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06-23-2013, 10:24 PM - 1 Like   #1
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SMC-M 50/1.7 - a must have.

I recently bought a second hand K-5, and the seller recommended me to throw in a few extra bucks and get the
SMC-M 50/1.7 to go with it. I'm amazed that such a cheap lens can be this good.
The lack of AF doesn't bother me one tiny bit, neither does the fact that I need to go manual-mode on the K5,
just like in the old days. (Yes, I grew up in the film era long before AF and camera-modes were invented.)
My recommendation is go get one of these lenses and learn how your camera works without all that fancy stuff.



06-23-2013, 10:57 PM   #2
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Still have the one that came with my first Pentax SLR. It is a great lens.
06-23-2013, 11:09 PM   #3
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I bought the 50mm F1.7 as my first manual lens and I can totally agree. Awesome thing!
Meanwhile I also acquired a F1.4, since it "came attached" to the K1000SE that I bought.
Both are great lenses, and every Pentax user should at least once try shooting with a manual nifty fifty at some point.
06-23-2013, 11:22 PM   #4
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It's a great lens ... no question about it ... J

06-24-2013, 01:38 AM   #5
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Never used a 1.7 or 1.4 Pentax. Have used a 58/2 Helios, 55/1.7 Chinon, 50/2 Pentax, 50/2.8 Zeiss Jena and Rikonen 50/2. Personally, I prefer the Rikonen, seems to be quite sharp, and the colors are great. It's also almost a pancake. Sharpest of that lot is the Chinon, followed by the Pentax, then the Helios. The Zeiss was a real bust.
06-24-2013, 03:39 AM   #6
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Agree with all the praise for this lens. The M 50 1.7 is a classic. Mine originally came with a black MX film camera attached many years ago, but I found it really shines on DSLR's too.

It's the sort of lens that should be in everyones collection, especially since it is usually very affordable used, as Pentax must have made literally millions of copies of that lens over the years.
06-24-2013, 05:12 AM   #7
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I've even used it in the studio. It's such an awesome lens. A MUST HAVE!

06-24-2013, 06:46 AM   #8
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The M 50mm f1.7 is the first manual lens I bought for a DSLR And its great. Sharp, has low light capabilities.. and just something about how it renders. Nice and smooth, clean.
06-24-2013, 06:49 AM   #9
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Would the A 50mm 1.7 be the same image wise?
06-24-2013, 07:02 AM   #10
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The 50/1.7 is a great little lump o' glass. (I have the A version, tho.) I used mine recently during a concert and a Wisconsin Dells trip. Sharp, small, fast, excellent bokeh. It's indispensable, IMO.

QuoteOriginally posted by Driline Quote
Would the A 50mm 1.7 be the same image wise?
Yep. It's identical, optics-wise.
06-24-2013, 07:48 AM   #11
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Yes the 50/1.7 is a great old lens.

Problem is that once you have one of these old timers LBA will kick in and you will want|: the 28mm, 35mm, 100mm, 200mm ans so on.

Tom G
06-24-2013, 09:11 AM   #12
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I have one M 50 f1.7 and like it. I think my favorite is the A 50mm f1.4, or the K 50 f1.4, but the M 50 f1.7 and f2 both do very well too. I haven't used the 1.7 in a while, need to pull it out and take it for a walk. It's gotten me some very nice shots with the K-x, I don't think I've ever put it on the K30. Need to do that...

I got all of mine attached to film bodies years ago. One was $4 at a yard sale, ME Super that worked perfect. I can't remember which one came with the 1.7 though... I think the most I paid for any of them was a A3000 in excellent condition for $30 at a pawn shop...it had the A 50 f1.4 on it, I got another at the same shop and they swapped the existing 50mm for a 28mm for me. (no, it wasn't a f1.2....I checked...) $20 for that one...It was a MV body I bought so my sister would have a 35mm that was basically a point and shoot, that way she could just focus and shoot and still get better shots than the instamatic 110 she was using. Got it home and the electronics refused to work for some reason...never did figure it out, it worked great when I bought it...Oh well, I figure the 28mm lens was worth the twenty bucks...I didn't need another 50mm, I had 5 already...

Anyway basically all of my Pentax 50mm lenses do an excellent job, even the f2, which I think gets an undeserved bad rep. Mine works quite well and gets good shots. I still like the A 50 f1.4 best though...
06-24-2013, 09:24 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paleo Pete Quote
...I didn't need another 50mm, I had 5 already...
Blasphemy, I say, LBA blasphemy !!! J
06-24-2013, 09:29 AM   #14
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hehehe...I should have known someone would say that...thing is, I didn't have a 28mm yet, and DID have five 50mm already. And was already buying the camera no matter what. What would YOU do? 28mm you don't have or 50mm to add to the pile, and no extra bucks...

Decisions decisions...to me it was a no brainer...
06-24-2013, 09:37 AM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paleo Pete Quote
hehehe... What would YOU do? ...
Maybe sell a kidney, since there's two of 'em to start with ... J
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