m f/1.7 50mm

catsman50 · 12-09-2009, 10:13 PM

I have a 50mm f/2.0 and was wondering if it actually worth spending the 40$ to get the 1.7? is it that much better or should I look into buying something else. any suggestions are greatly appreciated! looking to not spend more then 50$ on a prime lens!

Buschmaster · 12-09-2009, 10:15 PM

I have the same M lens as you and I actually find it to be pretty good bang for the buck. It can be fairly sharp when you want it to.

1.7 would give you a bit more wiggle room, and at under $50 that may be as good as you can do. Do you have a screwmount adapter?

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-09-2009, 10:57 PM

How do you use your M50/2 now? At f8, it would be really hard to see a difference between the f2 lens and an f1.7 lens. But the f1.7 lens is as sharp or sharper wide open or at f1.7 than any other Pentax 50mm, and the f2 lens is the least sharp. The f2 lenses appear to have cheaper lens coatings too, but I don't know how this translates into actual performance.

You could wait for a Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 and upgrade in two ways, sharpness and convenience. It would cost more of course.

Marc Sabatella · 12-10-2009, 12:10 PM

While I agree the f/1.7 is noticeably better than the f/2, I'm not sure I'd bother spending the mone to upgrade. Especially not at $40 - you should be able to to find it for half that, and for only a little more, you could get the "A" version, which *would* be worth spending money on to get the exposure and flash automation, full time metering, etc.

Optical Illusion · 01-26-2010, 02:33 PM

I seem to be noticing purple fringing with my M50-1.7.... I think it was wide open. I have always heard (on this forum) how excellent the lens is, so I'm wondering if that's typical (to see some) or if I have a "bad copy"?

I noticed it it a shallow DOF shot of some dark object against a bright blue sky. So, it is where you might expect to notice it. Just wondering if this is expected - I got it basically for free, but I was surprized to see this... My expectations might need adjustment...

Comments?

stevebrot · 01-26-2010, 08:28 PM

Purple Fringing is not unusual with a digital SLR, even with the finest of currently made optics. If you have PF with your M 50/1.7, that by itself is not an indication of a defective or poorly designed lens. Can you post a few photos showing your issue?

Steve

(Been shooting with an M 50/1.7 since 1982...great lens...)

Jewelltrail · 01-27-2010, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Catsman50: I have a 50mm f/2.0 and was wondering if it actually worth spending the 40$ to get the 1.7? is it that much better or should I look into buying something else. any suggestions are greatly appreciated! looking to not spend more then 50$ on a prime lens!

I suggest buying the M 50mm 1.7, then selling the 50mm f2, especially if you use the lens a lot at wider apertures. Like Marc says, you can sometimes pick up the 1.7 for under $30. I have owned and shot with the following Pentax primes on the K20 crop sensor
A 50mm 1.7
Auto Tak 55mm f 1.8
Super Tak 50mm 1.4
M 50mm 1.4
M 50mm 1.7
M 50mm 2.0
67 55mm f4
My favorite one, for more reasons than one, is the M 50mm f 1.7

Optical Illusion · 01-27-2010, 11:11 PM

I'll try and post the picture where I thought I saw the 1.7 fringing...

I think that worked this time...

12-09-2009, 10:13 PM	#1
catsman50 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: jupiter FL Posts: 140	m f/1.7 50mm I have a 50mm f/2.0 and was wondering if it actually worth spending the 40$ to get the 1.7? is it that much better or should I look into buying something else. any suggestions are greatly appreciated! looking to not spend more then 50$ on a prime lens!

01-27-2010, 11:11 PM	#8
Optical Illusion Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Kern County California Photos: Albums Posts: 70	I'll try and post the picture where I thought I saw the 1.7 fringing... I think that worked this time... Last edited by Optical Illusion; 01-27-2010 at 11:25 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Wanted - Acquired: Pentax FA-50mm 1.7 or F-50mm 1.7, Sigma 50mm EX 1.4	vtqanh	Sold Items	1	11-03-2010 04:24 PM
For Sale - Sold: SMC Takumar 50mm 1.4 / Pentax-A 50mm 1.7 / Pentax-M 50mm 1.4 (US)	JP_Seattle	Sold Items	3	09-02-2010 06:17 PM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax *ist DL, FA 50mm f/1.4, DFA 100mm f/2.8 macro, DA 18-55mm, A 50mm f/2.0	chemxaj	Sold Items	14	05-31-2010 09:34 AM
For Sale - Sold: F 24-50mm 4, A 24-50mm 4, M 35mm 2, M 50mm 1.4, A 35-105mm 3.5, A 70-210mm 4	raybird	Sold Items	7	08-29-2008 01:06 PM

12-09-2009, 10:15 PM	#2
Buschmaster Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 806	I have the same M lens as you and I actually find it to be pretty good bang for the buck. It can be fairly sharp when you want it to. 1.7 would give you a bit more wiggle room, and at under $50 that may be as good as you can do. Do you have a screwmount adapter?

12-09-2009, 10:57 PM	#3
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	How do you use your M50/2 now? At f8, it would be really hard to see a difference between the f2 lens and an f1.7 lens. But the f1.7 lens is as sharp or sharper wide open or at f1.7 than any other Pentax 50mm, and the f2 lens is the least sharp. The f2 lenses appear to have cheaper lens coatings too, but I don't know how this translates into actual performance. You could wait for a Pentax-A 50mm f1.7 and upgrade in two ways, sharpness and convenience. It would cost more of course.

12-10-2009, 12:10 PM	#4
Marc Sabatella Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Denver, CO Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,685	While I agree the f/1.7 is noticeably better than the f/2, I'm not sure I'd bother spending the mone to upgrade. Especially not at $40 - you should be able to to find it for half that, and for only a little more, you could get the "A" version, which would be worth spending money on to get the exposure and flash automation, full time metering, etc.

01-26-2010, 02:33 PM	#5
Optical Illusion Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Kern County California Photos: Albums Posts: 70	I seem to be noticing purple fringing with my M50-1.7.... I think it was wide open. I have always heard (on this forum) how excellent the lens is, so I'm wondering if that's typical (to see some) or if I have a "bad copy"? I noticed it it a shallow DOF shot of some dark object against a bright blue sky. So, it is where you might expect to notice it. Just wondering if this is expected - I got it basically for free, but I was surprized to see this... My expectations might need adjustment... Comments?

01-26-2010, 08:28 PM	#6
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Purple Fringing is not unusual with a digital SLR, even with the finest of currently made optics. If you have PF with your M 50/1.7, that by itself is not an indication of a defective or poorly designed lens. Can you post a few photos showing your issue? Steve (Been shooting with an M 50/1.7 since 1982...great lens...)

01-27-2010, 12:11 AM	#7
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	Quote: Catsman50: I have a 50mm f/2.0 and was wondering if it actually worth spending the 40$ to get the 1.7? is it that much better or should I look into buying something else. any suggestions are greatly appreciated! looking to not spend more then 50$ on a prime lens! I suggest buying the M 50mm 1.7, then selling the 50mm f2, especially if you use the lens a lot at wider apertures. Like Marc says, you can sometimes pick up the 1.7 for under $30. I have owned and shot with the following Pentax primes on the K20 crop sensor A 50mm 1.7 Auto Tak 55mm f 1.8 Super Tak 50mm 1.4 M 50mm 1.4 M 50mm 1.7 M 50mm 2.0 67 55mm f4 My favorite one, for more reasons than one, is the M 50mm f 1.7