The Pentax M50 f4 macro lens club

**ismaelg** · 12-14-2019, 03:12 PM - **3 Likes**

Hello,

This is a lens club for one of the less known members of the 50mm prime family:
The Pentax M50 f4 macro.
My understanding is that this design dates back from the M42 Takumar days. As it was later replaced by the faster 50 f2.8 macro, it fell into obscurity. But it is still capable.

Here is a minimum focusing distance test on a AC controller board taken with a Pentax KM on Ektar 100 film. Interestingly, I haven't tried it on digital yet.

it is quite sharp overall

Thanks,

Last edited by MarkJerling; 12-15-2019 at 06:16 PM.

Fluegel · 12-14-2019, 03:38 PM

Excellent idea to pay tribute to great lens designs that are now 60+ years old.
Although designers now have large computers to aid them with designs recent lenses have a difficult time to meet let alone exceed the quality of these old designs.

My first M series lens was the 100/4 macro. That lens impressed me.
For practical purposes I now use the A series 50/2.8 and the 100/4.

**simple1** · 12-14-2019, 03:47 PM - **1 Like**

Great idea for a club.

I have one of these but don't use it a whole lot. I usually grab the Macro Tak 50/4 or Vivitar 100.2.8.
Based on your shots this one is certainly capable though.

KP with M 50/4

**robgski** · 12-14-2019, 09:47 PM

Great idea! I a,m starting to appreciate my copy.

Thagomizer · 12-14-2019, 11:04 PM

Agreed, excellent idea, though I've got grandparent and parent, the S-M-C Takumar 50/4 and K50/4, but not the M model. The Tak was my first macro, which I used on a Canon 20D for nighttime spider shots (no live view; don't ask!) the K50 macro is a more recent addition that I was given (lucky me!). I use my Sigma 50/2.8 more, but I'll be watching this thread for inspiration.Thanks for starting it.

**othar** · 12-15-2019, 11:48 AM

k-3 + M 50mm f4 macro lens it is then, unfortunately not as often in use as it deserves

**robgski** · 12-25-2019, 06:53 AM

Enjoying this lens quite a bit

I am noticing that this lens imparts an almost tilt-shift effect whenever I shoot digonally as oppsed to straight on. not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind

As a Macro, it renders well, and using Catch-In Focus is a real boon. Very nice colors, IMO.

**othar** · 12-26-2019, 02:39 AM - **2 Likes**

I think I posted some (or even all) of these pictures someplace in the forum before but to get the ball rolling here are my K-3 + M50 f4 macro lens pictures:

Fluegel · 12-26-2019, 08:22 AM

Pentax has the same problem Hasselblad used to have and still has: Old lenses are simply too good to replace them with recent ones unless of course you need AF.

I enjoyed looking at these images that proof how excellent the old 50 mm design is.
My 50mm Macro is used to shoot items I sell.

Enjoy a Hasselblad camera from the fifties, nowadays called 1600F but then simply marketed as "Hasselblad".

**robgski** · 12-26-2019, 09:21 AM

the Macro capabilities of this lens make ordinary objects look extraordinary

**ismaelg** · 12-26-2019, 09:44 AM - **1 Like**

Darn it! Now I have the Oscar Mayer jingle in my head!

ChristianRock · 12-26-2019, 09:46 AM - **1 Like**

I love me some Tessar macro design.

It works really well with modern CMOS sensors.

Also with the old CCD colors

If the light is right, it's capable of really nice pictures. Also very sharp and contrasty wide open.

And it's great for panoramas as well!

Fluegel · 12-26-2019, 10:25 AM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

I love me some Tessar macro design.

It works really well with modern CMOS sensors.

I fully agree although my K5II does not have the latest technology.
Moved from K5 to K5II to find it is absolutely worth it.
AF and display are noticable improvements over the K5
The K5 is an improvement over the K20d.
For the time being the K5II will do just fine.

Image quality depends largely on the lenses used.

Long live manual lenses. Long live the OVF. Long live Pentax!

ChristianRock · 12-26-2019, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Fluegel

I fully agree although my K5II does not have the latest technology.
Moved from K5 to K5II to find it is absolutely worth it.
AF and display are noticable improvements over the K5
The K5 is an improvement over the K20d.
For the time being the K5II will do just fine.

Image quality depends largely on the lenses used.

K-5II is what I would consider a modern CMOS sensor. In fact anything from the K-5 on would be in that category. Sensor technology hasn't really advanced much since the K-5 - it has but not as much as the camera makers want you to think it has. Most of the high ISO performance in the last 10 years or so has come from cooking up the RAW files.

I agree with you that the K5II does just fine even for larger prints, and it's down to the lenses used nowadays, more than anything else...

**Mikesul** · 12-27-2019, 07:58 PM

Wow! I cannot beliee there wasn't already a club fr this fine lens. Thanks for getting it going.

12-14-2019, 03:12 PM - 3 Likes	#1
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683	The Pentax M50 f4 macro lens club Hello, This is a lens club for one of the less known members of the 50mm prime family: The Pentax M50 f4 macro. My understanding is that this design dates back from the M42 Takumar days. As it was later replaced by the faster 50 f2.8 macro, it fell into obscurity. But it is still capable. Here is a minimum focusing distance test on a AC controller board taken with a Pentax KM on Ektar 100 film. Interestingly, I haven't tried it on digital yet. it is quite sharp overall Thanks, Last edited by MarkJerling; 12-15-2019 at 06:16 PM.

12-26-2019, 02:39 AM - 2 Likes	#8
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	I think I posted some (or even all) of these pictures someplace in the forum before but to get the ball rolling here are my K-3 + M50 f4 macro lens pictures: Last edited by othar; 12-26-2019 at 09:47 AM.

12-26-2019, 08:22 AM	#9
Fluegel Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 470	Pentax has the same problem Hasselblad used to have and still has: Old lenses are simply too good to replace them with recent ones unless of course you need AF. I enjoyed looking at these images that proof how excellent the old 50 mm design is. My 50mm Macro is used to shoot items I sell. Enjoy a Hasselblad camera from the fifties, nowadays called 1600F but then simply marketed as "Hasselblad". Attached Images

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12-14-2019, 03:38 PM	#2
Fluegel Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 470	Excellent idea to pay tribute to great lens designs that are now 60+ years old. Although designers now have large computers to aid them with designs recent lenses have a difficult time to meet let alone exceed the quality of these old designs. My first M series lens was the 100/4 macro. That lens impressed me. For practical purposes I now use the A series 50/2.8 and the 100/4.

12-14-2019, 03:47 PM - 1 Like	#3
simple1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: In the Florida swamps Posts: 771	Great idea for a club. I have one of these but don't use it a whole lot. I usually grab the Macro Tak 50/4 or Vivitar 100.2.8. Based on your shots this one is certainly capable though. KP with M 50/4

12-14-2019, 09:47 PM	#4
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,816	Great idea! I a,m starting to appreciate my copy.

12-14-2019, 11:04 PM	#5
Thagomizer Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: London Ontario Posts: 2,068	Agreed, excellent idea, though I've got grandparent and parent, the S-M-C Takumar 50/4 and K50/4, but not the M model. The Tak was my first macro, which I used on a Canon 20D for nighttime spider shots (no live view; don't ask!) the K50 macro is a more recent addition that I was given (lucky me!). I use my Sigma 50/2.8 more, but I'll be watching this thread for inspiration.Thanks for starting it.

12-15-2019, 11:48 AM	#6
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	k-3 + M 50mm f4 macro lens it is then, unfortunately not as often in use as it deserves

12-25-2019, 06:53 AM	#7
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,816	Enjoying this lens quite a bit I am noticing that this lens imparts an almost tilt-shift effect whenever I shoot digonally as oppsed to straight on. not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind As a Macro, it renders well, and using Catch-In Focus is a real boon. Very nice colors, IMO.

12-26-2019, 09:21 AM	#10
robgski Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,816	the Macro capabilities of this lens make ordinary objects look extraordinary

12-26-2019, 09:44 AM - 1 Like	#11
ismaelg Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,683 Original Poster	Darn it! Now I have the Oscar Mayer jingle in my head!

12-26-2019, 09:46 AM - 1 Like	#12
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	I love me some Tessar macro design. It works really well with modern CMOS sensors. Also with the old CCD colors If the light is right, it's capable of really nice pictures. Also very sharp and contrasty wide open. And it's great for panoramas as well!

12-26-2019, 10:25 AM	#13
Fluegel Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Posts: 470	Originally posted by ChristianRock I love me some Tessar macro design. It works really well with modern CMOS sensors. I fully agree although my K5II does not have the latest technology. Moved from K5 to K5II to find it is absolutely worth it. AF and display are noticable improvements over the K5 The K5 is an improvement over the K20d. For the time being the K5II will do just fine. Image quality depends largely on the lenses used. Long live manual lenses. Long live the OVF. Long live Pentax!

12-26-2019, 10:31 AM	#14
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by Fluegel I fully agree although my K5II does not have the latest technology. Moved from K5 to K5II to find it is absolutely worth it. AF and display are noticable improvements over the K5 The K5 is an improvement over the K20d. For the time being the K5II will do just fine. Image quality depends largely on the lenses used. K-5II is what I would consider a modern CMOS sensor. In fact anything from the K-5 on would be in that category. Sensor technology hasn't really advanced much since the K-5 - it has but not as much as the camera makers want you to think it has. Most of the high ISO performance in the last 10 years or so has come from cooking up the RAW files. I agree with you that the K5II does just fine even for larger prints, and it's down to the lenses used nowadays, more than anything else...

12-27-2019, 07:58 PM	#15
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Wow! I cannot beliee there wasn't already a club fr this fine lens. Thanks for getting it going.