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12-03-2009, 03:07 PM   #136
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Yes, I should have made that clear. I meant to compare the autofocus 50/1.7 and 50/1.4

12-03-2009, 03:31 PM   #137
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QuoteOriginally posted by switters Quote
FYI I've been seeing folks here suggesting it's possible to pick up a 50/1.7 for significantly less than you can get a new 50/1.4. I just checked eBay and the last two 50/1.7s sold for $275 average. I bought a new 50/1.4 from Henry's on eBay for $300 a couple days ago, and with 10% cash back it will end up at $270.

Question is, would you pay the same amount for a used 50/1.7 as you would for a new 50/1.4? Is the difference that significant?


YES! because there is a significant difference as to shooting sharp images at wide open. to some people, that sharpness is a necessity for their shots.

fyi, those 1.7 lenses were being sold from 130-250 used. an FA 50/1.4 is stucked at 200-250 used. so a 1.7 is still cheaper.
12-03-2009, 03:42 PM   #138
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QuoteOriginally posted by Optical Illusion Quote
Thanks Monochrome... So it doesn't seem like they're different enough to keep both. I see no reason to do that, so which one should I keep? Or are the differences ClassA mentioned significant?
If you will only shoot average distances between f/8 and f/16 then any Pentax normal lens will do a great job.

The differences can be significant, depending on what you need to use the lens for.

If you need edge-to-edge sharpness at less than f/4 (a "flat" field) the 50/1.7's were specifically designed with that in mind.

If you want nicer oof areas and sharp enough center area below f/4, plus better focusing in dim light and a faster shutter wide-open, then 50/1.4 was specifically designed for these conditions.

If you want classic manual focus feel, the M or even K lenses offer pure, smooth, damped focusing (the Takumars are the best IMHO).

If you want automatic aperture control from the camera, the A lenses have the electrical contacts.

It is all about the compromises you will make to get the best price for the features you need.

Or owning three or four different 50's for different purposes.
12-03-2009, 04:32 PM   #139
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QuoteOriginally posted by Pentaxor Quote

fyi, those 1.7 lenses were being sold from 130-250 used. an FA 50/1.4 is stucked at 200-250 used. so a 1.7 is still cheaper.
Not anymore. Apparently the word is out. They're going for $270-$280 now. More than a new 50/1.4 if you include cash back.

12-03-2009, 05:22 PM   #140
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QuoteOriginally posted by switters Quote
Not anymore. Apparently the word is out. They're going for $270-$280 now. More than a new 50/1.4 if you include cash back.
Apparently you have not priced a new FA 50/1.4 lately

The demand and prices are high for the F and FA 50/1.7 due a relative scarcity and great reputation. I just did a search on eBay for F and FA 50/1.7 and came up with nothing, zilch, nada...unavailable at auction today regardless of price. Nothing used at KEH or Adorama either. If you want one of these lenses, it might be easiest to buy them attached to a camera, though, unfortunately, most cameras of the AF era were sold with zoom lenses <sigh>.

As for the manual focus options, this is what I would generally expect for a lens in VG or better condition:
  • A 50/1.7 $75-120 USD
  • M 50/1.7 $35-65 USD
  • K 55/1.8 $45-80 USD
The M series lens is the most common. The K has the best build and arguably the best optics. The A is the easiest to use on a Pentax dSLR.

Steve
12-03-2009, 05:30 PM   #141
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QuoteOriginally posted by switters Quote
Not anymore. Apparently the word is out. They're going for $270-$280 now. More than a new 50/1.4 if you include cash back.
Here's an F50/1.7 in the Marketplace for $200. Unfortunately for US buyers, located in Aus, but still -

F50/1.7

Awfully tasty looking. If I didn't have TWO spotless M50/1.7's and an FA50/1.4 right now I might . . .

Last edited by monochrome; 12-03-2009 at 07:09 PM.
12-03-2009, 07:06 PM   #142
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QuoteOriginally posted by switters Quote
Not anymore. Apparently the word is out. They're going for $270-$280 now. More than a new 50/1.4 if you include cash back.
you do know that the F/FA 50 1.7 are no longer in production, right? the price of the 1.7 is dictated by it's rarity, supply and demand, and it's reputation. just ask why a Pentax 85/1.4 costs over a thousand bucks eventhough it has long been discontinued as well. you haven't been scouring the net that hard, as someone pointed out that someone is selling it for 200 right now in the marketplace.

honestly, I could sell my copy easily for 400, but I wont since acquiring one again in a good condition is very hard. even ones in bad condition are rarely sold. I was just lucky enough to get the FA version of the lens because some low-ballers from eBay refused to buy the lens for it's true worth. lucky for me it has the Buy Now option as well. boy, those lowballers must be beating themselves to death because after I acquired the lens, I never saw a single copy being sold on eBay for months. saw one on ebay 2 months ago, then NADA again. can you see one selling in eBay again? I'm referring to the FA version of course.

12-03-2009, 07:11 PM   #143
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
Apparently you have not priced a new FA 50/1.4 lately

The demand and prices are high for the F and FA 50/1.7 due a relative scarcity and great reputation. I just did a search on eBay for F and FA 50/1.7 and came up with nothing, zilch, nada...unavailable at auction today regardless of price. Nothing used at KEH or Adorama either. If you want one of these lenses, it might be easiest to buy them attached to a camera, though, unfortunately, most cameras of the AF era were sold with zoom lenses <sigh>.

As for the manual focus options, this is what I would generally expect for a lens in VG or better condition:
  • A 50/1.7 $75-120 USD
  • M 50/1.7 $35-65 USD
  • K 55/1.8 $45-80 USD
The M series lens is the most common. The K has the best build and arguably the best optics. The A is the easiest to use on a Pentax dSLR.

Steve

got the K55/1.8

it is a bright lens and a very very nice lens as well. slower but better variant of the 50/1.4, IMO.

Last edited by Pentaxor; 12-03-2009 at 09:26 PM.
12-03-2009, 08:17 PM   #144
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QuoteOriginally posted by Pentaxor Quote
got the K55/1.8

it is a bright lens and very very nice lens as well. slower but better variant of the 50/1.4, IMO.
I also have the K 55/1.8 and am frequently amazed by the images it produces. It is better than either my A or M 50/1.7...hands down.

Steve
12-03-2009, 09:55 PM   #145
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QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
I also have the K 55/1.8 and am frequently amazed by the images it produces. It is better than either my A or M 50/1.7...hands down.

Steve
for me the things that appeals to me about it is it's OOF rendering. I was offered one for a cheap price some months ago. passed on it because of lack of knowledge about the lens and because I prefer getting an autofocus 50mm. eversince I've tried the smooth manual focus feel of the Pentax MF lenses and how easily I could nail focus with them and heard about the K55's great reputation, I decided to look for one again. just my luck, I acquired one last week, along with the equaly highly reputed K28/3.5 for free.

Last edited by Pentaxor; 12-05-2009 at 12:13 AM.
12-04-2009, 06:09 AM   #146
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QuoteOriginally posted by Pentaxor Quote
...I acquired one last week, along with the equaly highly reputed K28/3.5 for free.
...And "free is a very good price"...

Steve
12-04-2009, 04:09 PM   #147
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all the love for the 55 1.8 is very tempting indeed (and hooray for the free acquisition of the 28 3.5, my favourite lens), but i wondered if this often heard rumour of the 55 2 being the exact same lens, but just branded as a 2 is true. if that's the case, things get cheap...
12-04-2009, 06:52 PM   #148
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Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 SLII

I used to own the FA50/1.4. It's a great lens if you shoot at f2.8 and smaller, but is quite frustrating if you like shooting anything wider than that. Also, the FA50/1.4 is useless if you need to MF and the plastic build got me worried about its longevity (I noticed that keeping it stored for a long period, then using it seems to disrupt AF accuracy in the beginning).

So I sold it, and got the K55/1.8 and went full MF. I was amazed at the IQ of this "poor man's DA* 55.1.4". But being full manual really slows things down, and I began to miss at least the A feature.

Enter the CV58/1.4 SLII. Priced close to the FA50/1.4. Built like a tank, excellent resolution and IQ (IMHO, better than the FA50/1.4 and K55/1.8) and makes the use of MF a joy to behold!. I have found my main creative tool at last

Some recent shots with this great lens (check my flickr site for the larger size)...

Shot @ f1.4:


@ f1.6:


@ f1.8:


@f2.0:


@f2.8:


@f4.0:


@f5.6:


@f8.0
12-04-2009, 08:10 PM   #149
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QuoteOriginally posted by mr. jef Quote
all the love for the 55 1.8 is very tempting indeed (and hooray for the free acquisition of the 28 3.5, my favourite lens), but i wondered if this often heard rumour of the 55 2 being the exact same lens, but just branded as a 2 is true. if that's the case, things get cheap...
Yes it is. I got one essentially for free and disassembled it to be sure. What is a little annoying is that the same part that limits the aperture to f2 also holds the top of the aperture blades in. So it can't just be removed. You could just file away the extra metal on this part and reassemble. The lens would probably lose value and you would have a karma deficit, but you'd have an extra half stop.

The aperture-limiting part is the slightly purple ring just outside the aperture blades:


I can't remember exactly how to get to it, as this was from 6 months ago. Certainly remove the "name" trim ring, and the filter ring (3 screws). The front lens group simply unscrews as a unit. That gets you to the point of this photo. The ring is held in by 3 screws in the side of the lens tube. I think I took out the three common screws you see in the photo and the tube comes right out. When reinstalling it, it can be rotated slightly. Make sure the aperture ring can adjust the aperture from fully open to f16 before tightening the screws. The aperture ring will open the blades fully when it's set to f2, so once the limiting part is filed, f2=f1.8.

Last edited by Just1MoreDave; 12-05-2009 at 04:05 PM.
12-04-2009, 08:34 PM   #150
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M 50 1.4

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