Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
07-26-2015, 07:15 PM   #1
Senior Member




Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 100
50 MM recommendations

I am looking for a 50mm lens for Portraits and low light evening and night street photography. The DA 50mm 1.8 is cheap, gets great reviews, fast autofocus but is not full frame compatible(I might look at the Pentax FF down the line). The FA 50 mm 1.4 is more expensive, has a dreamy rendition, slower autofocus but is FF compatible. The 55 mm 1.4 is in a different price range but is WR, the slowest to autofocus, best build, FF compatible I think and the best IQ - What is a man supposed to do?

07-26-2015, 07:43 PM   #2
Pentaxian




Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,962
You really have a ton of options. It just depends on what you want to accomplish. The F50 f1.17 and the FA50 f1.7 are excellent choices.

---------- Post added 07-26-15 at 09:47 PM ----------

And if you are open to manual focus lenses you have even MORE options...I have two 50's.... but some people have a bunch.

As of late though I haven't been carrying an actual 50mm in my bag. I am using the 43mm and I like it... a lot.
07-26-2015, 07:50 PM   #3
Pentaxian
Driline's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: IOWA Where the Tall Corn Grows
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,669
QuoteOriginally posted by sumitkar1971 Quote
What is a man supposed to do?
Get the FA 43 like alamo5000 did
07-26-2015, 07:59 PM   #4
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
kiwi_jono's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Christchurch, New Zealand
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,437
You certainly do have plenty of options.
Sigma has a great option too (HSM autofocus and very sharp but fairly bulky) - if thats still available?
Even so I would not be surprised if we saw a new 50 f1.4 at or after FF launch. Or perhaps they will re-designate the 55 SDM?

I have a bunch of 50s (but not the DA 55 SDM) but I keep coming back to the FA 50 f1.4 myself. I just like the compact size yet pretty good performance (especially from f2 on my copy).
I am not using it much at the moment but a relatively new DA 70 is to blame for that.

It all depends on what you see as most important (size / weight versus Maximum IQ versus WR versus value for money).

07-26-2015, 08:07 PM   #5
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Canada_Rockies's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,385
The best outdoor portrait images I have ever taken were with a Takumar 55mm f/2.2 preset. The weak coatings gave a glow that is unequaled today, while not obscuring the details. For a $30 or so investment, you can use the older screw mount lenses. The FA is very good if you need auto exposure and auto focus, but its modern coatings really demand soft focus filters for pretty girls (and not so pretty guys and gals). I have not come anywhere near finishing my run through my slides, but I have one that I am chasing right now, taken on Kodachrome 25 in 1962 in Stanley Park, Vancouver, BC, Canada. It was an artist sketching with the sun reflecting off the sketch book into her face. My memory may be faulty - it might have been Kodachrome 10.
07-26-2015, 08:18 PM   #6
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Loyal Site Supporter
clackers's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Albums
Posts: 16,394
QuoteOriginally posted by sumitkar1971 Quote
. The DA 50mm 1.8 is cheap, gets great reviews, fast autofocus but is not full frame compatible
It is full frame compatible, Sumitkar.
07-26-2015, 08:29 PM   #7
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Dewman's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Idaho
Posts: 5,492
For everything I need done from a 50mm lens, the DA 50mm f:1.8 is the absolute BOMB!

07-26-2015, 08:46 PM   #8
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Loyal Site Supporter
clackers's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Albums
Posts: 16,394
There was an article somewhere here showing how close it gets in performance to its more expensive cousins.
07-26-2015, 09:31 PM   #9
Senior Member




Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 224
Even though I like the SMC 50mm A 1:1.4 that I got last November I still go back to my 43mm and 31mm Limiteds more than any of the other lenses that I have.
07-26-2015, 11:56 PM   #10
Administrator
Site Webmaster
Adam's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Arizona
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 51,584
QuoteOriginally posted by sumitkar1971 Quote
I am looking for a 50mm lens for Portraits and low light evening and night street photography. The DA 50mm 1.8 is cheap, gets great reviews, fast autofocus but is not full frame compatible(I might look at the Pentax FF down the line). The FA 50 mm 1.4 is more expensive, has a dreamy rendition, slower autofocus but is FF compatible. The 55 mm 1.4 is in a different price range but is WR, the slowest to autofocus, best build, FF compatible I think and the best IQ - What is a man supposed to do?
Yup, I think it's hard to make the 50mm that isn't. The DA 50mm does unofficially cover the FF image circle, as does the DA* 55mm. If you want a lens that officially covers it, go for the FA 50mm F1.4.

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)



PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:
07-27-2015, 12:28 AM   #11
Veteran Member
LensBeginner's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2014
Photos: Albums
Posts: 4,696
50mm is probably the less problematic focal length... you'll get cheap, good quality and large aperture without effort.
IMHO what's left is only details (AF/MF, f/2 vs, say, f/1.4, metal vs. plastic, vintage vs. modern etc.)
But odds are you'll make a good choice irrespective of what you choose
07-27-2015, 02:55 AM   #12
Veteran Member
redcat's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Paris
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,939
if you really want a good investment, choose the da* 55mm 1.4, it's a superb lens which will last decades ! it has AF (it helps a lot) and f1.4 renders beautiful bokeh ! da 50mm 1.8 is a cheap alternative but its build is less robust, you can choose it if you plan to update your lens later (for a da* or a FA 43 ltd)
07-27-2015, 05:27 AM   #13
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 528
Unless you absolutely require f1.4, and a 50mm focal length, I would recommend you to consider instead the FA43 Limited f1.9.

On APS-C, the FA43 works as a very short tele, useful for certain types of portraiture work, and also quite flexible for other general usage.

On full frame, it works as a normal lens, as it was originally designed for.

This is a lens legendary for the magical way it renders images, when handled right. Capable of superb sharpness stopped down, yet creating magical, moody/dreamy results wide open or near wide open. Exquisite micro-contrast, lovely colour rendering, and capable of imbuing images with a "3D effect". A characterful lens with very special rendering indeed - hence its legendary status.

Last edited by KDAFA; 07-27-2015 at 06:04 AM.
07-27-2015, 07:53 AM   #14
Pentaxian
ChristianRock's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: People's Republic of America
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 9,895
As clackers said, DA 50 1.8 is full frame compatible. I'm sure it's a great lens and I came very close to buying it last week.

But I kept looking at pictures taken with the F 50 1.7 (and FA 50 1.7), and to my own pictures taken with M 50 1.7, and I ended up getting the F 50 1.7 instead. The older 50 1.7 design seems to have a bit of "pixie dust" in the pictures, as the people in this forum call the special rendering qualities of some lenses. The DA just seemed a little bit short in that department. It also seemed less sharp wide open than the older design. Considering that like the OP one of the uses is for low light photography, the F lens made a bit more sense than the DA, though I'm sure I could live with the DA results as well... it's not that the DA isn't a good lens, it's just that the M/F/FA 50 1.7 seems just a little bit more special...

By the way, contrary to what some here say, the DA 50 1.8 is not the same optical design as these older 50 1.7 lenses. It shares the same number of elements/groups, but so do ALL of the 50mm lenses with similar aperture, regardless of manufacturer.
07-27-2015, 08:03 AM   #15
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
mwilky55's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Southeastern Connecticut
Photos: Albums
Posts: 816
Not to confound things too much, but another 50 that I really like is the FA50 Macro....It's heavy, pretty ugly and not as fast as the other lenses suggested here, but it is very sharp and gives you a macro option. I'm also a fan of the FA 50 1.7.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
50 mm options, 50mm, autofocus, ff, k-mount, mm, pentax lens, slr lens
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
D FA F2.8 50 mm or 100 mm for macro? zzeitg Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 26 10-06-2014 09:50 AM
50 mm vs 55 mm lens focal length ivanvernon Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 17 05-19-2014 01:09 PM
18-200+mm lens recommendations varian Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 6 11-03-2010 05:18 AM
is my copy ok or??? 16-45's 45 mm vs 50-135 mm' s 50 mm hll Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 6 06-20-2008 09:03 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:30 PM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top