Replace FA50 f1.7 with a DA*55mm f1.4

BeerBelly · 05-14-2013, 11:23 PM

Hi,

I'm considering replacing my trusty old 50 1.7 with the new DA*55. I would be considering a second hand 55mm if that is relevant. Would you say that the IQ and overall quality of tha DA* warrants a replacement over the FA?
I know that the FA is considered to be one of the sharpest lenses, but the DA*55 should sharpen up by 1.8 to be on the same level or am I wrong?
Anyway, I'm interested in your thoughts please.

LennyBloke · 05-15-2013, 12:01 AM

Hi BeerBelly, I would strongly advise that if you are buying second hand that you try it out fully before you buy, or have an agreement that if you are not satisfied you can return it. The first copy I had was very poor at wider apertures (low contrast, blue fringing) - the replacement is superb (although it still needs AF adjustment on my K5).

BeerBelly · 05-15-2013, 12:05 AM

Thanks for the heads up. I will try to buy locally if available or arrange some sort of deal with returns. How do you like it?

tromboads · 05-15-2013, 01:52 AM

..surely the difference between the too would be completely negligible.

Stop worrying about the dumb stuff

Sif you FA isn't sharp enough?

Why do you want to swap?

Barbarosa · 05-15-2013, 03:59 AM

Is not same but yesterday i compared colors from fa35 with da*55.
Da * is much better in my eyes.

BeerBelly · 05-15-2013, 04:47 AM

@tromboads: the reason is mainly LBA to be honest, WR helps as well. I've always had a craving for it but would like to hear what other people think

@barbarosa: thanks, every bit helps.

MBT74 · 05-15-2013, 05:01 AM

The FA50 focuses faster and is a bit smaller. The DA*55 produces better colours in my opinion and mine seems more confident when auto focussing. Both are very sharp. My 55 is stupidly sharp, to the point where I have softened photos. I like the photos I've taken with the 55 more. If I have to choose between them I always pick the 55. The FA50 is there for when I'm going somewhere that I don't want to risk the 55.

bdery · 05-15-2013, 06:22 AM

By all accounts you will mainly gain silent focus, a nicer bokeh, quick-shift and WR. You will loose the small size and AF speed.

Personally, the one lens that would make me replace my F50 f1,7 is the FA43mm. And even then I'm not sure.

**Rondec** · 05-15-2013, 06:58 AM

The DA* 55 is a very nice lens -- nicer feel from the FA 50 1.7, weather sealing, nicer rendering of out of focus areas, sharper wide open. I guess one other thing is that while the 5mm is not much difference, I like the 55mm focal length on APS-C better than the 50mm focal lengths.

aurele · 05-15-2013, 07:16 AM

i had the F50/1,7 that i traded for the DA*55.

The DA*55 need to be well calibrated to give it's best (not possible with AF on my K-X unfortunately ... but so awesome on the MZ-5n and Super A).

Sharp, well, @1,4 it's as luch as the F @1,>7 /2

silent, but slow.

WR

worth the move ? mainly for WR and a better MF ring i'd say.

LennyBloke · 05-15-2013, 12:36 PM

Hi BeerBelly - the DA* 55mm has a much nicer feel to it than any of the F, FA or DA 50's, it's difficult to use at f1.4 (very shallow DOF), but between f2 and f2.8 is a real "sweet spot".

VisualDarkness · 05-15-2013, 02:32 PM

That build quality is miles above the FA 50/1.4. I barely used the FA but I use the 55/1.4 almost everyday, so for me it was worth it. I sold the FA for 270€ and added only a 120€ so my upgrade wasn't expensive at all.

**Kerrowdown** · 05-15-2013, 02:48 PM

Originally posted by BeerBelly

Replace FA50 f1.7 with a DA*55mm f1.4

What's all this replace nonsense.

The DA*55mm f1.4 would be additional too, how else do you expect your LBA to survive.

**boriscleto** · 05-15-2013, 02:50 PM

Originally posted by kerrowdown

What's all this replace nonsense.

The DA*55mm f1.4 would be additional too, how else do you expect your LBA to survive.

They aren't even the same focal length. Not that having 17 50mm and 5 55mm lenses should stop anyone....

tromboads · 05-15-2013, 04:11 PM

Ah... LBA is acceptable :P

05-14-2013, 11:23 PM	#1
BeerBelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139	*Replace FA50 f1.7 with a DA55mm f1.4** Hi, I'm considering replacing my trusty old 50 1.7 with the new DA55. I would be considering a second hand 55mm if that is relevant. Would you say that the IQ and overall quality of tha DA warrants a replacement over the FA? I know that the FA is considered to be one of the sharpest lenses, but the DA*55 should sharpen up by 1.8 to be on the same level or am I wrong? Anyway, I'm interested in your thoughts please.

05-15-2013, 02:50 PM	#14
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by kerrowdown What's all this replace nonsense. The DA55mm f1.4 would be additional too, how else do you expect your LBA to survive. They aren't even the same focal length. Not that having 17 50mm and 5 55mm lenses should stop anyone.... Last edited by boriscleto; 05-15-2013 at 06:34 PM.*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
smc PENTAX DA Star 55mm F1.4 SDM SUPER SLOW Auto Focus with K-7	brosen	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	21	05-15-2013 08:48 AM
For Sale - Sold: Price reduced: Pentax K200D, FA 50/f1.4, DA 55-300 ED, M 50/f1.7, A 35-70/f4	zj4c	Sold Items	5	11-21-2011 11:05 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA50 f1.4/F50 f1.7/DA55-300/Asanuma 200mm f3.5 M42(Worldwide)	elpolodiablo	Sold Items	18	06-01-2011 09:45 AM
Bag for Pentax K-7 with DA*55mm f1.4 and Macbook Pro 13" 2010	Student	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	8	02-17-2011 08:11 PM
FA 50mm f1.4 vs. F 50mm f1.7 (and DA 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 AL II)	EsBee	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	11	05-13-2009 12:21 AM

05-15-2013, 12:01 AM	#2
LennyBloke Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Worcestershire, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 677	Hi BeerBelly, I would strongly advise that if you are buying second hand that you try it out fully before you buy, or have an agreement that if you are not satisfied you can return it. The first copy I had was very poor at wider apertures (low contrast, blue fringing) - the replacement is superb (although it still needs AF adjustment on my K5).

05-15-2013, 12:05 AM	#3
BeerBelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139 Original Poster	Thanks for the heads up. I will try to buy locally if available or arrange some sort of deal with returns. How do you like it?

05-15-2013, 01:52 AM	#4
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,239	..surely the difference between the too would be completely negligible. Stop worrying about the dumb stuff Sif you FA isn't sharp enough? Why do you want to swap?

05-15-2013, 03:59 AM	#5
Barbarosa Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sanski Most Posts: 147	Is not same but yesterday i compared colors from fa35 with da55. Da is much better in my eyes.

05-15-2013, 04:47 AM	#6
BeerBelly Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 139 Original Poster	@tromboads: the reason is mainly LBA to be honest, WR helps as well. I've always had a craving for it but would like to hear what other people think @barbarosa: thanks, every bit helps.

05-15-2013, 05:01 AM	#7
MBT74 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 135	The FA50 focuses faster and is a bit smaller. The DA*55 produces better colours in my opinion and mine seems more confident when auto focussing. Both are very sharp. My 55 is stupidly sharp, to the point where I have softened photos. I like the photos I've taken with the 55 more. If I have to choose between them I always pick the 55. The FA50 is there for when I'm going somewhere that I don't want to risk the 55.

05-15-2013, 06:22 AM	#8
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	By all accounts you will mainly gain silent focus, a nicer bokeh, quick-shift and WR. You will loose the small size and AF speed. Personally, the one lens that would make me replace my F50 f1,7 is the FA43mm. And even then I'm not sure.

05-15-2013, 06:58 AM	#9
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,651	The DA* 55 is a very nice lens -- nicer feel from the FA 50 1.7, weather sealing, nicer rendering of out of focus areas, sharper wide open. I guess one other thing is that while the 5mm is not much difference, I like the 55mm focal length on APS-C better than the 50mm focal lengths.

05-15-2013, 07:16 AM	#10
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	i had the F50/1,7 that i traded for the DA55. The DA55 need to be well calibrated to give it's best (not possible with AF on my K-X unfortunately ... but so awesome on the MZ-5n and Super A). Sharp, well, @1,4 it's as luch as the F @1,>7 /2 silent, but slow. WR worth the move ? mainly for WR and a better MF ring i'd say.

05-15-2013, 12:36 PM	#11
LennyBloke Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Worcestershire, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 677	Hi BeerBelly - the DA* 55mm has a much nicer feel to it than any of the F, FA or DA 50's, it's difficult to use at f1.4 (very shallow DOF), but between f2 and f2.8 is a real "sweet spot".

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

05-15-2013, 02:32 PM	#12
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	That build quality is miles above the FA 50/1.4. I barely used the FA but I use the 55/1.4 almost everyday, so for me it was worth it. I sold the FA for 270€ and added only a 120€ so my upgrade wasn't expensive at all.

05-15-2013, 02:48 PM	#13
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,815	Originally posted by BeerBelly Replace FA50 f1.7 with a DA55mm f1.4 What's all this replace nonsense. The DA55mm f1.4 would be additional too, how else do you expect your LBA to survive.

05-15-2013, 04:11 PM	#15
tromboads Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Melbs Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,239	Ah... LBA is acceptable :P