Fantastic Fifty! The DA 50mm F/1.8

dieterbo · 08-20-2013, 01:59 PM - **1 Like**

Hey Ron, great photos! Again

i really like the last 2. Especialy the last one with the light in the girls hair. I don't know how to say it in english

silouhette?

**rbefly** · 08-20-2013, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by dieterbo

Hey Ron, great photos! Again

i really like the last 2. Especialy the last one with the light in the girls hair. I don't know how to say it in english

silouhette?

Thanks, dieterbo, your English is better than mine! I had to look up the spelling, it's silhouette, meaning an outline without detail, like a shadow.
But photographers would know it as 'bright light that causes the meter to underexpose', or 'Plus 1-1/2 Ev and blow out the highlights' light. LOL!
Anyway, I went behind the band and moved until the lead singer was blocking the spotlight, so I could see and compose. The result is a silhouette with back and rim lighting, always a dramatic look. I wanted to see how well the fifty would handle difficult extremes of range, and it performed well. You can see her tattoos and the edges of hair, the moths flying around the light.
That band is called 'The Shady Elders', an Indie, Dream and Shoegaze Pop group. The lead singer and guitarist is Britt Rodemich, she's quite striking and unusual-looking. The band's fairly new here and gaining in popularity, they closed the show and the 'Raise The Roof' concert series for this summer.
Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it! It's fun testing a new lens, always looking for different light and challenges.
Ron

**Knock** · 08-23-2013, 09:58 AM - **2 Likes**

Horse pic: f1.8, 1/30 sec. Chicken f3.5, 1/400 sec

tele_pathic · 08-23-2013, 10:51 AM

Knock,

Your chicken pic(kin') is awesome. I love it!

**rbefly** · 08-26-2013, 11:51 AM

Hello Knock,
Thanks for posting those fine examples of the DA 50mm. I especially like the 2nd one!
Ron

dieterbo · 09-04-2013, 11:34 AM

Yummi!

**rbefly** · 09-06-2013, 05:34 PM

Hi Dieterbo, those cupcakes sure look tasty! It would be hard to resist. Nice photo, I like the Bokeh of this lens, too.
I have a couple of unusual subjects this time, also.
First off, meet Freddie, a 9-year old Screech Owl, raised in captivity after his Mother was killed. Very calm and quiet, but I sure wouldn't want to be around when he gets hungry. Tiny little bird, they say he can swoop and dive very fast, catches anything smaller than he is. K-7, f/2.8, 1/400s, ISO 200.
2) Freddie's close up. Cute, eh? The DA 50 really shines here, notice the feather detail and his 'eyebrows'. K-7, f/2.8,1/160, ISO 200
3) Another hard-to-find bird, here in Colorado, anyway. The Harlan's Hawk, supposedly a member of the Red-Tailed Hawk family, but there's some debate, it may be a separate species(??) Anyway, injured by a car, can only fly a short distance. More good resolution and detail from the fifty. K-7, f/3.2, 1/25s, ISO 200.
Last two, something you don't see everyday, carved wooden flowers. Fine painting work on these. K-7, F/5.6, 1/400-1/500s, ISO 100.
So, more unusual subjects, if you've got DA 50mm f/1.8 photos, post' em.
Ron

Attached Images

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dieterbo · 09-07-2013, 12:29 PM - **1 Like**

Wow! Really nice shots, again

especialy number two and the last one. They are really sharp!

By the way, those cupcakes were really tasty

fiveseven · 09-17-2013, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by rbefly

Hello fiveseven, well, if you're dissatisfied with the DA 50mm f/1.8, you should have no trouble selling

Actually I do, even with $45 discount (still pretty much a new lens). And still under $200
There's simply not much interest in this lens as IMO it's a flop lens by Pentax.

**rbefly** · 09-17-2013, 02:29 PM

Originally posted by fiveseven

Actually I do, even with $45 discount (still pretty much a new lens). And still under $200
There's simply not much interest in this lens as IMO it's a flop lens by Pentax.

Well, fiveseven, thanks for your feedback on that. That's the great thing about opinions, we all have one.
Ron

stillshot2 · 11-06-2013, 11:42 AM

Has anyone tried this lens on a 35mm film slr? I've heard it covers full frame but I haven't seen any images yet that prove it.

dieterbo · 11-14-2013, 11:50 AM

A few pics from my trip to mallorca.

**rbefly** · 11-16-2013, 03:51 PM

Hi Dieterbo,
Nice photos, that last one really shows some good contrast. Looks like you had a fun trip!
Regards, Ron

Hello stillshot,
I tried the DA 50mm f/1.8 on my ME Super, and didn't see any vignetting or light fall-off through the viewfinder. No film in the camera, so I can't say for sure, but I also tried it with the lens hood I normally use, still no vignetting.
Problem is, the DA has no aperture ring. No way to set the f/stop manually.

stillshot2 · 11-16-2013, 04:18 PM

Oh yeah I forgot about the aperture ring. Oh well. I suppose this lens could be a viable option on a future full frame Pentax then.

avarenity · 11-19-2013, 07:06 AM

I have a lot of love for my DA 50mm. It lives on my K30 most days - except when I go birding then I use the Sigma 70-300 DG OS.

Here's some snaps from Hong Kong - all taken with said DA 50mm.

Enjoy and feel free to comment & critique.

08-20-2013, 03:54 PM	#17
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030 Original Poster	You Got It! Originally posted by dieterbo Hey Ron, great photos! Again i really like the last 2. Especialy the last one with the light in the girls hair. I don't know how to say it in english silouhette? Thanks, dieterbo, your English is better than mine! I had to look up the spelling, it's silhouette, meaning an outline without detail, like a shadow. But photographers would know it as 'bright light that causes the meter to underexpose', or 'Plus 1-1/2 Ev and blow out the highlights' light. LOL! Anyway, I went behind the band and moved until the lead singer was blocking the spotlight, so I could see and compose. The result is a silhouette with back and rim lighting, always a dramatic look. I wanted to see how well the fifty would handle difficult extremes of range, and it performed well. You can see her tattoos and the edges of hair, the moths flying around the light. That band is called 'The Shady Elders', an Indie, Dream and Shoegaze Pop group. The lead singer and guitarist is Britt Rodemich, she's quite striking and unusual-looking. The band's fairly new here and gaining in popularity, they closed the show and the 'Raise The Roof' concert series for this summer. Thanks for the comments, I appreciate it! It's fun testing a new lens, always looking for different light and challenges. Ron Last edited by rbefly; 08-21-2013 at 08:49 AM.

08-23-2013, 09:58 AM - 2 Likes	#18
Knock Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Montgomery, AL Posts: 467	Horse pic: f1.8, 1/30 sec. Chicken f3.5, 1/400 sec Attached Images Last edited by Knock; 10-18-2013 at 11:56 AM.

08-26-2013, 11:51 AM	#20
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030 Original Poster	Thanks for posting! Hello Knock, Thanks for posting those fine examples of the DA 50mm. I especially like the 2nd one! Ron

09-17-2013, 02:29 PM	#25
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030 Original Poster	OK Originally posted by fiveseven Actually I do, even with $45 discount (still pretty much a new lens). And still under $200 There's simply not much interest in this lens as IMO it's a flop lens by Pentax. Well, fiveseven, thanks for your feedback on that. That's the great thing about opinions, we all have one. Ron

11-16-2013, 03:51 PM	#28
rbefly Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denver, Colorado Photos: Albums Posts: 2,030 Original Poster	More Fifties Hi Dieterbo, Nice photos, that last one really shows some good contrast. Looks like you had a fun trip! Regards, Ron Hello stillshot, I tried the DA 50mm f/1.8 on my ME Super, and didn't see any vignetting or light fall-off through the viewfinder. No film in the camera, so I can't say for sure, but I also tried it with the lens hood I normally use, still no vignetting. Problem is, the DA has no aperture ring. No way to set the f/stop manually.

08-20-2013, 01:59 PM - 1 Like	#16
dieterbo New Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 16	Hey Ron, great photos! Again i really like the last 2. Especialy the last one with the light in the girls hair. I don't know how to say it in english silouhette?

08-23-2013, 10:51 AM	#19
tele_pathic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 292	Knock, Your chicken pic(kin') is awesome. I love it!

09-07-2013, 12:29 PM - 1 Like	#23
dieterbo New Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Posts: 16	Wow! Really nice shots, again especialy number two and the last one. They are really sharp! By the way, those cupcakes were really tasty

09-17-2013, 10:50 AM	#24
fiveseven Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: NV/CA Posts: 370	Originally posted by rbefly Hello fiveseven, well, if you're dissatisfied with the DA 50mm f/1.8, you should have no trouble selling Actually I do, even with $45 discount (still pretty much a new lens). And still under $200 There's simply not much interest in this lens as IMO it's a flop lens by Pentax.

11-06-2013, 11:42 AM	#26
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	Has anyone tried this lens on a 35mm film slr? I've heard it covers full frame but I haven't seen any images yet that prove it.

11-16-2013, 04:18 PM	#29
stillshot2 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Photos: Albums Posts: 1,070	Oh yeah I forgot about the aperture ring. Oh well. I suppose this lens could be a viable option on a future full frame Pentax then.

11-19-2013, 07:06 AM	#30
avarenity New Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Singapore Posts: 5	I have a lot of love for my DA 50mm. It lives on my K30 most days - except when I go birding then I use the Sigma 70-300 DG OS. Here's some snaps from Hong Kong - all taken with said DA 50mm. Enjoy and feel free to comment & critique.

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