[nulla]

77/1.8. It is magic.

Same here... but my newly aquired FA 31 is quickly closing ground and it looks great on the K-7


Neil

[CheddarGav]

DA70, small, fantastic sharpness and contrast, I love it

[K-9]

Currenly Pentax-F 50mm f1.4. Prior to that, Pentax-K 35mm f3.5.

It's a toss up between my F 50mm 1.4 on my DSLR and my FA 85mm 1.4 on film bodies. The 50mm is almost like my digital FA 85, but a whole lot lighter and the ability to get in closer. They are so dissimilar, yet yield razor sharp results at nearly the same perspective in each format.

K20d and F50mm1.4 -- what a deadly combo!

[Nesster]

Of currently made lenses, my best and favorite is the 43.

Older lenses? Several are very good - the Takumars of course, Yashinon DS-M 50/1.7, 52bb 90/2.5 macro, Soligor T4 105/2.8....

Currently, among the older SLR lenses I'd say the Soligor is a favorite. But my absolute fave is a 75mm uncoated Skopar on my 1938 Bessa 66. It has detail and soul.

The Rikenon on my Diacord is the sharpest and most contrasty medium format lens I have... and a couple of folder lenses may compete with the Skopar - another 105mm Skopar from 1933, and a Xenar 75/2.8 on a Certo Super Sport Dolly. I just haven't sorted these cameras out as yet.

[kuuan]

For sharpness - S-M-C Takumar 50mm f/1.4

For everyday - S-M-C Takumar 28mm f/3.5

What's great about the 28mm is the focal length is around 45mm on a crop so quite 'standard' and setting the aperture to f/8 and the focus ring to the red numbers (35ft iirc) means it'll focus from 5 feet to infinity so it's great for just pointing 'n' shooting without worrying about if the shot will be in focus. It's a great feature.

The S-M-C Takumar 50/1.4 is my favorite lens, no question!
Not necessarily for sharpness, but for the overall well balanced photos it gives me.

Everything you say about the 28mm f3.5 is very true too, recently had become my second most used lens.

any flickr user who shoots with these lenses?
the only two groups I created in flickr are dedicated to exactly these two lenses:
S-M-C Takumar 50mm f1.4: http://www.flickr.com/groups/953850@N22/
S-M-C Takumar 28mm f3.5: http://www.flickr.com/groups/1112599@N23/
if so, please join. The 50/1.4 group as been taking off well, the 28/3.5 group still needs some more care ( have not yet invited anybody, so far only 4 members and two posters ) )

In liking I could not say yet if the 28/3.5 comes in second for me, it very likely could be the Tamumar 35mm f3.5 instead, it is a stunning little lens I should start using more...and I much like my 35/2 and 105/2.8 Takumars too

[GaryM]

For pure optical quality: DA70 - it blows me away even wide open.
For all-around usefullness: DA35 - it's excellent optically as well.
Most enjoyable: DA15 - I'm using it more than any other lens these days, has put my DA21 in storage.

[felix68]

By far, my favorite is the FA31. I would also say that it is my best, followed closely by my DA70, FA50 and DA21, but it really depends on what you are shooting. For e-bay product shots, my M-100 f4 Macro is my best lens. Never underestimate the value of good close up shots in an auction listing!
The FA31 just creates stunning photos in almost any situation and I love the FOV.

[dave9t5]

In honour of Ron Mexico Emancipation Day™, here is my $0.02

On 135 film:

• SMC-K 24mm f/2.8

On APS-C digital:

• Best optics: Voigtländer Nokton 58mm f/1.4 SLII
• Best all-around (optics + build + handling + practicality): Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited
• Best $75 wide-angle: Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5~5.6 (any version) between 20~35mm
• Best lens I never tried: Sigma MACRO 70mm F2.8 EX DG