Why I love the Pentax 50mm f1.4

bentax · 10-09-2008, 05:38 AM

Super lens especially for the price.
My girlfriend refers to it as "the lens that makes me look good."

As in: "Is that the..." OR "Can you put on..."

fearview · 10-09-2008, 11:18 PM

Originally posted by Ash

U&me both, Ben.
I can't get enough of that lens and have let everyone here know it on more than one occasion!
Nice capture - I love the low-key effect on the shot and strikingly sharp.
Not only can I see all the eyelashes, but even all the baby hair on her face! The detail is almost too much!

Here's my own contribution with this fabulous piece of glassware, shot at f/1.4!:

oh my god. very sharp picture.

did u use external flash or natural light for this brother?

Damn Brit · 10-10-2008, 12:15 AM

I don't use it much but it's the lens that can get you out of a hole so it's worth carrying around, it doesn't take up much space.
Here's a shot I took backstage at a concert a few weeks ago in failing light.
I chose the small DOF to soften the focus, I thought it was kinder to her, she's not young anymore unfortunately.
I thought it handled the OOF people both in back and the single person in front very well.

ll_coffee_lP · 10-10-2008, 09:34 AM

The FA50 1.4 is simply a must own lens for everyone.

c[_]

benjikan · 10-10-2008, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

The FA50 1.4 is simply a must own lens for everyone.

c[_]

It is a classic and considering that it is like a 75mm 1.4 lens, it is astounding.

Everyone should own one.

Ben

FHPhotographer · 10-10-2008, 11:42 AM

Originally posted by benjikan

It is a classic and considering that it is like a 75mm 1.4 lens, it is astounding.

Everyone should own one.

Ben

There are some great shots with the 50 f/1.4 but I'm starting to think I'm expecting too much resolution from the lens on a K100D. This was shot @ f/8 and 1/45th, Manual Mode, auto ISO and WB, on a tripod, shake reduction off and using the two-second timer. In other words, everything I could think of to get the best possible resolution/sharpness etc. The second image is the HDR version... and still, it lacks that je ne sais quoi image quality I'm looking for.

HDR version:

Any ideas? Upgrade the camera? Upgrade the lens? Upgrade the photographer?
All input welcomed,
Brian (FHPhotographer)

egordon99 · 10-10-2008, 11:49 AM

At that close of a distance, even at f/8, you are still running into shallow DOF issues, that's probably what you're seeing when you think it's not as sharp as can be.

Originally posted by FHPhotographer

There are some great shots with the 50 f/1.4 but I'm starting to think I'm expecting too much resolution from the lens on a K100D. This was shot @ f/8 and 1/45th, Manual Mode, auto ISO and WB, on a tripod, shake reduction off and using the two-second timer. In other words, everything I could think of to get the best possible resolution/sharpness etc. The second image is the HDR version... and still, it lacks that je ne sais quoi image quality I'm looking for.

[Any ideas? Upgrade the camera? Upgrade the lens? Upgrade the photographer?
All input welcomed,
Brian (FHPhotographer)

FHPhotographer · 10-10-2008, 02:19 PM

Originally posted by benjikan

It is a classic and considering that it is like a 75mm 1.4 lens, it is astounding.

Everyone should own one.

Ben

Originally posted by egordon99

At that close of a distance, even at f/8, you are still running into shallow DOF issues, that's probably what you're seeing when you think it's not as sharp as can be.

I must be confused on this point. I thought depth of field was controlled by the f-stop of the lens assuming the shot was in focus. Are you saying DOF is also affected by the distance to the focus point? That if I'm at the minimum distance for the 50 f/1.4 (18" according to photozone) that the image quality will be impacted by that DOF compared to shooting from say 24"?
Brian (FHPhotog)

egordon99 · 10-10-2008, 03:03 PM

Of course DOF is affected by the distance to the subject! Look up a Depth-of-field calculator online. Or you can try it yourself....

FHPhotographer · 10-10-2008, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by egordon99

Of course DOF is affected by the distance to the subject! Look up a Depth-of-field calculator online. Or you can try it yourself....

Sorry, that wasn't my question. I get the perspective change, and the DOF change with subject distance, but is there an image quality change?

Maybe another term would help narrow my question: from dpreview Glossary "Subject distance is the distance between the camera (lens) and the main subject. Varying the subject distance will change perspective. Also, varying the subject distance with the same aperture will produce a different depth of field."

I'll run a test with the 50 f/1.4 and see what happens, from the minimum distance of 18" in increments up to say 36"?
Brian

dantuyhoa · 10-10-2008, 05:56 PM

Love my FA 50/1.4

Tran

Damn Brit · 10-10-2008, 06:09 PM

Tran, that is a nice portrait, is your monitor callibrated because it looks quite yellow on my screen.

ghost · 10-10-2008, 06:10 PM

that is a great example of the DOF of this lens! People say it is soft wide open, which it might be, but from 5 feet away, the DOF is literally 1 inch. Not a lot is in focus. I love my fast fifty.

dantuyhoa · 10-10-2008, 06:15 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Tran, that is a nice portrait, is your monitor callibrated because it looks quite yellow on my screen.

Thanks .

It looks fine on mine and others .. until now

.

What kind of monitor do you have ? I'm up for a upgrade ..soon !

brian s. · 10-10-2008, 08:47 PM

Mine is pretty sharp wide open-
Couple of quick jpegs in low light-
F1.4 1/30 iso 200

10-10-2008, 12:15 AM	#78
Damn Brit Guest	I don't use it much but it's the lens that can get you out of a hole so it's worth carrying around, it doesn't take up much space. Here's a shot I took backstage at a concert a few weeks ago in failing light. I chose the small DOF to soften the focus, I thought it was kinder to her, she's not young anymore unfortunately. I thought it handled the OOF people both in back and the single person in front very well. Last edited by Damn Brit; 03-29-2010 at 07:40 PM.

10-10-2008, 11:42 AM	#81
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297	Am I expecting too much? Originally posted by benjikan It is a classic and considering that it is like a 75mm 1.4 lens, it is astounding. Everyone should own one. Ben There are some great shots with the 50 f/1.4 but I'm starting to think I'm expecting too much resolution from the lens on a K100D. This was shot @ f/8 and 1/45th, Manual Mode, auto ISO and WB, on a tripod, shake reduction off and using the two-second timer. In other words, everything I could think of to get the best possible resolution/sharpness etc. The second image is the HDR version... and still, it lacks that je ne sais quoi image quality I'm looking for. HDR version: Any ideas? Upgrade the camera? Upgrade the lens? Upgrade the photographer? All input welcomed, Brian (FHPhotographer)

10-10-2008, 02:19 PM	#83
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297	I'm confused on this DOF thing... Originally posted by benjikan It is a classic and considering that it is like a 75mm 1.4 lens, it is astounding. Everyone should own one. Ben Originally posted by egordon99 At that close of a distance, even at f/8, you are still running into shallow DOF issues, that's probably what you're seeing when you think it's not as sharp as can be. I must be confused on this point. I thought depth of field was controlled by the f-stop of the lens assuming the shot was in focus. Are you saying DOF is also affected by the distance to the focus point? That if I'm at the minimum distance for the 50 f/1.4 (18" according to photozone) that the image quality will be impacted by that DOF compared to shooting from say 24"? Brian (FHPhotog)

10-10-2008, 03:40 PM	#85
FHPhotographer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Fountain Hills, AZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,297	but that wasn't my question... Originally posted by egordon99 Of course DOF is affected by the distance to the subject! Look up a Depth-of-field calculator online. Or you can try it yourself.... Sorry, that wasn't my question. I get the perspective change, and the DOF change with subject distance, but is there an image quality change? Maybe another term would help narrow my question: from dpreview Glossary "Subject distance is the distance between the camera (lens) and the main subject. Varying the subject distance will change perspective. Also, varying the subject distance with the same aperture will produce a different depth of field." I'll run a test with the 50 f/1.4 and see what happens, from the minimum distance of 18" in increments up to say 36"? Brian

10-10-2008, 08:47 PM	#90
brian s. Inactive Account Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern California Photos: Gallery Posts: 37	I love this lens Mine is pretty sharp wide open- Couple of quick jpegs in low light- F1.4 1/30 iso 200

10-09-2008, 05:38 AM	#76
bentax Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Australia Posts: 190	Super lens especially for the price. My girlfriend refers to it as "the lens that makes me look good." As in: "Is that the..." OR "Can you put on..."

10-09-2008, 11:18 PM	#77
fearview Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Jakarta Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,067	Originally posted by Ash U&me both, Ben. I can't get enough of that lens and have let everyone here know it on more than one occasion! Nice capture - I love the low-key effect on the shot and strikingly sharp. Not only can I see all the eyelashes, but even all the baby hair on her face! The detail is almost too much! Here's my own contribution with this fabulous piece of glassware, shot at f/1.4!: oh my god. very sharp picture. did u use external flash or natural light for this brother?

10-10-2008, 09:34 AM	#79
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	The FA50 1.4 is simply a must own lens for everyone. c[_]

10-10-2008, 10:50 AM	#80
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308 Original Poster	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP The FA50 1.4 is simply a must own lens for everyone. c[_] It is a classic and considering that it is like a 75mm 1.4 lens, it is astounding. Everyone should own one. Ben

10-10-2008, 11:49 AM	#82
egordon99 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 1,561	At that close of a distance, even at f/8, you are still running into shallow DOF issues, that's probably what you're seeing when you think it's not as sharp as can be. Originally posted by FHPhotographer There are some great shots with the 50 f/1.4 but I'm starting to think I'm expecting too much resolution from the lens on a K100D. This was shot @ f/8 and 1/45th, Manual Mode, auto ISO and WB, on a tripod, shake reduction off and using the two-second timer. In other words, everything I could think of to get the best possible resolution/sharpness etc. The second image is the HDR version... and still, it lacks that je ne sais quoi image quality I'm looking for. [Any ideas? Upgrade the camera? Upgrade the lens? Upgrade the photographer? All input welcomed, Brian (FHPhotographer)

10-10-2008, 03:03 PM	#84
egordon99 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 1,561	Of course DOF is affected by the distance to the subject! Look up a Depth-of-field calculator online. Or you can try it yourself....

10-10-2008, 05:56 PM	#86
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245	Love my FA 50/1.4 Tran

10-10-2008, 06:09 PM	#87
Damn Brit Guest	Tran, that is a nice portrait, is your monitor callibrated because it looks quite yellow on my screen.

10-10-2008, 06:10 PM	#88
ghost Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Barrie, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 174	that is a great example of the DOF of this lens! People say it is soft wide open, which it might be, but from 5 feet away, the DOF is literally 1 inch. Not a lot is in focus. I love my fast fifty.

10-10-2008, 06:15 PM	#89
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245	Originally posted by Damn Brit Tran, that is a nice portrait, is your monitor callibrated because it looks quite yellow on my screen. Thanks . It looks fine on mine and others .. until now . What kind of monitor do you have ? I'm up for a upgrade ..soon !

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