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kbrede · 02-13-2011, 07:12 PM

I've been perusing the market here for a couple months now and I seem to see the FA-50mm f/1.4 popping up a lot. I'm just curious why there are so many out there for sale? People find they don't use them, don't like the quality? I guess it's a cheaper way of testing out an auto focus f/1.4, instead of purchasing a DA * 55mm f/1.4.

twitch · 02-13-2011, 07:22 PM

I'd imagine because there are simply a lot more of them in peoples hands, it's a lens that has been popular and in production for a long time.

einstrigger · 02-13-2011, 07:33 PM

I think people buy them because they're one of the fastest and most affordable (relatively speaking) in Pentax's lineup. I'm guessing people buy them to use indoors, but later find the 50mm too long in terms of field of view. As for outside, it then becomes too short. So it becomes a lens that doesn't get used and ends up on the marketplace. At least that's my guess.

icywarm · 02-13-2011, 07:55 PM

Originally posted by einstrigger

I think people buy them because they're one of the fastest and most affordable (relatively speaking) in Pentax's lineup. I'm guessing people buy them to use indoors, but later find the 50mm too long in terms of field of view. As for outside, it then becomes too short. So it becomes a lens that doesn't get used and ends up on the marketplace. At least that's my guess.

+1 if I didn't use film, I would have sold mine by now!

paperbag846 · 02-13-2011, 08:10 PM

And if you're using them on an old film body, the focusing ring really sucks.

sewebster · 02-13-2011, 08:12 PM

I find the FA50 to be a great lens, indoors and out.

hawk1500 · 02-13-2011, 08:13 PM

well some people say the 1.7 is sharper, but I like the 1.4. Probably shouldn't have given my 1.7 away, but oh well.

Edit: Maybe a "so perhaps they keep or want to find a 1.7 instead, or the 55mm DA*" is needed after my first sentence.

bogiesbad · 02-13-2011, 09:12 PM

The FA(F) 50<2.0 are the gateway to LBA...

I suspect some are moving around the field of 50's.

RioRico · 02-13-2011, 10:26 PM

I sometimes live in a mile-high mining town on the Sonora border: Bisbee Arizona. When the copper minies petered-out in the 1960's and 1970's, locals left, abandoning their homes. House prices were very very low. Hippies started nosing around this incredibly quaint / scenic / dramatic locale, and buying said cheap shacks, refurbishing, improving... which, decades later, led to a boom. Common joke: A freak in 1975 asks, "Wow man, y'mean I can buy that for four grand?!?" In 2005 they asked, "Wow man, y'mean I can sell this for four hundred grand?!?"

When I bought my FA50/1.4 about 2.7 years ago, it was cheap, less than US$200. Then: "Wow man, y'mean I can buy that for under two hundred bucks?!?" Now: "Wow man, y'mean I can sell this for four hundred bucks?!?" All those lenses on the market now? I think we're seeing owners cashing-in. Maybe they're moved into a high-ISO body and don't so much feel the need for speed. And selling that Fifty now is a good way to pick up some change. That's my hypothesis.

selar · 02-13-2011, 10:47 PM

I have to admit I dont use a 50mm all that much, and it would be the first prime I would dump. I bought it for the 1.4 but when I discovered what 1.4 meant in DOF terms, it went back into the cupboard. I realise that many people appreciate shallow DOF, but I don't really appreciate portraits where you can only see the eyes or nose.

ducdao · 02-13-2011, 10:57 PM

Originally posted by selar

I have to admit I dont use a 50mm all that much, and it would be the first prime I would dump. I bought it for the 1.4 but when I discovered what 1.4 meant in DOF terms, it went back into the cupboard. I realise that many people appreciate shallow DOF, but I don't really appreciate portraits where you can only see the eyes or nose.

Well, good for you as you don't need to spend gazillion of $ for those fast lenses

In the contrary, I'm among those who love portrait with shallow DOF

**StephenMerola** · 02-13-2011, 11:11 PM

I liked the lens, but sold mine just because I wanted to make some cash to buy the DA70.

sewebster · 02-13-2011, 11:24 PM

I can sell this lens for $400??? Maybe I should put mine on the marketplace!

**StephenMerola** · 02-13-2011, 11:40 PM

exactly

Originally posted by sewebster

I can sell this lens for $400??? Maybe I should put mine on the marketplace!

JHD · 02-14-2011, 06:41 PM

I replaced mine with the Sigma 30mm f 1.4.

Besides having a much more useful focal length, it performs much better at f 1.4

02-13-2011, 07:12 PM	#1
kbrede Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Nebraska Photos: Gallery Posts: 327	Why so many FA-50mm/1.4s for sale? I've been perusing the market here for a couple months now and I seem to see the FA-50mm f/1.4 popping up a lot. I'm just curious why there are so many out there for sale? People find they don't use them, don't like the quality? I guess it's a cheaper way of testing out an auto focus f/1.4, instead of purchasing a DA * 55mm f/1.4.

02-13-2011, 09:12 PM	#8
bogiesbad Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lower AL Photos: Albums Posts: 355	The FA(F) 50<2.0 are the gateway to LBA... I suspect some are moving around the field of 50's. Last edited by bogiesbad; 02-13-2011 at 09:17 PM.

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02-13-2011, 07:22 PM	#2
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	I'd imagine because there are simply a lot more of them in peoples hands, it's a lens that has been popular and in production for a long time.

02-13-2011, 07:33 PM	#3
einstrigger Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Sacramento, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 728	I think people buy them because they're one of the fastest and most affordable (relatively speaking) in Pentax's lineup. I'm guessing people buy them to use indoors, but later find the 50mm too long in terms of field of view. As for outside, it then becomes too short. So it becomes a lens that doesn't get used and ends up on the marketplace. At least that's my guess.

02-13-2011, 07:55 PM	#4
icywarm Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatchewan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,278	Originally posted by einstrigger I think people buy them because they're one of the fastest and most affordable (relatively speaking) in Pentax's lineup. I'm guessing people buy them to use indoors, but later find the 50mm too long in terms of field of view. As for outside, it then becomes too short. So it becomes a lens that doesn't get used and ends up on the marketplace. At least that's my guess. +1 if I didn't use film, I would have sold mine by now!

02-13-2011, 08:10 PM	#5
paperbag846 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,395	And if you're using them on an old film body, the focusing ring really sucks.

02-13-2011, 08:12 PM	#6
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	I find the FA50 to be a great lens, indoors and out.

02-13-2011, 08:13 PM	#7
hawk1500 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 270	well some people say the 1.7 is sharper, but I like the 1.4. Probably shouldn't have given my 1.7 away, but oh well. Edit: Maybe a "so perhaps they keep or want to find a 1.7 instead, or the 55mm DA*" is needed after my first sentence.

02-13-2011, 10:26 PM	#9
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I sometimes live in a mile-high mining town on the Sonora border: Bisbee Arizona. When the copper minies petered-out in the 1960's and 1970's, locals left, abandoning their homes. House prices were very very low. Hippies started nosing around this incredibly quaint / scenic / dramatic locale, and buying said cheap shacks, refurbishing, improving... which, decades later, led to a boom. Common joke: A freak in 1975 asks, "Wow man, y'mean I can buy that for four grand?!?" In 2005 they asked, "Wow man, y'mean I can sell this for four hundred grand?!?" When I bought my FA50/1.4 about 2.7 years ago, it was cheap, less than US$200. Then: "Wow man, y'mean I can buy that for under two hundred bucks?!?" Now: "Wow man, y'mean I can sell this for four hundred bucks?!?" All those lenses on the market now? I think we're seeing owners cashing-in. Maybe they're moved into a high-ISO body and don't so much feel the need for speed. And selling that Fifty now is a good way to pick up some change. That's my hypothesis.

02-13-2011, 10:47 PM	#10
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	I have to admit I dont use a 50mm all that much, and it would be the first prime I would dump. I bought it for the 1.4 but when I discovered what 1.4 meant in DOF terms, it went back into the cupboard. I realise that many people appreciate shallow DOF, but I don't really appreciate portraits where you can only see the eyes or nose.

02-13-2011, 10:57 PM	#11
ducdao Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Montreal/Vermont Posts: 2,160	Originally posted by selar I have to admit I dont use a 50mm all that much, and it would be the first prime I would dump. I bought it for the 1.4 but when I discovered what 1.4 meant in DOF terms, it went back into the cupboard. I realise that many people appreciate shallow DOF, but I don't really appreciate portraits where you can only see the eyes or nose. Well, good for you as you don't need to spend gazillion of $ for those fast lenses In the contrary, I'm among those who love portrait with shallow DOF

02-13-2011, 11:11 PM	#12
StephenMerola Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 423	I liked the lens, but sold mine just because I wanted to make some cash to buy the DA70.

02-13-2011, 11:24 PM	#13
sewebster Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Photos: Gallery Posts: 544	I can sell this lens for $400??? Maybe I should put mine on the marketplace!

02-13-2011, 11:40 PM	#14
StephenMerola Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 423	exactly Originally posted by sewebster I can sell this lens for $400??? Maybe I should put mine on the marketplace!

02-14-2011, 06:41 PM	#15
JHD Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,406	I replaced mine with the Sigma 30mm f 1.4. Besides having a much more useful focal length, it performs much better at f 1.4

Why so many FA-50mm/1.4s for sale?

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