The Pentax-A 50mm f1.2 Silver Special, the rarest of them all?

pinholecam · 09-24-2014, 09:41 PM

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200 said to be made and AFAIK only about 4-8 have ever surfaced on english speaking forums.

Congrats on the A50/1.2 Special.
Curious to know if there a difference optically from the A50/1.2?

**Digitalis** · 09-24-2014, 10:24 PM

I don't buy special edition lenses or camera bodies, that is my one rule. Because special editions are worth more in mint condition and if you know me at all, lenses I use (especially if they are good) don't stay in mint condition or long.

Pentax K5IIs - Pentax SMC-K 50mm f/1.2 @ f/1.2

Originally posted by pinholecam

Curious to know if there a difference optically from the A50/1.2?

Pentax would have to use lead free glass, as the limited edition LX and 50mm f/1.2 lenses were produced circa 2000. So there probably are a few minor differences in the optical formula to compensate for the different refractive Indices of the individual lens elements. This had to be done so the production of the cameras was compliant with ROHS - a policy that swung into action in the same year.

**Pål Jensen** · 09-25-2014, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The M 35/1.4 is the rarest. There might be 5 outside of Pentax.

Has anyone actually seen one? Where are those five? What about the A 35/1.4?

**monochrome** · 09-25-2014, 08:31 AM

Originally posted by Pål Jensen

Has anyone actually seen one? Where are those five? What about the A 35/1.4?

Boz says he hasn't seen the lens but he has held the fitting hood.

kp0c · 09-25-2014, 04:46 PM

That silver edition 50mm 1.2 is the most beautiful lens I HAVE EVER SEEN! I want one so bad, but there is no way I can afford one. That being said... for the richer among you guys : NEW Pentax LX 2000 KIT Body A 50mm F 1 2 Lens Year 2000 Limited 175 | eBay

Stavri · 09-25-2014, 05:13 PM

Originally posted by kp0c

That silver edition 50mm 1.2 is the most beautiful lens I HAVE EVER SEEN! I want one so bad, but there is no way I can afford one. That being said... for the richer among you guys : NEW Pentax LX 2000 KIT Body A 50mm F 1 2 Lens Year 2000 Limited 175 | eBay

I feel the same way, hands down the best looking piece of photographic equipment ever created.

It seems ADAM has that identical set, LX silver + 50mm f1.2 silver ...

(the gold variant seems a little tacky, is that alligator focus ring?)

Winder · 09-25-2014, 05:53 PM

Lenses like this are why I'm considering picking up a Sony A7r. They are the reason I think Ricoh should launch a mirrorless FF body the size of the LX. The EVF make with focus peaking makes manual focus faster and easier than it has ever been and you can design lenses like this for it.

**Digitalis** · 09-25-2014, 06:03 PM

Originally posted by Winder

Lenses like this are why I'm considering picking up a Sony A7r

Too bad there are reports of the the focus peaking on the Sony A7r is practically useless for any lens faster than f/2

yusuf · 09-25-2014, 09:21 PM

Originally posted by Digitalis

Too bad there are reports of the the focus peaking on the Sony A7r is practically useless for any lens faster than f/2

where are those reports? one always need to zoom in for the accuracy. I have been using K50/1.2, 50/1.4, Samyang 85 f1.4 on my NEXs and now A7 & A7r.

09-24-2014, 10:24 PM	#17
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	I don't buy special edition lenses or camera bodies, that is my one rule. Because special editions are worth more in mint condition and if you know me at all, lenses I use (especially if they are good) don't stay in mint condition or long. Pentax K5IIs - Pentax SMC-K 50mm f/1.2 @ f/1.2 Originally posted by pinholecam Curious to know if there a difference optically from the A50/1.2? Pentax would have to use lead free glass, as the limited edition LX and 50mm f/1.2 lenses were produced circa 2000. So there probably are a few minor differences in the optical formula to compensate for the different refractive Indices of the individual lens elements. This had to be done so the production of the cameras was compliant with ROHS - a policy that swung into action in the same year. Last edited by Digitalis; 09-24-2014 at 10:31 PM.

09-25-2014, 05:13 PM	#21
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832 Original Poster	Originally posted by kp0c That silver edition 50mm 1.2 is the most beautiful lens I HAVE EVER SEEN! I want one so bad, but there is no way I can afford one. That being said... for the richer among you guys : NEW Pentax LX 2000 KIT Body A 50mm F 1 2 Lens Year 2000 Limited 175 \| eBay I feel the same way, hands down the best looking piece of photographic equipment ever created. It seems ADAM has that identical set, LX silver + 50mm f1.2 silver ... (the gold variant seems a little tacky, is that alligator focus ring?) Attached Images Last edited by Stavri; 09-25-2014 at 05:19 PM.

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09-24-2014, 09:41 PM	#16
pinholecam Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,706	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. 200 said to be made and AFAIK only about 4-8 have ever surfaced on english speaking forums. Congrats on the A50/1.2 Special. Curious to know if there a difference optically from the A50/1.2?

09-25-2014, 07:32 AM	#18
Pål Jensen Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 4,371	Originally posted by boriscleto The M 35/1.4 is the rarest. There might be 5 outside of Pentax. Has anyone actually seen one? Where are those five? What about the A 35/1.4?

09-25-2014, 08:31 AM	#19
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by Pål Jensen Has anyone actually seen one? Where are those five? What about the A 35/1.4? Boz says he hasn't seen the lens but he has held the fitting hood.

09-25-2014, 04:46 PM	#20
kp0c Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 761	That silver edition 50mm 1.2 is the most beautiful lens I HAVE EVER SEEN! I want one so bad, but there is no way I can afford one. That being said... for the richer among you guys : NEW Pentax LX 2000 KIT Body A 50mm F 1 2 Lens Year 2000 Limited 175 \| eBay

09-25-2014, 05:53 PM	#22
Winder Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tennessee Posts: 6,617	Lenses like this are why I'm considering picking up a Sony A7r. They are the reason I think Ricoh should launch a mirrorless FF body the size of the LX. The EVF make with focus peaking makes manual focus faster and easier than it has ever been and you can design lenses like this for it.

09-25-2014, 06:03 PM	#23
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Originally posted by Winder Lenses like this are why I'm considering picking up a Sony A7r Too bad there are reports of the the focus peaking on the Sony A7r is practically useless for any lens faster than f/2

09-25-2014, 09:21 PM	#24
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Originally posted by Digitalis Too bad there are reports of the the focus peaking on the Sony A7r is practically useless for any lens faster than f/2 where are those reports? one always need to zoom in for the accuracy. I have been using K50/1.2, 50/1.4, Samyang 85 f1.4 on my NEXs and now A7 & A7r.