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12-03-2018, 05:01 AM   #1
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which 50 (or 55)

There are lots of 50mm lenses and 55mm too (I think that 55mm is close enough to include).
I have the F1.7 M , A and now F and a few third party lenses too. Should I have bought the FA ? I bought the F mainly for the AF capability

Have you a favourite , any preferences on hoods?

12-03-2018, 05:13 AM   #2
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What do you use it for? Portraits? Street photography? Landscapes? Family photos? Weddings? Is AF essential?

More to the point: why on Earth do you need so many 50s? Many people would regard one 50 as sufficient, and some would regard it as excessive.
12-03-2018, 05:19 AM   #3
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I have a 55mm lens fetish....

kinda depends upon what you are looking to shoot, how much your budget is, etc....
12-03-2018, 05:35 AM   #4
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QuoteOriginally posted by Paul the Sunman Quote
What do you use it for? Portraits? Street photography? Landscapes? Family photos? Weddings? Is AF essential?

More to the point: why on Earth do you need so many 50s? Many people would regard one 50 as sufficient, and some would regard it as excessive.
It's not so much need as have, The f1.7 M and A versions came as part of buying cameras with a number of lenses and other kit. I usually pick these deals up pretty cheaply. I have a certain amount of LBA ... and too many camera's this has been going on for many years starting with my k1000

12-03-2018, 06:00 AM   #5
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I've got loads of 50mm lenses, ranging from the Porst 55m F1.2 through the A, M and FA 50mm F1.7's as well as a range of M42 mount ones - plus a couple of 50 & 55mm macro's in K mount. Of them all the one that gets used the most is the FA 50mm F1.7, although I expect the Sigma 50mm Macro will also get a fair bit of use.

If I already had the F 50mm F1.7 I'm not all that convinced I'd be going looking for another fast 50.
12-03-2018, 06:07 AM - 1 Like   #6
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From the F50 F1.7 the DA*55 F1.4 is a big step up, the others only marginally better. (The DFA* 50 is even better.)

Your profile shows you still shoot with a K200D. If you are on budget consider upgrading to a K-30/K-50/K-5 instead or a K-3/KP if yo have the founds, the image quality and operation will be surprisingly better.
12-03-2018, 06:46 AM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by 08amczb Quote
From the F50 F1.7 the DA*55 F1.4 is a big step up, the others only marginally better. (The DFA* 50 is even better.)

Your profile shows you still shoot with a K200D. If you are on budget consider upgrading to a K-30/K-50/K-5 instead or a K-3/KP if yo have the founds, the image quality and operation will be surprisingly better.

Havent updated my profile for a while , I also have a K5 and a K1, Film Cameras include the k1000, Me super, SFXn and a Z1P (a great option for full frame on a budget almost a DSLR) . A few other misc SLR's and an old Canon 1D MkII. Did have a Panasonic G5 but I never got on with it. Ebay often has a few film camera set ups for very little money and some have decent lenses included. E.g i bought a Zenit E with Helios 44 m2 for less than most sellers sell that lens for alone. A nice realisation was that the flanged M42 adapters which are much easier to remove than the Pentax infinity adapter work well providing you don't need infinity focus.

12-03-2018, 06:59 AM   #8
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I’m another with many more 50 and 55 lenses than one person needs. But, you can’t leave the 43 Limited out of the list. It’s unique in every aspect and plenty fast enough for the list.
12-03-2018, 08:12 AM   #9
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I have a Z1P too and a K1000, I love them.

The best 50mm lenses for film and digital are A50 F1.2, F50 F1.7 and FA50 F1.4 if you need speed and AF also, but it doesn't has the best IQ.
For digital only get the DFA50 F1.4, that lens is very sharp from wide open, the IQ is another class of that lens even from the DA*55 F1.4.
12-03-2018, 08:29 AM   #10
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There is no need to buy the FA, since all the 50 mm f 1.7 from the M to the FA have the same optical built.

I'am quite happy with my "A" lens for portraits. If I would like to have a sharper lens with autofocus for the K5 only, I would go for the SMC DA 50mm f/1.8 which is inexpensive and excellent. In fact it's IQ is on par with all those expensive 1.4 lenses. There are of course other reasons to prefer the DA* 55mm f/1.4, like 9 aperture blades and presumable better built quality.

Concerning hoods, I prefer the ugly foldable rubber hoods, they are good bumpers.
12-03-2018, 08:30 AM   #11
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this " In Depth Review " was done before the Pentax- D FA * 50mm but -

Pentax 50mm Prime Lens Shootout
Conclusion
We started this review asking the question; which of the three fifty’s was the nifty fifty? Taking into consideration the factors that were reviewed, the Pentax DA 50mm F1.8 is the niftiest of the fifty’s. Although the lens did not blow the competition away, it did hold its own against the D FA 50mm F2.8 and the FA 50mm F1.4 both which cost more. There has been much discussion on the forum about the composite rear mount. We don’t know of any instances of failure and it is the same material used in the DA 35mm F2.4, which has been on the market for a number of years. Time will tell if this is the wave of the future or just a passing fad.


Read more at: Pentax 50mm Prime Lens Shootout Review - Conclusion | PentaxForums.com Reviews
12-03-2018, 08:33 AM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by twilhelm Quote
But, you can’t leave the 43 Limited out of the list
Indeed. I have an F 50/1.7 that I'm quite happy with. I wasn't really in the market for a new 50ish prime, but I put in a lowball bid on a 43 Limited, because it's a Limited. I happened to win it, so I've been able to do some comparison.

It is better. Not worlds better, not appreciably sharper, but better contrast overall and better control of veiling flare when facing the light. With metal construction, in an even smaller and lighter package. It's quite the little engineering marvel, and it's going to spend a lot of time on the front of my K-1.

The newer coatings on the FA 50/1.7 vs the F 50/1.7 might bring it up to a similar level. I don't think the differences are worth stressing about very much unless you find a screaming good deal, though - the F 50/1.7 is a fine lens.

As far as hoods for Pentax 50s go, the cheap-o Fotasy 49mm screw-in does the job just fine. It takes a 58mm cap, and doesn't vignette if you stack it on top of a UV filter. I just leave it on my F 50/1.7 all the time, and I bought more for my Takumar 50s and 55s.
12-03-2018, 08:45 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by zjacreman Quote
The newer coatings on the FA 50/1.7 vs the F 50/1.7 might bring it up to a similar level. I don't think the differences are worth stressing about very much unless you find a screaming good deal, though - the F 50/1.7 is a fine lens.
I highly doubt the coatings on the FA are any different than the coatings on the F. The primary difference is the inclusion of MTF data for Program mode. The FA Limiteds had newer coatings...
12-03-2018, 01:08 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by blackest Quote
There are lots of 50mm lenses and 55mm too (I think that 55mm is close enough to include).
I have the F1.7 M , A and now F and a few third party lenses too. Should I have bought the FA ? I bought the F mainly for the AF capability

Have you a favourite , any preferences on hoods?
Get the D FA*, it's the best
12-03-2018, 02:09 PM   #15
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On my manual focus film camera, I use the M 50 1.7 with a 49mm to 37mm step-down ring, a slim-frame UV filter mounted inside the step-down ring (so it doesn't extend past the ring, the ring is forms the most outer face), and a slip-on cap meant to fit over 49mm filter threading. The step-down ring acts as a so-so hood, sort of like the DA 40 Ltd's hood. It's a very compact package; I take the camera on group runs a lot lately and this makes for a low-profile package.

On my crop digital I have a DA 50 1.8. It is excellent for what it is; an ounces-heavy inexpensive lens that works well for portraits. No weirdness with step-down rings here.

If I wanted a better 50ish for my manual film camera, and I didn't care about cost or size, I would be looking for a 55mm f1.2 from Ricoh or Porst, etc. They all seem decent, though some are more decent than others. I also really like my M 40 2.8 but it isn't so great for low light, obviously.

if I wanted a better portraits lens for my crop digital camera, I would get a DA 70 Ltd, probably an HD version, due to smoother OoF rendering per the rounded aperture blades it received. The DA*55 1.4 also seems quite good but I would want something a little longer and more compact.
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