Just got my 50mm f1.8 lens and I have a question

David&karen · 01-10-2014, 05:08 PM

Hi everyone. I just got my replacement K3(for another thread) and it came from Adorama with a free DA 50mm f1.8 lens and I have a question about the focus ring on this lens - it has a lot of damping when you turn the focus ring, like a good M series lens from in the day. There is absolute buttery smoothness without any grinding or funny sounds. But when it af's it seems the motor has to overcome that amount of damping. In comparison my DA 35mm f2.4 has almost no damping. Can a few people that have this 50mm chime in about how stiff the focus is on it? Just seems weird in comparison to other screw drive lenses. Thanks,

David

vonBaloney · 01-10-2014, 05:14 PM

That lens does not have quick-shift (I think), so you should be setting the body to MF if you are going turn the righ manually, or else you are also turning the gears inside the camera. (You don't want to do that.)

jimr-pdx · 01-10-2014, 05:16 PM

My DA50 is the same, very nice and actually smoother than my Limiteds 21 and 70. If only it had quick shift... but with 7 aperture blades it's a great performer and a smidge faster than my 70. With belt-tightening in progress, this explains why the 70mm is in the marketplace now

the DA50 is good enough and they're too similar in focal length for me.

David&karen · 01-10-2014, 05:19 PM

I did not focus it while in the AF mode. It's good to know the damping is normal on this lens, it's really quite nice for manual use!

David

K57XR · 01-10-2014, 05:30 PM

I have my DA35mm f2.4, DA50mm f1.8 and an A-50 f2 (off camera) right next to me as I type. Turning their focus rings, the 35 virtually has no damping. Both of the 50s do but the 1.8 is smoother and more buttery.

David&karen · 01-10-2014, 05:50 PM

Cool! I'm glad they chose to make it that way.

**blackcloudbrew** · 01-10-2014, 07:28 PM

It's a very nice lens, I think you will come to like it a lot.

jeffw · 01-10-2014, 08:29 PM

Just purchased a DA 50 f1.8 off the marketplace . I like it already !

derekkite · 01-10-2014, 09:03 PM

Ohh, that is nice. I've got a DA12-24, the kit zoom 18-55, and a nice F100 macro, and am looking for something decent from 35-50mm. I do have an A50 1.4, but would like something AF. This looks nice.

01-10-2014, 05:08 PM	#1
David&karen Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 327	Just got my 50mm f1.8 lens and I have a question Hi everyone. I just got my replacement K3(for another thread) and it came from Adorama with a free DA 50mm f1.8 lens and I have a question about the focus ring on this lens - it has a lot of damping when you turn the focus ring, like a good M series lens from in the day. There is absolute buttery smoothness without any grinding or funny sounds. But when it af's it seems the motor has to overcome that amount of damping. In comparison my DA 35mm f2.4 has almost no damping. Can a few people that have this 50mm chime in about how stiff the focus is on it? Just seems weird in comparison to other screw drive lenses. Thanks, David

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01-10-2014, 05:14 PM	#2
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	That lens does not have quick-shift (I think), so you should be setting the body to MF if you are going turn the righ manually, or else you are also turning the gears inside the camera. (You don't want to do that.)

01-10-2014, 05:16 PM	#3
jimr-pdx Pentaxian Join Date: May 2010 Location: now 1 hour north of PDX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,897	My DA50 is the same, very nice and actually smoother than my Limiteds 21 and 70. If only it had quick shift... but with 7 aperture blades it's a great performer and a smidge faster than my 70. With belt-tightening in progress, this explains why the 70mm is in the marketplace now the DA50 is good enough and they're too similar in focal length for me.

01-10-2014, 05:19 PM	#4
David&karen Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 327 Original Poster	I did not focus it while in the AF mode. It's good to know the damping is normal on this lens, it's really quite nice for manual use! David

01-10-2014, 05:30 PM	#5
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	I have my DA35mm f2.4, DA50mm f1.8 and an A-50 f2 (off camera) right next to me as I type. Turning their focus rings, the 35 virtually has no damping. Both of the 50s do but the 1.8 is smoother and more buttery.

01-10-2014, 05:50 PM	#6
David&karen Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 327 Original Poster	Cool! I'm glad they chose to make it that way.

01-10-2014, 07:28 PM	#7
blackcloudbrew Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cotati, California USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,460	It's a very nice lens, I think you will come to like it a lot.

01-10-2014, 09:03 PM	#9
derekkite Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nelson B.C. Posts: 3,782	Ohh, that is nice. I've got a DA12-24, the kit zoom 18-55, and a nice F100 macro, and am looking for something decent from 35-50mm. I do have an A50 1.4, but would like something AF. This looks nice.

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