Advice on SMC Pentax - A lens 1:1.7 50mm

srp · 02-03-2009, 10:16 PM

Please be gentle as this is only my second (of hopefully many to come) post.

As a relative newbie (bought k200d a few months ago) I was looking for opinions on the A 1.7 50mm lens. Besides the 18-55 kit lens and the Sigma 70-300mm APO, I was looking at acquiring a fixed focal lens.

I understand it is manual focus only but thought that would help improve my skills anyway. I have done a bit of research online and thought this a better option than the F2 version, but not as expensive as the 1.4

Comments and advice would be greatly appreciated.

ciao

jsherman999 · 02-03-2009, 10:23 PM

An excellent choice.

Transit · 02-03-2009, 11:08 PM

Yep very good choice and an A lens permits aperture control from the camera.

winglik · 02-03-2009, 11:38 PM

Yes, the 1.7 is very sharp and cheap compare to the 1.4. The pentax A and M are both pretty good lenses. if you want it even cheaper, try Sears 50mm 1.7, it's a pretty good lens as well. but much cheaper, size wise, it's a bit bigger than the Pentax brand

srp · 02-04-2009, 12:04 AM

Thanks winglik, Transit and jsherman999.

Been looking around flea bay etc and should be able to pick it up for around $100Aus.

Cheers,
srp

ps any other feedback welcome!

Frettop · 02-04-2009, 12:46 AM

Great little lens I picked up one from ebay. Usually much cheaper than the 1.4. Lots of good reviews, sharpness, contrast etc. I'd go for the A rather than the M. With the A series you can set it to A on the lens and control the aperature from the camera, with the M series you can certainly use it but you have to stop down by pressing the green button to meter the scene and then press the shutter. That's fine for some situations but might be a problem in others. The price difference between them isn't much so you might as well get the better one rather than wishing you had. You end up with a very usable 75mm equivalent fast prime.

srp · 02-04-2009, 02:35 AM

Cheers for that Frettop, I think you guys have convinced me to bite the bullet and buy one.....and so the journey begins!

calicojack · 02-04-2009, 04:07 AM

Originally posted by srp

Cheers for that Frettop, I think you guys have convinced me to bite the bullet and buy one.....and so the journey begins!

Ahhhh, the birth of an LBA'er.

02-03-2009, 10:16 PM	#1
srp Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia Posts: 31	Advice on SMC Pentax - A lens 1:1.7 50mm Please be gentle as this is only my second (of hopefully many to come) post. As a relative newbie (bought k200d a few months ago) I was looking for opinions on the A 1.7 50mm lens. Besides the 18-55 kit lens and the Sigma 70-300mm APO, I was looking at acquiring a fixed focal lens. I understand it is manual focus only but thought that would help improve my skills anyway. I have done a bit of research online and thought this a better option than the F2 version, but not as expensive as the 1.4 Comments and advice would be greatly appreciated. ciao

02-04-2009, 12:46 AM	#6
Frettop Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 4	SMC 50mm A f1.7 Great little lens I picked up one from ebay. Usually much cheaper than the 1.4. Lots of good reviews, sharpness, contrast etc. I'd go for the A rather than the M. With the A series you can set it to A on the lens and control the aperature from the camera, with the M series you can certainly use it but you have to stop down by pressing the green button to meter the scene and then press the shutter. That's fine for some situations but might be a problem in others. The price difference between them isn't much so you might as well get the better one rather than wishing you had. You end up with a very usable 75mm equivalent fast prime.

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02-03-2009, 10:23 PM	#2
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	An excellent choice.

02-03-2009, 11:08 PM	#3
Transit Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Whanganui NZ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,624	Yep very good choice and an A lens permits aperture control from the camera.

02-03-2009, 11:38 PM	#4
winglik Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 258	Yes, the 1.7 is very sharp and cheap compare to the 1.4. The pentax A and M are both pretty good lenses. if you want it even cheaper, try Sears 50mm 1.7, it's a pretty good lens as well. but much cheaper, size wise, it's a bit bigger than the Pentax brand

02-04-2009, 12:04 AM	#5
srp Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia Posts: 31 Original Poster	Thanks winglik, Transit and jsherman999. Been looking around flea bay etc and should be able to pick it up for around $100Aus. Cheers, srp ps any other feedback welcome!

02-04-2009, 02:35 AM	#7
srp Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Port Macquarie, NSW, Australia Posts: 31 Original Poster	Cheers for that Frettop, I think you guys have convinced me to bite the bullet and buy one.....and so the journey begins!

02-04-2009, 04:07 AM	#8
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	Originally posted by srp Cheers for that Frettop, I think you guys have convinced me to bite the bullet and buy one.....and so the journey begins! Ahhhh, the birth of an LBA'er.