SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7 on K-3?

**snpsht** · 07-17-2014, 02:22 AM

I have found a good cheap copy of this lens and would like to try it on the K-3.

Is it worth buying, given it will be my first foray into manual photography?

ie Will it, with persistence, give me nice images or is it just too hard to use on the K-3? Anyone have any shots with this combination?

If not an option, what would you suggest as good alternatives?

rawr · 07-17-2014, 03:00 AM

Originally posted by snpsht

I have found a good cheap copy of this lens and would like to try it on the K-3.
Is it worth buying, given it will be my first foray into manual photography?

It's a great lens. Works fine on any modern Pentax, including the K-3. If you got a good, cheap copy, go for it.

Usage is not too hard - just read the sticky here on how to use manual lenses.

Some reviews and sample photos from this lens are here

manacho2005 · 07-17-2014, 03:34 AM

You won't be disappointed. Sharp wide open, then extremely sharp after F2.8.
If you do any video, you will appreciate the smooth-as-butter focus ring, too.

Na Horuk · 07-17-2014, 03:51 AM

Unless you already own a nifty fifty, go for it.

It definitely takes some learning, but it will be worth the effort. Also, it might be a good idea to buy a lens hood for it
the M 50mm f1.7 was the first manual prime I bought for my DSLR and I don't regret it. Good low light performance, easy to focus, good image quality. Can be used for landscapes, portraits.. You just need to learn to hold it, focus it, and meter. And these skills will help your photography with any lens

Last edited by Na Horuk; 07-17-2014 at 04:44 AM.

am.syn · 07-17-2014, 04:39 AM

The K, M and A series 1,4 -1,7 50mm are all great lenses. They`re easy to use, they are sharp, have fantastic colours and a beautiful bokeh.
I use these lenses with my K 5ii and all works fine. The easyier lenses are from the A series, because you can make your Aperture settings inside your camera.

**snpsht** · 07-17-2014, 05:22 AM

Excellent...thanks for the advice, I'll pick up my new lens tomorrow!

stevebrot · 07-17-2014, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by snpsht

Is it worth buying, given it will be my first foray into manual photography?

In a single word...YES!!!

In many more words...I would suggest that the M 50/1.7 is probably the single best lens option for anyone wanting to explore vintage lenses on their modern Pentax dSLR. It was arguably one of the sharpest normal lenses available at the time it was made*, has great build, and is inexpensive to boot.

Your last comment indicates a positive purchase decision! You are really going to like the lens.

Steve

* The M 50/1.7 was chosen to represent the Pentax line by Modern Photography for its famous maximum film resolution test done back in the early 1980s. To see scans of the article (thank you Nesster/Jussi):

https://flic.kr/p/7JZYjL (first page)
https://flic.kr/p/7JZYiw (second page)

Last edited by stevebrot; 07-17-2014 at 09:16 AM.

**boriscleto** · 07-17-2014, 09:24 AM

Just be careful. When you own 5 50mm lenses you will officially have Lens Buying Addiction.

**savoche** · 07-17-2014, 01:46 PM

Good luck with your M 50/1.7! It's a very nice lens.

Originally posted by boriscleto

Just be careful. When you own 5 50mm lenses you will officially have Lens Buying Addiction.

Nah, I have stopped at 4 50mm lenses (the 43, 55, and 58 don't count, right?) so it's not that hard to avoid this thing called LBA.

rawr · 07-17-2014, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by savoche

I have stopped at 4

I stopped at 3 (including a M 50 1.7). Although I did give another 50mm away recently to a relative, so I was also sitting on 4 for a while.

stevebrot · 07-17-2014, 02:51 PM

Originally posted by rawr

I stopped at 3 (including a M 50 1.7).

I envy you. While I am in recovery from LBA and actually have some 21 50mm lenses*, I still feel the tug on occasion.

Steve

* Actually have 22, but one is an enlarger lens. The others are in various mounts, but still I have 14 that will mount to a K-mount camera.

zapp · 07-29-2014, 07:16 AM

Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? Because you can, because it is cheap?
No AF, no communitcation, trouble with precise foucs... Pentax offers new 50mm lenses for little money that can do a lot more.

Get an MX and play with the M-50.

aleonx3 · 07-29-2014, 07:32 AM

Originally posted by zapp

Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? Because you can, because it is cheap?
No AF, no communitcation, trouble with precise foucs... Pentax offers new 50mm lenses for little money that can do a lot more.

Get an MX and play with the M-50.

You can still use the AF confirmation and CIF feature on the camera, besides, there is the fun factor with old lenses.

stevebrot · 07-29-2014, 11:19 AM

Originally posted by zapp

Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? Because you can, because it is cheap?

No, because it is a damn good lens and better than at least one current Pentax 50mm offering.

Steve

**monochrome** · 07-29-2014, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by zapp

Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? . . . .[snip]

Because that's how I enjoy the hobby. Old stuff is better-made than the new.

07-17-2014, 02:22 AM	#1
snpsht Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South Coast, NSW Posts: 286	SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7 on K-3? I have found a good cheap copy of this lens and would like to try it on the K-3. Is it worth buying, given it will be my first foray into manual photography? ie Will it, with persistence, give me nice images or is it just too hard to use on the K-3? Anyone have any shots with this combination? If not an option, what would you suggest as good alternatives?

07-29-2014, 11:51 AM	#15
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by zapp Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? . . . .[snip] Because that's how I enjoy the hobby. Old stuff is better-made than the new. Last edited by monochrome; 07-29-2014 at 11:59 AM.

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07-17-2014, 03:00 AM	#2
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by snpsht I have found a good cheap copy of this lens and would like to try it on the K-3. Is it worth buying, given it will be my first foray into manual photography? It's a great lens. Works fine on any modern Pentax, including the K-3. If you got a good, cheap copy, go for it. Usage is not too hard - just read the sticky here on how to use manual lenses. Some reviews and sample photos from this lens are here

07-17-2014, 03:34 AM	#3
manacho2005 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Red Oak, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 462	You won't be disappointed. Sharp wide open, then extremely sharp after F2.8. If you do any video, you will appreciate the smooth-as-butter focus ring, too.

07-17-2014, 03:51 AM	#4
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	Unless you already own a nifty fifty, go for it. It definitely takes some learning, but it will be worth the effort. Also, it might be a good idea to buy a lens hood for it the M 50mm f1.7 was the first manual prime I bought for my DSLR and I don't regret it. Good low light performance, easy to focus, good image quality. Can be used for landscapes, portraits.. You just need to learn to hold it, focus it, and meter. And these skills will help your photography with any lens Last edited by Na Horuk; 07-17-2014 at 04:44 AM.

07-17-2014, 04:39 AM	#5
am.syn New Member Join Date: May 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 2	The K, M and A series 1,4 -1,7 50mm are all great lenses. They`re easy to use, they are sharp, have fantastic colours and a beautiful bokeh. I use these lenses with my K 5ii and all works fine. The easyier lenses are from the A series, because you can make your Aperture settings inside your camera.

07-17-2014, 05:22 AM	#6
snpsht Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: South Coast, NSW Posts: 286 Original Poster	Excellent...thanks for the advice, I'll pick up my new lens tomorrow!

07-17-2014, 08:59 AM	#7
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by snpsht Is it worth buying, given it will be my first foray into manual photography? In a single word...YES!!! In many more words...I would suggest that the M 50/1.7 is probably the single best lens option for anyone wanting to explore vintage lenses on their modern Pentax dSLR. It was arguably one of the sharpest normal lenses available at the time it was made, has great build, and is inexpensive to boot. Your last comment indicates a positive purchase decision! You are really going to like the lens. Steve The M 50/1.7 was chosen to represent the Pentax line by Modern Photography for its famous maximum film resolution test done back in the early 1980s. To see scans of the article (thank you Nesster/Jussi): https://flic.kr/p/7JZYjL (first page) https://flic.kr/p/7JZYiw (second page) Last edited by stevebrot; 07-17-2014 at 09:16 AM.

07-17-2014, 09:24 AM	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Just be careful. When you own 5 50mm lenses you will officially have Lens Buying Addiction.

07-17-2014, 01:46 PM	#9
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,311	Good luck with your M 50/1.7! It's a very nice lens. Originally posted by boriscleto Just be careful. When you own 5 50mm lenses you will officially have Lens Buying Addiction. Nah, I have stopped at 4 50mm lenses (the 43, 55, and 58 don't count, right?) so it's not that hard to avoid this thing called LBA.

07-17-2014, 01:55 PM	#10
rawr Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 11,913	Originally posted by savoche I have stopped at 4 I stopped at 3 (including a M 50 1.7). Although I did give another 50mm away recently to a relative, so I was also sitting on 4 for a while.

07-17-2014, 02:51 PM	#11
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by rawr I stopped at 3 (including a M 50 1.7). I envy you. While I am in recovery from LBA and actually have some 21 50mm lenses, I still feel the tug on occasion. Steve Actually have 22, but one is an enlarger lens. The others are in various mounts, but still I have 14 that will mount to a K-mount camera.

07-29-2014, 07:16 AM	#12
zapp Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 2,385	Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? Because you can, because it is cheap? No AF, no communitcation, trouble with precise foucs... Pentax offers new 50mm lenses for little money that can do a lot more. Get an MX and play with the M-50.

07-29-2014, 07:32 AM	#13
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by zapp Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? Because you can, because it is cheap? No AF, no communitcation, trouble with precise foucs... Pentax offers new 50mm lenses for little money that can do a lot more. Get an MX and play with the M-50. You can still use the AF confirmation and CIF feature on the camera, besides, there is the fun factor with old lenses.

07-29-2014, 11:19 AM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by zapp Why put a 20+ year old lens on a K3? Because you can, because it is cheap? No, because it is a damn good lens and better than at least one current Pentax 50mm offering. Steve