PF Holiday Loyal Site Supporter Special | December Pentax Lens Tournament

boraclicks · 01-03-2016, 09:34 AM

I started using a Pentax-A 50mm 1.7 last year and I have been very happy with it. I miss the auto focus though. I am getting a Pentax FA 50 Macro here for 50$ but it seems that it has some fungus. I can get the fungus cleaned by a professional but I wanted to check whether it is a good deal? I have a 40mm limited already. I want to pick up a macro just to try it out.

Na Horuk · 01-03-2016, 12:57 PM

Originally posted by boraclicks

I am getting a Pentax FA 50 Macro here for 50$ but it seems that it has some fungus. I can get the fungus cleaned by a professional but I wanted to check whether it is a good deal?

If the fungus cleaning costs $300, then no. But the FA 50mm macro is a great lens. I think it comes down to how expensive the fungus cleaning is, and whether the fungus will leave any optical damage (probably not, if its removed professionally)

Originally posted by boraclicks

I have a 40mm limited already. I want to pick up a macro just to try it out.

These two are very different lenses, you will see. The FA 50mm macro has true 1:1 magnification and some other features that DA limited lenses don't have (like aperture ring, so you can use it even on old K-mount film SLR cameras). But the DA 40mm ltd is a little wider and has nice bokeh (for such a slow lens, imo), plus its super compact. I think you can justify having both.

More info on the FA 50mm macro here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-50mm-F2.8-Macro-Lens.html

Na Horuk · 01-03-2016, 02:10 PM

Originally posted by dcshooter

If you are paying $300 to get fungus cleaned,you are getting horribly ripped off.

Oh yeah, I didn't mean to say $300 was standard cleaning fee, I meant to say that for under $300 the FA 50mm macro would be something to consider. Sorry if I was unclear. I agree with you

**pentaxus** · 01-03-2016, 02:29 PM

How bad is the fungus? Fungus eats the lens coating. Pentax coatings are quite tough, but if the fungus has eaten down to the glass you may end up with a lens that has issues with flare.

**Brucie** · 01-03-2016, 06:41 PM

Boraclicks, I don't know anything about the fungus issue, but the FA 50mm macro is a magical lens with astounding sharpness and bokeh.

boraclicks · 01-04-2016, 07:48 AM

Thanks for the inputs. I am buying it. The cleaning cost shouldn't be more than 20$ here at my place.

**fwcetus** · 01-04-2016, 09:32 AM

Originally posted by Brucie

the FA 50mm macro is a magical lens with astounding sharpness and bokeh.

True indeed.

I prefer using the A 50/2.8 for my "short macro lens", but I used to own an F 50/2.8 Macro (optically identical to the FA version), and it was just about the sharpest lens I'd ever seen -- in fact, it was so sharp that (as the joke goes) I'd need band-aids on my fingers after using it..

[The A 50/2.8 Macro is just a wee tiny bit less sharp than the F/FA 50/2.8's, but is soooo much nicer to use due to its build quality, especially for manual focusing.]

Dewman · 01-10-2016, 11:40 PM

Several thumbs up for the FA-50mm macro! You will immediately be spoiled forever! Sharpness will be judged by comparison to the FA-50 from now on! A truly remarkable lens. I only THOUGHT I knew what sharpness was until I got mine. If I had to give up every single lens I own except one, I'd keep the FA macro, hands down.

01-03-2016, 09:34 AM	#1
boraclicks Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bangalore Photos: Albums Posts: 96	Pentax FA 50 Macro I started using a Pentax-A 50mm 1.7 last year and I have been very happy with it. I miss the auto focus though. I am getting a Pentax FA 50 Macro here for 50$ but it seems that it has some fungus. I can get the fungus cleaned by a professional but I wanted to check whether it is a good deal? I have a 40mm limited already. I want to pick up a macro just to try it out.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA 35, DA 40, A 50, M 50 macro, DA 70, FA 100 macro, DA 10-17 & Rokinon 85	GPZ	Sold Items	9	07-09-2013 12:03 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax DA*50-135, FA 50 f1.4, Viv. 28 f2.8 CF for D-FA Macro 100mm, DA 35ltd m	EdMaximus	Sold Items	2	10-30-2009 05:20 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA* 200 macro, FA* 85, FA* 24, FA 31 LTD, FA 77 LTD, A 50/1.2, VL 125 M	aegisphan	Sold Items	86	09-03-2009 02:37 PM

01-03-2016, 12:57 PM	#2
Na Horuk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,183	Originally posted by boraclicks I am getting a Pentax FA 50 Macro here for 50$ but it seems that it has some fungus. I can get the fungus cleaned by a professional but I wanted to check whether it is a good deal? If the fungus cleaning costs $300, then no. But the FA 50mm macro is a great lens. I think it comes down to how expensive the fungus cleaning is, and whether the fungus will leave any optical damage (probably not, if its removed professionally) Originally posted by boraclicks I have a 40mm limited already. I want to pick up a macro just to try it out. These two are very different lenses, you will see. The FA 50mm macro has true 1:1 magnification and some other features that DA limited lenses don't have (like aperture ring, so you can use it even on old K-mount film SLR cameras). But the DA 40mm ltd is a little wider and has nice bokeh (for such a slow lens, imo), plus its super compact. I think you can justify having both. More info on the FA 50mm macro here: https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-50mm-F2.8-Macro-Lens.html

01-03-2016, 02:10 PM	#3
Na Horuk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,183	Originally posted by dcshooter If you are paying $300 to get fungus cleaned,you are getting horribly ripped off. Oh yeah, I didn't mean to say $300 was standard cleaning fee, I meant to say that for under $300 the FA 50mm macro would be something to consider. Sorry if I was unclear. I agree with you

01-03-2016, 02:29 PM	#4
pentaxus Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Central Coast, CA Posts: 889	How bad is the fungus? Fungus eats the lens coating. Pentax coatings are quite tough, but if the fungus has eaten down to the glass you may end up with a lens that has issues with flare.

01-03-2016, 06:41 PM	#5
Brucie Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Great Plains Posts: 64	Boraclicks, I don't know anything about the fungus issue, but the FA 50mm macro is a magical lens with astounding sharpness and bokeh.

01-04-2016, 07:48 AM	#6
boraclicks Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Bangalore Photos: Albums Posts: 96 Original Poster	Thanks for the inputs. I am buying it. The cleaning cost shouldn't be more than 20$ here at my place.

01-04-2016, 09:32 AM	#7
fwcetus Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by Brucie the FA 50mm macro is a magical lens with astounding sharpness and bokeh. True indeed. I prefer using the A 50/2.8 for my "short macro lens", but I used to own an F 50/2.8 Macro (optically identical to the FA version), and it was just about the sharpest lens I'd ever seen -- in fact, it was so sharp that (as the joke goes) I'd need band-aids on my fingers after using it.. [The A 50/2.8 Macro is just a wee tiny bit less sharp than the F/FA 50/2.8's, but is soooo much nicer to use due to its build quality, especially for manual focusing.]

01-10-2016, 11:40 PM	#8
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,369	Several thumbs up for the FA-50mm macro! You will immediately be spoiled forever! Sharpness will be judged by comparison to the FA-50 from now on! A truly remarkable lens. I only THOUGHT I knew what sharpness was until I got mine. If I had to give up every single lens I own except one, I'd keep the FA macro, hands down.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search