DA* 55mm F1.4 review on dpreview

turbosaturn · 07-31-2009, 10:10 AM

Pentax SMC DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

montecarlo · 07-31-2009, 10:24 AM

Compared with FA 50mm f:1.4 it's waste of money

(I think that the weather sealing and SDM do not worth that much).

Big G · 07-31-2009, 10:39 AM

Originally posted by montecarlo

Compared with FA 50mm f:1.4 it's waste of money

(I think that the weather sealing and SDM do not worth that much).

I agree, bit of a disappointment as I was considering this lens.

Sigma f/1.4 50mm for me I think.

Igilligan · 07-31-2009, 10:55 AM

3 copies and all out of alignment... this is not good

**Rondec** · 07-31-2009, 11:07 AM

Funny, there is a thread about this in the SLR lens section of the forum too.

Not Registered · 07-31-2009, 11:12 AM

The thing that really drives me mad about dpreview is the lack of credit that they have for the average Pentax User.

At this time of the game, they should know that the average Pentax User is more than used to deal with adjustments due to focusing problems. It comes with the label of Pentaxian.... love for primes-expert on microadjustments....

"Pentax...for those who think that micro is sexy"

PolishMike · 07-31-2009, 12:22 PM

Originally posted by Gruoso

At this time of the game, they should know that the average Pentax User is more than used to deal with adjustments due to focusing problems.

"Pentax...for those who think that micro is sexy"

Yeah, but it's like getting your new car to find that the cylinders are misfiring, it veers to the left and the brakes and clutch are misadjusted. There may be nothing wrong with the car mechanically per se, but it still speaks volumes about the manufacturer.

The *abilty* to do microadjustment is sexy, the *necessity* to do it unfortunately isn't.

DanLoc78 · 07-31-2009, 12:56 PM

Originally posted by Gruoso

The thing that really drives me mad about dpreview is the lack of credit that they have for the average Pentax User.

At this time of the game, they should know that the average Pentax User is more than used to deal with adjustments due to focusing problems. It comes with the label of Pentaxian.... love for primes-expert on microadjustments....

"Pentax...for those who think that micro is sexy"

I guess I have a long way to go to becoming a Pentaxian...I have no clue how to make microadjustments!!

...but i do love primes.

deadwolfbones · 07-31-2009, 02:13 PM

Seems like a pretty accurate review given the comments here from our own users.

**fs999** · 07-31-2009, 04:05 PM

I'm sorry, but I definitly don't have the same lens... mine is sharp wide open, AF is faster than my 55-300 and I paied it only 460 € (pre order).

This is my sharpest lens I ever had !

And it works well (manual focus) on my *ist 35mm film camera !

Wheatfield · 07-31-2009, 06:51 PM

Originally posted by fs999

I'm sorry, but I definitly don't have the same lens... mine is sharp wide open, AF is faster than my 55-300 and I paied it only 460 € (pre order).

Yeah, my 55/1.4 must be the other good one they built. It was expensive, but to me it was worth the price of admission.
I sold my FA50/1.4 and my Voigtlander 58/1.4 after seeing what the DA*55/1.4 was giving back.
It's not that the latter two aren't decent lenses, but the DA is definitely a cut above both the FA and the Nokton.

Buddha Jones · 07-31-2009, 07:30 PM

DPR, gotta love'm. I wonder if Rice High works for them. But I do love their line about the lens hoods, that made me chuckle.

Chwisch87 · 07-31-2009, 08:18 PM

So is the lack of a screw drive common in the DA*???

Jazzyboy · 07-31-2009, 09:06 PM

I don't feel pissed by this review. This lens is definitely too expensive and it's not even full frame... If you think about it, this 55mm was the first of the overpriced lenses Hoya has been cooking for us since last year. The 60-250mm was the next one and then we had the price increase of all the other lenses.
If their plan is to continue to sell overpriced lenses, then they have to meet perfection otherwise it's not worth it.

redpigeons · 07-31-2009, 09:57 PM

Basicaly this is a very expensive 50mm 1.4.
To be honest I never got the point for this lens to begin with.

P.S jazzboy I like your blog, I cant read french but you guys know design for sure

07-31-2009, 10:10 AM	#1
turbosaturn Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 75	*DA 55mm F1.4 review on dpreview** Pentax SMC DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM Lens Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review

07-31-2009, 10:55 AM	#4
Igilligan Guest	Ouch... 3 copies and all out of alignment... this is not good

07-31-2009, 11:12 AM	#6
Not Registered Guest	not enough credit The thing that really drives me mad about dpreview is the lack of credit that they have for the average Pentax User. At this time of the game, they should know that the average Pentax User is more than used to deal with adjustments due to focusing problems. It comes with the label of Pentaxian.... love for primes-expert on microadjustments.... "Pentax...for those who think that micro is sexy"

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pentax K-x review on Dpreview	emr	Pentax News and Rumors	61	04-08-2010 10:14 AM
DPReview K-7 Review..	Eruditass	Pentax News and Rumors	48	04-05-2010 05:07 AM
Pentax DA* 55mm F1.4 lens review in dpreview.com	gawan	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	31	08-01-2009 12:57 PM
K200D review on DPREVIEW is out	ogl	Pentax News and Rumors	6	09-04-2008 03:48 AM
K200D review up on dpreview!	jsherman999	Pentax DSLR Discussion	27	09-03-2008 06:49 PM

07-31-2009, 10:24 AM	#2
montecarlo Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 161	Compared with FA 50mm f:1.4 it's waste of money (I think that the weather sealing and SDM do not worth that much).

07-31-2009, 10:39 AM	#3
Big G Veteran Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 581	Originally posted by montecarlo Compared with FA 50mm f:1.4 it's waste of money (I think that the weather sealing and SDM do not worth that much). I agree, bit of a disappointment as I was considering this lens. Sigma f/1.4 50mm for me I think.

07-31-2009, 11:07 AM	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	Funny, there is a thread about this in the SLR lens section of the forum too.

07-31-2009, 12:22 PM	#7
PolishMike Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 150	Originally posted by Gruoso At this time of the game, they should know that the average Pentax User is more than used to deal with adjustments due to focusing problems. "Pentax...for those who think that micro is sexy" Yeah, but it's like getting your new car to find that the cylinders are misfiring, it veers to the left and the brakes and clutch are misadjusted. There may be nothing wrong with the car mechanically per se, but it still speaks volumes about the manufacturer. The abilty to do microadjustment is sexy, the necessity to do it unfortunately isn't.

07-31-2009, 12:56 PM	#8
DanLoc78 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Philadelphia Photos: Gallery Posts: 915	Originally posted by Gruoso The thing that really drives me mad about dpreview is the lack of credit that they have for the average Pentax User. At this time of the game, they should know that the average Pentax User is more than used to deal with adjustments due to focusing problems. It comes with the label of Pentaxian.... love for primes-expert on microadjustments.... "Pentax...for those who think that micro is sexy" I guess I have a long way to go to becoming a Pentaxian...I have no clue how to make microadjustments!! ...but i do love primes.

07-31-2009, 02:13 PM	#9
deadwolfbones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 7,450	Seems like a pretty accurate review given the comments here from our own users.

07-31-2009, 04:05 PM	#10
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,638	I'm sorry, but I definitly don't have the same lens... mine is sharp wide open, AF is faster than my 55-300 and I paied it only 460 € (pre order). This is my sharpest lens I ever had ! And it works well (manual focus) on my *ist 35mm film camera !

07-31-2009, 06:51 PM	#11
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by fs999 I'm sorry, but I definitly don't have the same lens... mine is sharp wide open, AF is faster than my 55-300 and I paied it only 460 € (pre order). Yeah, my 55/1.4 must be the other good one they built. It was expensive, but to me it was worth the price of admission. I sold my FA50/1.4 and my Voigtlander 58/1.4 after seeing what the DA*55/1.4 was giving back. It's not that the latter two aren't decent lenses, but the DA is definitely a cut above both the FA and the Nokton.

07-31-2009, 07:30 PM	#12
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	DPR, gotta love'm. I wonder if Rice High works for them. But I do love their line about the lens hoods, that made me chuckle.

07-31-2009, 08:18 PM	#13
Chwisch87 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA Photos: Gallery Posts: 317	So is the lack of a screw drive common in the DA*???

07-31-2009, 09:06 PM	#14
Jazzyboy Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 49	I don't feel pissed by this review. This lens is definitely too expensive and it's not even full frame... If you think about it, this 55mm was the first of the overpriced lenses Hoya has been cooking for us since last year. The 60-250mm was the next one and then we had the price increase of all the other lenses. If their plan is to continue to sell overpriced lenses, then they have to meet perfection otherwise it's not worth it.

07-31-2009, 09:57 PM	#15
redpigeons Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NYC Posts: 943	Basicaly this is a very expensive 50mm 1.4. To be honest I never got the point for this lens to begin with. P.S jazzboy I like your blog, I cant read french but you guys know design for sure