DA* 55mm have finally arrived to sweden

losecontrol · 02-20-2009, 04:11 AM

Hello!

The DA* 55mm 1,4 has finally arrived to sweden.

I just wanted to say this aloud, becasuse I know we have
a lot of people from scandinavian here at the forum, so
maybe it could be intreressting for then know this if anyone
looking to buy this lens.

I do, but i just bought a new M-50 1,7, that is exelent so I don't need this yet.

Anyone lives near looking to buy this lens?

Best regards Emil

Damn Brit · 02-20-2009, 04:27 AM

Moved to News and Rumours

losecontrol · 02-20-2009, 04:39 AM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

Moved to News and Rumours

Ay sorry. I made a misstake

Erik · 02-20-2009, 04:56 AM

Cool, but...

When they put them next to each other like that it just becomes all the more obvious that I don't really want to pay 2.35 times the price for SDM

Asahiflex · 02-20-2009, 05:17 AM

Originally posted by Erik

Cool, but...

When they put them next to each other like that it just becomes all the more obvious that I don't really want to pay 2.35 times the price for SDM

Apples to oranges. Optically the DA* 55 has nothing to do with the FA 55/1.4. Your mileage may vary, but I find it one heck of a deal for a weather-sealed lens with SDM. And don't be surprised if this lens is tested to be one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time.

losecontrol · 02-20-2009, 05:42 AM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

Apples to oranges. Optically the DA* 55 has nothing to do with the FA 55/1.4. Your mileage may vary, but I find it one heck of a deal for a weather-sealed lens with SDM. And don't be surprised if this lens is tested to be one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time.

You are right. Can't compare an old FA lens with a brand new DA* lens.

They will not be the same optical

Erik · 02-20-2009, 06:01 AM

Originally posted by Asahiflex

Apples to oranges. Optically the DA* 55 has nothing to do with the FA 55/1.4. Your mileage may vary, but I find it one heck of a deal for a weather-sealed lens with SDM. And don't be surprised if this lens is tested to be one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time.

The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time". I'm not sure that I need better than the best.

But that's just me obviously -- others will want the features the 55 has.

Erik · 02-20-2009, 06:04 AM

Originally posted by losecontrol

You are right. Can't compare an old FA lens with a brand new DA* lens.

They will not be the same optical

Of course they won't be the same design; the 5mm difference in focal length is enough to tell me that. However, I'm struggling to find a way that the 55 could be so much better than:

Originally posted by Mike Johnston, Luminous Landscape:

What many photographers aren't aware of is that Pentax still also makes some of the best SLR lenses on the planet. For pure picture quality, taking bokeh into account, my considered opinion is that the Pentax 50mm f/1.4 is the best fast fifty (and I say that having carefully tested damn near everything out there).

...that it would be worth it for optical quality alone.

It's overpriced. Yes, the price will come down, yes, it's weather sealed, but it's still twice as much as, for instance, Canon's USM 50/1.4 and it's still directly competing with the cheap and cheerful FA50, "the best fast fifty," within its own product line.

Don't intend to troll. Just sayin'.

wavecurrent · 02-20-2009, 06:39 AM

I'm sure it's a very good lens, but is it a FF lens as well??
Or is it the "new" 85mm for the APC format !?

Mike

Asahiflex · 02-20-2009, 06:45 AM

The FA 50/1.4 is soft at f/1.4. From what I've seen from the DA*55 so far it's almost too sharp

So if Mike Johnston says that the FA 50/1.4 is the best fast fifty, then I say: "The king is dead, long live the king!"

thibs · 02-20-2009, 06:48 AM

Originally posted by Erik

The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time". I'm not sure that I need better than the best.

But that's just me obviously -- others will want the features the 55 has.

The DA*55 purpose is not to replace the FA50 but to replace the FA*85 with a FOV adapted to APS-C cameras. It should (and seems to) be designed for buttery bokeh. The FA50 definitely isn't.

The DA*55 is a high end weather sealed lens, the FA50 is normal standard lens. The similarity in FOV doesn't change anything.

Erik · 02-20-2009, 06:55 AM

Originally posted by thibs

The DA*55 purpose is not to replace the FA50 but to replace the FA*85 with a FOV adapted to APS-C cameras. It should (and seems to) be designed for buttery bokeh. The FA50 definitely isn't.

The DA*55 is a high end weather sealed lens, the FA50 is normal standard lens. The similarity in FOV doesn't change anything.

Fine, I can deal with that explanation. I hope, then, that this also means that the FA50 isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

melander · 02-20-2009, 06:58 AM

6 och ett halft papp är för mycket.

Back to english

just looking at the sample pictures im not impressed. Not with a price tag like that. If I need to take photos out in the rain ill mount my 50-135 that I payed about the same for.
And for a quick 50s Im thinking about buying the nokton 58/1.4 when I think it got a more pleasing bokeh.

and at cyberphoto its priced at 7500kr

Erik · 02-20-2009, 07:02 AM

Originally posted by melander

and at cyberphoto its priced at 7500kr

Just so our American buddies are in the clear regarding what we're actually talking about here, that's about 860 US dollars

FotoPete · 02-20-2009, 07:21 AM

Yes it hurts to see the price so high...but I think we Pentaxians are a bit spoiled by the Legends past. They litter ebay and second hand shops in prices enough to spur even a poor student like myself to reach for my wallet. Many of those OEM and 3rd party M42, K, M, A generation lenses would definitely deserve Star designations by today's standards.

I think some of us (myself included) have been disillusioned by the inflation and price disparity. A *Star lens back in the day was just as considerable an investment as they are today.

To bring it back to present day, I have yet to see the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG ASPH HSM in pentax KAF3 mount but its C/N/Sigma variants sell for $750CAN here in Toronto. Like the DA*55mm, it too was designed to give the extra edge wide open.

I guess that kinda puts the anticipated DA*55/1.4 into perspective. A hunderd/two more and you get Pentax optics, DA* guaruntee...hopefully not like 16-50 QC

, SMC, weather sealing and a smart hood lol.

With that said, I still hang on to my SupaTakumars and friends. As for something like the DA*55mm..well...I can only dream.

02-20-2009, 04:11 AM	#1
losecontrol Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gnesta, Sweden Posts: 373	*DA 55mm have finally arrived to sweden** Hello! The DA* 55mm 1,4 has finally arrived to sweden. I just wanted to say this aloud, becasuse I know we have a lot of people from scandinavian here at the forum, so maybe it could be intreressting for then know this if anyone looking to buy this lens. I do, but i just bought a new M-50 1,7, that is exelent so I don't need this yet. Anyone lives near looking to buy this lens? Best regards Emil

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02-20-2009, 04:27 AM	#2
Damn Brit Guest	Moved to News and Rumours

02-20-2009, 04:39 AM	#3
losecontrol Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gnesta, Sweden Posts: 373 Original Poster	Originally posted by Damn Brit Moved to News and Rumours Ay sorry. I made a misstake

02-20-2009, 04:56 AM	#4
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Cool, but... When they put them next to each other like that it just becomes all the more obvious that I don't really want to pay 2.35 times the price for SDM

02-20-2009, 05:17 AM	#5
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Originally posted by Erik Cool, but... When they put them next to each other like that it just becomes all the more obvious that I don't really want to pay 2.35 times the price for SDM Apples to oranges. Optically the DA* 55 has nothing to do with the FA 55/1.4. Your mileage may vary, but I find it one heck of a deal for a weather-sealed lens with SDM. And don't be surprised if this lens is tested to be one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time.

02-20-2009, 05:42 AM	#6
losecontrol Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gnesta, Sweden Posts: 373 Original Poster	Originally posted by Asahiflex Apples to oranges. Optically the DA* 55 has nothing to do with the FA 55/1.4. Your mileage may vary, but I find it one heck of a deal for a weather-sealed lens with SDM. And don't be surprised if this lens is tested to be one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time. You are right. Can't compare an old FA lens with a brand new DA* lens. They will not be the same optical

02-20-2009, 06:01 AM	#7
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Originally posted by Asahiflex Apples to oranges. Optically the DA* 55 has nothing to do with the FA 55/1.4. Your mileage may vary, but I find it one heck of a deal for a weather-sealed lens with SDM. And don't be surprised if this lens is tested to be one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time. The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time". I'm not sure that I need better than the best. But that's just me obviously -- others will want the features the 55 has.

02-20-2009, 06:04 AM	#8
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Originally posted by losecontrol You are right. Can't compare an old FA lens with a brand new DA* lens. They will not be the same optical Of course they won't be the same design; the 5mm difference in focal length is enough to tell me that. However, I'm struggling to find a way that the 55 could be so much better than: Originally posted by Mike Johnston, Luminous Landscape: What many photographers aren't aware of is that Pentax still also makes some of the best SLR lenses on the planet. For pure picture quality, taking bokeh into account, my considered opinion is that the Pentax 50mm f/1.4 is the best fast fifty (and I say that having carefully tested damn near everything out there). ...that it would be worth it for optical quality alone. It's overpriced. Yes, the price will come down, yes, it's weather sealed, but it's still twice as much as, for instance, Canon's USM 50/1.4 and it's still directly competing with the cheap and cheerful FA50, "the best fast fifty," within its own product line. Don't intend to troll. Just sayin'.

02-20-2009, 06:39 AM	#9
wavecurrent Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 147	I'm sure it's a very good lens, but is it a FF lens as well?? Or is it the "new" 85mm for the APC format !? Mike

02-20-2009, 06:45 AM	#10
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	The FA 50/1.4 is soft at f/1.4. From what I've seen from the DA*55 so far it's almost too sharp So if Mike Johnston says that the FA 50/1.4 is the best fast fifty, then I say: "The king is dead, long live the king!"

02-20-2009, 06:48 AM	#11
thibs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Belgium Photos: Albums Posts: 7,001	Originally posted by Erik The FA is already tested as "one of the best 50/1.4 lenses of all time". I'm not sure that I need better than the best. But that's just me obviously -- others will want the features the 55 has. The DA55 purpose is not to replace the FA50 but to replace the FA85 with a FOV adapted to APS-C cameras. It should (and seems to) be designed for buttery bokeh. The FA50 definitely isn't. The DA*55 is a high end weather sealed lens, the FA50 is normal standard lens. The similarity in FOV doesn't change anything.

02-20-2009, 06:55 AM	#12
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Originally posted by thibs The DA55 purpose is not to replace the FA50 but to replace the FA85 with a FOV adapted to APS-C cameras. It should (and seems to) be designed for buttery bokeh. The FA50 definitely isn't. The DA*55 is a high end weather sealed lens, the FA50 is normal standard lens. The similarity in FOV doesn't change anything. Fine, I can deal with that explanation. I hope, then, that this also means that the FA50 isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

02-20-2009, 06:58 AM	#13
melander Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sweden, Umea Posts: 876	6 och ett halft papp är för mycket. Back to english just looking at the sample pictures im not impressed. Not with a price tag like that. If I need to take photos out in the rain ill mount my 50-135 that I payed about the same for. And for a quick 50s Im thinking about buying the nokton 58/1.4 when I think it got a more pleasing bokeh. and at cyberphoto its priced at 7500kr

02-20-2009, 07:02 AM	#14
Erik Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Umeå, Sweden Posts: 755	Originally posted by melander and at cyberphoto its priced at 7500kr Just so our American buddies are in the clear regarding what we're actually talking about here, that's about 860 US dollars

02-20-2009, 07:21 AM	#15
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Yes it hurts to see the price so high...but I think we Pentaxians are a bit spoiled by the Legends past. They litter ebay and second hand shops in prices enough to spur even a poor student like myself to reach for my wallet. Many of those OEM and 3rd party M42, K, M, A generation lenses would definitely deserve Star designations by today's standards. I think some of us (myself included) have been disillusioned by the inflation and price disparity. A Star lens back in the day was just as considerable an investment as they are today. To bring it back to present day, I have yet to see the Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG ASPH HSM in pentax KAF3 mount but its C/N/Sigma variants sell for $750CAN here in Toronto. Like the DA55mm, it too was designed to give the extra edge wide open. I guess that kinda puts the anticipated DA55/1.4 into perspective. A hunderd/two more and you get Pentax optics, DA guaruntee...hopefully not like 16-50 QC , SMC, weather sealing and a smart hood lol. With that said, I still hang on to my SupaTakumars and friends. As for something like the DA*55mm..well...I can only dream.