Originally posted by benjikan Just curious, how would you compare the Pentax 50 f1.4 AF to the 58?
Thanks
Ben
Hi Ben. Your curiosity is what made you today
As you know, any so called scientific comparison between Fa 50 and 58mm is not going to be perfect from a clumpsy person like me.
Here is my gut feeling about the two lenses ( I had been using Joel's Fa 50 for about 2 years or so before he was convinced by me to sell it waiting for Da* 55 f1.4)
Below f2.8
Nokton can be sharp but the manual focusing can be quite tricky given that the depth of field at f1.4 on Nokton is probably thinner than Fa 50 f1.4/A 50 f1.4; This is a conclusion from my repeated use of Nokton for some months on the daily basis in the hospital. The contrast is low and of cooler tone - a kind of pale anaemic kind of look which is great to use soft layer technique you had disclosed late last year. Nokton takes up tungstun lighting a lot better in terms of the hue and brown colouring that are easily removed in colour channels.
Bokeh is what really makes me keeping this lens. The rule of thumb that I learnt from Jonas B is
The sharper the lens, the worse the bokeh
The background bokeh is in deed pleasant with leaves, branches, any colours or plastic surfaces. But nokton is still not capable of taking up metallic or white surfaces too well.
The spetacular highlights are often imperfect circles with extremely harsh edges (still better than Fa 50)
My problem with Fa 50 f1.4 is its propensity to purple Ca, bokeh Ca, clipping corners and hunting autofocus. This is after trying out two brand new copies from CRK since Joel has connections to the Australian pentax supplier.
It was a cheap lens back then and I would not mind to live with these problems. But the current market price is probably a little too much for these qualities. Of course, I am just an amateur photographer and this is just a view from a hobbist's perspective.
Above f2.8
I can say Nokton is just way too sharp. Most of time, f4 can print A3 sizes with razor sharp edges. The lens really shines. It is probably as sharp as Da 40mm f2.8 (Voe has this lens and this is why it is great to have a pentax community in where I live)
There is something sparkling when nokton is used at f4 - 5.6
I point to the ocean and it often gives that jingling feel. Colour is rather sleek.
Hope that helps