F 50/1,7

Jfax · 11-27-2007, 12:33 PM

Hello!

This is my first post, hope to find some helpful people wandering these forums for my questions.

I tried an old 50mm smc lens from a friend, wich I loved. especially since I could have the aparture on 1,4!

However, Im would much much more want to have an autofocus one.

The largest of the technology stores in my town just got the FA 50/1,4 lens in for about $300.
However, since Im a student and dont really have a large income, thats quite alot.
I have on the other hand found a used F 50/1,7 for about $150.

Now, Ive heard good things about the FA 50/1,4, but nothing of the F 50/1,7. Would there be much difference? Which do you guys think I would put my money on?

Thanks!

incitatus · 11-27-2007, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by Jfax

Hello!

This is my first post, hope to find some helpful people wandering these forums for my questions.

I tried an old 50mm smc lens from a friend, wich I loved. especially since I could have the aparture on 1,4!

However, Im would much much more want to have an autofocus one.

The largest of the technology stores in my town just got the FA 50/1,4 lens in for about $300.
However, since Im a student and dont really have a large income, thats quite alot.
I have on the other hand found a used F 50/1,7 for about $150.

Now, Ive heard good things about the FA 50/1,4, but nothing of the F 50/1,7. Would there be much difference? Which do you guys think I would put my money on?

Thanks!

I have an A 50 1.7 and love it to death, it's amazing, all 50 1.7 share the same optics so the F should be just as good. Alternatively you can get an fa 50 1.4 from adorama and have them ship it.

I've bought stuff from adorama and had it shipped over (Norway) and the price + shipping + import tax was still a good deal less than buying new in Norway, especially now with the weak $$

Not Registered · 11-27-2007, 01:10 PM

If the lens is in good shape you cannot be wrong with any of the lenses you are speaking about. You can see some reviews in the database of the forum and it is frequent to see them in the marketplace.

ccallana · 11-27-2007, 02:39 PM

I have an M50/1.7 and an F50/1.7 - I love them both... they are great lenses and well worth the money, much better deal than the 1.4 versions. Some will even say the 1.7 is a better lens

Save the money and get the 1.7

ericc · 11-27-2007, 03:22 PM

$150US is a reasonable amount to pay these days for the F50/1.7. I paid $125US for my last copy about 6 months ago and $85US for one a year before. My oldest cost about $75US on a bargain bin back in the film days. Yes, I'm nuts.

The F50/1.7 is one of the best of the Pentax 50's, if not THE best. The FA50/1.4 is good, but I never really developed a love for it. I wouldn't put it up there with the FA31/1.8, but I also never think twice about putting one of my 50's on my camera and going for a hike. I never took the FA31 out of the house, I was so paranoid about losing/damaging it.

skaktuss · 11-27-2007, 11:21 PM

Jfax, You should check out ebay listings. I know there is a nice F 50mm 1.7 lens

and it's near Your country - on the other side of Baltic sea.

davek · 11-28-2007, 10:15 AM

It's my fastest lens.... This was taken with it. PBASE doesn't list it in the lens list, so it's tagged as an FA50/1.7, but it really is an F50/1.7.

Probably one of my best value purchases ($85 - several years ago).

jankok · 11-28-2007, 10:45 AM

Hi!

I have an old M1.4/50 and an A1.7/50 and of the two I believe The 1.7 is a better lens.
Here are a few samples:

Serge · 11-28-2007, 01:59 PM

Hi
I believe the F50/1.7 to be a better choice for the money. First of all, this FA50/1.4 looks a bit overpriced, normally it goes for $200. The second thing is that there's a popular belief that PENTAX-F lenses slightly edge their FA-cousins in terms of IQ (namely sharpness, as it follows from photodo ratings). On the other hand the F50/1.7 has 6-blades aperture that might result in hexagonal highlights in out-of-focus areas. Whatever you decide you won't be disappointed. Both are great lenses.

WendyB · 12-01-2007, 08:18 PM

Originally posted by Serge

Hi
I believe the F50/1.7 to be a better choice for the money. First of all, this FA50/1.4 looks a bit overpriced, normally it goes for $200. The second thing is that there's a popular belief that PENTAX-F lenses slightly edge their FA-cousins in terms of IQ (namely sharpness, as it follows from photodo ratings). On the other hand the F50/1.7 has 6-blades aperture that might result in hexagonal highlights in out-of-focus areas. Whatever you decide you won't be disappointed. Both are great lenses.

I totally agree with Serge, I would not even consider leaving the house without a F50/1.7 it is a very fast and sharp lens. I have never experienced hexagonal highlights with over 3,000 clicks with this lens.

I was quite surprised when auctioning two of my spares last month on eBay one went for $227.50 US and the next went for $171.00, the most wonderful part was I bought these lens's at Tag (garage, estate) sales with SF1 bodies for less than $25 US each in pristine condition.

So you may want to look in the direction of tag sales, it is a bit of work but well worth the effort.

Also I have heard one can do very well at pawn shops.

Wendy

wlachan · 12-01-2007, 11:17 PM

The F series lenses are generally received higher QC than the FA series and 50/1.7 is sharper than 1.4 wide open. You really cannot go wrong with the F50/1.7, and the price is right too.

simonkit · 12-02-2007, 03:30 AM

I've just bought a used F 1.7 (manual) from ebay for very little considering it's image quality.

As you're on a tight budget why not try a used 1.7 first & see how you get on with it - if you decide you definitely want the FA version you can always resell the manual one for probably as much as you paid for it anyway !!

simon

m8o · 12-02-2007, 02:59 PM

Our admin and site owner Adam, had very good things to say about the 1.7 ... but he didn't mention the F, rather the FA, A and M. I'm not sure where the F stands in realtion in IQ to these three, hoping it's more 'FA' then other, hoping someone else can. But I think it'll do ya just fine in any case.
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/9903-all-f-1-4...s-50mm-fa.html

incitatus · 12-02-2007, 05:01 PM

All 50 1.7 have the same optical formula, so excluding changes in the SMC (which won't effect sharpness, I think), they should give the same picture.

11-27-2007, 12:33 PM	#1
Jfax Guest	F 50/1,7 Hello! This is my first post, hope to find some helpful people wandering these forums for my questions. I tried an old 50mm smc lens from a friend, wich I loved. especially since I could have the aparture on 1,4! However, Im would much much more want to have an autofocus one. The largest of the technology stores in my town just got the FA 50/1,4 lens in for about $300. However, since Im a student and dont really have a large income, thats quite alot. I have on the other hand found a used F 50/1,7 for about $150. Now, Ive heard good things about the FA 50/1,4, but nothing of the F 50/1,7. Would there be much difference? Which do you guys think I would put my money on? Thanks!

11-27-2007, 03:22 PM	#5
ericc Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Western Oklahoma Posts: 412	Buy it! $150US is a reasonable amount to pay these days for the F50/1.7. I paid $125US for my last copy about 6 months ago and $85US for one a year before. My oldest cost about $75US on a bargain bin back in the film days. Yes, I'm nuts. The F50/1.7 is one of the best of the Pentax 50's, if not THE best. The FA50/1.4 is good, but I never really developed a love for it. I wouldn't put it up there with the FA31/1.8, but I also never think twice about putting one of my 50's on my camera and going for a hike. I never took the FA31 out of the house, I was so paranoid about losing/damaging it.

11-27-2007, 12:45 PM	#2
incitatus Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 47	Originally posted by Jfax Hello! This is my first post, hope to find some helpful people wandering these forums for my questions. I tried an old 50mm smc lens from a friend, wich I loved. especially since I could have the aparture on 1,4! However, Im would much much more want to have an autofocus one. The largest of the technology stores in my town just got the FA 50/1,4 lens in for about $300. However, since Im a student and dont really have a large income, thats quite alot. I have on the other hand found a used F 50/1,7 for about $150. Now, Ive heard good things about the FA 50/1,4, but nothing of the F 50/1,7. Would there be much difference? Which do you guys think I would put my money on? Thanks! I have an A 50 1.7 and love it to death, it's amazing, all 50 1.7 share the same optics so the F should be just as good. Alternatively you can get an fa 50 1.4 from adorama and have them ship it. I've bought stuff from adorama and had it shipped over (Norway) and the price + shipping + import tax was still a good deal less than buying new in Norway, especially now with the weak $$

11-27-2007, 01:10 PM	#3
Not Registered Guest	If the lens is in good shape you cannot be wrong with any of the lenses you are speaking about. You can see some reviews in the database of the forum and it is frequent to see them in the marketplace.

11-27-2007, 02:39 PM	#4
ccallana Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Folsom, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 321	I have an M50/1.7 and an F50/1.7 - I love them both... they are great lenses and well worth the money, much better deal than the 1.4 versions. Some will even say the 1.7 is a better lens Save the money and get the 1.7

11-27-2007, 11:21 PM	#6
skaktuss Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Latvia Photos: Gallery Posts: 259	Jfax, You should check out ebay listings. I know there is a nice F 50mm 1.7 lens and it's near Your country - on the other side of Baltic sea.

11-28-2007, 10:15 AM	#7
davek Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Elmira, On, Canada Posts: 461	It's my fastest lens.... This was taken with it. PBASE doesn't list it in the lens list, so it's tagged as an FA50/1.7, but it really is an F50/1.7. Probably one of my best value purchases ($85 - several years ago).

11-28-2007, 10:45 AM	#8
jankok Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia Posts: 141	Hi! I have an old M1.4/50 and an A1.7/50 and of the two I believe The 1.7 is a better lens. Here are a few samples:

11-28-2007, 01:59 PM	#9
Serge Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: St.-Petersburg, Russia Photos: Albums Posts: 40	Hi I believe the F50/1.7 to be a better choice for the money. First of all, this FA50/1.4 looks a bit overpriced, normally it goes for $200. The second thing is that there's a popular belief that PENTAX-F lenses slightly edge their FA-cousins in terms of IQ (namely sharpness, as it follows from photodo ratings). On the other hand the F50/1.7 has 6-blades aperture that might result in hexagonal highlights in out-of-focus areas. Whatever you decide you won't be disappointed. Both are great lenses.

12-01-2007, 08:18 PM	#10
WendyB Inactive Account Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan Posts: 189	Originally posted by Serge Hi I believe the F50/1.7 to be a better choice for the money. First of all, this FA50/1.4 looks a bit overpriced, normally it goes for $200. The second thing is that there's a popular belief that PENTAX-F lenses slightly edge their FA-cousins in terms of IQ (namely sharpness, as it follows from photodo ratings). On the other hand the F50/1.7 has 6-blades aperture that might result in hexagonal highlights in out-of-focus areas. Whatever you decide you won't be disappointed. Both are great lenses. I totally agree with Serge, I would not even consider leaving the house without a F50/1.7 it is a very fast and sharp lens. I have never experienced hexagonal highlights with over 3,000 clicks with this lens. I was quite surprised when auctioning two of my spares last month on eBay one went for $227.50 US and the next went for $171.00, the most wonderful part was I bought these lens's at Tag (garage, estate) sales with SF1 bodies for less than $25 US each in pristine condition. So you may want to look in the direction of tag sales, it is a bit of work but well worth the effort. Also I have heard one can do very well at pawn shops. Wendy

12-01-2007, 11:17 PM	#11
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	The F series lenses are generally received higher QC than the FA series and 50/1.7 is sharper than 1.4 wide open. You really cannot go wrong with the F50/1.7, and the price is right too.

12-02-2007, 03:30 AM	#12
simonkit Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 645	I've just bought a used F 1.7 (manual) from ebay for very little considering it's image quality. As you're on a tight budget why not try a used 1.7 first & see how you get on with it - if you decide you definitely want the FA version you can always resell the manual one for probably as much as you paid for it anyway !! simon

12-02-2007, 02:59 PM	#13
m8o Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: 40°-55'-44" N / 73°-24'-07" W [on LI] Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,092	Our admin and site owner Adam, had very good things to say about the 1.7 ... but he didn't mention the F, rather the FA, A and M. I'm not sure where the F stands in realtion in IQ to these three, hoping it's more 'FA' then other, hoping someone else can. But I think it'll do ya just fine in any case. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/9903-all-f-1-4...s-50mm-fa.html

12-02-2007, 05:01 PM	#14
incitatus Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 47	All 50 1.7 have the same optical formula, so excluding changes in the SMC (which won't effect sharpness, I think), they should give the same picture.