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02-01-2011, 02:01 PM   #1
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Which 50mm to get

I currently own a sigma 30mm F1.4 and am looking for a 50mm to supplement this one.
I have currently look at the following lenses:

smc PENTAX DA 40mm, not a 50mm and perhaps to close to the 30mm for any real use. Or do you disagree on this

smc PENTAX DA* 55mm F1.4
smc PENTAX D FA 50mm Macro F2.8
smc PENTAX FA 50mm F1.4

So what to get. Any thought or other suggestions?

02-01-2011, 02:06 PM   #2
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I guess it depends mostly on what you want to use it for.
02-01-2011, 02:11 PM   #3
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Have to agree with joakimfors - depends on what your intended use is. That said, if you are not opposed to manual focus, I have both an A50/1.7 and my daughter is using my K55/1.8. Both are beautiful lenses. I am partial to the "A" actually, as I enjoy manual focus and the auto-aperture setting makes things much more enjoyable for me than full "green-button" manual. Best of both worlds IMHO. The "A" version can be picked up for $100 or under, the K55 less than that.

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02-01-2011, 02:12 PM   #4
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Hmm I think my 28 and 40 are plenty different, but I think the 55 is a better length for portraits / people / DOF.

02-01-2011, 02:15 PM   #5
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The DA 40mm is a killer for the price. There's also a voightlander 58mm f1.4 on sale at the marketplace if you don't mind manual focus.
02-01-2011, 02:27 PM   #6
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The 55mm is $620 to $640 at most places. Optically, it is not much better than the FA 50mm (at least according to Photozone). So unless you really need the WR or that extra 5mm, I would instead get the FA 50mm. In comparison to the DA 40mm as well, since they are similarly priced, but the FA 50mm still remains a stop faster. Plus, you have the 30mm which IMO, makes the 40mm not necessary.
02-01-2011, 02:38 PM   #7
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if you already own a 30mm f/1.4 i'm not sure if you need a 50mm, 50mm on a crop sensor is a 75mm which is an odd ball of a focal range.

02-01-2011, 02:45 PM   #8
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… that's why you should get the DA* 55
02-01-2011, 02:56 PM   #9
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I wouldn't get any of those, I'd get the DA70 instead. Then the DA15. That way you'll have 15/30/70. Not a bad mix. I think 4 primes in that range is overkill, and I say this from experience
02-01-2011, 04:00 PM   #10
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I would have to agree that if you have the 30 and a 70 and a 21 that the 50 will be overkill. However, coming from my own experience. I have a 35mm 2.4 and the 50 1.4. After using the 35mm 2.4 for a bit I think my 50mm will see limited uses as for indoor family shots its just to narrow compared to the 35mm. Despite the 1 stop difference. If you are sure that you need the 50mm I would go with the FA 50 1.4. It gives good performance without busting the bank.
02-01-2011, 04:19 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by epqwerty Quote
I would have to agree that if you have the 30 and a 70 and a 21 that the 50 will be overkill. However, coming from my own experience. I have a 35mm 2.4 and the 50 1.4. After using the 35mm 2.4 for a bit I think my 50mm will see limited uses as for indoor family shots its just to narrow compared to the 35mm. Despite the 1 stop difference. If you are sure that you need the 50mm I would go with the FA 50 1.4. It gives good performance without busting the bank.
yep, the 50mm is quite narrow for indoor, that's why mine doesn't see a whole lot of use either (it's more like a novelty item because of it's speed), if the OP already have a 30mm f/1.4 i don't see the use for a 50mm. although I may never get a 30/35mm f/1.4 or 1.8 due to it's cost, I can get quite a few manual focus f/1.4 50mm for the price of 1 35mm or 30mm f/1.4.

I would go with
1) a 30/35mm for your "normal lens" since it's effectively around 50
2) an 85mm for a tele lens (making it effectively the old 135
3) a 200 or 300 for really long tele.

but i'm really not into prime, i like the flexability of zoom. i want a 10-20, 28-70 and 70-200 to cover me, while having a 50 for prime.
02-01-2011, 04:54 PM   #12
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I got the one you didn't mention, the FA43. Impossible to regret.
02-01-2011, 08:15 PM   #13
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I'm cheap, so I'll recommend cheaper (old manual) lenses. The FA50/1.4 is great but no longer cheap. The cheap winners are the A or M 50/1.7, and M42 Tak 55/1.8 or f/2 (same optics, different largest stop). Another cheap winner, usually M42 but sometimes PK-M, is the Helios-44 58/2. Unlike some others, I don't find that a Fifty on APS-C is a hindrance indoors. If the indoors is bright I'm likely to use a F35-70 but in dimness I like a 50/1.4 or 55/1.4, to supplement a 24/2 and 85/2. As mentioned, it all depends on what you want to do. So, whatchu wanna do?
02-01-2011, 08:52 PM   #14
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Rio gives good advice. Even the A 50 1.4 can be had cheap if you look hard enough. Check auctions for the SuperProgram / ProgramPlus / A3000. I still don't understand why lenses sell for more when they don't have a camera attached. In October I bought a KX with an A 50/1.7 for $25. And don't forget the K 55/1.8.

Last edited by boriscleto; 02-01-2011 at 08:58 PM.
02-01-2011, 09:22 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by boriscleto Quote
Rio gives good advice. Even the A 50 1.4 can be had cheap if you look hard enough. Check auctions for the SuperProgram / ProgramPlus / A3000. I still don't understand why lenses sell for more when they don't have a camera attached. In October I bought a KX with an A 50/1.7 for $25. And don't forget the K 55/1.8.

the reason is if they are trying to sell the lens alone, they know it's value... people who's trying to sell film camera + lens normally do not know the value of the lens (some of them don't even list the len's spec and this is where people score deals).

For me MF lens is more of a "side fun" thing, I use it sometimes for playing around with reverse macro (easier to control the aperature VS jamming paper to the pin), or when I feel like playing around. For most of the stuff I take, i usually go for AF, easier to track stuff and much faster to spray at everything.

Prices are rising nicely on ebay, even the auction without good description are getting sniffed out...

for those that enjoy the "lazy" point and spray method, AF is a must.

Plus the OP pop money for a 30 f/1.4, he probably don't need cheap stuff .
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