RICOH ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF HD PENTAX-D FA★50mm F1.4 SDM AW STAR-SERIES LENS

**pres589** · 09-25-2018, 11:48 AM

Eh. I like how 50's act on crop bodies. More subject isolation. 50's on full frame / film is kind of a bad compromise; not wide enough to show much environment, not narrow enough to really isolate the subject. It's a real compromise focal length on full frame. I have a couple 50's that are only on my shelf due to their small size for wide apertures and general availability which helps keep them cheap. I don't really like 35mm lenses on crop for the same reason as they act about the same.

This seems like a very good lens. I'm not the target audience. I hope to see some amazing photos from those that get it.

**robbiec** · 09-25-2018, 02:05 PM

Originally posted by sculptor666

it's called diffraction... some lenses you don't notice until f14, some you notice at f8.

It's called diffraction, on some sensors you won't notice until f/11, on others you might see effects @ f/5.6. Diffraction will be the result of both the lens and sensor combination.

But also as I pondered out loud (tongue in cheek) if perhaps during the test that the ISO was raised as the lens was stopped down which may have brought the NR accelerator into play and take a percentage of absolute resolution as shown in the MTF50 chart. This would make more sense to me than what looks to be almost a 10% drop between f/5.6 & f/8.0 on a brand new optic.

reh321 · 09-25-2018, 02:15 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by sculptor666

it's called diffraction... some lenses you don't notice until f14, some you notice at f8.

Originally posted by robbiec

It's called diffraction, on some sensors you won't notice until f/11, on others you might see effects @ f/5.6.

Normally there is more than diffraction at work - when you narrow the aperture, you use less of the "less good" part of the lens, so this effect normally offsets diffraction to some degree. If the lens is really good, this offset is less than we normally see, so diffraction would take more of a "bite" sooner.

**BigMackCam** · 09-25-2018, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by pres589

I could see this lens and a KP making for a very nice portraits combination.

Originally posted by house

Come on pres589 doesn't the thought of wasting those incredible edge pixels make you cry a bit?!

The DFA*50/1.4 is probably "more lens" than is strictly necessary for an APS-C sensor camera... that said, it doesn't mean it won't be a formidable portrait lens for those who can justify the expense and work with the size and weight...

RonHendriks1966 · 09-25-2018, 02:20 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pres589

I could see this lens and a KP making for a very nice portraits combination.

You probably would have a great combo with the KP and the DA*55mm lens. With the money saved you can buy the GRIII.

**BigMackCam** · 09-25-2018, 02:23 PM

Originally posted by RonHendriks1966

You probably would have a great combo with the KP and the DA*55mm lens. With the money saved you can buy the GRIII.

I have to say, that would be my choice too. Phenomenal though the DFA*50/1.4 clearly is, for APS-C work the DA*55 is way more than capable...

**pres589** · 09-25-2018, 02:33 PM

Depends if you're okay with the slightly soft / dreamy look of the DA*55 over this more evenly sharp DFA*50.

We honestly have some amazing options with lots of primes doing full-frame (or nearly enough) from the DA 40's through the FA 77 that there's a solution for just about anyone. A KP with an FA 43 and DA 70 in my pockets seem like a nice solution.

**BigMackCam** · 09-25-2018, 02:37 PM

Originally posted by pres589

A KP with an FA 43 and DA 70 in my pockets seem like a nice solution.

I'd say that's an excellent solution. I can't speak for the FA43 (although I'd love to own one), but the DA70 is a very fine lens for portraiture, so long as you have a little room to work with. And it's both tiny, and light... shoot all day without breaking sweat

Sandy Hancock · 09-25-2018, 02:38 PM

The DFA*50 is clearly optimised for wide open performance across the frame, so this makes the effects of diffraction more noticeable.
By comparison, the DA*55 is pretty soft wide open, but on the other hand it really shines stopped down for landscapes.

Different strengths, different weaknesses. Different lenses.

And @robbiec, I'm pretty sure those tests would have been done a tripod, with ISO kept constant....

**pres589** · 09-25-2018, 02:42 PM

Yeah, to me the DA*55 is kind of a classic Pentax lens; by the numbers it isn't special, but the rendering and overall look of images really makes it something. They're not really interchangeable. If anything, the DA*55 seems like a very good 'head & shoulders' portrait lens on full-frame that might still be preferable over this new 50.

**robbiec** · 09-25-2018, 04:25 PM

Diffraction it is then. ISO was constant during the test so rules out my accelerator theory. The only thing stopping this lens are the known laws of physics!

OoKU · 10-06-2018, 08:15 AM - **1 Like**

From mobile01 review
????????HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW ????????? - Pentax???? - ????? - Mobile01???

Mistral75 · 10-06-2018, 08:52 AM - **1 Like**

Thank you. Yours is the mobile phone version of the document. Here below the one for computers:

「星」勢力來襲！HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW 大光圈定焦鏡評測！ - Pentax單眼相機 - 相機討論區 - Mobile01

Google translation

OoKU · 01-20-2019, 04:32 AM - **1 Like**

????????? ??DFA50mmF1.4?? - ????
Google translation
Google ??

biz-engineer · 01-20-2019, 05:12 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by OoKU

????????? ??DFA50mmF1.4?? - ????Google translationGoogle ??

Extracts from the translation:

-> "we will try our best to ensure objectivity of the review"

-> "no [Pentax] camera is born, and the ceiling of image quality is constantly improving"
Need to try objectivity harder. The ceiling of image quality has reach a plateau. For me it's impossible to distinguish a K1 photo from a D850. And I am not sure how much sharpness is needed at f1.2. We live in a world where more and more opinions are disconnected from practical realities.

09-25-2018, 02:05 PM	#917
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882	Originally posted by sculptor666 it's called diffraction... some lenses you don't notice until f14, some you notice at f8. It's called diffraction, on some sensors you won't notice until f/11, on others you might see effects @ f/5.6. Diffraction will be the result of both the lens and sensor combination. But also as I pondered out loud (tongue in cheek) if perhaps during the test that the ISO was raised as the lens was stopped down which may have brought the NR accelerator into play and take a percentage of absolute resolution as shown in the MTF50 chart. This would make more sense to me than what looks to be almost a 10% drop between f/5.6 & f/8.0 on a brand new optic. Last edited by robbiec; 09-25-2018 at 02:25 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Development update regarding the HD PENTAX-D FA★50mmF1.4 SDM AW	OoKU	Pentax News and Rumors	734	07-26-2022 05:52 AM
HD Pentax-D FA★ 25mm f/1.4 - 50mm f/1.4 - 85mm f/1.4 DC AW	Mistral75	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	43	07-26-2022 05:52 AM
pentaxrumors.com reports new HD PENTAX-D FA ★ 50mm F1.4 likely to be released soon	Madaboutpix	Pentax Full Frame	17	01-24-2018 12:10 PM
Official image sample from the HD Pentax-DFA★ 50mm F1.4 SDM AW uploaded	Madaboutpix	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	2	12-05-2017 05:36 PM
★★NOW IN STOCK★★Pentax K-5 Limited Edition★★	Chuck-B&H	Ask B&H Photo!	11	03-31-2011 05:29 AM

09-25-2018, 11:48 AM	#916
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Eh. I like how 50's act on crop bodies. More subject isolation. 50's on full frame / film is kind of a bad compromise; not wide enough to show much environment, not narrow enough to really isolate the subject. It's a real compromise focal length on full frame. I have a couple 50's that are only on my shelf due to their small size for wide apertures and general availability which helps keep them cheap. I don't really like 35mm lenses on crop for the same reason as they act about the same. This seems like a very good lens. I'm not the target audience. I hope to see some amazing photos from those that get it.

09-25-2018, 02:15 PM - 1 Like	#918
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,175	Originally posted by sculptor666 it's called diffraction... some lenses you don't notice until f14, some you notice at f8. Originally posted by robbiec It's called diffraction, on some sensors you won't notice until f/11, on others you might see effects @ f/5.6. Normally there is more than diffraction at work - when you narrow the aperture, you use less of the "less good" part of the lens, so this effect normally offsets diffraction to some degree. If the lens is really good, this offset is less than we normally see, so diffraction would take more of a "bite" sooner.

09-25-2018, 02:16 PM	#919
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,647	Originally posted by pres589 I could see this lens and a KP making for a very nice portraits combination. Originally posted by house Come on pres589 doesn't the thought of wasting those incredible edge pixels make you cry a bit?! The DFA*50/1.4 is probably "more lens" than is strictly necessary for an APS-C sensor camera... that said, it doesn't mean it won't be a formidable portrait lens for those who can justify the expense and work with the size and weight...

09-25-2018, 02:20 PM - 1 Like	#920
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Originally posted by pres589 I could see this lens and a KP making for a very nice portraits combination. You probably would have a great combo with the KP and the DA*55mm lens. With the money saved you can buy the GRIII.

09-25-2018, 02:23 PM	#921
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,647	Originally posted by RonHendriks1966 You probably would have a great combo with the KP and the DA55mm lens. With the money saved you can buy the GRIII. I have to say, that would be my choice too. Phenomenal though the DFA50/1.4 clearly is, for APS-C work the DA*55 is way more than capable...

09-25-2018, 02:33 PM	#922
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Depends if you're okay with the slightly soft / dreamy look of the DA55 over this more evenly sharp DFA50. We honestly have some amazing options with lots of primes doing full-frame (or nearly enough) from the DA 40's through the FA 77 that there's a solution for just about anyone. A KP with an FA 43 and DA 70 in my pockets seem like a nice solution.

09-25-2018, 02:37 PM	#923
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,647	Originally posted by pres589 A KP with an FA 43 and DA 70 in my pockets seem like a nice solution. I'd say that's an excellent solution. I can't speak for the FA43 (although I'd love to own one), but the DA70 is a very fine lens for portraiture, so long as you have a little room to work with. And it's both tiny, and light... shoot all day without breaking sweat

09-25-2018, 02:38 PM	#924
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,267	The DFA50 is clearly optimised for wide open performance across the frame, so this makes the effects of diffraction more noticeable. By comparison, the DA55 is pretty soft wide open, but on the other hand it really shines stopped down for landscapes. Different strengths, different weaknesses. Different lenses. And @robbiec, I'm pretty sure those tests would have been done a tripod, with ISO kept constant....

09-25-2018, 02:42 PM	#925
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Yeah, to me the DA55 is kind of a classic Pentax lens; by the numbers it isn't special, but the rendering and overall look of images really makes it something. They're not really interchangeable. If anything, the DA55 seems like a very good 'head & shoulders' portrait lens on full-frame that might still be preferable over this new 50.

09-25-2018, 04:25 PM	#926
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882	Diffraction it is then. ISO was constant during the test so rules out my accelerator theory. The only thing stopping this lens are the known laws of physics!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

10-06-2018, 08:15 AM - 1 Like	#927
OoKU Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 740 Original Poster	From mobile01 review ????????HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW ????????? - Pentax???? - ????? - Mobile01???

10-06-2018, 08:52 AM - 1 Like	#928
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,526	Thank you. Yours is the mobile phone version of the document. Here below the one for computers: 「星」勢力來襲！HD Pentax-D FA★ 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW 大光圈定焦鏡評測！ - Pentax單眼相機 - 相機討論區 - Mobile01 Google translation

01-20-2019, 04:32 AM - 1 Like	#929
OoKU Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 740 Original Poster	????????? ??DFA50mmF1.4?? - ???? Google translation Google ??

01-20-2019, 05:12 AM - 1 Like	#930
biz-engineer Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 12,225	Originally posted by OoKU ????????? ??DFA50mmF1.4?? - ????Google translationGoogle ?? Extracts from the translation: -> "we will try our best to ensure objectivity of the review" -> "no [Pentax] camera is born, and the ceiling of image quality is constantly improving" Need to try objectivity harder. The ceiling of image quality has reach a plateau. For me it's impossible to distinguish a K1 photo from a D850. And I am not sure how much sharpness is needed at f1.2. We live in a world where more and more opinions are disconnected from practical realities.