Poll: K 50mm F/1.2 or FA 43mm Limited F/1.9?

Piotr · 02-07-2009, 12:58 PM

I had FA 50/1.4 and K50/1.2. Now I have A50/1.2 and FA43. In my opinion 50/1.2 is much much better for portraits.

Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2
1/250s f/4.0 at 50.0mm iso200

Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2
1/160s f/2.8 at 50.0mm iso200

and it is ok for landscapes:
Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2
1/500s f/5.6 at 50.0mm iso200

or kind of macro
Pentax *ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2
1/250s f1.2 at 50.0mm iso200

**rparmar** · 02-07-2009, 01:38 PM

I am waiting on my K 50 1.2 and so must reserve judgement. I doubt I'd ever get rid of the FA43, however.

mummy · 02-08-2009, 11:46 AM

Hi guys,

Thanks all for your inputs, and I think I will get both. Bokeh on the 50mm so great that it turn every normal shot to special and the 43mm is so compact and it has AF, not sure about its bokeh compare to 50mm f1.2 but I doubt it will be on pair.

roentarre · 02-08-2009, 01:45 PM

Fa 43mm is not known to be good similar to most fa limited: imperfect circle with specular highlights and suffer bokeh CA. The worse is usually background bokeh rather than foreground bokeh in the fa limited line up. At best, fa 43mm is neutral in background bokeh department.

A 50mm f1.2 renders better bokeh comparing to Fa 43

Piotr · 02-08-2009, 03:14 PM

Originally posted by mummy

Hi guys,

Thanks all for your inputs, and I think I will get both. Bokeh on the 50mm so great that it turn every normal shot to special and the 43mm is so compact and it has AF, not sure about its bokeh compare to 50mm f1.2 but I doubt it will be on pair.

no way. FA43 is reallly nice small lens, but its bokeh is not comparable to FA50/1.4, K50/1.2 or A50/1.2. Bokeh FA43 at f2 is more or less what A50 has at f2.8. But A is much, much sharper at the same time.

**Eaglerapids** · 02-08-2009, 07:49 PM

I'm still exploring the 43mm traits and while it's true it's bokeh at 1.9 may not match up to 1.4 or 1.2 (how could it?) and I haven't yet come across some of it's lesser bokeh qualities that some speak of, I can't let this go by without an example of the 43's bokeh at f2.2. We have no color out here to speak of yet, as pretty as this country is, this time of year it can be hard to find. Spike is always a willing model (usually) so here's another shot of him. Also, I keep hearing people say "this or that" lens is sharper than the 43Ltd or the 43Ltd is "soft" wide open....I'm just not seeing it. Now, on these types of shots I'm always manually focusing and I wonder, especially at wider apertures, if the AF is missing a hair when people AF and then they are blaming the lens. I tell you what, though, this may not be the greatest composition and it's yet another picture of a dang dog, but I love how this lens isolated the subject from the background. Little by little the 43Ltd is growing on me as a superb lens, very versatile.

jsherman999 · 02-08-2009, 08:44 PM

Originally posted by Piotr

no way. FA43 is reallly nice small lens, but its bokeh is not comparable to FA50/1.4, K50/1.2 or A50/1.2. Bokeh FA43 at f2 is more or less what A50 has at f2.8. But A is much, much sharper at the same time.

The FA 43ltd bokeh is just fine.

Piotr · 02-09-2009, 02:17 AM

nice shot and nice dog

Piotr · 02-09-2009, 02:19 AM

Originally posted by jsherman999

The FA 43ltd bokeh is just fine.

Yes, I agree.

**rparmar** · 02-13-2009, 12:20 PM

Just got the K50mm It is quite something. Images over here.

View Poll Results: Great portrait lens combo with 77mm ltd?
Pentax K 50mm F/1.2	26	31.71%
FA 43mm Limited F/1.9	45	54.88%
Other	11	13.41%
Voters: 82. You may not vote on this poll

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FA 31mm limited, FA 43mm limited, 40mm F2.8	Sheridan	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	14	07-28-2010 12:30 PM
For Sale - Sold: FA 43mm Limited (black) for DA* 16-50mm (US/CAN)	MikeH	Sold Items	2	07-14-2010 05:05 AM
For Sale - Sold: FA limited 43mm/f1.9 (black), FA limited 77mm/f1.8 (silver), FA 28-105mm/f3.2-	chemxaj	Sold Items	24	10-16-2008 11:17 AM
For Sale - Sold: smc Pentax-FA 77mm Limited & 43mm Limited	MikeH	Sold Items	2	02-13-2007 06:03 PM

02-07-2009, 12:58 PM	#16
Piotr Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	I had FA 50/1.4 and K50/1.2. Now I have A50/1.2 and FA43. In my opinion 50/1.2 is much much better for portraits. Pentax ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2 1/250s f/4.0 at 50.0mm iso200 Pentax ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2 1/160s f/2.8 at 50.0mm iso200 and it is ok for landscapes: Pentax ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2 1/500s f/5.6 at 50.0mm iso200 or kind of macro Pentax ist DS ,Pentax SMC 50mm 1:1.2 1/250s f1.2 at 50.0mm iso200

02-07-2009, 01:38 PM	#17
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	I am waiting on my K 50 1.2 and so must reserve judgement. I doubt I'd ever get rid of the FA43, however.

02-08-2009, 11:46 AM	#18
mummy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Photos: Gallery Posts: 115 Original Poster	Hi guys, Thanks all for your inputs, and I think I will get both. Bokeh on the 50mm so great that it turn every normal shot to special and the 43mm is so compact and it has AF, not sure about its bokeh compare to 50mm f1.2 but I doubt it will be on pair.

02-08-2009, 01:45 PM	#19
roentarre Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 11,783	Fa 43mm is not known to be good similar to most fa limited: imperfect circle with specular highlights and suffer bokeh CA. The worse is usually background bokeh rather than foreground bokeh in the fa limited line up. At best, fa 43mm is neutral in background bokeh department. A 50mm f1.2 renders better bokeh comparing to Fa 43

02-08-2009, 03:14 PM	#20
Piotr Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	Originally posted by mummy Hi guys, Thanks all for your inputs, and I think I will get both. Bokeh on the 50mm so great that it turn every normal shot to special and the 43mm is so compact and it has AF, not sure about its bokeh compare to 50mm f1.2 but I doubt it will be on pair. no way. FA43 is reallly nice small lens, but its bokeh is not comparable to FA50/1.4, K50/1.2 or A50/1.2. Bokeh FA43 at f2 is more or less what A50 has at f2.8. But A is much, much sharper at the same time.

02-08-2009, 07:49 PM	#21
Eaglerapids Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Idaho,USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,619	I'm still exploring the 43mm traits and while it's true it's bokeh at 1.9 may not match up to 1.4 or 1.2 (how could it?) and I haven't yet come across some of it's lesser bokeh qualities that some speak of, I can't let this go by without an example of the 43's bokeh at f2.2. We have no color out here to speak of yet, as pretty as this country is, this time of year it can be hard to find. Spike is always a willing model (usually) so here's another shot of him. Also, I keep hearing people say "this or that" lens is sharper than the 43Ltd or the 43Ltd is "soft" wide open....I'm just not seeing it. Now, on these types of shots I'm always manually focusing and I wonder, especially at wider apertures, if the AF is missing a hair when people AF and then they are blaming the lens. I tell you what, though, this may not be the greatest composition and it's yet another picture of a dang dog, but I love how this lens isolated the subject from the background. Little by little the 43Ltd is growing on me as a superb lens, very versatile.

02-08-2009, 08:44 PM	#22
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Piotr no way. FA43 is reallly nice small lens, but its bokeh is not comparable to FA50/1.4, K50/1.2 or A50/1.2. Bokeh FA43 at f2 is more or less what A50 has at f2.8. But A is much, much sharper at the same time. The FA 43ltd bokeh is just fine.

02-09-2009, 02:17 AM	#23
Piotr Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	nice shot and nice dog

02-09-2009, 02:19 AM	#24
Piotr Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Warsaw Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	Originally posted by jsherman999 The FA 43ltd bokeh is just fine. Yes, I agree.

02-13-2009, 12:20 PM	#25
rparmar Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,819	Just got the K50mm It is quite something. Images over here.