Praise for the 50 mm lens

Pentaxor · 06-17-2011, 01:04 PM

Originally posted by ryan s

Who's the pot and who's the kettle in this situation?

And to think, all it would have taken was a simple "what I meant was..." to clarify it instead of resorting to personal attacks and an arrogant attitude. God forbid anyone should not understand your writings!

A true travesty.

Adding another to the ignore list :ugh:

nah, you just whine too much.

civiletti · 06-17-2011, 01:18 PM

A carry an A50 f1.4 and A50 f2.8 in my bag. Besides portraits, where perspective is critical, there are no good and bad focal lengths. It all depends on the preferred frame.

I doubt that the DA40 f2.8, great lens that it is, offers better IQ than the A50 f2.8.

Sagitta · 07-19-2011, 09:29 PM

One of the first lenses I bought after getting my K-x was a Sears 50mm f/1.7 - I don't think I'll be giving that lens up any time soon. Its great for taking shots in the house of my newborn.

RioRico · 07-19-2011, 10:38 PM

Originally posted by Sagitta

One of the first lenses I bought after getting my K-x was a Sears 50mm f/1.7 - I don't think I'll be giving that lens up any time soon. Its great for taking shots in the house of my newborn.

Tell us the serial number and we can probably tell who made it. Sears-labeled primes are pretty damn good. I have a 50/2 (Cosina) and a 55/1.4 (Tomioka); both were cheap and are sharp.

A reminder of this piece from a couple years ago:
The 50mm f/1.4 lens: Photography's Magic Bullet | Popular Photography

referenced here:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-lens-articles/50147-50mm-f-1-4-len...ic-bullet.html
(2nd link -- scroll down)

Fifty's are nifty -- that's why I have 50 of them (well, 48 actually right now, but more are coming...)

Sagitta · 07-20-2011, 10:08 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

Tell us the serial number and we can probably tell who made it. Sears-labeled primes are pretty damn good. I have a 50/2 (Cosina) and a 55/1.4 (Tomioka); both were cheap and are sharp.

Took me a bit to find it - its engraved in the plastic along the side of the lens. SN 327891 and the lens itself looks like this:

RioRico · 07-21-2011, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by Sagitta

Took me a bit to find it - its engraved in the plastic along the side of the lens. SN 327891 and the lens itself looks like this:

Hmmm, I can't really tell from that '32' serial number (it might mean Makinon, or might not) but it otherwise looks exactly like a couple of 50/2's which I've tagged as being from Cosina. Tracking the exact makers can be tricky -- 3rd-party Japanese suppliers had (and still have) obscure relationships. Obscure to my eyes, anyway. Happy shooting!

Winder · 07-21-2011, 10:40 AM

Personally, I think a 50mm on an APS-C is a great lens. I use the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 on my K-7 and I have no complaints. It is a great general purpose lens and very sharp even at f/2.0. I like other focal lengths for other specific types of photography, but I can use the 50mm for most things.

Sagitta · 07-21-2011, 01:29 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

Hmmm, I can't really tell from that '32' serial number (it might mean Makinon, or might not) but it otherwise looks exactly like a couple of 50/2's which I've tagged as being from Cosina. Tracking the exact makers can be tricky -- 3rd-party Japanese suppliers had (and still have) obscure relationships. Obscure to my eyes, anyway. Happy shooting!

I love the range the 50mm has on the Kx - its almost perfect for portraits.

Here are a couple shots of my son (which these lenses are great for). First is from my Sears 1.7 shot wide open, second is from a beat up old Pentax-M f2 that came with an even more beat up K1000 I picked up cheap. I'm not sure what aperture I took the second shot at, probably f/4 or maybe a bit smaller.

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06-17-2011, 01:04 PM	#46
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	Originally posted by ryan s Who's the pot and who's the kettle in this situation? And to think, all it would have taken was a simple "what I meant was..." to clarify it instead of resorting to personal attacks and an arrogant attitude. God forbid anyone should not understand your writings! A true travesty. Adding another to the ignore list :ugh: nah, you just whine too much.

06-17-2011, 01:18 PM	#47
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	A carry an A50 f1.4 and A50 f2.8 in my bag. Besides portraits, where perspective is critical, there are no good and bad focal lengths. It all depends on the preferred frame. I doubt that the DA40 f2.8, great lens that it is, offers better IQ than the A50 f2.8.

07-19-2011, 09:29 PM	#48
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	One of the first lenses I bought after getting my K-x was a Sears 50mm f/1.7 - I don't think I'll be giving that lens up any time soon. Its great for taking shots in the house of my newborn.

07-19-2011, 10:38 PM	#49
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Sagitta One of the first lenses I bought after getting my K-x was a Sears 50mm f/1.7 - I don't think I'll be giving that lens up any time soon. Its great for taking shots in the house of my newborn. Tell us the serial number and we can probably tell who made it. Sears-labeled primes are pretty damn good. I have a 50/2 (Cosina) and a 55/1.4 (Tomioka); both were cheap and are sharp. A reminder of this piece from a couple years ago: The 50mm f/1.4 lens: Photography's Magic Bullet \| Popular Photography referenced here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-lens-articles/50147-50mm-f-1-4-len...ic-bullet.html (2nd link -- scroll down) Fifty's are nifty -- that's why I have 50 of them (well, 48 actually right now, but more are coming...)

07-20-2011, 10:08 PM	#50
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Originally posted by RioRico Tell us the serial number and we can probably tell who made it. Sears-labeled primes are pretty damn good. I have a 50/2 (Cosina) and a 55/1.4 (Tomioka); both were cheap and are sharp. Took me a bit to find it - its engraved in the plastic along the side of the lens. SN 327891 and the lens itself looks like this:

07-21-2011, 10:11 AM	#51
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Sagitta Took me a bit to find it - its engraved in the plastic along the side of the lens. SN 327891 and the lens itself looks like this: Hmmm, I can't really tell from that '32' serial number (it might mean Makinon, or might not) but it otherwise looks exactly like a couple of 50/2's which I've tagged as being from Cosina. Tracking the exact makers can be tricky -- 3rd-party Japanese suppliers had (and still have) obscure relationships. Obscure to my eyes, anyway. Happy shooting!

07-21-2011, 10:40 AM	#52
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Personally, I think a 50mm on an APS-C is a great lens. I use the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 on my K-7 and I have no complaints. It is a great general purpose lens and very sharp even at f/2.0. I like other focal lengths for other specific types of photography, but I can use the 50mm for most things.

07-21-2011, 01:29 PM	#53
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Originally posted by RioRico Hmmm, I can't really tell from that '32' serial number (it might mean Makinon, or might not) but it otherwise looks exactly like a couple of 50/2's which I've tagged as being from Cosina. Tracking the exact makers can be tricky -- 3rd-party Japanese suppliers had (and still have) obscure relationships. Obscure to my eyes, anyway. Happy shooting! I love the range the 50mm has on the Kx - its almost perfect for portraits. Here are a couple shots of my son (which these lenses are great for). First is from my Sears 1.7 shot wide open, second is from a beat up old Pentax-M f2 that came with an even more beat up K1000 I picked up cheap. I'm not sure what aperture I took the second shot at, probably f/4 or maybe a bit smaller.

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