guess I am (along with many others!) proof that all of the faster 50's are good, and one is not enough! I may end up trimming my collection to two (if I can bring myself to do it), but I'm planning on keeping this one!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $75.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Sharp photos, smooth focusing,
Cons:
None.
This lens is a real winner. It works great on my K-7. I'm very impressed with the fine detail in my photos that results from the sharp focus and good contrast this lens provides. The focusing ring moves very smoothly and precisely. It's also small and light and seems to be of better construction than the newer lenses.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $75.00
| Rating: 10
Pros:
Size, weight, overall rendering
Cons:
Flare
Overall: A very good lens that performs way beyond its price.
In backlit situations I found that the lens does tend to flare (the type that reduces contrast in parts of the image) more than I'm used to. A hood would likely help. Bokeh is nice, though specular highlights do become hexagon when stopping down, and highlights near lens edges become egg-shaped. But this is truly splitting hairs given the amount you paid for it...
Now for the good...it creates images that makes much more expensive lenses blush. The lens brings a solid combination of sharp and colorful images with pleasing contrast (apart from the flare problems). The lens is small and light enough that it is almost a shoe-in the camera bag even if I have lenses close to its focal length.
Very nice to have the aperture electronically controlled so you have Av and PTTL available.
Usually you get what you pay for, but this lens is an exception to the rule, and you get much more. I feel that the overall (averaged) score does not reflect the lens' true performance.
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $90.00
| Rating: 8
Pros:
build quality, sharpness, bokeh, inexpensive
Cons:
MF
Very nice lens, but I realized my vision is no longer good enough to handle MF on a consistent basis. I replaced this lens with the FA50/1.4 and am much happier!
I can recommend the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.7: Yes |
Price (U.S. Dollars): $100.00
| Rating: 9
Pros:
super IQ, contrast and color to die for!
Cons:
MF (but not a big deal really)
My first purchase for my K-x, and absolutely no regrets.
There's an old saying "F8 and just be there" and this lens works very well, just use AV, set and forget, and most of your photos will be good! Good when your eyes are old like mine.
