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axl · 07-03-2010, 12:20 AM

Originally posted by JayR

im sure i shouldnt be looking at either, especially as i have the 31 & 77ltds either side of the FA 50mm. any idea how exactly they excel over the FA50? I know the 50 isnt a particularly 'special' lens, rather a decent, dependable workhorse. Im not too fussed about it not being as sharp at the edges given my prime (excuse the pun) consideration with photography is portraiture these days, although saying that, its certainly not the only subject by any stretch...

with 31 & 77 in the bag, it's a tough choice. Ideally get both 43 & 55

Blue · 07-03-2010, 09:20 AM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

I think by now you are already looking for a 58mm f/2 Takumar. Not by any means the sharpest though.

Funny that you should mention that. It also has a group made up of 3 cemented elements like the S.T. 50mm version 1.

Asahiflex · 07-03-2010, 01:35 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Blue

Funny that you should mention that. It also has a group made up of 3 cemented elements like the S.T. 50mm version 1.

No wonder that Asahi very quickly made a version with one element less. Three cemented elements are too expensive to make. It happened with the ST50/1.4 ver. 1, the Tak 58/2 and the Tak 83/1.9.

summonbaka · 07-03-2010, 09:13 PM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

I think by now you are already looking for a 58mm f/2 Takumar. Not by any means the sharpest though.

I'm looking for a normal preset lens, but so far the quest has been frustrating. Most of them a rare as chicken teeth and even if not good, expensive. The Macro-Takumar looks good not only in sharpness but also because it goes to 1:1 unlike its SMC cousin but again price is a problem here. I saw one go for $70 that i couldn't get, but now all I see are prices over $120. I've seen a 105 preset takumar sell, but no m42 58/2, just a m37...

How does the Helios 44-2 (preset) fare in this area?

tim45000 · 07-11-2010, 08:56 PM

If you just want the sharpest lens the Pentax is the one for you. If you want art you need to check out the Maymia. The Mamiya is far infeior mechanically and very slightly less sharp but the wisdom in color rendition is the best there is in a 55mm. I think I have all the 55s and I can't get the Mamiya off my K10D it is just too good. I will include a couple of picks if I can ever figure this web site out. I could only upload one pic too bad. Will try to upload more with this great lens.

ducdao · 07-12-2010, 01:05 AM

Originally posted by tim45000

If you just want the sharpest lens the Pentax is the one for you. If you want art you need to check out the Maymia. The Mamiya is far infeior mechanically and very slightly less sharp but the wisdom in color rendition is the best there is in a 55mm. I think I have all the 55s and I can't get the Mamiya off my K10D it is just too good. I will include a couple of picks if I can ever figure this web site out. I could only upload one pic too bad. Will try to upload more with this great lens.

+1 but kind of disagree with the comment about the Mamiya is mechanically far inferior to the Pentax. They might not as good but not far behind. I have a collection of over 30 Mamiya Sekor lenses, mostly 55/1.4 and 55/1.8 and they are all heavy metal and built like a tank.

Goslett · 08-10-2010, 11:17 AM

While we're on the subject of best 50s, what do you guys think the best 50mm for portraits is?

Blue · 08-10-2010, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by Goslett

While we're on the subject of best 50s, what do you guys think the best 50mm for portraits is?

Meyer Primoplan 58/1.9.

Nick Siebers · 08-11-2010, 06:17 AM

I have an old Mamiya 58mm f/1.7 in m42 mount that I find gives amazing images. It is at least as good as the F 50 1.7, although far more cumbersome to use.

audiobomber · 08-11-2010, 07:13 AM

Originally posted by timo

It's been said before, but I believe it's true, that much of the alleged unsharpness of the 1.4 wide open is a consequence of focusing inaccuracy.
Tim

Or from not using a lens shade. The front element of the 1.4 is very exposed, the 1.7 is somewhat recessed.

audiobomber · 08-11-2010, 07:20 AM

Originally posted by Pentaxor

I don't think it's about sample variation. most, if not all people who had tried and owned both lenses could testify that the 1.7 is sharper than the 1.4. itis not even a 50/50 nor an 80/20 ratio, but more of a 98% to 2% ratio. also, I believe it has the resolution tests and mathematical statistics to support that. so the lens design have to do something with it.

The only direct comparison I've seen is this one, which shows the 1.4 with higher MTF scores than the 1.7: Nifty 50 Shootout ERPhotoReview
If you can point me to other results, I'd be interested to have a look.

whojammyflip · 08-11-2010, 09:58 AM

Pentax K fit 50mm's Photo Gallery by Steve Flynn at pbase.com

audiobomber · 08-11-2010, 12:10 PM

Originally posted by hoojammyflip

Pentax K fit 50mm's Photo Gallery by Steve Flynn at pbase.com

I looked at the M 1.4 and M 1.7, but the results are not directly comparable because they weren't measured at the same apertures. The f/1.7 was measured at 1.7 and 4.0, the f/1.4 at 1.4 and 2.8.

whojammyflip · 08-11-2010, 12:40 PM

Its a good point, that the lenses are not compared at the same apertures. It goes to show that the variation in performance of a lens changes more according to f-stop for a single lens than the performance between lenses. If one lens was significantly sharper than the next at nearby f-stops, it would show up in the MTF charts. None of the M lenses are dogs, and the Cosina lenses are right up there with them.

axl · 08-11-2010, 02:21 PM

Best 50 for portraits? I'd vote for 50/1.2 again. Had DA*55 but it's too sharp for portraits IMO. 1.2 gives fantastic OOF transition which is very hard to match.

07-11-2010, 08:56 PM	#80
tim45000 New Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: TX Posts: 1	Mamiya Sekor vs Pentax 55mm 1.8 If you just want the sharpest lens the Pentax is the one for you. If you want art you need to check out the Maymia. The Mamiya is far infeior mechanically and very slightly less sharp but the wisdom in color rendition is the best there is in a 55mm. I think I have all the 55s and I can't get the Mamiya off my K10D it is just too good. I will include a couple of picks if I can ever figure this web site out. I could only upload one pic too bad. Will try to upload more with this great lens.

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07-03-2010, 12:20 AM	#76
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by JayR im sure i shouldnt be looking at either, especially as i have the 31 & 77ltds either side of the FA 50mm. any idea how exactly they excel over the FA50? I know the 50 isnt a particularly 'special' lens, rather a decent, dependable workhorse. Im not too fussed about it not being as sharp at the edges given my prime (excuse the pun) consideration with photography is portraiture these days, although saying that, its certainly not the only subject by any stretch... with 31 & 77 in the bag, it's a tough choice. Ideally get both 43 & 55

07-03-2010, 09:20 AM	#77
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Asahiflex I think by now you are already looking for a 58mm f/2 Takumar. Not by any means the sharpest though. Funny that you should mention that. It also has a group made up of 3 cemented elements like the S.T. 50mm version 1.

07-03-2010, 01:35 PM - 1 Like	#78
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Originally posted by Blue Funny that you should mention that. It also has a group made up of 3 cemented elements like the S.T. 50mm version 1. No wonder that Asahi very quickly made a version with one element less. Three cemented elements are too expensive to make. It happened with the ST50/1.4 ver. 1, the Tak 58/2 and the Tak 83/1.9.

07-03-2010, 09:13 PM	#79
summonbaka Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kagoshima, Japan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 237	Originally posted by Asahiflex I think by now you are already looking for a 58mm f/2 Takumar. Not by any means the sharpest though. I'm looking for a normal preset lens, but so far the quest has been frustrating. Most of them a rare as chicken teeth and even if not good, expensive. The Macro-Takumar looks good not only in sharpness but also because it goes to 1:1 unlike its SMC cousin but again price is a problem here. I saw one go for $70 that i couldn't get, but now all I see are prices over $120. I've seen a 105 preset takumar sell, but no m42 58/2, just a m37... How does the Helios 44-2 (preset) fare in this area?

07-12-2010, 01:05 AM	#81
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by tim45000 If you just want the sharpest lens the Pentax is the one for you. If you want art you need to check out the Maymia. The Mamiya is far infeior mechanically and very slightly less sharp but the wisdom in color rendition is the best there is in a 55mm. I think I have all the 55s and I can't get the Mamiya off my K10D it is just too good. I will include a couple of picks if I can ever figure this web site out. I could only upload one pic too bad. Will try to upload more with this great lens. +1 but kind of disagree with the comment about the Mamiya is mechanically far inferior to the Pentax. They might not as good but not far behind. I have a collection of over 30 Mamiya Sekor lenses, mostly 55/1.4 and 55/1.8 and they are all heavy metal and built like a tank.

08-10-2010, 11:17 AM	#82
Goslett Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 38	While we're on the subject of best 50s, what do you guys think the best 50mm for portraits is?

08-10-2010, 12:02 PM	#83
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by Goslett While we're on the subject of best 50s, what do you guys think the best 50mm for portraits is? Meyer Primoplan 58/1.9.

08-11-2010, 06:17 AM	#84
Nick Siebers Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Madison, WI Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,165	I have an old Mamiya 58mm f/1.7 in m42 mount that I find gives amazing images. It is at least as good as the F 50 1.7, although far more cumbersome to use.

08-11-2010, 07:13 AM	#85
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by timo It's been said before, but I believe it's true, that much of the alleged unsharpness of the 1.4 wide open is a consequence of focusing inaccuracy. Tim Or from not using a lens shade. The front element of the 1.4 is very exposed, the 1.7 is somewhat recessed.

08-11-2010, 07:20 AM	#86
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by Pentaxor I don't think it's about sample variation. most, if not all people who had tried and owned both lenses could testify that the 1.7 is sharper than the 1.4. itis not even a 50/50 nor an 80/20 ratio, but more of a 98% to 2% ratio. also, I believe it has the resolution tests and mathematical statistics to support that. so the lens design have to do something with it. The only direct comparison I've seen is this one, which shows the 1.4 with higher MTF scores than the 1.7: Nifty 50 Shootout ERPhotoReview If you can point me to other results, I'd be interested to have a look.

08-11-2010, 09:58 AM	#87
whojammyflip Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 417	Pentax K fit 50mm's Photo Gallery by Steve Flynn at pbase.com

08-11-2010, 12:10 PM	#88
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	Originally posted by hoojammyflip Pentax K fit 50mm's Photo Gallery by Steve Flynn at pbase.com I looked at the M 1.4 and M 1.7, but the results are not directly comparable because they weren't measured at the same apertures. The f/1.7 was measured at 1.7 and 4.0, the f/1.4 at 1.4 and 2.8.

08-11-2010, 12:40 PM	#89
whojammyflip Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 417	Its a good point, that the lenses are not compared at the same apertures. It goes to show that the variation in performance of a lens changes more according to f-stop for a single lens than the performance between lenses. If one lens was significantly sharper than the next at nearby f-stops, it would show up in the MTF charts. None of the M lenses are dogs, and the Cosina lenses are right up there with them.

08-11-2010, 02:21 PM	#90
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Best 50 for portraits? I'd vote for 50/1.2 again. Had DA*55 but it's too sharp for portraits IMO. 1.2 gives fantastic OOF transition which is very hard to match.

Best 50mm lens out there

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