Pentax SMC FA 50mm/F1,4 to buy or not to buy?

Eugene-S · 03-15-2010, 02:44 PM

So, it's been a long time. My job is going to kill my photo hobby someday.

I found some used Pentax SMC FA 50mm/F1,4 lens in my place, for about 250$, lens is in a good condition, but i still have a dilemma. I rented this lens for a week, and i actually don't remember how it was with it.

I can't decide. In reviews this lens not showing very impressive results, but it's a fast prime, and unlike sigma's it is cheap.

I have a good old Industar 61L/Z, but it has its cons: strange-shaped aperture, and its a manual lens.

I'm not a really newbie, and i'm not a real pro.

So...To be, or not to be?

esman7 · 03-15-2010, 04:13 PM

It's a great lens and it's usually a steal. I got mine for $185 CAD and now that I've used it, I would've paid up to $300 for it.

Amazing portraits, colour rendition and good size.

Focus ring is small and the lens is "plasticky", but don't let that be the determining factor. Stop it down a bit as f1.4 is a bit too soft, but overall wonderful results.

enoxatnep · 03-15-2010, 10:25 PM

I can't say I'm thrilled with mine wide open either (at f1.4), and I've read that the FA 50 f1.7 wide open is better than the f1.4 wide open. However, since that lens is hard to find and more expensive - along with the higher-rated F 50 f1.4 and f1.7 lenses - and because in a perfect world we'd all like the legendary yet extremely rare and expensive A 50 f1.2, that leaves the FA 50 f1.4 as your best bet. It's not hard to find and therefore the most affordable of the above mentioned, but it seems like the wide open performance is probably the reason why.

tux · 03-15-2010, 11:48 PM

Also how does it compare to the others like:

fa 50 vs fa 43 @ f2
fa 50 vs da 40 @ f2.8

maximm · 03-16-2010, 12:33 AM

I would have to disagree with the previous poster about sharpness. Yes, sharpnss at f1.4 is soft, but that is just what I want it to be. This is a portrait lens at f1.4 and using it as such gives amazing results not possible with sharper lenses.

The following is the first picture i took with my FA50 f1.4. Gives amazing results right away. So dreamy! And remember f1.4 is a full stop faster than f1.7 which gives it another edge in low light.

boesgaard · 03-16-2010, 01:43 AM

I like it:

You could say it's soft wide open, but the problem wide open is of course to keep everything important in focus.

Now, if you do not care for f1.4, you don't really need it :-)

Kind regards

Thomas

RioRico · 03-16-2010, 03:54 AM

The FA50/1.4 is my basic lens, ALWAYS in my bag, no matter what else I'm carrying at the moment. Slightly soft wide-open for portraits, sharp everywhere else. Other fast 50 manual primes are fun (and cheap), especially the Helios-44 58/2, which I now use with Catch-In-Focus. But the FA50 is a primary tool.

Eugene-S · 03-16-2010, 06:05 AM

Thanks for the answers!

I decided to buy this lens, if i'm going to sell my Kenwood TH-F7E fast. This will give me some money.

So stay tuned for update

Peter Zack · 03-16-2010, 06:43 AM

I agree with the others and to correct a comment above. f1.7 is a half stop less. Not a full stop. I have owned the FA50mm f1.7 and think that the comparisons are 1.4 vs 1.7 both wide open. Like that, yes the FA50mm f1.7 looks a bit sharper. But then when you stop the 1.4 down to 1.7, they are basically the same IMO.

this is the full stop scale: 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22 32
And Half stop scale: 1.2 1.4 1.7 2 2.4 2.8 3.3 4 4.8 5.6 6.7 8 9.5 11 13 16 19 22

rustynail925 · 03-16-2010, 07:09 AM

Nice examples images.. Is there a thread/club w/ the FA 50mm 1.4 cant seem to find one

audiobomber · 03-16-2010, 07:15 AM

It bugs the hell out of me when people say "The FA 50mm is softer wide open than the XXmm", when the XXmm can't even open to f/1.4.

Originally posted by Eugene-S

In reviews this lens not showing very impressive results

Which reviews? Photozone, PopPhoto and Luminous Landscape pretty much raved about it and DPR review rates it as Highly Recommended.

Everyone was waiting for the DA*55mm results to show how superior it is to the FA 50, but according to Photozone it's superior only in contrast below f2.8. So bump up the contrast on your wide aperture images.

tokyoso · 03-16-2010, 07:21 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

It bugs the hell out of me when people say "The FA 50mm is softer wide open than the XXmm", when the XXmm can't even open to f/1.4.

I think he [riorocco] has a zeiss ZK or some thang I cannot type...

Ben_Edict · 03-16-2010, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

The FA50/1.4 is my basic lens, ALWAYS in my bag, no matter what else I'm carrying at the moment. Slightly soft wide-open for portraits, sharp everywhere else. Other fast 50 manual primes are fun (and cheap), especially the Helios-44 58/2, which I now use with Catch-In-Focus. But the FA50 is a primary tool.

Actually I agree with most posters here: the FA 50/1.4 is a wonderful lens. Many people attribute their soft images to mediocre quality whereas they have simply misplaced their focus, as depth of field is very shallow fully open. There is a slight softness - which is to be expected at such a fast aperture.

I have only one caveat: if you prefer manual focus the A 50/1.4 is the better choice (or the 1.2). It focuses very, very smoothly and sports the same optics as the FA version.

Ben

Ira · 03-16-2010, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by boesgaard

I like it:

You could say it's soft wide open, but the problem wide open is of course to keep everything important in focus.

Now, if you do not care for f1.4, you don't really need it :-)

Kind regards

Thomas

Beautiful shot!

But what's that purple thing on her head? Is that what they call a hat, that people put on to keep warm in cold weather?

(Sorry. Couldn't resist. You'll get even with me in August, and all during hurricane season.)

Eugene-S · 03-16-2010, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by audiobomber

It bugs the hell out of me when people say "The FA 50mm is softer wide open than the XXmm", when the XXmm can't even open to f/1.4.

Which reviews? Photozone, PopPhoto and Luminous Landscape pretty much raved about it and DPR review rates it as Highly Recommended.

Everyone was waiting for the DA*55mm results to show how superior it is to the FA 50, but according to Photozone it's superior only in contrast below f2.8. So bump up the contrast on your wide aperture images.

Yep, but on the graphs sigma shows better sharpness, of course the price is higher.

In my opinion there is no reason to buy DA* 55mm. FA 50 is almost the same lens, SDM and WR (Is it there?) the only cons of it. But the price... It is crazy...Especially in my place 1008$ for new DA*55 and the 525$ for new FA 50

03-15-2010, 02:44 PM	#1
Eugene-S Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tallinn Posts: 57	Pentax SMC FA 50mm/F1,4 to buy or not to buy? So, it's been a long time. My job is going to kill my photo hobby someday. I found some used Pentax SMC FA 50mm/F1,4 lens in my place, for about 250$, lens is in a good condition, but i still have a dilemma. I rented this lens for a week, and i actually don't remember how it was with it. I can't decide. In reviews this lens not showing very impressive results, but it's a fast prime, and unlike sigma's it is cheap. I have a good old Industar 61L/Z, but it has its cons: strange-shaped aperture, and its a manual lens. I'm not a really newbie, and i'm not a real pro. So...To be, or not to be?

03-16-2010, 01:43 AM	#6
boesgaard New Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 24	Great for portraits I like it: You could say it's soft wide open, but the problem wide open is of course to keep everything important in focus. Now, if you do not care for f1.4, you don't really need it :-) Kind regards Thomas

03-16-2010, 07:21 AM	#12
tokyoso Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Tokyo Photos: Albums Posts: 723	Originally posted by audiobomber It bugs the hell out of me when people say "The FA 50mm is softer wide open than the XXmm", when the XXmm can't even open to f/1.4. I think he [riorocco] has a zeiss ZK or some thang I cannot type... Last edited by tokyoso; 03-16-2010 at 07:30 AM.

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03-15-2010, 04:13 PM	#2
esman7 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 322	It's a great lens and it's usually a steal. I got mine for $185 CAD and now that I've used it, I would've paid up to $300 for it. Amazing portraits, colour rendition and good size. Focus ring is small and the lens is "plasticky", but don't let that be the determining factor. Stop it down a bit as f1.4 is a bit too soft, but overall wonderful results.

03-15-2010, 10:25 PM	#3
enoxatnep Closed Account Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: The edge of nowhere, Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 467	I can't say I'm thrilled with mine wide open either (at f1.4), and I've read that the FA 50 f1.7 wide open is better than the f1.4 wide open. However, since that lens is hard to find and more expensive - along with the higher-rated F 50 f1.4 and f1.7 lenses - and because in a perfect world we'd all like the legendary yet extremely rare and expensive A 50 f1.2, that leaves the FA 50 f1.4 as your best bet. It's not hard to find and therefore the most affordable of the above mentioned, but it seems like the wide open performance is probably the reason why.

03-15-2010, 11:48 PM	#4
tux Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 82	Also how does it compare to the others like: fa 50 vs fa 43 @ f2 fa 50 vs da 40 @ f2.8

03-16-2010, 12:33 AM	#5
maximm Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 72	I would have to disagree with the previous poster about sharpness. Yes, sharpnss at f1.4 is soft, but that is just what I want it to be. This is a portrait lens at f1.4 and using it as such gives amazing results not possible with sharper lenses. The following is the first picture i took with my FA50 f1.4. Gives amazing results right away. So dreamy! And remember f1.4 is a full stop faster than f1.7 which gives it another edge in low light.

03-16-2010, 03:54 AM	#7
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	The FA50/1.4 is my basic lens, ALWAYS in my bag, no matter what else I'm carrying at the moment. Slightly soft wide-open for portraits, sharp everywhere else. Other fast 50 manual primes are fun (and cheap), especially the Helios-44 58/2, which I now use with Catch-In-Focus. But the FA50 is a primary tool.

03-16-2010, 06:05 AM	#8
Eugene-S Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tallinn Posts: 57 Original Poster	Thanks for the answers! I decided to buy this lens, if i'm going to sell my Kenwood TH-F7E fast. This will give me some money. So stay tuned for update

03-16-2010, 06:43 AM	#9
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	I agree with the others and to correct a comment above. f1.7 is a half stop less. Not a full stop. I have owned the FA50mm f1.7 and think that the comparisons are 1.4 vs 1.7 both wide open. Like that, yes the FA50mm f1.7 looks a bit sharper. But then when you stop the 1.4 down to 1.7, they are basically the same IMO. this is the full stop scale: 1.4 2 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22 32 And Half stop scale: 1.2 1.4 1.7 2 2.4 2.8 3.3 4 4.8 5.6 6.7 8 9.5 11 13 16 19 22

03-16-2010, 07:09 AM	#10
rustynail925 Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Philippines Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,551	Nice examples images.. Is there a thread/club w/ the FA 50mm 1.4 cant seem to find one

03-16-2010, 07:15 AM	#11
audiobomber Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sudbury, Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 6,806	It bugs the hell out of me when people say "The FA 50mm is softer wide open than the XXmm", when the XXmm can't even open to f/1.4. Originally posted by Eugene-S In reviews this lens not showing very impressive results Which reviews? Photozone, PopPhoto and Luminous Landscape pretty much raved about it and DPR review rates it as Highly Recommended. Everyone was waiting for the DA*55mm results to show how superior it is to the FA 50, but according to Photozone it's superior only in contrast below f2.8. So bump up the contrast on your wide aperture images.

03-16-2010, 08:26 AM	#13
Ben_Edict Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: SouthWest "Regio" Photos: Albums Posts: 3,309	Originally posted by RioRico The FA50/1.4 is my basic lens, ALWAYS in my bag, no matter what else I'm carrying at the moment. Slightly soft wide-open for portraits, sharp everywhere else. Other fast 50 manual primes are fun (and cheap), especially the Helios-44 58/2, which I now use with Catch-In-Focus. But the FA50 is a primary tool. Actually I agree with most posters here: the FA 50/1.4 is a wonderful lens. Many people attribute their soft images to mediocre quality whereas they have simply misplaced their focus, as depth of field is very shallow fully open. There is a slight softness - which is to be expected at such a fast aperture. I have only one caveat: if you prefer manual focus the A 50/1.4 is the better choice (or the 1.2). It focuses very, very smoothly and sports the same optics as the FA version. Ben

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03-16-2010, 08:50 AM	#14
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by boesgaard I like it: You could say it's soft wide open, but the problem wide open is of course to keep everything important in focus. Now, if you do not care for f1.4, you don't really need it :-) Kind regards Thomas Beautiful shot! But what's that purple thing on her head? Is that what they call a hat, that people put on to keep warm in cold weather? (Sorry. Couldn't resist. You'll get even with me in August, and all during hurricane season.)

03-16-2010, 09:52 AM	#15
Eugene-S Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tallinn Posts: 57 Original Poster	Originally posted by audiobomber It bugs the hell out of me when people say "The FA 50mm is softer wide open than the XXmm", when the XXmm can't even open to f/1.4. Which reviews? Photozone, PopPhoto and Luminous Landscape pretty much raved about it and DPR review rates it as Highly Recommended. Everyone was waiting for the DA55mm results to show how superior it is to the FA 50, but according to Photozone it's superior only in contrast below f2.8. So bump up the contrast on your wide aperture images. Yep, but on the graphs sigma shows better sharpness, of course the price is higher. In my opinion there is no reason to buy DA 55mm. FA 50 is almost the same lens, SDM and WR (Is it there?) the only cons of it. But the price... It is crazy...Especially in my place 1008$ for new DA*55 and the 525$ for new FA 50