Purchase: Pentax FA 50mm 1.4 or Sigma EX DG HSM 1.4?

impact · 07-31-2009, 12:58 PM

The FA50 is the better value obviously. There has been a blog post claiming that because the FA50 doesn't have it's own AF motor, it is focusing faster with the K-7 (the K-7's built-in AF motor is strong and fast). Also louder.

Unfortunately I can't find the link to the comparo now. The Sigma will probably be a lot quieter.

octavmandru · 07-31-2009, 01:35 PM

Hate to go against the stream but I find the bokeh of FA 50 to be rather busy. dunno about sigma. DA 55 SDM had a bad review on DPReview.
Still, FA 50 is tack sharp stepped down, and the cheapest to go.

Cosmo · 07-31-2009, 02:03 PM

Pentax SMC FA 50mm F1.4 Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

Read through it all, it may interest you.

I've heard alot of good stuff about the bokeh of the fa 50mm.

Russell-Evans · 07-31-2009, 03:46 PM

If you are buying the K-7 and the 540FGZ at the same time you should look at the Walmart package deal, $1,519.00. You'll be able to use the $25 discount as well. With most places selling the K-7 at $1300 right now, picking up the 540 for $200 is pretty nice.

Thank you
Russell

Last edited by Russell-Evans; 08-01-2009 at 07:19 PM.

**fs999** · 07-31-2009, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by octavmandru

Hate to go against the stream but I find the bokeh of FA 50 to be rather busy. dunno about sigma. DA 55 SDM had a bad review on DPReview.
Still, FA 50 is tack sharp stepped down, and the cheapest to go.

Did you compare side by side the 55 with the 50 ? You will see that the 55 is better wide open and CA is lower !

For the question,
I would say : give it a try in a shop with all of them and take that what you prefer...

Class A · 08-01-2009, 05:17 AM

Originally posted by octavmandru

DA 55 SDM had a bad review on DPReview.

?

The review was anything but bad. The reviewer really liked it and only took issue with QC and the price.

K-9 · 08-01-2009, 08:41 AM

The huge 77mm front element of the Sigma would be a deal breaker for me.

Jasvox · 08-01-2009, 10:54 AM

The FA50/1.4 I own is a fantastic copy. I almost never shoot at 1.4, usually 2.0 or smaller, depending on conditions. I find it tack sharp, fast and the depth of field by that setting is manageable and pleasing. Bokeh at 2.0 is just as nice, if not better to my eyes than at 1.4. The price is right on the FA50...you can still pick them up around here from reputable forum members for under 200 bucks. The history and reputation of this lens makes it a no-brainer as far as I am concerned.

Jason

LeDave · 08-01-2009, 12:39 PM

I prefer the FA50/1.4 because it's so much cheaper than the Sigma.

Steve Beswick · 08-01-2009, 01:01 PM

Originally posted by Russell-Evans

If you are buying the K-7 and the 540FGZ at the same time you should look at the Walmart package deal, $1,519.00. You'll be able to us the $25 discount as well. With most places selling the K-7 at $1300 right now, picking up the 540 for $200 is pretty nice.

Thank you
Russell

OR you could ask the camera store you are doing business with to price match. That way you would be supporting an actual camera store, which is a dying breed, instead of giving your money to the company that does 10% of the retail business in the USA. It's your call, but I would rather there be actual camera stores in the US in 10 years.

Pentax_XTC · 08-01-2009, 01:42 PM

I don't know about large ticket items and Wal-Mart returns. If I have an issue I'd rather deal with Adorama or B&H then Wally-World. I appreciate the information though.

As far as bokeh I'm mostly concerned with smooth circles. That's way the 50-135 caught my attention with 9 blades.

Big G · 08-01-2009, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by Class A

?

The review was anything but bad. The reviewer really liked it and only took issue with QC and the price.

It got "Recommended (with reservations)" and those were pretty serious reservations if you ask me.

impact · 08-01-2009, 02:13 PM

FA50 light circles (or whatever you want to call them).

There is a wonderful example how you can control those by just varying the aperture at Pentax SMC FA 50mm F1.4 Lens Review: 4. Test results: Digital Photography Review

Russell-Evans · 08-01-2009, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by Pentax_XTC

I don't know about large ticket items and Wal-Mart returns. If I have an issue I'd rather deal with Adorama or B&H then Wally-World. I appreciate the information though.

As far as bokeh I'm mostly concerned with smooth circles. That's way the 50-135 caught my attention with 9 blades.

I've returned a flash I bought via Walmart's on line presence. It was as easy as simply going to the store and returning the item. I walked out of the store knowing my credit card had been credited with the return.

I returned a istD to Adorama and had to call them to get them process it. It had been in their procession for two weeks before I called and of coarse, I had to present proof that the shipment was delivered and signed for to the CS rep. It took another week for payment to actually be refunded.

Your call.

Thank you
Russell

lesmore49 · 08-01-2009, 10:10 PM

I have the 50mm F1.4 Pentax. Very happy with it, use it on my K10D and KM.

View Poll Results: Which is your preference?
Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4	39	57.35%
Sigma EX DG HSM 50mm f/1.4	29	42.65%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

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07-31-2009, 12:58 PM	#16
impact Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 115	The FA50 is the better value obviously. There has been a blog post claiming that because the FA50 doesn't have it's own AF motor, it is focusing faster with the K-7 (the K-7's built-in AF motor is strong and fast). Also louder. Unfortunately I can't find the link to the comparo now. The Sigma will probably be a lot quieter.

07-31-2009, 01:35 PM	#17
octavmandru Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: somewhere around Posts: 615	Hate to go against the stream but I find the bokeh of FA 50 to be rather busy. dunno about sigma. DA 55 SDM had a bad review on DPReview. Still, FA 50 is tack sharp stepped down, and the cheapest to go.

07-31-2009, 02:03 PM	#18
Cosmo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 488	Pentax SMC FA 50mm F1.4 Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review Read through it all, it may interest you. I've heard alot of good stuff about the bokeh of the fa 50mm.

07-31-2009, 03:46 PM	#19
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	If you are buying the K-7 and the 540FGZ at the same time you should look at the Walmart package deal, $1,519.00. You'll be able to use the $25 discount as well. With most places selling the K-7 at $1300 right now, picking up the 540 for $200 is pretty nice. Thank you Russell Last edited by Russell-Evans; 08-01-2009 at 07:19 PM.

07-31-2009, 04:15 PM	#20
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,639	Originally posted by octavmandru Hate to go against the stream but I find the bokeh of FA 50 to be rather busy. dunno about sigma. DA 55 SDM had a bad review on DPReview. Still, FA 50 is tack sharp stepped down, and the cheapest to go. Did you compare side by side the 55 with the 50 ? You will see that the 55 is better wide open and CA is lower ! For the question, I would say : give it a try in a shop with all of them and take that what you prefer...

08-01-2009, 05:17 AM	#21
Class A Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wellington, New Zealand Posts: 11,251	Originally posted by octavmandru DA 55 SDM had a bad review on DPReview. ? The review was anything but bad. The reviewer really liked it and only took issue with QC and the price.

08-01-2009, 08:41 AM	#22
K-9 Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,971	The huge 77mm front element of the Sigma would be a deal breaker for me.

08-01-2009, 10:54 AM	#23
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	The FA50/1.4 I own is a fantastic copy. I almost never shoot at 1.4, usually 2.0 or smaller, depending on conditions. I find it tack sharp, fast and the depth of field by that setting is manageable and pleasing. Bokeh at 2.0 is just as nice, if not better to my eyes than at 1.4. The price is right on the FA50...you can still pick them up around here from reputable forum members for under 200 bucks. The history and reputation of this lens makes it a no-brainer as far as I am concerned. Jason

08-01-2009, 12:39 PM	#24
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	I prefer the FA50/1.4 because it's so much cheaper than the Sigma.

08-01-2009, 01:01 PM	#25
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736	Originally posted by Russell-Evans If you are buying the K-7 and the 540FGZ at the same time you should look at the Walmart package deal, $1,519.00. You'll be able to us the $25 discount as well. With most places selling the K-7 at $1300 right now, picking up the 540 for $200 is pretty nice. Thank you Russell OR you could ask the camera store you are doing business with to price match. That way you would be supporting an actual camera store, which is a dying breed, instead of giving your money to the company that does 10% of the retail business in the USA. It's your call, but I would rather there be actual camera stores in the US in 10 years.

08-01-2009, 01:42 PM	#26
Pentax_XTC Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 365 Original Poster	I don't know about large ticket items and Wal-Mart returns. If I have an issue I'd rather deal with Adorama or B&H then Wally-World. I appreciate the information though. As far as bokeh I'm mostly concerned with smooth circles. That's way the 50-135 caught my attention with 9 blades.

08-01-2009, 01:48 PM	#27
Big G Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 581	Originally posted by Class A ? The review was anything but bad. The reviewer really liked it and only took issue with QC and the price. It got "Recommended (with reservations)" and those were pretty serious reservations if you ask me.

08-01-2009, 02:13 PM	#28
impact Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 115	FA50 light circles (or whatever you want to call them). There is a wonderful example how you can control those by just varying the aperture at Pentax SMC FA 50mm F1.4 Lens Review: 4. Test results: Digital Photography Review

08-01-2009, 06:23 PM	#29
Russell-Evans Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 1,553	Originally posted by Pentax_XTC I don't know about large ticket items and Wal-Mart returns. If I have an issue I'd rather deal with Adorama or B&H then Wally-World. I appreciate the information though. As far as bokeh I'm mostly concerned with smooth circles. That's way the 50-135 caught my attention with 9 blades. I've returned a flash I bought via Walmart's on line presence. It was as easy as simply going to the store and returning the item. I walked out of the store knowing my credit card had been credited with the return. I returned a istD to Adorama and had to call them to get them process it. It had been in their procession for two weeks before I called and of coarse, I had to present proof that the shipment was delivered and signed for to the CS rep. It took another week for payment to actually be refunded. Your call. Thank you Russell

08-01-2009, 10:10 PM	#30
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,343	I have the 50mm F1.4 Pentax. Very happy with it, use it on my K10D and KM.