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pathdoc · 08-25-2018, 04:04 AM

There is never anything wrong with having the functionality of the K-A lenses; however, the aperture ring failure bug exists and the lens would overwhelmingly be used on the MX. I have an FA50/1.4 for when I want that aperture on my DSLRs, so that is not an issue. I do have a Super Program and a couple of P3-series bodies, but they don't get much use and almost always in manual mode (I bought the Super Program almost entirely to see how the semi-compatible DA lenses work on film before the K-1 came out, because it can drive them in shutter priority mode).

It seems to be that the K or M 1.4 would be the better way to go overall, with the M favoured for its compactness. Is my reasoning good here?

Wild Mark · 08-25-2018, 04:32 AM

K - nicer lens

**pepperberry farm** · 08-25-2018, 04:41 AM - **1 Like**

in all my reading, the A-ring on the 50/1.4 is different than the A-ring of the 50/1.7 - and in my limited experience, this is true...

the SMC A 50mm f1.7 I had (and recently sold) had the typical graunch of the aperture, while my SMC A 50mm f1.4's aperture ring is in fine shape and has all of its snickety-goodness well intact...

funny thing about my two copies of these lenses; the 1.7 looked just about unused, while the 1.4 has led a pretty rough life and has been in for repair (not for the A ring) before...

TL;DR - if given the option, buy an SMC A version...

**TwoUptons** · 08-25-2018, 04:45 AM

I thought aperture ring failure was mostly limited to the 50mm f2s, and didn’t really impact the higher-end stuff... maybe I’m mis-remembering...

An alternative would be a 50mm f1.7 or 55mm f1.8 to get something with different rendering. They don’t give quite the same look as the f1.4s...

Though that leads you down a slippery slope where you wake up one morning with 30-odd 50mm lenses staring at you from the shelves 🙂

-Eric

**monochrome** · 08-25-2018, 04:57 AM - **2 Likes**

Don’t forget the Ricoh Rikenon P

The SMC K renders warmer than the M or A.

Not a Number · 08-25-2018, 05:21 AM - **1 Like**

As far as I know the ring failure is only prone on the budget f/1.7 and f/2 lenses. Search through the forum. You won't find a single post about the ring problem on the PENTAX-A smc 50mm f/1.4.

**boriscleto** · 08-25-2018, 07:35 AM - **2 Likes**

All of the 50/1.4s are fine lenses...the A does not have the same cheap aperture ring that the A 50/2 & A50/1.7 have.

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stevebrot · 08-25-2018, 08:39 AM

Originally posted by pathdoc

the aperture ring failure bug exists

...and is a "feature" of the Pentax-A 50/1.7 and the A 50/2. I am unaware of any other lenses having the same problem.

Steve

Wasp · 08-25-2018, 11:28 AM

I have the M - a very fine lens. I don't have the K or A to compare it to, so I I can't express an opinion.

Of the three variations it is probably the most plentiful, i.e. the easiest to find and the cheapest.

Kozlok · 08-25-2018, 12:27 PM

Takumar 8-element? Love mine.

leekil · 08-25-2018, 12:41 PM

Is there a slight different in exposure for the K vs. the A lenses, due to the change of the aperture lever operation? Does this have any effect in practice? I would think it might be a very small effect, but might be worth considering if you want the most accurate exposure.

pathdoc · 08-25-2018, 01:15 PM

Originally posted by Kozlok

Takumar 8-element? Love mine.

I have Super Takumar and SMC Takumar lenses, and three generations of Pentax M42 cameras on which to shoot them (yes, my S1a is compatible with the S-M-C Tak 50/1.4), but the intended home for this one would be the MX.

I already have the FA 50/1.4 if I want something for the digital bodies.

stevebrot · 08-25-2018, 06:04 PM

Originally posted by leekil

Is there a slight different in exposure for the K vs. the A lenses, due to the change of the aperture lever operation? Does this have any effect in practice? I would think it might be a very small effect, but might be worth considering if you want the most accurate exposure.

If there is, the solution would be to simply move the ring off the "A" position and shoot the same EV on M.

Steve

Ronald Oakes · 08-25-2018, 06:28 PM

Originally posted by monochrome

Don’t forget the Ricoh Rikenon P

The SMC K renders warmer than the M or A.

I can highly recommend the Ricoh Rikenon 50mm 1.4. Now that we have suggested that be ready for the ensuing storm about the pin...

SSGGeezer · 08-25-2018, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by Ronald Oakes

I can highly recommend the Ricoh Rikenon 50mm 1.4. Now that we have suggested that be ready for the ensuing storm about the pin...

I thought that the P did not have the Ricoh pin.??????

08-25-2018, 04:04 AM	#1
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Manual focus f/1.4 K mount lens: which to choose? There is never anything wrong with having the functionality of the K-A lenses; however, the aperture ring failure bug exists and the lens would overwhelmingly be used on the MX. I have an FA50/1.4 for when I want that aperture on my DSLRs, so that is not an issue. I do have a Super Program and a couple of P3-series bodies, but they don't get much use and almost always in manual mode (I bought the Super Program almost entirely to see how the semi-compatible DA lenses work on film before the K-1 came out, because it can drive them in shutter priority mode). It seems to be that the K or M 1.4 would be the better way to go overall, with the M favoured for its compactness. Is my reasoning good here?

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08-25-2018, 04:32 AM	#2
Wild Mark Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Newcastle Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,954	K - nicer lens

08-25-2018, 04:41 AM - 1 Like	#3
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,781	in all my reading, the A-ring on the 50/1.4 is different than the A-ring of the 50/1.7 - and in my limited experience, this is true... the SMC A 50mm f1.7 I had (and recently sold) had the typical graunch of the aperture, while my SMC A 50mm f1.4's aperture ring is in fine shape and has all of its snickety-goodness well intact... funny thing about my two copies of these lenses; the 1.7 looked just about unused, while the 1.4 has led a pretty rough life and has been in for repair (not for the A ring) before... TL;DR - if given the option, buy an SMC A version...

08-25-2018, 04:45 AM	#4
TwoUptons Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 4,227	I thought aperture ring failure was mostly limited to the 50mm f2s, and didn’t really impact the higher-end stuff... maybe I’m mis-remembering... An alternative would be a 50mm f1.7 or 55mm f1.8 to get something with different rendering. They don’t give quite the same look as the f1.4s... Though that leads you down a slippery slope where you wake up one morning with 30-odd 50mm lenses staring at you from the shelves 🙂 -Eric

08-25-2018, 04:57 AM - 2 Likes	#5
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Don’t forget the Ricoh Rikenon P The SMC K renders warmer than the M or A.

08-25-2018, 05:21 AM - 1 Like	#6
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	As far as I know the ring failure is only prone on the budget f/1.7 and f/2 lenses. Search through the forum. You won't find a single post about the ring problem on the PENTAX-A smc 50mm f/1.4.

08-25-2018, 07:35 AM - 2 Likes	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	All of the 50/1.4s are fine lenses...the A does not have the same cheap aperture ring that the A 50/2 & A50/1.7 have.

08-25-2018, 08:39 AM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by pathdoc the aperture ring failure bug exists ...and is a "feature" of the Pentax-A 50/1.7 and the A 50/2. I am unaware of any other lenses having the same problem. Steve

08-25-2018, 11:28 AM	#9
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,663	I have the M - a very fine lens. I don't have the K or A to compare it to, so I I can't express an opinion. Of the three variations it is probably the most plentiful, i.e. the easiest to find and the cheapest.

08-25-2018, 12:27 PM	#10
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	Takumar 8-element? Love mine.

08-25-2018, 12:41 PM	#11
leekil Pentaxian Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Albums Posts: 2,003	Is there a slight different in exposure for the K vs. the A lenses, due to the change of the aperture lever operation? Does this have any effect in practice? I would think it might be a very small effect, but might be worth considering if you want the most accurate exposure.

08-25-2018, 01:15 PM	#12
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381 Original Poster	Originally posted by Kozlok Takumar 8-element? Love mine. I have Super Takumar and SMC Takumar lenses, and three generations of Pentax M42 cameras on which to shoot them (yes, my S1a is compatible with the S-M-C Tak 50/1.4), but the intended home for this one would be the MX. I already have the FA 50/1.4 if I want something for the digital bodies.

08-25-2018, 06:04 PM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by leekil Is there a slight different in exposure for the K vs. the A lenses, due to the change of the aperture lever operation? Does this have any effect in practice? I would think it might be a very small effect, but might be worth considering if you want the most accurate exposure. If there is, the solution would be to simply move the ring off the "A" position and shoot the same EV on M. Steve

08-25-2018, 06:28 PM	#14
Ronald Oakes Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,585	Originally posted by monochrome Don’t forget the Ricoh Rikenon P The SMC K renders warmer than the M or A. I can highly recommend the Ricoh Rikenon 50mm 1.4. Now that we have suggested that be ready for the ensuing storm about the pin...

08-25-2018, 09:10 PM	#15
SSGGeezer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Indiana, U.S. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,845	Originally posted by Ronald Oakes I can highly recommend the Ricoh Rikenon 50mm 1.4. Now that we have suggested that be ready for the ensuing storm about the pin... I thought that the P did not have the Ricoh pin.??????

Manual focus f/1.4 K mount lens: which to choose?

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