Lens Tournament: DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro vs M 50mm F1.7

Adam · 10-22-2014, 10:38 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results.

In this normal knockout match, the SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro faces the SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7.

Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account.
Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours.

Lens Info:

Adam
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mtux · 10-22-2014, 10:50 PM - **2 Likes**

I found my DA35ltd to be my best lens. Outstanding image quality. normal focal length, and having the ability of macro is just great for me on a walkaround lens.

I called it: "One lens to rule them all"

And it's my first lens which can produce some 3D looking portraits like this:

More shots:

DSims · 10-22-2014, 11:49 PM

Originally posted by mtux

And it's my first lens which can produce some 3D looking portraits like this:

What is that, Cameron Highlands or something? Haven't been there since '85, so I don't even know what it looks like now.

mtux · 10-23-2014, 01:48 AM

Originally posted by DSims

What is that, Cameron Highlands or something? Haven't been there since '85, so I don't even know what it looks like now.

The first one was shot at Genting highlands.

VisualDarkness · 10-23-2014, 03:39 AM

The 50/1.7 is good value but the 35/2,8 is one unique versatile lens in a tiny package.

Thor Gunderson · 10-23-2014, 03:52 AM

I do have both, and i have fallen for the 35mm ltd, the only lens that can stay on my camera for long periods, use 50mm for special occations, and here it is at great value/fun

Caver · 10-23-2014, 04:59 AM

I got both lenses, and I just can repeat what everybody else says.
The MC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro is one of my most used lens.

Sandy Hancock · 10-23-2014, 05:34 AM

Fast fifties are a dime a dozen. There is no other normal macro for APS-C, and what a lens it is.

sinjin · 10-23-2014, 06:18 AM - **1 Like**

The 35mm Limited Macro is my If-I-Can-Only-Have-One lens. It is a superb performer.

DSims · 10-23-2014, 09:01 AM

Originally posted by mtux

The first one was shot at Genting highlands.

That was my other choice, but I haven't been there, which is why I didn't recognize it. I chose to go to Cameron highlands instead.

Nice photos.

**mgvh** · 10-23-2014, 09:35 AM

I can't comment on the 35 macro, but the M50 f1.7 is in itself a work of art. Such a beautiful lens, solid, elegant... Functional and simply an aesthetic joy to handle...and it takes great photos too!

AquaDome · 10-23-2014, 09:54 AM

During my 20+ years with a K1000, the M 50 1.7 stayed on the camera for most of it. Today I would choose the DA 35 Limited Macro.
I don't just mean choosing between the two. The DA 35 Ltd is currently the prime lens I use the most.

tvdtvdtvd · 10-23-2014, 11:08 AM

Oh, what a tough choice. The DA35 would appear to be superior in almost all respect: Auto-focus, better coatings, better optics(?), macro,
more prestigious. The M 50/1.7 is certainly no slouch and its performance, if inferior, is only marginally so. The 50 gets the nod for speed,
better build and the not insignificant fact that it can be bought for less the 10% the cost of the DA35. My vote goes to the 50, for its historical
place in Pentax history.

cxdoo · 10-23-2014, 11:39 AM

M50 is a great lens. Small, sharp, robust, extremely cheap; among the best Pentax lenses in bang per buck. I love its rendering and colors and try to use it even when an AF lens or a zoom is a better choice.
However I won't vote here as I had no experience with DA35.

**monochrome** · 10-23-2014, 12:20 PM

In the M class I prefer the M50/1.4 but the 50/1.7 is sharper border to border. I'm just not that big a fan of sharpness as the critical factor in a photograph. Back in the day a K55/1.8 or M50/1.7 was for flat work on a copystand or copipod.

They weren't designed to be artistic portrait or landscape lenses. They were designed to be commercial lenses.

Times change.

View Poll Results: Which lens should advance to the next round?
DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro	99	76.15%
M 50mm F1.7	31	23.85%
Voters: 130. You may not vote on this poll

10-22-2014, 10:38 PM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	Lens Tournament: DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro vs M 50mm F1.7 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results. In this normal knockout match, the SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro faces the SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7. Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account. Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours. Lens Info: SMC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7 Reviews - M Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database 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:

10-23-2014, 06:18 AM - 1 Like	#9
sinjin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 242	35mm Limited The 35mm Limited Macro is my If-I-Can-Only-Have-One lens. It is a superb performer.

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10-22-2014, 10:50 PM - 2 Likes	#2
mtux Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: the Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,444	I found my DA35ltd to be my best lens. Outstanding image quality. normal focal length, and having the ability of macro is just great for me on a walkaround lens. I called it: "One lens to rule them all" And it's my first lens which can produce some 3D looking portraits like this: More shots:

10-22-2014, 11:49 PM	#3
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by mtux And it's my first lens which can produce some 3D looking portraits like this: What is that, Cameron Highlands or something? Haven't been there since '85, so I don't even know what it looks like now.

10-23-2014, 01:48 AM	#4
mtux Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: the Netherlands Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,444	Originally posted by DSims What is that, Cameron Highlands or something? Haven't been there since '85, so I don't even know what it looks like now. The first one was shot at Genting highlands.

10-23-2014, 03:39 AM	#5
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	The 50/1.7 is good value but the 35/2,8 is one unique versatile lens in a tiny package.

10-23-2014, 03:52 AM	#6
Thor Gunderson Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Aarhus Posts: 44	I do have both, and i have fallen for the 35mm ltd, the only lens that can stay on my camera for long periods, use 50mm for special occations, and here it is at great value/fun

10-23-2014, 04:59 AM	#7
Caver Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hungary (ex-pat from Transylvania, Romania) Photos: Gallery Posts: 541	I got both lenses, and I just can repeat what everybody else says. The MC Pentax-DA 35mm F2.8 Limited Macro is one of my most used lens.

10-23-2014, 05:34 AM	#8
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Fast fifties are a dime a dozen. There is no other normal macro for APS-C, and what a lens it is.

10-23-2014, 09:01 AM	#10
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by mtux The first one was shot at Genting highlands. That was my other choice, but I haven't been there, which is why I didn't recognize it. I chose to go to Cameron highlands instead. Nice photos.

10-23-2014, 09:35 AM	#11
mgvh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,030	I can't comment on the 35 macro, but the M50 f1.7 is in itself a work of art. Such a beautiful lens, solid, elegant... Functional and simply an aesthetic joy to handle...and it takes great photos too!

10-23-2014, 09:54 AM	#12
AquaDome Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: New Carlisle, IN Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,475	During my 20+ years with a K1000, the M 50 1.7 stayed on the camera for most of it. Today I would choose the DA 35 Limited Macro. I don't just mean choosing between the two. The DA 35 Ltd is currently the prime lens I use the most.

10-23-2014, 11:08 AM	#13
tvdtvdtvd Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,665	Oh, what a tough choice. The DA35 would appear to be superior in almost all respect: Auto-focus, better coatings, better optics(?), macro, more prestigious. The M 50/1.7 is certainly no slouch and its performance, if inferior, is only marginally so. The 50 gets the nod for speed, better build and the not insignificant fact that it can be bought for less the 10% the cost of the DA35. My vote goes to the 50, for its historical place in Pentax history.

10-23-2014, 11:39 AM	#14
cxdoo Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Limassol, Cyprus Posts: 1,150	M50 is a great lens. Small, sharp, robust, extremely cheap; among the best Pentax lenses in bang per buck. I love its rendering and colors and try to use it even when an AF lens or a zoom is a better choice. However I won't vote here as I had no experience with DA35.

10-23-2014, 12:20 PM	#15
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	In the M class I prefer the M50/1.4 but the 50/1.7 is sharper border to border. I'm just not that big a fan of sharpness as the critical factor in a photograph. Back in the day a K55/1.8 or M50/1.7 was for flat work on a copystand or copipod. They weren't designed to be artistic portrait or landscape lenses. They were designed to be commercial lenses. Times change.