Pentax DA 50mm f1.8 lens Available at Amazon

bxf · 07-17-2012, 03:31 AM

I don't know what the retail price is supposed to be for the various 18-55m and 50-200mm lenses, but those things are cheap. I fail to understand why those can have metal mounts, in spite of the low price, yet the 35mm f2.4 and this 50mm f1.8 have plastic mounts, presumably for reasons of economy. Makes no sense to me.

Pablom · 07-17-2012, 03:37 AM - **1 Like**

$250 is not cheap for this type of lens. i have several excellent MF 50's, so for that price Pentax can shove it up their arse

bxf · 07-17-2012, 04:41 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Pablom

$250 is not cheap for this type of lens. i have several excellent MF 50's, so for that price Pentax can shove it up their arse

I guess this explains the benefit of a plastic mount. Ouch!

Docrwm · 07-17-2012, 06:39 AM

$249 is the MSRP for the lens. Pentax and their Maximum Assured Pricing are not fairing well in the US, so MSRP may well not be what the lens ultimately sells for after being released for several weeks-months. The 35/2.4 lists for $219 and sells routinely for $179 (and often for $169) new. So, if the same pattern extends to the 50/1.8 we can expect it to sell, new, for somewhere around $199. Is that as cheap as 40 year old M50 lenses sell for, no. But considering that it's AF, has updated coatings (including rear element coatings to reduce reflections and imaging problems with the sensor), and communicates with the camera the two are apples and oranges.

Alizarine · 07-17-2012, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by Pablom

$250 is not cheap for this type of lens. i have several excellent MF 50's, so for that price Pentax can shove it up their arse

If metal-and-glass manual lenses were still made by Pentax today, I wonder how much they will cost, versus these plastic 50's? (I think Zeiss still makes those, and how much do Zeiss lenses cost?)
If the DA*55's AF and WR were removed, can it go for $250?
And the FA50 1.4, albeit having a metal mount, has a plastic body. How much does it retail?

While I agree that "$250 is not cheap (Php10,500 in my country, worth more than half a month's salary of average workers in my country) that would only be in comparison with Canikon's 50 1.8's. As for Pentax, I've come to the notion that they like having high introductory prices... which come down in 2 or 3 months.

civiletti · 07-17-2012, 09:56 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Docrwm

You can still purchase the 50/1.4. These are economy lenses and offered as such.

Economy lens, like every lens Pentax has released of late.

Alizarine · 07-17-2012, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by civiletti

Economy lens, like every lens Pentax has released of late.

the DA 18-135 is not so "economy" per se...

Mistral75 · 07-17-2012, 01:47 PM

Just have a look at the (rumoured) price of the (rumoured) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 II: US$ 849!

Source: Canon Rumors New Canon 50mm Coming? [CR1]

Docrwm · 07-17-2012, 02:01 PM

Originally posted by Mistral75

Just have a look at the (rumoured) price of the (rumoured) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 II: US$ 849!

Source: Canon Rumors New Canon 50mm Coming? [CR1]

To be fair that is a 1.4 and the Pentax is a 1.8, among other differences. A closer comparison would be this Canon 50/1.8
Amazon.com: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens: Electronics
that sells for $108.

hongzhibin1987 · 07-17-2012, 02:26 PM

Originally posted by Mistral75

Just have a look at the (rumoured) price of the (rumoured) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 II: US$ 849!

Source: Canon Rumors New Canon 50mm Coming? [CR1]

Please dude don't confuse yourself and others. Canon EF 50 F1.4 is like USD 370ish, and its opponent is Pentax FA 50 1.4, which probably the similar price.
And this one....the DA 50's opponent is EF 1.8, which is 107 for brand new, and 80~90 for a used one.

PENTAX please tell me your secret market policy so that I can support you $150 more for a plastic lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty outraged (though unnecessary) about this stupid move.

fikkser · 07-17-2012, 03:04 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by hongzhibin1987

the DA 50's opponent is EF 1.8, which is 107 for brand new, and 80~90 for a used one.

PENTAX please tell me your secret market policy so that I can support you $150 more for a plastic lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty outraged (though unnecessary) about this stupid move.

Agreed. Too expensive. Just a few years ago the FA 50 was the same price... Not impressed.

Sorry, I'm actually mad at this.

Why are people swallowing this bullshit? At around 100-150$ why not. In Sweden it's 2595kr that's 372.467 USD (with tax) for a fu***** entry level plastic lens.

Who want to pay 2595kr (372$) for the pentax lens when the Canon EF 50/1,8 II sells for 890kr (127$) with tax? This is bullshit. Sorry, but this is just bullshit. Let's pay 3 times the price just because it's pentax...

Luckily I got a SMC Takumar 55 1,8 for around 20$ today and going by how my non smc 55 performs, its probably going to beat the crap out of that overpriced plastic thing.

Kona · 07-17-2012, 04:52 PM

I don't see why people are so concerned with plastic mounts. My 35 2.4 is a brilliant lens (though I paid quite a bit more for it than it sells for now) and I have absolutely no qualms with its ruggedness or build quality. I don't go around smashing my camera in to things, and I would hope nobody does. Why should the mount material matter?

Adam · 07-17-2012, 05:25 PM

FYI, the latest predictions indicate that the DA 50/1.8 won't start shipping until the first or second week of August. Maybe that's what the amazon shipping estimate is alluding to...

Docrwm · 07-17-2012, 05:26 PM

Originally posted by Adam

FYI, the latest predictions indicate that the DA 50/1.8 won't start shipping until the first or second week of August. Maybe that's what the amazon shipping estimate is alluding to...

Thanks. I figured it was something like that, but listing it at retailers is a sign that things are moving forward. Next up - 560mm!

rawr · 07-17-2012, 06:28 PM

I already have three K-mount 50mms so I am not buying this, but yeah in this segment PRIC really need to keep the price under control, given (to state the obvious, I would have thought):

(a) the excellent and affordable competition provided from within the Pentax universe by all the older K-mount 50mm's out there, and

(b) by shoppers being aware that Nikon and Canon have some excellent 50mm's out there available new at bargain prices.

07-17-2012, 05:25 PM	#43
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,594	FYI, the latest predictions indicate that the DA 50/1.8 won't start shipping until the first or second week of August. Maybe that's what the amazon shipping estimate is alluding to... Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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07-17-2012, 03:31 AM	#31
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	I don't know what the retail price is supposed to be for the various 18-55m and 50-200mm lenses, but those things are cheap. I fail to understand why those can have metal mounts, in spite of the low price, yet the 35mm f2.4 and this 50mm f1.8 have plastic mounts, presumably for reasons of economy. Makes no sense to me.

07-17-2012, 03:37 AM - 1 Like	#32
Pablom Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Usa Posts: 1,940	$250 is not cheap for this type of lens. i have several excellent MF 50's, so for that price Pentax can shove it up their arse

07-17-2012, 04:41 AM - 2 Likes	#33
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	Originally posted by Pablom $250 is not cheap for this type of lens. i have several excellent MF 50's, so for that price Pentax can shove it up their arse I guess this explains the benefit of a plastic mount. Ouch!

07-17-2012, 06:39 AM	#34
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	$249 is the MSRP for the lens. Pentax and their Maximum Assured Pricing are not fairing well in the US, so MSRP may well not be what the lens ultimately sells for after being released for several weeks-months. The 35/2.4 lists for $219 and sells routinely for $179 (and often for $169) new. So, if the same pattern extends to the 50/1.8 we can expect it to sell, new, for somewhere around $199. Is that as cheap as 40 year old M50 lenses sell for, no. But considering that it's AF, has updated coatings (including rear element coatings to reduce reflections and imaging problems with the sensor), and communicates with the camera the two are apples and oranges.

07-17-2012, 08:55 AM	#35
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by Pablom $250 is not cheap for this type of lens. i have several excellent MF 50's, so for that price Pentax can shove it up their arse If metal-and-glass manual lenses were still made by Pentax today, I wonder how much they will cost, versus these plastic 50's? (I think Zeiss still makes those, and how much do Zeiss lenses cost?) If the DA*55's AF and WR were removed, can it go for $250? And the FA50 1.4, albeit having a metal mount, has a plastic body. How much does it retail? While I agree that "$250 is not cheap (Php10,500 in my country, worth more than half a month's salary of average workers in my country) that would only be in comparison with Canikon's 50 1.8's. As for Pentax, I've come to the notion that they like having high introductory prices... which come down in 2 or 3 months.

07-17-2012, 09:56 AM - 1 Like	#36
civiletti Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Oregon Photos: Albums Posts: 1,435	Originally posted by Docrwm You can still purchase the 50/1.4. These are economy lenses and offered as such. Economy lens, like every lens Pentax has released of late.

07-17-2012, 09:58 AM	#37
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by civiletti Economy lens, like every lens Pentax has released of late. the DA 18-135 is not so "economy" per se...

07-17-2012, 01:47 PM	#38
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,526	Just have a look at the (rumoured) price of the (rumoured) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 II: US$ 849! Source: Canon Rumors New Canon 50mm Coming? [CR1]

07-17-2012, 02:01 PM	#39
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by Mistral75 Just have a look at the (rumoured) price of the (rumoured) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 II: US$ 849! Source: Canon Rumors New Canon 50mm Coming? [CR1] To be fair that is a 1.4 and the Pentax is a 1.8, among other differences. A closer comparison would be this Canon 50/1.8 Amazon.com: Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens: Electronics that sells for $108.

07-17-2012, 02:26 PM	#40
hongzhibin1987 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 464	Originally posted by Mistral75 Just have a look at the (rumoured) price of the (rumoured) Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 II: US$ 849! Source: Canon Rumors New Canon 50mm Coming? [CR1] Please dude don't confuse yourself and others. Canon EF 50 F1.4 is like USD 370ish, and its opponent is Pentax FA 50 1.4, which probably the similar price. And this one....the DA 50's opponent is EF 1.8, which is 107 for brand new, and 80~90 for a used one. PENTAX please tell me your secret market policy so that I can support you $150 more for a plastic lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty outraged (though unnecessary) about this stupid move.

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07-17-2012, 03:04 PM - 1 Like	#41
fikkser Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Borlänge, Sweden Posts: 373	Originally posted by hongzhibin1987 the DA 50's opponent is EF 1.8, which is 107 for brand new, and 80~90 for a used one. PENTAX please tell me your secret market policy so that I can support you $150 more for a plastic lens!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm pretty outraged (though unnecessary) about this stupid move. Agreed. Too expensive. Just a few years ago the FA 50 was the same price... Not impressed. Sorry, I'm actually mad at this. Why are people swallowing this bullshit? At around 100-150$ why not. In Sweden it's 2595kr that's 372.467 USD (with tax) for a fu***** entry level plastic lens. Who want to pay 2595kr (372$) for the pentax lens when the Canon EF 50/1,8 II sells for 890kr (127$) with tax? This is bullshit. Sorry, but this is just bullshit. Let's pay 3 times the price just because it's pentax... Luckily I got a SMC Takumar 55 1,8 for around 20$ today and going by how my non smc 55 performs, its probably going to beat the crap out of that overpriced plastic thing.

07-17-2012, 04:52 PM	#42
Kona Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Victoria Photos: Albums Posts: 201	I don't see why people are so concerned with plastic mounts. My 35 2.4 is a brilliant lens (though I paid quite a bit more for it than it sells for now) and I have absolutely no qualms with its ruggedness or build quality. I don't go around smashing my camera in to things, and I would hope nobody does. Why should the mount material matter?

07-17-2012, 05:26 PM	#44
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285 Original Poster	Originally posted by Adam FYI, the latest predictions indicate that the DA 50/1.8 won't start shipping until the first or second week of August. Maybe that's what the amazon shipping estimate is alluding to... Thanks. I figured it was something like that, but listing it at retailers is a sign that things are moving forward. Next up - 560mm!

07-17-2012, 06:28 PM	#45
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	I already have three K-mount 50mms so I am not buying this, but yeah in this segment PRIC really need to keep the price under control, given (to state the obvious, I would have thought): (a) the excellent and affordable competition provided from within the Pentax universe by all the older K-mount 50mm's out there, and (b) by shoppers being aware that Nikon and Canon have some excellent 50mm's out there available new at bargain prices.