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11-12-2009, 01:03 AM   #1
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F 50mm 1.7

So, I'm going to look at an F 50 1.7 tomorrow. I have the M and the A 1.7's, a 55 1.8 and I am converting a Minolta Rokkor 58mm 1.2. Is there any difference between the A and the F, besides build and auto focus? I may also go and look at an M 50 1.4. I have a Super Multi Coated Tak 50mm 1.4. Should I even waste my time with the M 50 1.4 since I can use the Tak in Av mode?

Patrick

11-12-2009, 01:30 AM   #2
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To make a long story short: don't waste your time on the M50/1.4 unless you want to shoot wide open all the time. The Tak is much more usable as you have noted.

I have the F50/1.7 (also the F50/1.4) but there's not much to say, really. It's nice if you want to have AF and the lens is not very common.
11-12-2009, 02:15 AM   #3
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I too have F50/1.7. Great lens IMO. If you can get one, do so. They don't come around too often.
Q: How is the Takumar usable in Av? At all f stops? Does this go for all Taks?

Peter
11-12-2009, 02:17 AM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by axl Quote
I too have F50/1.7. Great lens IMO. If you can get one, do so. They don't come around too often.
Q: How is the Takumar usable in Av? At all f stops? Does this go for all Taks?

Peter
Throw one on and try it. It works great in Av mode, but you will have to figure out EV for each lens. + or -, each lens is a little different.

11-12-2009, 02:23 AM   #5
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yeah, but... How???
is it beccause of preset aperture? I don't have experience with Taks. Sorry for silly Q.
11-12-2009, 02:36 AM   #6
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I think it has to do with no aperture lever for the camera to touch. If you throw on a K, M or A lens, look into the lens and take a photo, the camera is always wide open until the shot is taken. With the Taks, when you set it to F/4, the blades move there, which restricts the light and changes the shutter speed. All the Taks that I have used are this way and I think that is why I only shot with taks or A or newer lenses if I can.
11-12-2009, 06:04 AM   #7
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The f1,7s are reportedly the sharpest 50s Pentax ever made. Having used a M f2, a A f1,4, the F f1,7, and a FA f2,8 macro, I'd say at f8 the F and the macro are just as good (the macro is of course better wide open, but it's a different animal).

Excluding the macro, the f1,7 is the best I used. there's something nice about the A line, I think, and MF is not worth mentionning on the F, but AF is incredibly accurate (all that light coming in!), fast, not too noisy. The lens is ridiculously small, the diameter of the glass is much smaller than an f1,4.

Colours and contrast are great, this lens is a real winner. I suggest you get it, if only to have an AF option at 50.

The only flaw I ever heard of is that some people say the plastic can peel off under the lens, below the focus distance window. Never seen it, but I heard it mentionned.

It is the only lens I have seen that I feel confortable using at f1,7.

11-12-2009, 08:40 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by pdxbmw Quote
So, I'm going to look at an F 50 1.7 tomorrow. I have the M and the A 1.7's, a 55 1.8 and I am converting a Minolta Rokkor 58mm 1.2. Is there any difference between the A and the F, besides build and auto focus? I may also go and look at an M 50 1.4. I have a Super Multi Coated Tak 50mm 1.4. Should I even waste my time with the M 50 1.4 since I can use the Tak in Av mode?

Patrick
I've only tried the FA 50 1.7 and the M 50 1.7 and their images were pretty much identical. Probably updated coatings in the newer models.

For whatever reason, I've seen a lot of F 50 1.7's with pieces of the filter ring missing. Or maybe the same one keeps coming up for sale!

If you take the aperture lever out, you can use M lenses the same way as Taks too (and I'm guessing if you can modify a Minolta, you can probably take out an aperture lever!).
11-12-2009, 10:28 AM   #9
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Taking the aperture lever out to have M's act like Taks hit me as I was trying to fall asleep. I think I need to take one apart and try it.
11-12-2009, 12:49 PM   #10
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I have both the 1.7-F and the 1.4-M and I would recommend them both. The F will give you sharpness by the bucketload, even wide open. The M gives a richness of tone and textured rendering which is hard to beat.

These two lenses share a focal length but are very different beasts.
11-12-2009, 02:09 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by farfisa Quote
For whatever reason, I've seen a lot of F 50 1.7's with pieces of the filter ring missing. Or maybe the same one keeps coming up for sale!
It is a common problem. Make sure that the filter ring is solid on any F series lens, or that you get it for a much better price.

QuoteQuote:
If you take the aperture lever out, you can use M lenses the same way as Taks too (and I'm guessing if you can modify a Minolta, you can probably take out an aperture lever!).
This is true, but make sure that you don't try to use them on non-crippled film bodies after that!
11-12-2009, 05:53 PM   #12
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So I picked up the F 50/1.7. It's is a great lens. Nice and sharp like my M and A 50/1.7. I did notice that the colors are ever so slightly different between the A and the F. I guess the A will be on the chopping block.
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