PENTAX Introduces smc DA 50mm f/1.8 Medium-Telephoto Lens Compact, lightweight autofo

Adam · 05-21-2012, 03:00 AM

News update from the official Pentax website:

Denver, CO – PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION today announces the introduction of its new smc PENTAX-DA 50mm f/1.8 medium-telephoto autofocus lens, which is designed exclusively for use with the company’s K-mount interchangeable-lens digital cameras. Thanks to state-of-the-art optical design technology from PENTAX, the lens’ image coverage is optimized for PENTAX K-mount ILC cameras to...

Pentax news announcement: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/press/278

Adam
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Clavius · 05-21-2012, 03:15 AM

The focus seems to be on ILC cameras? Does is protrude into the body? Are there pictures of the lens?

ihasa · 05-21-2012, 03:18 AM

ILC, interchangeable lens cameras, e.g. K20, K7, K5, K30 etc....

Clavius · 05-21-2012, 03:30 AM

Originally posted by ihasa

ILC, interchangeable lens cameras, e.g. K20, K7, K5, K30 etc....

Sorry, my bad.

Vylen · 05-21-2012, 03:32 AM

Good price @ $250... might consider it as my next lens if reviews are quite favourable.

**Rondec** · 05-21-2012, 03:33 AM

Very nice. In particular, people will like the rounded blades -- gives a nicer bokeh.

devorama · 05-21-2012, 06:57 AM

This is probably a nice lens, but at $250 it's overpriced. Pentax is missing a cheap "nifty fifty" like other brands have. The Canon 50mm F/1.8 EF lens can be had for $120 new. That's less than half this price. One can get a used FA 50mm F/1.4 for about $250. This may be a fine lens, but IMO, not what Pentax needed right now. More experienced Pentaxians in need of a fast 50 have already bought a used F or FA lens or gone third party. This should have been a lens to lure new buyers in. And with the high price tag, that's less likely.

D0n · 05-21-2012, 07:09 AM

I'm sure street pricing will be a little lower or they'll be some kind of cash back bs.. but even at $250.00 it looks like a steal.
I'm sure I'll want one... if this is a repeatt performance of the 35 2.4... who why not buy one?

aurele · 05-21-2012, 07:33 AM

to give you an idea, the MSRP of 35/2.4 is 220 euro and it sell for 160€ in street price, and around 100€ in second hand.

I think this 50 will go even lower in 6 months.

And as soon as it is in shop, i will try it on film

kdre · 05-21-2012, 08:22 AM

I cannot find this official press release on the pentax website.

**boriscleto** · 05-21-2012, 08:24 AM

Originally posted by kdre

I cannot find this official press release on the pentax website.

It was there earlier, perhaps Pentax USA was supposed to wait until the K-30 announcement.

Adam · 05-21-2012, 09:48 AM

Yeah they were supposed to wait lol, but it's not really like there was any new news to share about the 50mm except for the price.

sterretje · 05-21-2012, 11:16 PM

The specs on pentaximaging.com: PENTAX - smc PENTAX DA 50mm f1.8

selar · 05-21-2012, 11:27 PM

So this is it! The final nail in the coffin of Full Frame!

yusuf · 05-21-2012, 11:53 PM

Originally posted by selar

So this is it! The final nail in the coffin of Full Frame!

Just because it's DA? I doubt about that interpretation. I am happy that K-30 is here, FF can't be far now.

05-21-2012, 03:00 AM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	PENTAX Introduces smc DA 50mm f/1.8 Medium-Telephoto Lens Compact, lightweight autofo News update from the official Pentax website: Denver, CO – PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION today announces the introduction of its new smc PENTAX-DA 50mm f/1.8 medium-telephoto autofocus lens, which is designed exclusively for use with the company’s K-mount interchangeable-lens digital cameras. Thanks to state-of-the-art optical design technology from PENTAX, the lens’ image coverage is optimized for PENTAX K-mount ILC cameras to... Pentax news announcement: http://www.pentaximaging.com/about/press/278 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:

05-21-2012, 09:48 AM	#12
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595 Original Poster	Yeah they were supposed to wait lol, but it's not really like there was any new news to share about the 50mm except for the price. 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:

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05-21-2012, 03:15 AM	#2
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	The focus seems to be on ILC cameras? Does is protrude into the body? Are there pictures of the lens?

05-21-2012, 03:18 AM	#3
ihasa Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West Midlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,066	ILC, interchangeable lens cameras, e.g. K20, K7, K5, K30 etc....

05-21-2012, 03:30 AM	#4
Clavius Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: De Klundert Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,150	Originally posted by ihasa ILC, interchangeable lens cameras, e.g. K20, K7, K5, K30 etc.... Sorry, my bad.

05-21-2012, 03:32 AM	#5
Vylen Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,262	Good price @ $250... might consider it as my next lens if reviews are quite favourable.

05-21-2012, 03:33 AM	#6
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,653	Very nice. In particular, people will like the rounded blades -- gives a nicer bokeh.

05-21-2012, 06:57 AM	#7
devorama Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Chicago, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 638	This is probably a nice lens, but at $250 it's overpriced. Pentax is missing a cheap "nifty fifty" like other brands have. The Canon 50mm F/1.8 EF lens can be had for $120 new. That's less than half this price. One can get a used FA 50mm F/1.4 for about $250. This may be a fine lens, but IMO, not what Pentax needed right now. More experienced Pentaxians in need of a fast 50 have already bought a used F or FA lens or gone third party. This should have been a lens to lure new buyers in. And with the high price tag, that's less likely.

05-21-2012, 07:09 AM	#8
D0n Banned Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 530	I'm sure street pricing will be a little lower or they'll be some kind of cash back bs.. but even at $250.00 it looks like a steal. I'm sure I'll want one... if this is a repeatt performance of the 35 2.4... who why not buy one?

05-21-2012, 07:33 AM	#9
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	to give you an idea, the MSRP of 35/2.4 is 220 euro and it sell for 160€ in street price, and around 100€ in second hand. I think this 50 will go even lower in 6 months. And as soon as it is in shop, i will try it on film

05-21-2012, 08:22 AM	#10
kdre Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 112	I cannot find this official press release on the pentax website.

05-21-2012, 08:24 AM	#11
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by kdre I cannot find this official press release on the pentax website. It was there earlier, perhaps Pentax USA was supposed to wait until the K-30 announcement.

05-21-2012, 11:16 PM	#13
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	The specs on pentaximaging.com: PENTAX - smc PENTAX DA 50mm f1.8

05-21-2012, 11:27 PM	#14
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	So this is it! The final nail in the coffin of Full Frame!

05-21-2012, 11:53 PM	#15
yusuf Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Palo Alto, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,497	Originally posted by selar So this is it! The final nail in the coffin of Full Frame! Just because it's DA? I doubt about that interpretation. I am happy that K-30 is here, FF can't be far now.