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03-16-2015, 12:38 PM   #1
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new to the forums/ favorite nifty fifty or 135mm

Hello fellow Pentaxians!
My name is Justin I am from Arizona and I am brand new to the forums. I have been a die hard Pentax user for a decade now!

I would like to kick off a thread about our favorite nifty fifties and / or 135mm. What is your favorite 50mm or 135mm and why? Pictures are encouraged! Thank you for participating!

03-16-2015, 12:43 PM   #2
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Welcome from Iowa!
Pretty much anything with glass in it and fits on my camera is a favorite!
Dive in and get that thread going! And don't forget to have fun!
03-16-2015, 01:04 PM   #3
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Hey, welcome! Think you'll fit right in!

Pentax isn't producing a 135mm right now, but there are a couple 50mm lenses in production! First is the DFA 50mm f2.8 macro - some say this series is the sharpest 50mm Pentax ever made, and it is true macro with 1:1 magnification. Lots of great features for a decent price, but it is only f2.8 (which is actually standard for macro primes these days)
Next is the DA 50mm f1.8, which stems from the 50mm f1.7 lens series (M, A, F series, if you know them). The DA is an affordable lens, really cheap, but made of high grade plastics. Not many features, but good optics.
Finally, there is the FA 50mm f1.4, which is actually from the film era. It has some nice features and a more robust/heavy build than the DA. And it is f1.4.

Some people prefer the Sigma 50mm f1.4 ART, but I don't think it has come out in Pentax K mount (yet), only the older version has, which is still a good lens - just not as ground-breaking as the massive Sigma "art" lenses.

Myself? I enjoy my good old M 50mm f1.7. And for special occasions, the Industar 50-2, a Soviet Zeiss clone.
03-16-2015, 01:15 PM - 1 Like   #4
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Welcome to the forum.

QuoteOriginally posted by carlthellama Quote
What is your favorite 50mm or 135mm
This is super easy IMHO... "Special Lady” (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2) and "Lady Luck” (SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8)

QuoteOriginally posted by carlthellama Quote
and why?
Examples of both are shown here

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03-16-2015, 01:23 PM   #5
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Ever the contrarian, I'd feel remiss not to point out that the actual "nifty fifty" was a normal lens on the 35mm film camera. That means the new nifty fifty for the 1.5x crop Pentax is actually about a "neato" 35. Or maybe the excellent 31 mm prime. :-D
03-16-2015, 01:32 PM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by Na Horuk Quote

Myself? I enjoy my good old M 50mm f1.7. And for special occasions, the Industar 50-2, a Soviet Zeiss clone.
I do love my m 50mm 1.7
03-16-2015, 03:31 PM   #7
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To pick up on abmj's point about 35mm being the new fifty on an APS-c sensor, the DA 35 Limited is a wonderful little lens.

Of the 50's, I have the FA50 f1.7 and the FA50 f2.8 Macro....both are excellent and very, very sharp.

03-16-2015, 03:51 PM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by abmj Quote
Ever the contrarian, I'd feel remiss not to point out that the actual "nifty fifty" was a normal lens on the 35mm film camera.
And 135mm was the typical kit telephoto prime lens on film, along with 28mm for a wide.

My favorite 50mm is the K50/1.2 and 135mm is the K135/2.5.

Phil.
03-16-2015, 04:40 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by gofour3 Quote
And 135mm was the typical kit telephoto prime lens on film, along with 28mm for a wide.

My favorite 50mm is the K50/1.2 and 135mm is the K135/2.5.

Phil.
I have the k135 2.5 and I am not sure if it is just my copy but it seems a bit soft and prone to ca, have you had any issues with your copy? I am almost tempted to get a different 135 and replace this one I just keep it around because it's fast
03-16-2015, 05:22 PM   #10
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Welcome to PF Justin. Good discussion starter in your first thread.

I don't have a 135mm prime. But I did toy with the idea and got many wonderful responses:
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/276646-how-...ime-aps-c.html

As for nifty 50s, I really like both my DA 50 f1.8 and my A 50 f1.7. The A is subject to flare and CA, but it is a thing of beauty and a joy to use. The aperture ring is useful for macro with extension tubes. The DA has the modern virtues: resistance to flare and CA, fast AF. And it is light weight and compact. The plastic construction doesn't matter. The A has the advantage of using 49mm filters, whereas the DA takes less common 52mm filters.

A-50 f1.7



DA 50 f1.8:


Either of these is outstanding value for money, and an excellent choice for a first prime.

But my new favourite "50" is the FA 43 f1.9 Limited. (Haven't got a sample worth posting yet, but getting there.)

Others will say the DA*55 or one of the older 55s.

They are all 50s really, in the sense that they are moderate tele on APS-C and normal lenses on FF.

@abmj makes a good point. The nifty 50 concept (that is, a 50mm prime as a single, light-weight, do-it-all normal lens) is really for film and full-frame. But I still find it a versatile and interesting focal length on APS-C.

Last edited by Des; 03-16-2015 at 06:24 PM.
03-16-2015, 05:36 PM   #11
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content with my both my sears 50/1.7 and 135/2.8'marco'............btw welcome to the forum!
03-16-2015, 08:12 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Aaron28 Quote
content with my both my sears 50/1.7 and 135/2.8'marco'............btw welcome to the forum!
Do you have any sample photos with the 135 macro? I would be really interested in how it preforms!
03-16-2015, 10:29 PM   #13
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not completely sure but I think this is the 135 with a +10 close up filter.......i'll take some to upload for ya this week....not sure what I got because I bounced between the 135 and a 70-210 not changing the focal input also I used close up filters of varying power not taking notes
https://www.flickr.com/photos/123743029@N04/16523720169/
03-17-2015, 04:08 PM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by carlthellama Quote
I have the k135 2.5 and I am not sure if it is just my copy but it seems a bit soft and prone to ca, have you had any issues with your copy? I am almost tempted to get a different 135 and replace this one I just keep it around because it's fast
Nope works perfectly on my Pentax film cameras. I don't shoot digital so I can't comment on how it works on APS-C.

Phil.
03-17-2015, 04:51 PM   #15
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Welcome! I'm a big fan of the smc-A 50mm f/2.8 macro. It only goes 1:2 but that is usually close enough for my needs.
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