Pentax 50mm f/1.7 SMCP-FA

lukevega · 12-06-2009, 10:10 AM

Cambridge World, Item Details: Pentax 50mm f/1.7 SMCP-FA Standard Lens

would this be a good standard autofocus lens for my new k-x?

LeDave · 12-06-2009, 10:20 AM

Yeah it's a great lens for a great price, but the price looks too good to be true.

mtroute · 12-06-2009, 10:30 AM

there have been nothing but bad reviews about these sellers. Buyer beware...

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Cambridge_Camera

lukevega · 12-06-2009, 04:11 PM

Originally posted by mtroute

there have been nothing but bad reviews about these sellers. Buyer beware...

Cambridge World - cambridgeworld.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings

thanks for that! it is strange though that a lot of those complaints are from 2002! but there are two from this year. guess i'll keep looking. it sucks that pentax lenses are sooooo expensive!

lukevega · 12-06-2009, 05:34 PM

does anybody know if there is a different manufacturer (tamron ?) that makes a comparible lens?

Pentaxor · 12-06-2009, 05:48 PM

I noticed that they offer some of the rare Pentax lens. it looks like more of a bait if we are going to consider their price and the lens that they offer. better stay away. but if you are really persistent, the best way would be is to visit the shop personally. don't buy online if the store is not credible.

Jyrkira · 12-07-2009, 02:18 AM

Look for a Pentax F 50mm/1.7 from ebay. It is a very nice lens and I have seen them there quite oftem for a good price.

stevebrot · 12-07-2009, 09:03 AM

Cambridge is a weird place. At one time, they were one of the top mail-order camera stores and had an excellent reputation as well. In recent years, the reputation has gone way downhill along with the business in general. Apparently they have significant stocks of old and strange stuff, but their Web site is usually out-of-date and order fulfillment is unreliable.

I would call to confirm price and availability before ordering anything from them and be prepared for poor customer service and possible non-delivery.

Steve

Marc Sabatella · 12-07-2009, 09:47 AM

Originally posted by lukevega

it sucks that pentax lenses are sooooo expensive!

Some are, some aren't. If you want a 50/1.4, Pentax's is actually cheaper than most of the others, even after the recent price increases. The 50/1.7 is expensive because it is long discontinued and therefore hard to find. But for $20 at any pawn shop, you can find perfectly usable manual focus 50's. That's what I'd recommend - why spend hundreds of dollars on a focal length that isn't all that useful?

Eruditass · 12-07-2009, 09:49 AM

Originally posted by lukevega

thanks for that! it is strange though that a lot of those complaints are from 2002! but there are two from this year. guess i'll keep looking. it sucks that pentax lenses are sooooo expensive!

I grabbed a used F 50/1.7 for about the price in your OP, works great.

Pentaxoid · 12-07-2009, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

But for $20 at any pawn shop, you can find perfectly usable manual focus 50's. That's what I'd recommend - why spend hundreds of dollars on a focal length that isn't all that useful?

Can you please provide more details on your claim? It's rare to hear that a 50mm is not that useful, even on aps-c.

lukevega · 12-07-2009, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by Eruditass

I grabbed a used F 50/1.7 for about the price in your OP, works great.

where did you find yours? i am keeping my eyes on ebay with the recent 15% and 20% bing cashback offers!

Gregor · 12-07-2009, 11:36 AM

I used the wanted forum here and got one at a reasonable price. (I had to turn down several offers) I definitely got into this hobby a year too late though. At least as far as Pentax lenses are concerned.

Edit: I got the "f" version, but did get a couple of responses for the "fa" version as well.

Steve Beswick · 12-07-2009, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by Marc Sabatella

... - why spend hundreds of dollars on a focal length that isn't all that useful?

My 50mm is the lens I use the most.

stevebrot · 12-07-2009, 04:35 PM

I use my 50s (I have a lot of them) very frequently, though I have to agree with Marc, that for most users on this site, it is a somewhat clumsy focal length. Too long for general shooting...too short for tele work. Where they shine is for product shots, flowers, portraits, and for macro when mounted on a bellows or extension tubes. Sort of the same strange niche occupied by 70mm to 85mm lenses on 35mm film. Happily, while 85mm lenses have traditionally been expensive, good 50, 55, and 58 mm lenses are plentiful and cheap. Woo! Hoo!

Steve

12-06-2009, 10:10 AM	#1
lukevega Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: west chester Posts: 63	Pentax 50mm f/1.7 SMCP-FA Cambridge World, Item Details: Pentax 50mm f/1.7 SMCP-FA Standard Lens would this be a good standard autofocus lens for my new k-x?

12-07-2009, 11:36 AM	#13
Gregor Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Austin Posts: 161	I used the wanted forum here and got one at a reasonable price. (I had to turn down several offers) I definitely got into this hobby a year too late though. At least as far as Pentax lenses are concerned. Edit: I got the "f" version, but did get a couple of responses for the "fa" version as well. Last edited by Gregor; 12-07-2009 at 12:06 PM.

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12-06-2009, 10:20 AM	#2
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	Yeah it's a great lens for a great price, but the price looks too good to be true.

12-06-2009, 10:30 AM	#3
mtroute Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Portland OR Posts: 533	there have been nothing but bad reviews about these sellers. Buyer beware... http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Cambridge_Camera

12-06-2009, 04:11 PM	#4
lukevega Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: west chester Posts: 63 Original Poster	Originally posted by mtroute there have been nothing but bad reviews about these sellers. Buyer beware... Cambridge World - cambridgeworld.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings thanks for that! it is strange though that a lot of those complaints are from 2002! but there are two from this year. guess i'll keep looking. it sucks that pentax lenses are sooooo expensive!

12-06-2009, 05:34 PM	#5
lukevega Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: west chester Posts: 63 Original Poster	does anybody know if there is a different manufacturer (tamron ?) that makes a comparible lens?

12-06-2009, 05:48 PM	#6
Pentaxor Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,513	I noticed that they offer some of the rare Pentax lens. it looks like more of a bait if we are going to consider their price and the lens that they offer. better stay away. but if you are really persistent, the best way would be is to visit the shop personally. don't buy online if the store is not credible.

12-07-2009, 02:18 AM	#7
Jyrkira Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Finland Posts: 215	Look for a Pentax F 50mm/1.7 from ebay. It is a very nice lens and I have seen them there quite oftem for a good price.

12-07-2009, 09:03 AM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Cambridge is a weird place. At one time, they were one of the top mail-order camera stores and had an excellent reputation as well. In recent years, the reputation has gone way downhill along with the business in general. Apparently they have significant stocks of old and strange stuff, but their Web site is usually out-of-date and order fulfillment is unreliable. I would call to confirm price and availability before ordering anything from them and be prepared for poor customer service and possible non-delivery. Steve

12-07-2009, 09:47 AM	#9
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	Originally posted by lukevega it sucks that pentax lenses are sooooo expensive! Some are, some aren't. If you want a 50/1.4, Pentax's is actually cheaper than most of the others, even after the recent price increases. The 50/1.7 is expensive because it is long discontinued and therefore hard to find. But for $20 at any pawn shop, you can find perfectly usable manual focus 50's. That's what I'd recommend - why spend hundreds of dollars on a focal length that isn't all that useful?

12-07-2009, 09:49 AM	#10
Eruditass Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,207	Originally posted by lukevega thanks for that! it is strange though that a lot of those complaints are from 2002! but there are two from this year. guess i'll keep looking. it sucks that pentax lenses are sooooo expensive! I grabbed a used F 50/1.7 for about the price in your OP, works great.

12-07-2009, 10:13 AM	#11
Pentaxoid Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 48	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella But for $20 at any pawn shop, you can find perfectly usable manual focus 50's. That's what I'd recommend - why spend hundreds of dollars on a focal length that isn't all that useful? Can you please provide more details on your claim? It's rare to hear that a 50mm is not that useful, even on aps-c.

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12-07-2009, 11:07 AM	#12
lukevega Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: west chester Posts: 63 Original Poster	Originally posted by Eruditass I grabbed a used F 50/1.7 for about the price in your OP, works great. where did you find yours? i am keeping my eyes on ebay with the recent 15% and 20% bing cashback offers!

12-07-2009, 11:53 AM	#14
Steve Beswick Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ontario, California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,736	Originally posted by Marc Sabatella ... - why spend hundreds of dollars on a focal length that isn't all that useful? My 50mm is the lens I use the most.

12-07-2009, 04:35 PM	#15
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I use my 50s (I have a lot of them) very frequently, though I have to agree with Marc, that for most users on this site, it is a somewhat clumsy focal length. Too long for general shooting...too short for tele work. Where they shine is for product shots, flowers, portraits, and for macro when mounted on a bellows or extension tubes. Sort of the same strange niche occupied by 70mm to 85mm lenses on 35mm film. Happily, while 85mm lenses have traditionally been expensive, good 50, 55, and 58 mm lenses are plentiful and cheap. Woo! Hoo! Steve