[Michaelina2]

Just posted! Pentax 50mm F1.4 lens review: Digital Photography Review

(Psssst: Highly Recommended when paired to a K20D)

Cheers...

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Last edited by Michaelina2; 11-13-2008 at 10:12 AM. Reason: clarification

[Lowell Goudge]

The title is obvoius, if you did, great, if you did not, WHY NOT!

[jsherman999]

The Pentax smc P-FA 50mm F1.4 is something of an anomaly in the company's current lens lineup, as the last of their film-era primes featuring plastic construction and an aperture ring. This actually reflects the fact that Pentax are probably the leading proponents of modern-design fixed-focal length lenses, with their range of compact 'pancake' lenses and 'Limited' series high quality primes being the envy of users of other systems. Indeed we can probably presume that the 50mm F1.4 will itself be superceded by the recently-announced Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM lens, but in the meantime it stands as the most obvious option for users seeking a fast prime for low light and portrait work.

You said it.

.

[Michaelina2]

The title is obvoius, if you did, great, if you did not, WHY NOT!

Feel free to add it, if you wish.

Cheers...

[Miserere]

So should I buy it?

[Gooshin]

no, the review is a big fat lie, dpreview is a sham, they took a big bribe from pentax to give the FA50, one of the worlds worst lenses a good review, what a load of bullshit....

you're better off using ceramwrap inbetween two filters than this lens.

[nulla]

you're better off using ceramwrap inbetween two filters than this lens.

One layer or two... does stretching improve the IQ?


Neil

[Gooshin]

One layer or two... does stretching improve the IQ?


Neil

two layer fo sho, and yes, stretching is mandatory.

for anti-flare, use raspberry jam inbetween the two layers.

avoid using strawberry jam, many knock of companies use it, they have proven to under perform industry standards.

[lbam]

I could mention Blackcurrant jam makes a good neutral density filter but I won't.
Not a bad review for Pentax's sake. I'd say perhaps it should of got a 9 for value, but what the hell it's highly recomended so thats appropriate I think.
Shame about the bokeh findings perhaps...

did ok for me here at f1.7

and was nice and sharp here...

Excuse the shameless self promotion.. lol

[audiobomber]

It's a conspiracy I tell you. Sure, the FA 50mm got a solid review and is "Highly Recommended". So how come I suddenly want a DA*55mm? There's some kind of marketing dept mind trick in that article. They know how to push my buttons, and DPR is helping them.

[lbam]

I'd stay well away from this site also then.. lol

[drewdlephone]

I would like one of these, as my Super-Tak 55 doesn't seem to behave itself on my K200D. The lens is pin-sharp, but the colors are odd, especially when compared to the same shots with the kit lens.

They hit the nail on the head with the comment about the DA series lenses.

[hinman]

I love my Pentax FA 50mm f/1.4 religiously and have been using it for many things as in portraits, pizza, sushi and many close up work. It is my go-to lens for night shooting along with its wider buddies Vivitar 24mm f/2.8 and Spiratone 20mm f/2.8.

My recent purchase on Pentax A 50 f/1.7, Cosina 55mm f/1.2 and F-1.7x AF TC may have dampened my FA 50 f/1.4 usage, but there is never a moment that I thought of trading in my FA 50 f/1.4. No, it is really this good.

I am someone who trade in lens often without much thoughtful thinking. The Pentax 300mm f/4.0 that I sold Michael is an example. But I stick it to the ground for the decision to keep my FA 50 f/1.4 even after I have Cosina 55m f/1.2 along with fast limited lens in f/1.8.

The FA 50 f/1.4 always have a place in my use. I like it for what it is and I turn it into a macro with Kenko/Vivitar 2x macro teleconverter and a achromatic diopter with Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter

FA 50 f/1.4 with Cosina 1:1 matched macro adapter



f/2.8

Thanks,
Hin

[roentarre]

Fa 50 f1.4 is like most of the limited bokeh, foreground better than background blurr. it happens to Nokton as well, just a little less harsh.

Green background bokeh are easy to render for most 50mm. So it is not surprising that the bokeh turns out not too badly.

Oh, yes. Da* 55 does have a high standard to meet with that kind of pricing. I just pray that pentax does not use the same skeletal optical design in the line of 50mm series from its history.

[benjikan]

So should I buy it?

Yes you should. This lens is definitely Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Ben