[LennyBloke]

It is a very fine lens indeed.
Although I prefer my DA*55 in almost every regard I still can't bring myself to part with A50/1.2.........

I feel the same way - but I wasn't brave enough to be the first to say it

[hjoseph7]

Are you using it or is it on a mantle in your living room ?

[boriscleto]

No... Years of production approx. 1984-2004.
Then there was also special chrome version (2000).

What about the Assembled In Vietnam lenses that showed up after 2004? There were always stories about certain lenses being available by special order after Hoya took over. (A 50/1.2, FA* 600/4, FA* 250-600/5.6 etc)

[pathdoc]

What about the Assembled In Vietnam lenses that showed up after 2004?

To a certain extent, I suppose one could assemble new stock from spare parts remaining after the order had been given to formally cease production - after all, they'd have had to allow for wastage and a certain proportion of lenses not meeting QC spec off the line, and no doubt an in-factory repair/cannibalisation/frankenlens is easier to do than it is for even the best serviceman out in the field. But even these component parts would eventually have run out.

[monochrome]

Many lenses are built in batches rather than continuos production. The decision to order a new batch is a. Alitalia allocation decision which, understandably, Hoya was loathe to do. It remains a possibility that a small supply of all the necessary parts was available for special-order assemblies -at a price. Likely even that option has finally been exhausted.

[pathdoc]

The decision to order a new batch is a. Alitalia allocation decision which, understandably, Hoya was loathe to do.

Autocorrect appears to have drawn a connection between a Japanese camera manufacturer and an Italian airline which I'm not completely sure you intended (though it might make an interesting starting point for a trashy conspiracy-theory airport novel... )

[monochrome]

Autocorrect appears to have drawn a connection between a Japanese camera manufacturer and an Italian airline which I'm not completely sure you intended (though it might make an interesting starting point for a trashy conspiracy-theory airport novel... )

* capital allocation.

#appledictionarytyranny

[lytrytyr]

There were always stories about certain lenses being available by special order after Hoya took over. (A 50/1.2, FA* 600/4, FA* 250-600/5.6 etc)

Indeed, the A50/1.2 was shown as current on the Japanese Pentax website all through the Hoya era.

[Nicolas06]

OP could have found their copy for less than that. How much they DID pay is their own business, and who and where they chose to buy it from is also their own business. For all any of us knows, it was a local copy that OP was able to examine personally and ensure that it worked with their own hands and eyes. That counts for a lot, perhaps even a price premium. Can't blame anyone for going that way. OP, you aren't obliged to answer either way.

+1 I agree, everyone can do what he want with he hard earned money and has no justification to give on own it spend it or why he would choose or not one seller over the other.

[mer]

That´s how it all started for me too... 1.2 lens on a K100D body.... and now I am with A7 and a 50/0.95.... what a journey... It is one of the best things in life to own a good body with a fast standard lens... Some Velvia in the mix...

Enjoy...

[metaphiston]

OP here. Som sadly, my 50mm f.12 has been broken. I was using it on a Canon 1100D via an adapter and it fell off 5 feet onto concrete. As I later realised, the adapter was faulty and did not lock into position on the camera.

That's the only time I have ever broken (or even dropped or knocked) a lens, and it so happens to be my rare favourite one. C'est la vie... :-(

Anyone know of others going for sale?