[Jacchini]

Since last time some have left for a new home, some have joined the collection...

Pentaxes:
Super Tak 50/1.4 (8 element)
Super Tak 50/1.4 (7 element)
SMC Tak 50/1.4
M 50/1.4
M 50/1.7
F 50/1.7

Other M42 or K
Yashinon 50/1.4
Ifbagon 50/1.8
Rollei Planar 50/1.8
CZJ Pancolar 50/1.8
Zenitar 50/2
CZJ Tessar 50/2.8
Industar 50/3.5

The around-50's:
Voigtländer Ultron 40/2
M 40/2.8
DA 40/2.8
FA 43/1.9
Cosinon 55/1.4
SMC Tak 55/1.8
K 55/1.8
Helios 58/2.0 (44, 44-2, 44M, 44K-4)

Other mount:
Konica Hexanon 40/1.8
Zuiko Auto-S 50/1.8
Zuiko MC Macro 50/3.5

[Jonathan Mac]

Changes to my original list, I've added (NEW) to items new on the list. None have disappeared from the list though...

K-mount:

K 55mm f/1.8
K 50mm f/1.4
M 50mm f/1.7 (x3)
M 50mm f/1.4
Auto Revuenon 50mm f/1.4
A 50mm f/2.8 macro
FA 50mm f/1.7
DAL 50mm f/1.8 (NEW)
Centon 50mm f/1.7

Minolta SR mount:

Minolta 50mm f/1.7

Canon EF mount:

Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM

M42 mount:

Takumar 55mm f/1.8
Takumar 55mm f/2
Yashinon 50mm f/1.4
Helios 58mm f/2

Miranda mount:

50mm f/1.8 (with very stiff focusing ring) (NEW)

[steamloco76]

My goodness, my 50mm stable has grown since last I posted in this thread!
In order of acquisition:
SMC-FA f2.8 Macro
SMC-FA 1.4
Sears (Rikenon) f2
Pentax SMC K/M f1.2
Rikenon P f1.4
Super Takumar M42 f1.4

Out of that group, the FA 1.4 is the red-headed stepchild. I bought it new and now I never, ever use it and doubt I ever will. Fine lens, but it has no “magic”. Basically the Toyota Camry of my 50mms.

[BillO]

Do 55's count? If they do I have 8:

1. FA 50/1,4 (K-3 ii, K-3, K-7)
2. K 50/1.4 (LX)
3. FA 50/2.8 Macro (*istD)
4. M 50/4 Macro (LX, Super A)
5. A 50/1.7 (Super A)
6. SMC Tak 55/1.8 (ES II, Spotmatic-F)
7. Super-Tak 50/1.4 (SP 1000)
8. A 50/2 (PZ-20)

They are listed in my order of preference with the cameras they most often reside on (yes, I still like to shoot film)

[tokyoscape]

not many but love every one of them.

M50 f1.7 : super sharp from f 8 - 11, top quality built. Let it goes because I had the one I use more.

FA50 f2.8: Love this lens for its starburst and image quality. another super heavy 50mm. Let it go because I get a DA*55. Now I feel bad letting it goes!

DA*55 f1.4: I like it's over all rendering than those from FA50 macro but it flares like nobody business and I shoot city night light a lot. Pentax should have done a better flare control on this lens. disappointing with the flare, really star lense should have done a better job than this. but I love it when it doesn't flare.

[pinholecam]

Let me try to list ...

Takumar 55/1.8
Takumar 58/2 (Sonnar)
M50/2
A50/1.7
A50/1.4
FA50/1.4
M50/1.2
Revuenon 55/1.2
FA43ltd
Rollei 55/1.8 (Converted to M42)
Helios 44 58/2
Vivitar 55/2.8 macro


Non-K mount
----------------
FED 50/3.5
Canon ltm 50/1.4
Canon FD 55/1.2
Jupiter 3 50/1.5
Jupiter 8 (black)
Jupiter 8m (panda)
Industar 61
Industar 61L (panda)
Helios 103 53/1.8

I last counted 23 50mm lenses, so I am forgetting a few.


My favourite 50mm changes at a whim, but I'd think its the Takumar 58/2
Rare
Sonnar characteristics but not as funky bokeh wide open as other 50mm Sonnar's due to the longer focal length and slower aperture
I find that the Sonnar design gets better as the focal length gets longer; The Sonnar 85mm certainly has more situations with better bokeh than the 50mm's and the 105mm even better than the 85mm.
Lovely as a portrait lens
Very small (almost rangefinder lens like)


Next would be the A50/1.4 (which I have a very good copy) and by extension the FA50/1.4
Fast
Smallish for a 50/1.4
Cheap compared to most 50/1.4 out there with AF
Many situations where the bokeh is good (which despite big claims by many users of ofther brands that their lenses are 'bokeh kings' fail at some bkgnd distances, bkgnd types, focus distances)


The Pentax 50/1.2 is another fantastic lens and perhaps the best all rounder f1.2 lens out there when you balance it with real world characteristics.
Small for a f1.2
Good bokeh in more situations (Canon FD 55/1.2 sharper but is horrid in the bokeh in more situations; The so called 'bokeh king' Minolta 58/1.2 is terrible in the bokeh in many situations too;
Lots of bad examples from the latteron the web by people who buy into the hype, but can't use it to its strengths )
Good colors and contrasts vs other f1.2 lenses (and more consistent in color on digital)



All said, compared to other makes (esp of the same timeline), Pentax lenses are overall reliable in performance, not too expensive, give good colors and contrast and good bokeh in more situations.
Generally, they are not the sharpest wide open, but its certainly sharp enough.

[Marcus Rowland]

Got a 2.8/50mm for Pentax 110 the other day - I'm going to try to adapt it to Micro 4/3, but since these lenses don't have an iris (it was built into the camera) it may not give wonderful results.

[steamloco76]

My goodness, my 50mm stable has grown since last I posted in this thread!
In order of acquisition:
SMC-FA f2.8 Macro
SMC-FA 1.4
Sears (Rikenon) f2
Pentax SMC K/M f1.2
Rikenon P f1.4
Super Takumar M42 f1.4

Out of that group, the FA 1.4 is the red-headed stepchild. I bought it new and now I never, ever use it and doubt I ever will. Fine lens, but it has no “magic”. Basically the Toyota Camry of my 50mms.

The Rikenon P f1.4 has left, however three more Pentax standards have come home to roost!
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar M42 f1.4
Super-Multi-Coated Takumar M42 55 1.8
SMC Pentax-M f1.7
And another 55 f1.8 is on the way with a H3v I just bought.

I’m really enjoying the Super-Takumar f1.4. and 55 f1.8.

[pepperberry farm]

all of my 50's have gone, except for two:

D FA 50mm f2.8 Macro
SMC A 50mm f1.4

[gatorguy]

all of my 50's have gone, except for two:

D FA 50mm f2.8 Macro
SMC A 50mm f1.4

And that's all you need.

With that said over the holidays I found a new appreciation for a lens I've rarely used: Revuenon 50 1.4. It's a far better lens than I had assumed and it just took me a few years of photography experience to see it. Love the color and the unique rendering it delivers for certain scenes.

[pepperberry farm]

And that's all you need.

With that said over the holidays I found a new appreciation for a lens I've rarely used: Revuenon 50 1.4. it's a far better lens than I had assumed. It just took me a few years of photography experience to see it. Love the color and the special rendering for certain scenes.

need?

I didn't say that I'd replaced all my 50's with 55's and 58's....

[Jonathan Mac]

all of my 50's have gone, except for two:

D FA 50mm f2.8 Macro
SMC A 50mm f1.4

I was going to say that must have been a brutal cull until I saw your next post.

And that's all you need.

With that said over the holidays I found a new appreciation for a lens I've rarely used: Revuenon 50 1.4. It's a far better lens than I had assumed and it just took me a few years of photography experience to see it. Love the color and the unique rendering it delivers for certain scenes.

The Auto Revuenon 50/1.4 is superb, best 50/1.4 I've ever used, and that includes the Pentax Tak, M & K versions.

need?

I didn't say that I'd replaced all my 50's with 55's and 58's....

Phew.

[Marcus Rowland]

Just picked up a nice clean Canon 50/1.8 FDn, I think it's going to be the next lens I play with on Micro 4/3.

[Marcus Rowland]

Got a Pentax 1.4 50mm for a fiver on Sunday - KM mount, I think it's the SMC model. I'm not sure because the front of the casing (the cover that has the filter ring and the lens surround) is missing, so it isn't actually labelled. I'm guessing it's someone's unfinished repair. The lens actually works really well, and is otherwise very nice. I think it's an easy repair if you just want a filter ring - the tube containing the front element is slightly smaller than a 49mm filter, and it would be easy to fix on e.g. a 49-52mm stepping ring and mount filters on that. I'll be listing it on eBay since I really have no need for it, a bit of a shame but I already have WAY too much stuff I never use.

[Wasp]

I recently did a deal that has resulted in me no longer owning an SMC Pentax A 50mm f/1.7. I do have a Tokina RMC 400mm f/5.6 in its stead, but all of a sudden I miss the little fella. I will keep my eyes peeled for another one.

On the fifty front, I have added an SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2. Sadly, it came equipped with fungus and is in the shop.

There is a Ricoh Rikenon 50mm f/2.2 on sale in my valley, fairly cheap as well. These things have a terrible reputation for softness. It might be fun to get it to see just how bad it is. The thing is, this copy has haze on top of all the ills it had when new. I think I will pass...

My present line-up of nifty fifties is now as follows:

• SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.2
• SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.4
• SMC Pentax M 50mm f/1.7
• SMC Pentax M 50mm f/2.0
• SMC Pentax A 50mm f/2.8 macro
• Ricoh Rikenon 50mm f/2.0