[baldeagle21b]

It's a portraiture lens. If a significant portion of your business is studio portraiture, you should have this lens. Otherwise, you don't need it.

[cardinal43]

I don't believe need has ever figured into any lens purchase.

[Jasvox]

$800??


hahaha.


I stand by my statement that as long as my FA50/1.4 works fine, I cant see why I'd need or want to "upgrade" to this lens. The value just isn't there, in my opinion.

Jason

[Sean Nelson]

What other than SDM is making anyone drool over this when we have the very fine FA50/1.4? I am genuinly curious.

The 50/1.4 is soft and has low contrast at the widest apertures. Sigma has shown that you can design a lens that has excellent performance even wide open (see the Photozone review: Sigma AF 50mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM (Canon) - Review / Test Report). I think the hope is that Pentax will manage to do the same.

[Jasvox]

measurebators...

The FA50 is a fantastic lens, 1.8 is fine and anything over 2.0 is superb.. This lens has been held in the highest regards for years, I don't think some newer version is going to make it an any less capable lens.

Jas

[Andi Lo]

OH cmon, all these compaints about the price. Haven't you guys been waiting for years now? Who's buying?

[ftpaddict]

$800??


hahaha.


I stand by my statement that as long as my FA50/1.4 works fine, I cant see why I'd need or want to "upgrade" to this lens. The value just isn't there, in my opinion.

Jason

You want funny? Nikon's new 50mm f/1.4G is $966 at Amazon.

[nulla]

measurebators...

The FA50 is a fantastic lens, 1.8 is fine and anything over 2.0 is superb.. This lens has been held in the highest regards for years, I don't think some newer version is going to make it an any less capable lens.

Jas

Just as any Lens within the range of say 50 -120 that is held in high regards, it does not mean it is less capable because Pentax have a newer more featured and higher rated lens in the DA 50-135.

Same applies to those who choose to go for the new 55mm, it has features and optics that will attract buyers.


Neil

[fearview]

since i knew that this lens made to subtitute the legendary fa* 85 1.4...


i knew this thin' wont show up cheap.

[ll_coffee_lP]

I'll be picking one up as soon as it is in my local stores and I can physically touch it. As long as it can render 3D images like the 77ltd, I will be picking it up.

As noted above, this is for portrait work - which is about 8/10ths of what I do. $800 is expensive, but this lens will last a long time and will save me countless hours in PP - then it's worth every penny to me.

FA50 is a fabulous lens and I love it too.

c[_]

[Syb]

Well that legendary fa*85 is legendary still. To me, this looks not as a substitute, rather as a surplus.

But as I have the FA50mm/1.4, I am not at all fancying the 55. It is just like the 77 and the 85. They're too close to one another to want to have both. So. I'll keep my drool inside for a while (waiting for a FF DSLR body, I guess)

[ll_coffee_lP]

$800??


hahaha.


I stand by my statement that as long as my FA50/1.4 works fine, I cant see why I'd need or want to "upgrade" to this lens. The value just isn't there, in my opinion.

Jason

You may not need/want to. That's your opinion and that's OK.

Lots of people choose the 31ltd over the FA35 too (both excellent lenses). Really...the prices are essentially the same between the FA50 / DA*55 and the FA35 / FA31.

c[_]

[farfisa]

I've been trying to talk myself out of this one. Wish me luck !

I'll be fine until the photos start rolling in

[wildman]

A more or less conventional "normal" $800 lens and the world economy predicted to be in the toilet for at least the next two years?

Good luck Pentax.

[mycarsoots]

Wow, 4x the cost of my FA 50mm f1.4 when new, and about 5x the current used price. I don't think that the SDM is worth it. I'll bet they sell tens of them!