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legacyb4 · 02-21-2009, 10:21 AM

Okay, I like that last set of pics; bokeh on the outdoor stuff is much more subtle and the log in the water has some great contrast.

Will be nice to see some outdoor, sunny pics with this lens.

ll_coffee_lP · 02-21-2009, 03:50 PM

I saw the thread pitting the DA*55 up against the FA50. The DA is definitely sharper, but significantly slower AF, and nearly identical bokeh. Those were the two make-or-break items for me.

I'm sad as I wanted this lens to be the be all of portrait lenses, and now realize that I will have to give this lens a pass over...

c[_]

falconeye · 02-21-2009, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by blende8

I tested it on the K10D and K20D.

blende8, you forgot to tell us that you have published a very useful test report here:

Pentax DA55 and FA50 - a comparison

Thank You so much for the great work

Class A · 02-22-2009, 06:25 PM

Originally posted by falconeye

blende8, you forgot to tell us that you have published a very useful test report here:

Thanks to falconeye for pointing this out and many thanks to blende8 for making the comparison. Blende8 has started a new thread pointing to his above comparison.

AFAIC, it is clear that the 55 is an improvement over the 50 optically. Some differences may seem subtle, but I think they are sufficiently large to call a winner. I also think that 55mm is more useful than 50mm (for instance for portraits).

Too bad that the SDM AF is that slow. If only they had kept the screw drive for speed and the benefit of pre-SDM Pentax cameras.

Unfortunately, there is also a bit of a price difference.

With the current price tag, I don't see the 55mm replacing a lot of amateur FA 50's.

Last edited by Class A; 02-22-2009 at 06:31 PM.

lbam · 02-22-2009, 09:14 PM

I love that dog shot too... the depth of field and angle give it a certain feel.

**David Whiteley** · 02-22-2009, 10:35 PM

Oops! Posted to wrong thread. Never mind!

Parallax · 02-23-2009, 08:52 AM

O.K., I've followed this post through 15 pages now and what I really want to know is where I can get the watch! Citizen Nighthawk, sapphire crystal, and radio controlled too! They Don't seem to be available in the U.S.

TKH · 02-23-2009, 09:25 AM

And the best is: This Titanium watch is also solar powered! Fueld by light it never needs a batterie!

Rainer

Miserere · 02-23-2009, 09:53 AM

Originally posted by TKH

.

The dog looks dubious that this lens is worth the price...

.

falconeye · 02-23-2009, 10:19 AM

Originally posted by TKH

And the best is: This Titanium watch is also solar powered! Fueld by light it never needs a batterie!

Rainer

Titanium, solar-powered, radio-controlled, watch photo taken at 50mm f/1.4?

(K20D + Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 @ 1/6s, f/1.4, ISO100)

The Zeiss has good resolution but is known to have some glare wide open.

EDIT:
On the topic of AF...
I've read that the Sigma 50/1.4 got ring motor HSM/SDM. Anybody already did some AF tests with this one?

TKH · 02-23-2009, 12:40 PM

Nice watch...

BTW. The Zeiss is the best made lens I ever had owned. Nearly perfect. But the bokeh from the Nokton seem to me a little bit more creamy.

Rainer

falconeye · 02-23-2009, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by TKH

the bokeh from the Nokton seem to me a little bit more creamy

I know there are Nokton threads in this forum... Let me ask a question, though: Where did you get your Nokton from? Is it a Nokton 1,4/58mm SL II AI-P Pentax?

TKH · 02-23-2009, 03:40 PM

Yes of course. I sold it to our common friend Thomas Ziska from the DFN Forum in Germany. MF fokus is not my cup of tea.
I bought the Nokton at Foto Mundus.

Rainer

AndrewG NY · 02-23-2009, 11:30 PM

Originally posted by Miserere

.

The dog looks dubious that this lens is worth the price...

.

Actually, from the looks of it, puppy-dog is pondering the merits of weather-sealing.

Buddha Jones · 02-24-2009, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP

I saw the thread pitting the DA*55 up against the FA50. The DA is definitely sharper, but significantly slower AF, and nearly identical bokeh. Those were the two make-or-break items for me.

I'm sad as I wanted this lens to be the be all of portrait lenses, and now realize that I will have to give this lens a pass over...

c[_]

Why is fast AF speed needed for a portrait lens?

02-22-2009, 10:35 PM	#216
David Whiteley Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ottawa-Gatineau, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Oops! Posted to wrong thread. Never mind! Last edited by David Whiteley; 02-23-2009 at 09:51 AM.

02-23-2009, 10:19 AM	#220
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by TKH And the best is: This Titanium watch is also solar powered! Fueld by light it never needs a batterie! Rainer Titanium, solar-powered, radio-controlled, watch photo taken at 50mm f/1.4? (K20D + Zeiss 50mm f/1.4 @ 1/6s, f/1.4, ISO100) The Zeiss has good resolution but is known to have some glare wide open. EDIT: On the topic of AF... I've read that the Sigma 50/1.4 got ring motor HSM/SDM. Anybody already did some AF tests with this one? Last edited by falconeye; 02-23-2009 at 11:15 AM.

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02-21-2009, 10:21 AM	#211
legacyb4 Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tri-Cities, British Columbia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,784	Okay, I like that last set of pics; bokeh on the outdoor stuff is much more subtle and the log in the water has some great contrast. Will be nice to see some outdoor, sunny pics with this lens.

02-21-2009, 03:50 PM	#212
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	I saw the thread pitting the DA*55 up against the FA50. The DA is definitely sharper, but significantly slower AF, and nearly identical bokeh. Those were the two make-or-break items for me. I'm sad as I wanted this lens to be the be all of portrait lenses, and now realize that I will have to give this lens a pass over... c[_]

02-21-2009, 06:43 PM	#213
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by blende8 I tested it on the K10D and K20D. blende8, you forgot to tell us that you have published a very useful test report here: Pentax DA55 and FA50 - a comparison Thank You so much for the great work

02-22-2009, 06:25 PM	#214
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by falconeye blende8, you forgot to tell us that you have published a very useful test report here: Thanks to falconeye for pointing this out and many thanks to blende8 for making the comparison. Blende8 has started a new thread pointing to his above comparison. AFAIC, it is clear that the 55 is an improvement over the 50 optically. Some differences may seem subtle, but I think they are sufficiently large to call a winner. I also think that 55mm is more useful than 50mm (for instance for portraits). Too bad that the SDM AF is that slow. If only they had kept the screw drive for speed and the benefit of pre-SDM Pentax cameras. Unfortunately, there is also a bit of a price difference. With the current price tag, I don't see the 55mm replacing a lot of amateur FA 50's. Last edited by Class A; 02-22-2009 at 06:31 PM.

02-22-2009, 09:14 PM	#215
lbam Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 442	I love that dog shot too... the depth of field and angle give it a certain feel.

02-23-2009, 08:52 AM	#217
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	O.K., I've followed this post through 15 pages now and what I really want to know is where I can get the watch! Citizen Nighthawk, sapphire crystal, and radio controlled too! They Don't seem to be available in the U.S.

02-23-2009, 09:25 AM	#218
TKH Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 371 Original Poster	And the best is: This Titanium watch is also solar powered! Fueld by light it never needs a batterie! Rainer

02-23-2009, 09:53 AM	#219
Miserere Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Boston Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,993	Originally posted by TKH . The dog looks dubious that this lens is worth the price... .

02-23-2009, 12:40 PM	#221
TKH Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 371 Original Poster	Nice watch... BTW. The Zeiss is the best made lens I ever had owned. Nearly perfect. But the bokeh from the Nokton seem to me a little bit more creamy. Rainer

02-23-2009, 03:31 PM	#222
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by TKH the bokeh from the Nokton seem to me a little bit more creamy I know there are Nokton threads in this forum... Let me ask a question, though: Where did you get your Nokton from? Is it a Nokton 1,4/58mm SL II AI-P Pentax?

02-23-2009, 03:40 PM	#223
TKH Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 371 Original Poster	Yes of course. I sold it to our common friend Thomas Ziska from the DFN Forum in Germany. MF fokus is not my cup of tea. I bought the Nokton at Foto Mundus. Rainer

02-23-2009, 11:30 PM	#224
AndrewG NY Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chappaqua, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 688	Originally posted by Miserere . The dog looks dubious that this lens is worth the price... . Actually, from the looks of it, puppy-dog is pondering the merits of weather-sealing.

02-24-2009, 07:27 PM	#225
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	Originally posted by ll_coffee_lP I saw the thread pitting the DA*55 up against the FA50. The DA is definitely sharper, but significantly slower AF, and nearly identical bokeh. Those were the two make-or-break items for me. I'm sad as I wanted this lens to be the be all of portrait lenses, and now realize that I will have to give this lens a pass over... c[_] Why is fast AF speed needed for a portrait lens?

DA*55mm vs. FA43mm

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