Pentax FA50mm: Discontinued Lens

gazonk · 05-29-2010, 03:15 PM

Originally posted by Francesco

I also asked why they did not issue a cheap 50 mm 1.8 like canon or nikon. He told me that they seemed to have other lens to issue before hand.

An FA35 replacement would make sense. Pentax has a lot of lenses in the nearby range (FA31, DA35, DA40, even FA43 comes quite close), but not a fast budget lens except for the FA35.

Or maybe even a fast 28? Would also make sense as a APS-C normal lens.

kevinschoenmakers · 05-29-2010, 03:47 PM

I hope Pentax come out with a couple of cheap primes. They sell like hot cakes for Nikon and Canon, so it only makes sense.

mattdm · 05-29-2010, 04:14 PM

Originally posted by gazonk

An FA35 replacement would make sense. Pentax has a lot of lenses in the nearby range (FA31, DA35, DA40, even FA43 comes quite close), but not a fast budget lens except for the FA35.

Or maybe even a fast 28? Would also make sense as a APS-C normal lens.

28 matches the 43mm Limited as a "true normal".

I'm hoping for such a thing too. I think it makes sense for it to be weather-sealed — that's one of Pentax's key differentiators, and none of the current normal primes have it.

PrimeObjectif · 05-29-2010, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by gazonk

An FA35 replacement would make sense. Pentax has a lot of lenses in the nearby range (FA31, DA35, DA40, even FA43 comes quite close), but not a fast budget lens except for the FA35.

Or maybe even a fast 28? Would also make sense as a APS-C normal lens.

Unfortunately, the FA 35 isn't a budget lens anymore. Let's hope the replacement is.

lesmore49 · 05-29-2010, 11:44 PM

Glad I bought my 50mm F1.4 a few years ago...very sharp...great portrait lens...in available light.

elho_cid · 05-30-2010, 12:11 AM

They should have discontinued this lens a long time ago. Not a good one.

axl · 05-30-2010, 12:27 AM

Originally posted by Steve Beswick

I actually hope for a DFA f1.4 and a ~$100 DFAL(?) f2.0.

I know it's not likely, but I can hope, can't I?

Of course, if Pentax does release a 50mm f1.7 alongside a new f1.4, it will drive the prices of the older lenses back into the realm of sanity, so that could be good as well.

You have 55/1.4 which is FF capable, why would you need 50/1.4?

axl · 05-30-2010, 12:29 AM

Originally posted by mattdm

28 matches the 43mm Limited as a "true normal".

I'm hoping for such a thing too. I think it makes sense for it to be weather-sealed — that's one of Pentax's key differentiators, and none of the current normal primes have it.

This is true and there has been rumour of DA*28/2 but then it will be yet another expensive lens IMO...

haoto · 05-30-2010, 01:28 AM

Will any of the new lenses have SDM? I think Pentax really need a cheap SDM lens to help them fix all the reliability problems quickly.

falconeye · 05-30-2010, 03:51 AM

Originally posted by thibs

A 50mm/1.0 is impossible with K-mount.
Max possible is 50/1.2, 85/1.4 and 135/1.8. 35/1.0 maybe.

Max possible is f/1.2 for all f>45mm and slower for retrofocus.

But wait a minute, I have it from a really trusted source that Pentax will launch a 50/0.25 really soon now

er1kksen · 05-30-2010, 06:02 AM

If they just copy the optics out of my M 50mm f1.7, put it in a cheapish plastic body and weatherseal it (shouldn't be hard, the Canon 50mm f1.8 has only two seams to seal, by way of example) and price it around $150 retail, I will absolutely get one. And I imagine a lot of others would too, especially given the way it would slaughter some of the other cheap fast 50s in lens tests. The Sigma 30mm f1.4 (at the center anyways) and Canon 85mm f1.8 are two lenses I've owned with well-deserved reputations for excellent sharpness wide open, but in my experience the M 50mm f1.7 takes the cake.

pasipasi · 05-30-2010, 06:35 AM

So now for a Pentax photographer, there isn't any classic focal lenghts available as new. 16, 20, 24, 28, 50, 85, 135. Also no fast 35mm. Really discouraging.

creampuff · 05-30-2010, 07:21 AM

Everyone appears to believe hook, line and sinker the OP's assertion that the FA 50mm will be discontinued. My local Pentax agent has no indication of this happening in the near future... sales of the FA 50mm has been brisk as it is a popular first prime for the many new Pentax K-x/K-7 users where I am.

kevinschoenmakers · 05-30-2010, 07:53 AM

Originally posted by pasipasi

So now for a Pentax photographer, there isn't any classic focal lenghts available as new. 16, 20, 24, 28, 50, 85, 135. Also no fast 35mm. Really discouraging.

This isn't entirely fair because those focal lengths apply to fullframe. On APSC it would be 12, 14 (covered), 16 (covered by 15mm), 18, 35 (covered, but by a macro), 55 (covered) and 90.

Jazzyboy · 05-30-2010, 10:37 AM

There is a 18mm ? Where is it ?

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05-29-2010, 03:15 PM	#31
gazonk Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Oslo area, Norway Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,746	Originally posted by Francesco I also asked why they did not issue a cheap 50 mm 1.8 like canon or nikon. He told me that they seemed to have other lens to issue before hand. An FA35 replacement would make sense. Pentax has a lot of lenses in the nearby range (FA31, DA35, DA40, even FA43 comes quite close), but not a fast budget lens except for the FA35. Or maybe even a fast 28? Would also make sense as a APS-C normal lens.

05-29-2010, 03:47 PM	#32
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509	I hope Pentax come out with a couple of cheap primes. They sell like hot cakes for Nikon and Canon, so it only makes sense.

05-29-2010, 04:14 PM	#33
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by gazonk An FA35 replacement would make sense. Pentax has a lot of lenses in the nearby range (FA31, DA35, DA40, even FA43 comes quite close), but not a fast budget lens except for the FA35. Or maybe even a fast 28? Would also make sense as a APS-C normal lens. 28 matches the 43mm Limited as a "true normal". I'm hoping for such a thing too. I think it makes sense for it to be weather-sealed — that's one of Pentax's key differentiators, and none of the current normal primes have it.

05-29-2010, 04:49 PM	#34
PrimeObjectif Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New York Photos: Albums Posts: 599	Originally posted by gazonk An FA35 replacement would make sense. Pentax has a lot of lenses in the nearby range (FA31, DA35, DA40, even FA43 comes quite close), but not a fast budget lens except for the FA35. Or maybe even a fast 28? Would also make sense as a APS-C normal lens. Unfortunately, the FA 35 isn't a budget lens anymore. Let's hope the replacement is.

05-29-2010, 11:44 PM	#35
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,344	Glad I bought my 50mm F1.4 a few years ago...very sharp...great portrait lens...in available light.

05-30-2010, 12:11 AM	#36
elho_cid Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Prague Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,199	They should have discontinued this lens a long time ago. Not a good one.

05-30-2010, 12:27 AM	#37
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by Steve Beswick I actually hope for a DFA f1.4 and a ~$100 DFAL(?) f2.0. I know it's not likely, but I can hope, can't I? Of course, if Pentax does release a 50mm f1.7 alongside a new f1.4, it will drive the prices of the older lenses back into the realm of sanity, so that could be good as well. You have 55/1.4 which is FF capable, why would you need 50/1.4?

05-30-2010, 12:29 AM	#38
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	Originally posted by mattdm 28 matches the 43mm Limited as a "true normal". I'm hoping for such a thing too. I think it makes sense for it to be weather-sealed — that's one of Pentax's key differentiators, and none of the current normal primes have it. This is true and there has been rumour of DA*28/2 but then it will be yet another expensive lens IMO...

05-30-2010, 01:28 AM	#39
haoto New Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Taipei Posts: 18	Will any of the new lenses have SDM? I think Pentax really need a cheap SDM lens to help them fix all the reliability problems quickly.

05-30-2010, 03:51 AM	#40
falconeye Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Munich, Alps, Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,871	Originally posted by thibs A 50mm/1.0 is impossible with K-mount. Max possible is 50/1.2, 85/1.4 and 135/1.8. 35/1.0 maybe. Max possible is f/1.2 for all f>45mm and slower for retrofocus. But wait a minute, I have it from a really trusted source that Pentax will launch a 50/0.25 really soon now

05-30-2010, 06:02 AM	#41
er1kksen Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Forestville, NY Photos: Albums Posts: 1,801	If they just copy the optics out of my M 50mm f1.7, put it in a cheapish plastic body and weatherseal it (shouldn't be hard, the Canon 50mm f1.8 has only two seams to seal, by way of example) and price it around $150 retail, I will absolutely get one. And I imagine a lot of others would too, especially given the way it would slaughter some of the other cheap fast 50s in lens tests. The Sigma 30mm f1.4 (at the center anyways) and Canon 85mm f1.8 are two lenses I've owned with well-deserved reputations for excellent sharpness wide open, but in my experience the M 50mm f1.7 takes the cake.

05-30-2010, 06:35 AM	#42
pasipasi Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oulu Photos: Gallery Posts: 532	So now for a Pentax photographer, there isn't any classic focal lenghts available as new. 16, 20, 24, 28, 50, 85, 135. Also no fast 35mm. Really discouraging.

05-30-2010, 07:21 AM	#43
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Everyone appears to believe hook, line and sinker the OP's assertion that the FA 50mm will be discontinued. My local Pentax agent has no indication of this happening in the near future... sales of the FA 50mm has been brisk as it is a popular first prime for the many new Pentax K-x/K-7 users where I am.

05-30-2010, 07:53 AM	#44
kevinschoenmakers Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Shanghai Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,509	Originally posted by pasipasi So now for a Pentax photographer, there isn't any classic focal lenghts available as new. 16, 20, 24, 28, 50, 85, 135. Also no fast 35mm. Really discouraging. This isn't entirely fair because those focal lengths apply to fullframe. On APSC it would be 12, 14 (covered), 16 (covered by 15mm), 18, 35 (covered, but by a macro), 55 (covered) and 90.

05-30-2010, 10:37 AM	#45
Jazzyboy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 49	There is a 18mm ? Where is it ?