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03-03-2020, 08:26 PM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
All of the vintage Pentax 50's discussed so far (1.4, 1.7, 2.8) will be sharp at f5.6, the macro is the largest and sharpest. The f1.7 is the bargain.

The DA* 55 is another potential lens to consider.
I'd do that (DA* 55). True, you have to go out on a limb and trust Sandy Hancock's dozens of great shots with it on FF aren't a fluke. It's not cheap or small, and AF is somewhat deliberate. I really like it optically, better than the vintage lenses and not just for sharpness. Also that extra 5mm in a three lens group of 35 and 100 seems like a better fit.

03-05-2020, 11:46 AM - 1 Like   #17
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QuoteOriginally posted by biz-engineer Quote
I read in various places that the FA 50 1.4 lens isn't as good as the FA 50 1.7 .
Since both lenses don't have the same max aperture, what does it really mean to say the 50 1.4 isn't as good as the 50 1.7?

Does it mean that the 50 1.4 wide open isn't as good as the 50 1.7 wide open ?
Does it mean that the 50 1.4 at f2 isn't as good as the 50 1.7 at f2 ?
How do both lenses compare at f4 , at f5.6 and at f8 ?
I have had both. Wide open the the f/1.7 does show more contrast than the f/1.4, but I was never convinced there was much difference in actual resolution. Stopped down to f/2.0 or certainly f/2.8 I couldn't tell the difference. Except that, when doing a direct comparison, I felt that the f/1.4 was very very very slightly sharper at the extreme edges stopped down, but really nothing in it.
03-05-2020, 11:56 AM   #18
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QuoteOriginally posted by timo Quote
Stopped down to f/2.0 or certainly f/2.8 I couldn't tell the difference. Except that, when doing a direct comparison, I felt that the f/1.4 was very very very slightly sharper at the extreme edges stopped down, but really nothing in it.
From looking at many photographs, I noticed that the 50 1.4 is quite good at f2 depending how it is used softness doesn't show. For example when photographing people faces over a significant area of the frame, softness on skin isn't obvious (the skin is slightly softened) with some good about of background blur, giving good looking images.
03-05-2020, 12:28 PM   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by biz-engineer Quote
From looking at many photographs, I noticed that the 50 1.4 is quite good at f2 depending how it is used softness doesn't show. For example when photographing people faces over a significant area of the frame, softness on skin isn't obvious (the skin is slightly softened) with some good about of background blur, giving good looking images.
I can see how this is true. Razor sharpness is not usually a good thing for people shots. Such shots often do not look natural or flattering to subjects. So having a sharp result but not too sharp, with background defocused, can bring the most satisfaction. I think either of the two lenses can deliver very well in this respect.

03-05-2020, 01:06 PM   #20
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QuoteOriginally posted by timo Quote
I have had both. Wide open the the f/1.7 does show more contrast than the f/1.4, but I was never convinced there was much difference in actual resolution. Stopped down to f/2.0 or certainly f/2.8 I couldn't tell the difference. Except that, when doing a direct comparison, I felt that the f/1.4 was very very very slightly sharper at the extreme edges stopped down, but really nothing in it.
In lens resolution tests the 50mm f/1.4 has significant loss wide open:



But here's a comparison that may let you see what other people seem to find:


Unless you have both at the same time and do side by side shooting it is hard to see much effect except for the wide open f1.4 softness. Stopping down quickly solves this but I agree with th video reviewer in that the f1.7 seems better at f2.8 than the others.
03-05-2020, 01:36 PM   #21
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It would be great if John Riley (ephotozine) did a comparative review of the 1.7. But meantime here is his result on the old Tak 55 f2 which shows how I visualise the 1.7 to perform.
It is quite amazing how well the old 55 performs.
03-05-2020, 01:42 PM   #22
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QuoteOriginally posted by GUB Quote
It would be great if John Riley (ephotozine) did a comparative review of the 1.7. But meantime here is his result on the old Tak 55 f2 which shows how I visualise the 1.7 to perform.
It is quite amazing how well the old 55 performs.
The DA f1.8 is also a pretty good stand in, but this chart doesn't have the numbers just Good/Excellent etc.



If we assume the divisions are about equal and that the lens peaked around 3000 - then each block is about 300.

03-05-2020, 01:53 PM   #23
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Besides handling/feature differences, I found the 1.8 virtually indistinguishable from the 1.7, except for some vignetting on FF and the rounded aperture blades. This extends to flare resistance and contrast, which I had expected to be better on the 1.8, but turned out equal to my eyes to both my F50/1.7 and FA50/1.7. I have way too many 50mm lenses, so I sold the DA50/1.8. Is the above form an APS-C test?
03-05-2020, 06:46 PM   #24
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No doubt all these test results were with APS-C. I don't know of any such yet done with a K-1 or K-1 II.

Last edited by mikesbike; 03-05-2020 at 07:18 PM.
03-05-2020, 07:03 PM   #25
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I can't imagine a smallish nice 50ish travel lens where I don't think FA43. Job done.
03-05-2020, 09:06 PM   #26
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QuoteOriginally posted by mikesbike Quote
No doubt all these test results were with APS-C. I don't know of any such yet done with a K-1 or K-1 II.
The 55 tak and the FA50 1.4 were on the K1 as well as many others.
SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Review | ePHOTOzine
03-06-2020, 02:14 AM   #27
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
In lens resolution tests the 50mm f/1.4 has significant loss wide open:



But here's a comparison that may let you see what other people seem to find:
....

Unless you have both at the same time and do side by side shooting it is hard to see much effect except for the wide open f1.4 softness. Stopping down quickly solves this but I agree with th video reviewer in that the f1.7 seems better at f2.8 than the others.
Yes, that seems pretty convincing, I admit. As it happens the AF 50 I kept was the FA1.7. So that's all right. But I also kept both the Ms - 1.4 and 1.7. (And I have the 2.0 - ok stopped down, and amazingly light). My K 1.2 was stolen on a train in Belgium many years ago. Not sure how that would compare.
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