[mba1971]

Hey there!

I've decided to go for my first 50mm lens...but kind of ovewhelmed by the different models and reviews available...

Do you guys here at PEntax Forom have input for me as to what would be a good (the best?) 50mm lens, may it be f1.4, f1.7 or any other f. Of course i would prefer it being as fast as possible!

Thanks in advance!

[ChipB]

Really depends on whether you want AF or not.

If AF, then the FA 50mm f1.4 or the F 50mm f1.4 lenses are super (I have one of the F models and really like it).

If MF, then I prefer the older SMC lenses - either K or M series - f1.4 of course. I have one of the older K series, 50mm f1.4 lens with the 52mm filter ring - had it since 1976 - no way would I give it up!! However, if you want the convenience of auto aperture, then the "A" series lens is great performer.

Lots of choices - quite a difference in prices!!

I'm sure others will chime in with their favorites.

[mba1971]

Really depends on whether you want AF or not.

If AF, then the FA 50mm f1.4 or the F 50mm f1.4 lenses are super (I have one of the F models and really like it).

However, if you want the convenience of auto aperture, then the "A" series lens is great performer.

Not sure what you mean by auto aperture..I usually take my pics in manual mode but sometimes use autofocus...so I think auto aperture is not useful for me?

[RBellavance]

Let me start by saying that the absolute best 50 available for Pentax cameras is probably not a 50 at all, but the FA43/1.9 Limited...

More seriously: first question: do you require autofocus ? If you do, your choices are somewhat limited:

- DA*55/1.4: a stunning lens by all accounts, but also the most expensive of the "50s" (800$+ in Canada).
- FA50/1.4: very easy to obtain, but reportedly discontinued (though it's still available new in several places)
- F50/1.7: 2nd most common, but used only. Reputedly sharper than the f/1.4 at equal aperture below f/2.8
- FA50/1.7: FA version of the previous lens. Quite rare.
- F50/1.4: F version of the "current" FA50/1.4. Very rare as well.

If you don't require autofocus, there are lots more options.

The best bang-for-the-buck, and most commonly found, is probably the M50/1.7. "M" lenses, however, are not the easiest to use, as you basically must be in M mode and use the Green Button to do stop-down metering. You also lose matrix (multi-segment) metering.

A more user-friendly, but still manual focus, choice, is the A50/1.7. It has an "A" position on its aperture ring, and is therefore usable in all modes, and multi-segmen metering is also supported with it. It is more expensive and less common, however.

There are also M42 (screwmount) options, but I don't know them much, and you also need an M42->K adapter to use them.

[Pentaxor]

if you don't mind shooting with a cheap manual focus, a 50/1.7 would be a good choice.

[yeatzee]

If you don't want auto focus, can't get much better the K/A 50mm F/1.2

[scorpioh]

Yes. A50f1.2 is the best!

[Blue]

I'd say

AF: F 50mm f1.4
MF: A 50mm f1.2 followed very closely by the k 50mm f1.2
Economical Fast Fifty: M 50mm f1.7 or Super Tak/S-M-C/SMC 50mm f1.4

The most stunning: FA 43mm ltd

My favorite: Auto Takumar 55mm f1.8 'Zebra'

[Blue]

Pentax never made any really bad 50-58mm lenses. The one exception may be the A 50mm f2 but even it is decent.

[Asahiflex]

For utmost sharpess: the SMC Pentax-F 50mm f/2.8 macro.

[Pentaxor]

Yes, the 50/1.2 is what I personally consider as the best of the bunch. although the OP might find it a bit hard to find and pricey compared to it's slower siblings. eventhough it is a specialty lens, it can also do general photography. before, some people were saying that there is no significant difference between a 1.4 and a 1.2 other than the half-stop speed. but the light transmission of the lens tell otherwise that it's not that even close. IQ rendering also are different and I say that I like the 1.2's rendition better than the 1.4.

[hcc]

There are a huge variety of 50mm lens for Pentax mount, that is good news. As pointed by the earlier posts, there are plenty of very good 50mm lenses.

On Image quality (IQ) only, the Carl Zeiss 50mm is the reference lens:
Zeiss Planar ZF T* 50mm f/1.4 - Review / Lab Test Report (listed in Nikkon mount but also available onPentx mount), in fact one of the best value for money Carl Zeiss lenses

Another excellent lens (in terms fo IQ) is the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm:
Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SL II - Review / Test Report

Both the Zeiss and Nokton lenses are MF. These fast primes have a really impressive IQ, and they are well-suited for low light shooting also.

There is off course the FA50mm:
Pentax SMC-FA 50mm f/1.4 - Review / Lab Test Report
and the newer DA*55mm:
Pentax SMC DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM - Review / Test Report

Both FA50mm and DA*55mm are AF.

In terms of value for money (rather than IQ), there are some excellent older Pentax lenses (eg 50mm f1.7) that can be purchased on ebay and other 2nd hand retail places.

Simply, there is a broad range of options, as a function of your budget, your needs (fast prime ? AF/MF?).

Hope that the comment will help...

[freewheeler]

I would certainly bee very content with a
FA43/1.9 and Voigtlander 58/1.4 combo.
To start with a K55/2.0 or 1,8 is very cheap and good.
The m50/1.7 only marginally more expensive and is sharper in the centre at F2,0 and F2,8.
The A50/1.7 is a tiny bit better, offers multi-pattern-metering and will cost you about 75$.
My choice as a first 50mm would be the A50/1.7

[Arpe]

Read this normal lens shootout-
the Normal Lens Shootout Photo Gallery by Sean Carpenter at pbase.com

[pspentax]

I think that all 50mm f1.7 are fantastics and better then the f1.4 version a very cheap ones