[stevebrot]

Vaughn.... Just a thought.

Look at how you shoot with your 18-55 kit.. If you are not down in the wide end16-24 much then I would recommend the Tamron 28-75 constant F2.8. It costs about what the other two do, but it is 2.8 thru the entire 28-75 range and can do some nice OOF area for portraits and flower shots...

when I had just the FA 50 1.4 and the Tammy 28-75 the Tamron almost always was on the camera.

Good suggestion Gus...

[Nick Siebers]

I couldn't get shots right with my M 50/1.7 when I first moved to digital, so i picked up a DA40, which I love. And then many other lenses... but recently an F 50/1.7, and I really like it. It was the perfect lens for a recent evening picnic in a park, chasing my duaghter and her preschool friends as they said goodbye preparing for kindergarten. With more light I like the F35-70 zoom in that role, and indoors I will use a bounce/fill flash with whatever lens is available, but in a siituation where bounce flash is out, fast lens is in. I like how 50mm looks on digital now, and I like 55-58mm even more. Just my experience!

[frank]

I've had quite a few 50s, but now I'm keeping a 43, a 50 macro, and a fast 50/1.2. When I'm shooting w/ a film camera, I can live w/ just a 50 (or 43) lens alone. When I shoot digital, the 31 gets used the most if I only use one prime. But for low light photography, no zoomy beats a fast 50. As some already suggested, if you feel your AF 50 doesn't get use often, you can replace it w/ a cheap M50/1.7 and put the extra money into something else. No zoom lens can beat that cheap M50/1.7 at that focal length.

[ve2vfd]

I went out shooting film today for the first time in ages... brought 2 cameras.

Film cam: X700 with a rokkor 50mm 1.7

Digi cam: K20d with a M50 1.7

I never had realized before how pronounced the crop factor was... switching from one camera to the other was downright dizzying considering they were using similar lenses.

Pat

[stevebrot]

I went out shooting film today for the first time in ages... brought 2 cameras.

Film cam: X700 with a rokkor 50mm 1.7

Digi cam: K20d with a M50 1.7

I never had realized before how pronounced the crop factor was... switching from one camera to the other was downright dizzying considering they were using similar lenses.

Pat

And they wonder why so many of us are pining for FF...

When you shoot both formats, you realize how different the two worlds actually are.

Steve

[CReid]

Hmm, my smc-m 50mm 1.7 is now my "grab to go" choice of lens for general photography, portrait and especially low-light / night shooting. I've recently installed a split prism focus screen and it makes using my manual lenses a real joy.

The IQ is superb as is the colour rendition and you can always crop images as the IQ is that good, PLUS it's always overcast / raining etc here in the UK, so that fast shutter speed is a must!


Carl

[wowtip]

I mainly use my FA50/1.4 as an indoor "party lens", for weddings, baptisms, etc. It has exactly the right FL to take portraits and other shots without getting in the subjects face. Also, you can't beat a f1.4 (except with an f1.2) for indoor shooting. I normally use it at around f2 for sharpness, but there is still a difference to a 2.8 zoom or the DA35 2.8. No need to use mood-disrupting flash, if there is any daylight at all.

Not to mention short DOF makes it easy to make good looking portraits from those special occasions.

In fact I am thinking about one of these 85mm f1.4 lenses (Vivitar/Samyang...) just for this kind of shooting.

(Sneaky shots... Hidden shots.... hmmm... I know there is an english term for this)

[Fixcinater]

Candid shots, is what you are looking for, in English.

[pasipasi]

or spend about $2000 less and buy a 31mm...your logic is odd.

I'd need a 33/1 lens to get the same dof/fov. My logic is fine. I wouldn't be spending more money if I change systems. I'd just have to get along with fewer lenses.

[wowtip]

Candid shots, is what you are looking for, in English.

Ah, thanks. That is it.

[VaughnA]

I'm going to FORCE myself to take the 50 out for a few walks to see how I do with it since I have time before our vacation. I'm going to a big cookout/party with friends next week. I'll see how it does as a candid and low light lens for that little shindig. I think I'm being swayed to hold on to it for a while. Maybe it will be nice & bright on our vacation and I can keep the 18-55 at F8 for the trip

[Nick Siebers]

I like to try each new lens I acquire for a while before writing it off. If I don't love it at first, I will put it away for a little while, then try it again. Usually by the second or third go things are clicking. The only down side (if you can call it that) is that this can result in too many lenses you like!

[deadwolfbones]

I have a SMC Tak 55/1.8, M50/1.7, a FA50/1.4, and a Helios-44K-4 58/2, and I always seem to reach for the Helios when I'm in that range. I love all of them, but the Helios has that extra something. I don't think I've shot with the FA50 or M50 in about 6 months.

We are of one mind here... I have those lenses plus a few more in the 50-55 range and that helios gets the call 95% of the time. "Something special" that is exactly it.

Only my new 55 1.2 has a chance against the legendary Helios... and I am not sure the Cosina will get the call after the newness wears off...

The Helios is my Magic Workhorse...

[Stratman]

I went out shooting film today for the first time in ages... brought 2 cameras.

Film cam: X700 with a rokkor 50mm 1.7

Digi cam: K20d with a M50 1.7

I never had realized before how pronounced the crop factor was... switching from one camera to the other was downright dizzying considering they were using similar lenses.

Pat

I took my old Rocoh KR 5 Super out with a Tokina 28mm on it, and i was astounded how W I D E 28mm is on a full frame camera. Here is a shot I took that day, I wanted most of the frame taken up by the barn, and couldn't believe how close I was to it when it finally filled the frame. Would be really nice to get a FF Pentax digital, but dunno if I could justify the cost.