[eddie1960]

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Everyone seems to want to spend your money with AF lenses and zooms that while fast aren't really that fast

Super Tak 50 f 1.4. fast cheap and excellent rendering. certainly fast enough to give you shots in iso 400 light. Babies don't really move all that fast so no reason you can't use MF lenses. If you decide you really like the focal length but just have to have AF down the road you can easily sell the tak for what you paid and put the funds towards a FA 50 f1.4 which is the modern equivalent

this was shot in a very dim lounge with minimal stage lights at f4 actually iso 400 (sorry no baby examples)




Cheaper still is the M 50 f1.7. this was iso 1250 outside on the dimly lit street at night f 1.7

[Mareket]

Get the F 50 1.7 then. It's horribly plasticky but it's fast, has autofocus and gets great shots. Just be careful with composition at large apertures. Unless you flatten the baby, you're going to have a lot that's out of focus.

Pentax SF10 35mm Film Camera w/ 50mm f1.7 Lens L@@K! | eBay Keep an eye on that, you might grab a bargain.

[eddie1960]

nothing wrong with OOF areas as long as you compose for them

[GibbyTheMole]

I'd go with an old Pentax MF 50mm prime. You can get a 1.7 "A" lens for around $60, and an f2 "A" for around 30. a 1.4 "A" is going to run quite a bit more. Probably in the $120 range.

If you don't mind shooting manual, you can save some money by going with an M-series prime. I have a lovely little 50mm 1.4 M lens that's a joy to use & super-sharp. I picked it up used for $30 in a camera shop.

The optical quality of those old Pentax 50s are generally superb.

[baro-nite]

I'd go with an old Pentax MF 50mm prime. You can get a 1.7 "A" lens for around $60, and an f2 "A" for around 30. a 1.4 "A" is going to run quite a bit more. Probably in the $120 range.

I think you'd be lucky to get those prices right now. Of course YMMV, but I'd say add 20-30% for the price of each. The f2 is widely available and probably has the best chance for a bargain price. May be different in Korea.

If you don't mind shooting manual, you can save some money by going with an M-series prime. I have a lovely little 50mm 1.4 M lens that's a joy to use & super-sharp. I picked it up used for $30 in a camera shop.

No doubt about the quality of the M 50 1.4, one of my favorites. $30 is an absolute steal and $100+ is a more normal price.

The optical quality of those old Pentax 50s are generally superb.

I'm in complete agreement there!

[eddie1960]

i'm with Baro-nite, the price estimates are definitely on the low side

you'd be pushed to find an m 50 1.7 for less than $50, a 1.4 definitely $100+

the f2 lenses will be the lowest and a $30 lens there is quite attainable

if you have time and patience and are willing to shop in seedy junk shops (I do) then you may find deals from them not knowing the value (or for that matter doing anything to make them appealing all my junk lenses needed a seriously good clean, but were good to go after that) . I've scored many lenses for well under $20 in those scenarios.
Fleabay and other venues though you likely won't be that lucky
best values i have from fleabay have all been from Lot's where I got multiple items

the FA50 1.4 i would say even a good price used now is $250 it retails more like $400
The F50 1.7 $200 or so

[crossmr]

The one I've seen kicking around Korea, is this one:
Gmarket- Korean No.1 Shopping Site, Hottest, Trendy, Lowest price, Worldwide shipping available

We actually seem to have some reviews of it, and the price is cheaper than what's listed here (average $66, but it's $46 here)

HorusBennu 50mm F1.7 MC (PK) Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

[paulh]

Agree with Eddie & Gibby - a manual-focus 50 is a good & cheap solution. You're already familiar with MF from your K1000 days, and it's a simple matter of using the green button metering with the M or K lenses. Even a dirt-cheap M50 f/2 can give you some nice shots, altho a bit softer wide-open than the 1.7. But that could be used to nice effect on baby photos.

[Aristophanes]

Keep in mind the lower f-stop also means softer photos due tot he much shallower DOF.

I have 2 small ones and my go-to (indoor) lens is the Tamron 17-50/2.8 with a bounce flash. I occasionally use the 50/1.4, but need decent natural light to get the right shots.

The cheap manual 50's are good suggestions as well, but frankly, it can be hit or miss with your subject compared to an AF lens.

[bjake]

A Pentax A 50 mm f2 is a good choice as the auto exposure will work the same as more modern lens but with manual exposure.For some reason the f 2 is looked down on as compared to the f1.7 but a lot of us believe it is just as good.These can sometimes be found for $25.I use this lens a lot myself.
Jake

[hoanpham]

What you really need is FA*85/1.4, A50/1.2, A*135/1.8, FA35/2, FA24/2. May be FA50/1.4 as well for AF.
Why dont you just get these, dont have to make up any reason.

[eddie1960]

What you really need is FA*85/1.4, A50/1.2, A*135/1.8, FA35/2, FA24/2. May be FA50/1.4 as well for AF.
Why dont you just get these, dont have to make up any reason.

[paulh]

Originally posted by hoanpham*
What you really need is FA*85/1.4, A50/1.2, A*135/1.8, FA35/2, FA24/2. May be FA50/1.4 as well for AF.
Why dont you just get these, dont have to make up any reason.

I guess "affordable" means different things to different ppl...

[RioRico]

I currently have ~225 lenses (but a few will sell soon) and my only AF prime is the FA50/1.4, my gotta-get-the-shot lens. It's ideal for shooting squirmin' vermin (infants) in low light. What I use on my grandkids indoors includes the manual-focus Vivitar-Kiron 24/2, a low-light lens with sufficient DOF that focus isn't critical; the slower autofocus F35-70, very agile but ISO needs to rise a bit; and the AF360 flash, diffused and bounced off ceilings. The suggested Tamron 17-50/2.8 is a good choice too. Have fun!

[Ash]

I think you've got enough good advice here already to answer your question as to a fast and affordable lens.
Fast fifty and/or f/2.8 wide-normal zooms abound, and they're not very expensive...