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06-15-2016, 01:32 PM   #1
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50mm for K-1

Hi, I have one simple question. Which 50mm is the best choice for K1 ?

DA* 55mm 1.4
FA 50mm 1.7
FA 50mm 1.4
F 50mm 1.7
F 50mm 1.4
Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX DG

or something else ?

if you have one with K1, could you post your photo ? thank you

06-15-2016, 01:48 PM   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by 88lukas88 Quote
Hi, I have one simple question. Which 50mm is the best choice for K1 ?

DA* 55mm 1.4
FA 50mm 1.7
FA 50mm 1.4
F 50mm 1.7
F 50mm 1.4
Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX DG

or something else ?

if you have one with K1, could you post your photo ? thank you
What do you mean "best"? Don't discount the DA 50mm f/1.8
06-15-2016, 01:54 PM   #3
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How about the DFA 50 Macro. I may be the sharpest of all, of not he most compact.
06-15-2016, 02:05 PM - 1 Like   #4
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Ha! Great answers already!
DFA 50mm macro is super sharp, but it is "only" f2.8. But it is macro! Highly corrected, flat field of focus.
50mm f1.4 lineage - These lenses are more than sharp enough from f2.4, but are not super sharp wide open. Some say this is on purpose, to allow dreamy wide open shots with beautiful bokeh. Note that the optical design of this has been used on various series, with only minor tweaks
50mm f1.7 lineage - This is the other Pentax 50mm lineage, starting at M 50mm f1.7 and going all the way to DA 50mm f1.8. These might be sharper than the 50mm f1.4 lenses at f2, but by f4 they are too difficult to tell apart.
DA* 55mm f1.4 - made for portraiture. People love it, seems to have incredibly high centre resolution and the full * treatment (WR, silent AF, etc.). But it is much more expensive.

Newer lenses have some advantages over older lenses - faster AF, shorter focus throw, more modern lens coatings (especially DA and DFA, optimized for digital).
Older lenses have the advantages of having a longer focus throw (better for manual focus, worse for AF), distance scales (and DoF scales), aperture ring, tough barrel construction.


Anyway, get a FA 50mm f1.4 if you can find one at a good price. Get a DA* 55mm if you are planning on doing portraits, if you want photos with character, and money is no issue. Get DA 50mm f1.8 if you want affordable AF lens. Get DFA 50mm f2.8 if you want macro and clinical, brutally sharp rendering.

That said, I only have old 50mm lenses, ones that even pre-date AF. So you might be happy enough with an old 50mm. There are very few bad 50mm lenses, and none of them have been mentioned in this thread. Just decide what character and price range you want. It is a personal issue, with very few risks

06-15-2016, 02:08 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by jddwoods Quote
How about the DFA 50 Macro. I may be the sharpest of all, of not he most compact.
I have DFA 100/2.8 WR marco, so I don't want DFA 50, I would like to have some faster 50mm as 1.4 or 1.7.

---------- Post added 06-15-16 at 02:15 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by enoeske Quote
What do you mean "best"? Don't discount the DA 50mm f/1.8
hmm, no vignetting with 50/1,8 and K1 on f/1.8 ??? I didn't see any pictures
06-15-2016, 02:15 PM   #6
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The FA 50mm 1.4 is the more beautiful lens in my opinion compared to the 1.7/8's. (also a slight softness wide open).
06-15-2016, 02:45 PM   #7
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FA 50/1.4 has same optics as F 50/1.4
FA 50/1.7 has same optics as F 50/1.7

The differences are lens body design. I personally prefer the look and controls of the FA-series over the F series.


Steve

06-15-2016, 02:53 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by 88lukas88 Quote
hmm, no vignetting with 50/1,8 and K1 on f/1.8 ??? I didn't see any pictures

It works fine,as does the DA 35mm F2.4(so ive read) and the DA40mm LTD which I own.
06-15-2016, 03:07 PM   #9
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I love my F 50 f1.7 but the front element spinning when focusing makes using a polarizing filter harder. Sharp though.
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06-15-2016, 03:08 PM   #10
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I just tried my old SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.4 K-mount lens on my K1. Yes it is all manual, but it is performing wonderfully.
06-15-2016, 03:16 PM - 2 Likes   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by 88lukas88 Quote
or something else ?
I'd go for something else... namely the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, but then I'm a tad bias.

Here's my "Special Lady" wide open.
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06-15-2016, 03:22 PM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Na Horuk Quote
seems to have incredibly high centre resolution
DA55/1.4 is the best among these 50s. I have all 50ish lenses, from Takumars, K/M/A 1.54 and 1.7, F/fa 1.4, F/FA 1.7, DA 1.8 and DA 55/1.4. 55/1.4 out perform all of them on APS and FF. It got the reputation of portrait lens because of the FL on APS and it looks like FA 85, makes people believe it emphasizes the center resolution; but it is actually upgraded from FA 50/1.4, optimized for edge and corner performance at large aperture. At F 1.4-2.8, it is sharper than FA or F 50/1.4 in the center, and much sharper at corners. F 2.8 and after, all these lenses are great, 55/1.4 still leads in the corners on FF sensor until 5.6 or so.
06-15-2016, 03:34 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by 88lukas88 Quote
Hi, I have one simple question. Which 50mm is the best choice for K1 ?

DA* 55mm 1.4
FA 50mm 1.7
FA 50mm 1.4
F 50mm 1.7
F 50mm 1.4
Sigma 50mm 1.4 EX DG

or something else ?

if you have one with K1, could you post your photo ? thank you
Hello,

I used extensively the F50/1.7 and the Pentax DA*55/1.4; a little the Sigma 50 EX.

The DA*55 is far far far better than the F. The rendering, the color, the transition between sharpness and bokeh, and of course sharpness. Many complain about the slow focusing motor. To be honest, it's fast enought, and it's more the AF module of the body that play a role in the speed.
The image it produce are really stunning.

Is the DA*55 is worth the money ? I've bought it 400€ (my most expensive lens so far), compared to the 130€ of the F.
My conclusion : it's the best 400€ i've spent. Period.
06-15-2016, 04:24 PM   #14
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I thought the bokeh and overall look with the 55 was not as nice as either the Super-Tak 1.4 or the FA43.
06-15-2016, 04:36 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kerrowdown Quote
I'd go for something else... namely the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2, but then I'm a tad bias.

Here's my "Special Lady" wide open.
and don't forget the K50mm f1.2 ... for that real "old school" experience

I haven't taken any photos with a k1... but given that it is an older full frame film lens - don't expect any issues with it.
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