[Metalwizards]

I could swear I saw that pentax would be releasing a nifty 50 this on the news section here but I cannot for the lift of me find any info on this now. Anyone know about this?

[harish]

I think it was said that it will be a plastic mount DA 50 F1.8, similar to DA 35mm F2.4.

[Adam]

Here it is:
SMC Pentax-DA 50mm F1.8 Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Not available yet.

[Metalwizards]

Excellent thank you! I can't wait for this lens, shooting concerts is really hard with my M 50mm 1.4

I don't suspect we have any idea on a release date or relative price?

[Edgar_in_Indy]

Why don't you just go ahead and buy the FA 1.4, or F/FA 1.7? The F 1.7 is constantly selling on eBay for around $220, and has outstanding image quality. I just bought one a few days ago and have been thoroughly enjoying it. It produces the same kind of wonderful images as my old M 1.7, but has autofocus. Who knows how much the new lens will be with Pentax's new pricing strategy.

[harish]

Won't be a lot more than the 35mm 2.4. I recommend that you wait, unless you can't wait

[alstauffer]

If you care what your camera looks like when you're taking photos, I'd wait. The F/FA 50's are UGLY in my opinion. On the other hand, they are also really great lenses, that can probably be had for cheaper than what the new 50 will be, especially with the new pricing scheme. There were 2 F 1.7's that sold in the Marketplace for around $180 in the past week or so. One of them to me

I had the F 1.7 previously, took most of my nice(r) people photos with it (like below), decided I didn't like it and sold it because it wasn't as sharp as I'd like (probably my fault for shooting wide open all of the time) and it's so ugly, and just bought one back a couple of days ago because there was something about it that I just didn't get from my other lenses and I missed so much.



^That kid is such a ham.. Both shots indoors, natural, dim lighting. The one where he's leaning on the chair is just light coming from a window directly behind me, and the other one he's yelling to his mother standing in front of him, and he is underneath the brighter kitchen lights.

[Edgar_in_Indy]

I had the F 1.7 previously, took most of my nice(r) people photos with it (like below), decided I didn't like it and sold it because it wasn't as sharp as I'd like (probably my fault for shooting wide open all of the time) and it's so ugly, and just bought one back a couple of days ago because there was something about it that I just didn't get from my other lenses and I missed so much.

I agree with you on both points. The cheesy 1980's style of the FA 1.4 kept me from ever seriously considering it. But a while back I picked up a Pentax-M 50mm 1.7 for about $20, and fell in love with the image quality. It had wonderful contrast and bokeh, and the images just had a special character to them. And I found it surprisingly sharp at f1.7. The image quality is what led me to recently buy the F version with autofocus, despite its homely exterior.

If I were you, and I had some money, I would just go ahead and pick up an F 50mm 1.7 while waiting for the new 1.8. If the new 1.8 turns out to be a good lens, you can always sell the F 50mm for almost as much as you paid (or more, if you get a really good deal).

I'm at work, so I don't have access to any images from my F 50mm, but here's a few I've posted before from my M 1.7 that I think demonstrate the character of the lens. As far as I can tell, the IQ is identical between my old M and the new F. All of the pictures were shot wide-open at f/1.7 on my K-x using Catch-in-Focus:

[Metalwizards]

I agree with you on both points. The cheesy 1980's style of the FA 1.4 kept me from ever seriously considering it. But a while back I picked up a Pentax-M 50mm 1.7 for about $20, and fell in love with the image quality. It had wonderful contrast and bokeh, and the images just had a special character to them. And I found it surprisingly sharp at f1.7. The image quality is what led me to recently buy the F version with autofocus, despite its homely exterior.

If I were you, and I had some money, I would just go ahead and pick up an F 50mm 1.7 while waiting for the new 1.8. If the new 1.8 turns out to be a good lens, you can always sell the F 50mm for almost as much as you paid (or more, if you get a really good deal).

I'm at work, so I don't have access to any images from my F 50mm, but here's a few I've posted before from my M 1.7 that I think demonstrate the character of the lens. As far as I can tell, the IQ is identical between my old M and the new F. All of the pictures were shot wide-open at f/1.7 on my K-x using Catch-in-Focus:

Nice shots, I have an M 1.7 and M 1.4. Are the F and M optically identical?

[Edgar_in_Indy]

Nice shots, I have an M 1.7 and M 1.4. Are the F and M optically identical?

I don't know about the 1.4's, but I've read more than once that the M/F/FA 50mm 1.7 lenses all use the same optical formula.

[crewl1]

Kids are getting big fast there Edgar! Nice shots