prime lens question

twitch · 03-18-2012, 09:55 PM

Don't look at this too long or you will surely go blind, but this is what you're looking for when searching for a 1:1.2.

RioRico · 03-18-2012, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by twitch

Don't look at this too long or you will surely go blind, but this is what you're looking for when searching for a 1:1.2.

I'm looking at mine (#1457485) at this very moment, about 50cm in front of my face, nestled between the F35-70 and the S-M-C-Takumar 135/2.5, and I haven't gone blind yet. But there's always tomorrow...

ObTopic: Wait, the OP question has already been answered. We can close this thread now. Or we can continue with our usual gassing over lens qualities. Let's see, would I trade my K50/1.2 for an A50/1.2? Probably.

mde1970 · 03-19-2012, 02:46 AM

Cheers all for replys.

PPPPPP42 - good summary and this is pretty much what I'm thinking. Dont think my pockets are deep enough to pay for a 1.2 so reckon the 1.4 is the one I'll go for. It will definitely to be the 'A' version for ease of use (cant see the girlfriend waiting while I fiddle around to setup a manual shot

).

humbr · 03-19-2012, 03:42 AM

Well. I'll know in a week how happy I am with the 50 M 1:2 that I just bought. For me it was a trade off on price, I want to go back to manual like my Pentax Sv and Super Program and this was the ticket.

If/when I get good with this one then I will spend more money. Chances are very high that the issues will be me, not the lens.

Gerrit

**PPPPPP42** · 03-19-2012, 07:21 PM

Humbr the M series is perfect for the SV, but as i'm sure you already know the Super Program was specifically designed to use the A lenses (released at the same time) so your missing some of the niftyness of that cameras automatic exposure variations, which is handy when you don't have an LCD to chimp on and want to just take pictures rather than compose art.

**MSL** · 03-19-2012, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

Please note that I said that ordinary A-line lenses are *considered* somewhat inferior build-wise, not that they *are* inferior. I'm just reporting what I've read; I haven't used enough A-liners to make a judgment. Still, a couple of my lousier zooms have been A-line: A28-80/3.5-4.5, and what's arguably the worst lens Pentax ever produced, A35-80/4-5.6. That last is decent when reversed for macro use; but straight up, it sucks. And it has the cheapest plastic feel. A sorry excuse for a kit lens...

I may get this wrong, but you also have to be aware of the Takumar zoom lenses - which are not of the same quality as the primes. And there are a lot of lenses in the 28 or 35 to 70 or 80 range that don't have great ratings in the database and that is for a whole slew of mounts.

Originally posted by mde1970

RioRico - thanks. I'm only looking at pentax-a series as really wanted the aperture to work through the body, but this is all good information :-)

I also had thoughts of sticking with A mounts or higher, but the macro bug has bitten and to do that it is a lot easier to get comfortable with manual mode if you are going to try to do cheap macro using extension tubes.

Originally posted by monochrome

Certain of the "ordinary" A-series lenses are outstanding both in build and image quality - the A35~105/3.5 for instance. I have thought about selling almost every lens I own at one time or another except that and the FA35/2.

Not that I have many lenses to pick from, but while I'll stick an autofocus on my camera when I need it, the A35-105/3.5 seems to be living on the body most of the time. I love the range and the ability to go close focus at all focal lengths.

humbr · 03-25-2012, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by PPPPPP42

Humbr the M series is perfect for the SV, but as i'm sure you already know the Super Program was specifically designed to use the A lenses (released at the same time) so your missing some of the niftyness of that cameras automatic exposure variations, which is handy when you don't have an LCD to chimp on and want to just take pictures rather than compose art.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The 50 f2 is going on my K5, I was only mentioning the Sv and Super as cameras I had wih little or no automation with a similar lens :-)
I now have the lens, good condition and fair price. Works well on the K5 although I need to do a small mod to make it easier to use on manual.

Gerrit

newarts · 03-25-2012, 08:43 AM

Originally posted by mde1970

Cheers all for replys.

PPPPPP42 - good summary and this is pretty much what I'm thinking. Dont think my pockets are deep enough to pay for a 1.2 so reckon the 1.4 is the one I'll go for. It will definitely to be the 'A' version for ease of use (cant see the girlfriend waiting while I fiddle around to setup a manual shot

).

Let me speak for the humble (F, FA) A 1:1.7. Fast enough - DOF shallow enough. Sharp. Good buy.

theunartist · 03-28-2012, 09:10 AM

Originally posted by mde1970

Hi,

Almost made a mistake today by placing a bid on a 50mm lens on ebay.

It is listed as 1:2 and I initially mistook this to be f1.2 (which I'm sure its not). Can anyone clarify what the 1:2 means?

here is a link to a very well written explanation regarding the meaning and how a lens is marked something like 1:2 or 1:1.4 - just scroll down a bit to the f stop section...

A Tedious Explanation of the f/stop

Originally posted by newarts

Let me speak for the humble (F, FA) A 1:1.7. Fast enough - DOF shallow enough. Sharp. Good buy.

+1

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Noob question regarding filters for my prime lens	jinforthewin	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	13	08-12-2011 12:48 AM
Question for the 50mm prime experts - K50 vs M50	tranq78	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	10	12-28-2010 09:01 AM
Prime & Zoom Lens Question	LadyRo	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	9	06-01-2010 06:34 PM
Question for Prime lens users	ChrisN	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	15	01-28-2009 11:56 AM
prime lens question	gokenin	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	30	06-01-2008 08:14 AM

03-18-2012, 09:55 PM	#16
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	Don't look at this too long or you will surely go blind, but this is what you're looking for when searching for a 1:1.2.

03-18-2012, 11:55 PM	#17
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by twitch Don't look at this too long or you will surely go blind, but this is what you're looking for when searching for a 1:1.2. I'm looking at mine (#1457485) at this very moment, about 50cm in front of my face, nestled between the F35-70 and the S-M-C-Takumar 135/2.5, and I haven't gone blind yet. But there's always tomorrow... ObTopic: Wait, the OP question has already been answered. We can close this thread now. Or we can continue with our usual gassing over lens qualities. Let's see, would I trade my K50/1.2 for an A50/1.2? Probably.

03-19-2012, 02:46 AM	#18
mde1970 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Reading Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 313 Original Poster	Cheers all for replys. PPPPPP42 - good summary and this is pretty much what I'm thinking. Dont think my pockets are deep enough to pay for a 1.2 so reckon the 1.4 is the one I'll go for. It will definitely to be the 'A' version for ease of use (cant see the girlfriend waiting while I fiddle around to setup a manual shot ).

03-19-2012, 03:42 AM	#19
humbr Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: St Catharines Posts: 62	Well. I'll know in a week how happy I am with the 50 M 1:2 that I just bought. For me it was a trade off on price, I want to go back to manual like my Pentax Sv and Super Program and this was the ticket. If/when I get good with this one then I will spend more money. Chances are very high that the issues will be me, not the lens. Gerrit

03-19-2012, 07:21 PM	#20
PPPPPP42 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Wisconsin Photos: Albums Posts: 951	Humbr the M series is perfect for the SV, but as i'm sure you already know the Super Program was specifically designed to use the A lenses (released at the same time) so your missing some of the niftyness of that cameras automatic exposure variations, which is handy when you don't have an LCD to chimp on and want to just take pictures rather than compose art.

03-19-2012, 08:48 PM	#21
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,756	Originally posted by RioRico Please note that I said that ordinary A-line lenses are considered somewhat inferior build-wise, not that they are inferior. I'm just reporting what I've read; I haven't used enough A-liners to make a judgment. Still, a couple of my lousier zooms have been A-line: A28-80/3.5-4.5, and what's arguably the worst lens Pentax ever produced, A35-80/4-5.6. That last is decent when reversed for macro use; but straight up, it sucks. And it has the cheapest plastic feel. A sorry excuse for a kit lens... I may get this wrong, but you also have to be aware of the Takumar zoom lenses - which are not of the same quality as the primes. And there are a lot of lenses in the 28 or 35 to 70 or 80 range that don't have great ratings in the database and that is for a whole slew of mounts. Originally posted by mde1970 RioRico - thanks. I'm only looking at pentax-a series as really wanted the aperture to work through the body, but this is all good information :-) I also had thoughts of sticking with A mounts or higher, but the macro bug has bitten and to do that it is a lot easier to get comfortable with manual mode if you are going to try to do cheap macro using extension tubes. Originally posted by monochrome Certain of the "ordinary" A-series lenses are outstanding both in build and image quality - the A35~105/3.5 for instance. I have thought about selling almost every lens I own at one time or another except that and the FA35/2. Not that I have many lenses to pick from, but while I'll stick an autofocus on my camera when I need it, the A35-105/3.5 seems to be living on the body most of the time. I love the range and the ability to go close focus at all focal lengths.

03-25-2012, 08:25 AM	#22
humbr Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: St Catharines Posts: 62	Originally posted by PPPPPP42 Humbr the M series is perfect for the SV, but as i'm sure you already know the Super Program was specifically designed to use the A lenses (released at the same time) so your missing some of the niftyness of that cameras automatic exposure variations, which is handy when you don't have an LCD to chimp on and want to just take pictures rather than compose art. Sorry, I wasn't clear. The 50 f2 is going on my K5, I was only mentioning the Sv and Super as cameras I had wih little or no automation with a similar lens :-) I now have the lens, good condition and fair price. Works well on the K5 although I need to do a small mod to make it easier to use on manual. Gerrit

03-25-2012, 08:43 AM	#23
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by mde1970 Cheers all for replys. PPPPPP42 - good summary and this is pretty much what I'm thinking. Dont think my pockets are deep enough to pay for a 1.2 so reckon the 1.4 is the one I'll go for. It will definitely to be the 'A' version for ease of use (cant see the girlfriend waiting while I fiddle around to setup a manual shot ). Let me speak for the humble (F, FA) A 1:1.7. Fast enough - DOF shallow enough. Sharp. Good buy.

03-28-2012, 09:10 AM	#24
theunartist Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Baltimore Posts: 2,542	Originally posted by mde1970 Hi, Almost made a mistake today by placing a bid on a 50mm lens on ebay. It is listed as 1:2 and I initially mistook this to be f1.2 (which I'm sure its not). Can anyone clarify what the 1:2 means? here is a link to a very well written explanation regarding the meaning and how a lens is marked something like 1:2 or 1:1.4 - just scroll down a bit to the f stop section... A Tedious Explanation of the f/stop Originally posted by newarts Let me speak for the humble (F, FA) A 1:1.7. Fast enough - DOF shallow enough. Sharp. Good buy. +1