[Schmidlapper]

I have in the past on here linked to my own 50mm lens resolution comparisons and examples.
The SMC Tak 55/1.8 is quite sharp, not contrasty and has a quality to it's rendering that I liken to an oil painting.
Of my K mount 50s I prefer my M50/1.4 over both the A50/1.7 or M50/1.7

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Last edited by Schmidlapper; 03-17-2013 at 05:00 AM. Reason: correction

[axl]

Whell..it seems like everyone has their favorite.
I dont wanna buy them all, so im interested to know what you think.

The candidates.
1. Sup Tak 50/1.4
2. Super Multi Coated Tak 50/1.4
3. SMC Tak 50/1.4
4. Super/smc tak 55/1.8
5. K 50 1.4
6. K 55/1.8
7. M 50/1.4
8. M 50/1.7
9. A 50/1.4
10. A 50/1.7
11. F 50 1.4
12. F 50 1.7

Be free to go nuts on other lenses as well but i thought it would be interested of whish one you prefer even if most of these are good.
I excluded the 1.2 lenses cause not many has them.

out of your list I'd get K50/1.4 and K55/1.8 and F50/1.8 (I actually did have them all at some point )
but I have to say that the really best option is the one you left out and that is K50/1.2. Seriously...

[vladimiroltean]

Kcobain92, really like your magical pictures in the lens reviews

Thanks, unfortunately my contract with those fairies has ended quite a while ago

[jwc77]

Either the SMC Tak 50 1.4 or the F 50 1.7. It depends on if I need autofocus. Although I really like my M 50 f4 Macro too...don't hear a lot about it but it has beautiful rendering.

[Just1MoreDave]

Causey, i like the k55 1.8 too.
The ones i posess is the K55/1.8 and the SMC Takumar 1.4/50.
For me its more importent with good q images rather than shooting fast and easy.

Well i might try out the f 1.7 but im afraid i stop using the older lenses then :/

With the lenses you already have, I'd cross a few off your list:

2. Super Multi Coated Tak 50/1.4
3. SMC Tak 50/1.4
4. Super/smc tak 55/1.8
5. K 50 1.4
6. K 55/1.8

Those are ones you have or ones that differ so little from the versions you have, they might as well be the same.

That leaves:

1. Sup Tak 50/1.4
7. M 50/1.4
8. M 50/1.7
9. A 50/1.4
10. A 50/1.7
11. F 50 1.4
12. F 50 1.7

Of those, the F50/1.7 has a lot that you don't already own: AF, reports focal length and aperture, the sharp optical formula, and (arguably) better coatings. I have one and it does sometimes stay in rotation more often than the others. But it makes using the nice manual focus lenses a pleasure in comparison.

[boriscleto]

You have to buy them all, sorry

just ask @Digitalis

[macTak]

Well, I've managed to have quite a few of these (as well as the K50/1.2 and the FA50/1.7, the later of which should be on your list if the F is). In the end, I kept the M50/1.7 (very sharp, lack of aberrations, compact, excellent bargain), and the S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4 (again very sharp, excellent bokeh, great build quality). The S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4, the SMC Takumar 50/1.4 and the K50/1.4 are all the same optical design (unlike the later M50/1.4), so you could get whichever one you can find more cheaply (or you may prefer the K, if you don't have the M42 adaptor and also since all focusing will be wide open with it). I ended up keeping the S-M-C Takumar over the K50/1.4 just because I love the look and build of those more, and to balance my K-mount and M42 mount holdings. I've had versions of the 55 (both f1.8 and f2, which is the same f1.8 optic limited to f2), and it's way of rendering and bokeh never quite agreed with me--it's definitely different than the 50's, and I know a lot of other people love it and get great results with it, but it just didn't quite mesh with my style.

[Class A]

Tried/had them all... My favorite is the K 55/1.8, except that it's not AF, so I've replaced it with a FA 50/1.4. If the K 55/1.8 had AF, it would be... the DA 55mm

+1

AFAIC, the K 55/1.8 with AF would be better than the DA* 55/1.4.
I really like my K 55/1.8. Don't use it enough because it is MF, but what a lens this is.

EDIT: Have you seen this "DA*55 vs K/Tak 55mm" thread? Some instructive images in there.

[stevebrot]

I have a lot of fast 50s to fit Pentax. Summary:

• Best overall: Pentax-K 55/1.8
• Favorite overall: Pentax-M 50/1.7
• Easiest to use on my dSLR, but seldom mounted: Pentax-A 50/1.7
• Best results (highest keeper rate): KMZ Helios 44M 58/2
• Sentimental favorite (seldom used, but really like): Super-Takumar 55/1.8
• Most character: KMZ Helios 44M 58/2, Auto-Rikenon 50/1.7 (tie)
• Only used for macro and closeups: Sigma EX DG 50/2.8 Macro

Lenses that I should like and use, but tend not to:

• XR Rikenon 50/2 (Very sharp with good contrast, not so good bokeh)
• Auto-Rikenon 55/1.4 (Low contrast, veiling flare, center hot spot syndrome)
• Auto Mamiya/Sekor 55/1.8 (Very pretty, nicely built, but ultimately not as engaging as the others)

As noted above fast 50s are addictive. If the OP already owns the K55/1.8, that should cover most of the bases from a practical standpoint unless AF is strongly desired.


Steve

[jkomp316]

You know whats actually a decent 50mm that you can get for pennies. Sears was branding Ricoh stuff for awhile. I have a few 50mm f/2.0 lenses I picked up for under $10. They look/feel/perform the same albeit with different writing on the front.

[yusuf]

• Favorite overall: Pentax-M 50/1.7
• Easiest to use on my dSLR, but seldom mounted: Pentax-A 50/1.7

Just wondering, what keeps your A50 away in favour of M50. I have both the lenses but never compared them. M50 is always on ME super and A50 on k-x.

Btw, just quickly shot two pics with K55 and A50, both wide open, no PP, straight from RAW:

K55


A50

[ducdao]

I was afraid you were gonna say so...
If you buy them all. You probably keep them all cause their not bad.

I got rid of my mamiya 55 1.8 after long while, and probably hope to get rid of the yashinon (tominion made?)
M42 5cm f2. This one looks identical to the auto tak. :/

That's what happened to me...I end up keeping them all. I sold several lenses but none of them are from my little Pentax K-mount collection (the two from the right are not, I ran out of storage space).

[stevebrot]

Just wondering, what keeps your A50 away in favour of M50.

The two share essentially the same optics, but the M is more compact, has better build, and is simply nicer to use. The A 50/1.7 pretty much stays on the Super Program (film camera). It is simply a matter of personal preference. and style of shooting.

Steve

[SyncGuy]

That's what happened to me...I end up keeping them all. I sold several lenses but none of them are from my little Pentax K-mount collection (the two from the right are not, I ran out of storage space).

*gasp*
That's REALLY little... Mine must be miniscule then...

[toukan]

To be honest...all of the ones on that list are terrible and not worth anything.....you should all put them up for sale at bargain prices or better yet, just send to me for recycling...lol.. Seriously though, being relatively new to photography (that is, beyond a p+s, and especially compared to some here, based on their statements) and even more new to Pentax, I have not tried many on that list. I have however recently picked up the M50/1.7 and so far i love it. The only thing is that i am learning that in anything from moderate to bright light, i need to really go for a much faster shutter speed than i first thought ... that said, i also have the A50/2.8 Macro, and it is awesome. The bokeh is beautiful, sharpness and colors awesome, and silky smooth operation. Just my two cents.