50mm 1.4, 40mm 2.8, or 35mm 2?

SuperJared · 08-29-2008, 09:03 PM

So I've finally decided to allow myself to spend a little bit more on my Pentax system, and am looking for a sharp, fast normal-ish lens. After reading tons of reviews, I cannot decide which is the best lens to go with, the 50 1.4, 40 2.8, or 35 2. Each is revered for its sharpness. Each is quite fast. Each is cheap.

How the heck do I decide?

FrancisK7 · 08-29-2008, 09:25 PM

I only own the 50mm FA f/1.4 and while not that sharp at 1.4, it is tacksharp at f/2.8 and above and is a fantastic little fast lens for its price.

Imho the 35mm and 40mm are in another league perhaps one step above.

From what I hear the 40mm is a great lens and slightly more expansive. I'd probably go with the 40mm myself!

k100d · 08-29-2008, 09:29 PM

you gotta tell us more about what you like to take photos of and what you have already...

speed - 50 1.4
size and build quality - da40
fast sharpness and near normal - fa35

SuperJared · 08-29-2008, 09:31 PM

I have the 18-55 and 50-200 and take photos of everything. Landscapes, people, animals.

SuperJared · 08-29-2008, 09:47 PM

I also have a 50mm 1.7 I'm selling because I want something in AF.

jzamora · 08-29-2008, 10:14 PM

I own botht the 50 and the 40. I would say to go with the 50 because it gives you the speed that you may need indoors. It is just as sharp as the 40 once stopped down. The advantages of the 40 are that it is smaller and has quick shift focus. Although the lens cap is a pain to deal with. I would say:
Get the fifty first.
Then thing about other lenses. Everyone can use a fast fifty AF.
--JZ

soccerjoe5 · 08-29-2008, 10:36 PM

what camera will you be using? if it's a K20D i'd go for the 40 as I like the characteristics of the grain/noise when pushing up to 1600. else, i'd go for the 50 or 35

aruxaru · 08-29-2008, 11:31 PM

I picked the 40mm myself because of a few reasons. My main reason is the field of view for the 40mm suit my shooting style a lot more; it's easier to compose pics with it. Secondly, I have a manual 50mm f/1.7 for the rare situations I need in low light. Thirdly, I love the build and feel of it... the metal and compactness is great to feel.

After I got the lens, I do not regret my decision one bit. It is sharp straight from 2.8. Very versatile for everyday shooting. I couldn't find a FA 35mm around here locally, so I didn't think about it too much. I heard that it is a great little lens as well. I don't think you can go too far wrong with any of these 3 great lenses.

Marc Sabatella · 08-29-2008, 11:46 PM

I personally vote DA40, because the focal length is more generally useful than 50mm in my experience, because it focuses *very* fast, and is the only one of the above with quick shift (to allow you to adjust focus without actually switching to MF mode). Some say f/2.8 is not fast enough. I say it is "most" of the time. When it isn't, you can always add a used manual focus 50 like the M50/1.7 for next to nothing (eg, under $50).

NorthPentax · 08-30-2008, 12:45 AM

The 50mm is too tight if you take pictures indoors. I recommend the 35mm. But if you can spend the extra 200$, buy them both

I have not tried the 40mm, it's being shipped from Canada.

RBellavance · 08-30-2008, 04:23 AM

I voted for the 35/2 because a) it's field of view is the closest to "normal" among those three, and b) it's the only one of the three I own

wavecurrent · 08-30-2008, 04:44 AM

I would choose the FA35, it's more "normal" on a digital body. Recently bought one myself(last week) and it looks very promising

I also got the FA50 together with the k10, but I don't use much any more.

Mike

clawhammer · 08-30-2008, 11:04 AM

I bought the 50, but upon using it I wished I'd gotten the 35. the fast speed is nice, but on digital it's too long of a focal length for anything but headshots/single person shots when you're indoors.

Marc Sabatella · 08-30-2008, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by clawhammer

I bought the 50, but upon using it I wished I'd gotten the 35. the fast speed is nice, but on digital it's too long of a focal length for anything but headshots/single person shots when you're indoors.

And it's worth mentioning that for this, 50 is practically *ideal*. So definitely worth having. But not as versatile as something a bit wider.

axl · 08-30-2008, 03:41 PM

I had the same dilema in April this year. Made even poll on it. And at the end disregarded it completely and went with the "looser" DA40. Is it a looser? Not at all even in compainion and comparison to FAs 35 & 50 which are well respected lenses. Good points of DA40 are, size, built quality and mainly IQ. That lens is just perfectly sharp even at 2.8 from corner to corner. It's top resolution never matches that of FA50 nor 35, but corners are always better. But more iportant than that, the colour rendition, contrast and bokeh (DA40 has 9 apperture blades) are great. This lens is the best lens in my lineup, and that's why I gave it vote, go for it, and I honestly think you'll never regret...

View Poll Results: Which lens?
50mm 1.4	59	50.86%
40mm 2.8	26	22.41%
35mm 2	37	31.90%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 116. You may not vote on this poll

08-29-2008, 09:03 PM	#1
SuperJared Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 167	50mm 1.4, 40mm 2.8, or 35mm 2? So I've finally decided to allow myself to spend a little bit more on my Pentax system, and am looking for a sharp, fast normal-ish lens. After reading tons of reviews, I cannot decide which is the best lens to go with, the 50 1.4, 40 2.8, or 35 2. Each is revered for its sharpness. Each is quite fast. Each is cheap. How the heck do I decide?

08-29-2008, 10:14 PM	#6
jzamora Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Diego, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 60	Which one I own botht the 50 and the 40. I would say to go with the 50 because it gives you the speed that you may need indoors. It is just as sharp as the 40 once stopped down. The advantages of the 40 are that it is smaller and has quick shift focus. Although the lens cap is a pain to deal with. I would say: Get the fifty first. Then thing about other lenses. Everyone can use a fast fifty AF. --JZ

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08-29-2008, 09:25 PM	#2
FrancisK7 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 474	I only own the 50mm FA f/1.4 and while not that sharp at 1.4, it is tacksharp at f/2.8 and above and is a fantastic little fast lens for its price. Imho the 35mm and 40mm are in another league perhaps one step above. From what I hear the 40mm is a great lens and slightly more expansive. I'd probably go with the 40mm myself!

08-29-2008, 09:29 PM	#3
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	you gotta tell us more about what you like to take photos of and what you have already... speed - 50 1.4 size and build quality - da40 fast sharpness and near normal - fa35

08-29-2008, 09:31 PM	#4
SuperJared Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 167 Original Poster	I have the 18-55 and 50-200 and take photos of everything. Landscapes, people, animals.

08-29-2008, 09:47 PM	#5
SuperJared Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 167 Original Poster	I also have a 50mm 1.7 I'm selling because I want something in AF.

08-29-2008, 10:36 PM	#7
soccerjoe5 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,343	what camera will you be using? if it's a K20D i'd go for the 40 as I like the characteristics of the grain/noise when pushing up to 1600. else, i'd go for the 50 or 35

08-29-2008, 11:31 PM	#8
aruxaru Forum Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vancouver Posts: 57	I picked the 40mm myself because of a few reasons. My main reason is the field of view for the 40mm suit my shooting style a lot more; it's easier to compose pics with it. Secondly, I have a manual 50mm f/1.7 for the rare situations I need in low light. Thirdly, I love the build and feel of it... the metal and compactness is great to feel. After I got the lens, I do not regret my decision one bit. It is sharp straight from 2.8. Very versatile for everyday shooting. I couldn't find a FA 35mm around here locally, so I didn't think about it too much. I heard that it is a great little lens as well. I don't think you can go too far wrong with any of these 3 great lenses.

08-29-2008, 11:46 PM	#9
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	I personally vote DA40, because the focal length is more generally useful than 50mm in my experience, because it focuses very fast, and is the only one of the above with quick shift (to allow you to adjust focus without actually switching to MF mode). Some say f/2.8 is not fast enough. I say it is "most" of the time. When it isn't, you can always add a used manual focus 50 like the M50/1.7 for next to nothing (eg, under $50).

08-30-2008, 12:45 AM	#10
NorthPentax Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: No(r)way Photos: Gallery Posts: 179	The 50mm is too tight if you take pictures indoors. I recommend the 35mm. But if you can spend the extra 200$, buy them both I have not tried the 40mm, it's being shipped from Canada.

08-30-2008, 04:23 AM	#11
RBellavance Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Near Montréal, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,716	I voted for the 35/2 because a) it's field of view is the closest to "normal" among those three, and b) it's the only one of the three I own

08-30-2008, 04:44 AM	#12
wavecurrent Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 147	I would choose the FA35, it's more "normal" on a digital body. Recently bought one myself(last week) and it looks very promising I also got the FA50 together with the k10, but I don't use much any more. Mike

08-30-2008, 11:04 AM	#13
clawhammer Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Logan, Utah Photos: Gallery Posts: 971	I bought the 50, but upon using it I wished I'd gotten the 35. the fast speed is nice, but on digital it's too long of a focal length for anything but headshots/single person shots when you're indoors.

08-30-2008, 01:46 PM	#14
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by clawhammer I bought the 50, but upon using it I wished I'd gotten the 35. the fast speed is nice, but on digital it's too long of a focal length for anything but headshots/single person shots when you're indoors. And it's worth mentioning that for this, 50 is practically ideal. So definitely worth having. But not as versatile as something a bit wider.

08-30-2008, 03:41 PM	#15
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	I had the same dilema in April this year. Made even poll on it. And at the end disregarded it completely and went with the "looser" DA40. Is it a looser? Not at all even in compainion and comparison to FAs 35 & 50 which are well respected lenses. Good points of DA40 are, size, built quality and mainly IQ. That lens is just perfectly sharp even at 2.8 from corner to corner. It's top resolution never matches that of FA50 nor 35, but corners are always better. But more iportant than that, the colour rendition, contrast and bokeh (DA40 has 9 apperture blades) are great. This lens is the best lens in my lineup, and that's why I gave it vote, go for it, and I honestly think you'll never regret...