Cheapest 50mm

oli83 · 10-15-2013, 08:38 PM

I'm really on a low budget and I'd like to know how far I can go.
Hope you guys can help me and pardon my english.
Also, I'm a newbie here

Adam · 10-15-2013, 10:40 PM

DA 50mm F1.8, unless you want a MF lens, in which case you can look at any K, M, or A 50mm listed in our lens database.

Sagitta · 10-15-2013, 10:41 PM

You can get 50mm's for just about nothing if you don't mind going manual. If you want autofocus, then the DA 50 1.8 is about the best 'cheap' option out there.

elliott · 10-15-2013, 10:57 PM

For the cheapest manual focus, while still retaining full metering, you can't beat the Pentax A 50mm F2.

siamthai · 10-16-2013, 03:04 AM

Manual in every way but a real good lens which is also fast is SMC/S-M-C/Super-/Auto-/Takumar 55mm F1.8

Jonathan Mac · 10-16-2013, 03:31 AM

Originally posted by siamthai

Manual in every way but a real good lens which is also fast is SMC/S-M-C/Super-/Auto-/Takumar 55mm F1.8

While a superb lens, he'll need an M42 adapter to use with it, and a good one might cost more than the lens itself. The M 50 f/1.7 is the cheapest K-mount 50mm lens which is both common and excellent quality.

From third parties, the Ricoh 50mm f/2 lenses are quite common, can be found very cheaply and are very sharp, though not as well built as the Pentax M above.

bdery · 10-16-2013, 04:55 AM

Originally posted by Jonathan Mac

The M 50 f/1.7 is the cheapest K-mount 50mm lens which is both common and excellent quality.

The M50 f2 is very good in its own right, and much cheaper. You can find excellent deals on third party 50s (most of them are good enough, it's hard to make a bad 50mm lens) but the f2 will be hard to beat regarding price.

VisualDarkness · 10-16-2013, 05:23 AM

My old Ato Chinon MC 50mm F1.7 was splendid, really smooth out of focus areas and reasonably sharp. I got it for almost nothing though I gave it away as a gift some time ago.
Chinon Auto MC 50mm f/1.7 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

oli83 · 10-16-2013, 06:29 AM

Thank you guys for the help. Much appreciated.
I'll read about them and I'll try to find a deal. I live in Brazil and here people got a little crazy and are asking beetwen $100/200 on a 50mm.
And I don't mind MF only lenses. I think they are great to learn and an enjoyable experience.
Some people just don't know how to focus manually these days!
Thanks again.

**TER-OR** · 10-16-2013, 07:16 AM

If you do choose one of the older M50s (or A50s) make sure to get a hood. There are nice collapsing screw-in hoods. It will make a huge difference for a very low cost.
Personally, I think the M50 f/2 is underrated merely because it's very common and inexpensive.

Andi Lo · 10-16-2013, 08:07 AM

If you can only afford one, save up for the DA 50/1.8. Unless you're 100% sure you dont need AF.

Na Horuk · 10-16-2013, 01:15 PM

You can try a Horus Bennu 50mm f1.7, I think they cost under $60 with free shipping. Or Zenitar 50mm f2.0. If you buy a budget lens it might be good to buy a fitting hood, because those lenses usually dont have great coatings,
Depends how low your budget is. DA 50mm f1.8 is relatively cheap even brand new, and its fully automated with modern lens coatings.

oli83 · 10-16-2013, 01:22 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

You can try a Horus Bennu 50mm f1.7, I think they cost under $60 with free shipping. Or Zenitar 50mm f2.0. If you buy a budget lens it might be good to buy a fitting hood, because those lenses usually dont have great coatings,
Depends how low your budget is. DA 50mm f1.8 is relatively cheap even brand new, and its fully automated with modern lens coatings.

Where can I find these? eBay?

Jonathan Mac · 10-16-2013, 01:47 PM

Originally posted by Na Horuk

You can try a Horus Bennu 50mm f1.7, I think they cost under $60 with free shipping. Or Zenitar 50mm f2.0. If you buy a budget lens it might be good to buy a fitting hood, because those lenses usually dont have great coatings,
Depends how low your budget is. DA 50mm f1.8 is relatively cheap even brand new, and its fully automated with modern lens coatings.

I have a Horsbenu, but branded as Centon (I think). It's a chinese model. I've barely used it but it's decently sharp. I certainly wouldn't pay $60 for one, I think I paid €15 for mine. It's a little lacking in build quality compared to other manual 50s, but a lot of bang for the buck.

TaoMaas · 10-17-2013, 03:06 AM

I don't know exactly how true it is, but I was told in a photography class once that most 50mm lenses are fairly good because it's an easy lens to design.

10-15-2013, 08:38 PM	#1
oli83 New Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 11	Cheapest 50mm I'm really on a low budget and I'd like to know how far I can go. Hope you guys can help me and pardon my english. Also, I'm a newbie here

10-15-2013, 10:40 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,595	DA 50mm F1.8, unless you want a MF lens, in which case you can look at any K, M, or A 50mm listed in our lens database. 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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10-15-2013, 10:41 PM	#3
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	You can get 50mm's for just about nothing if you don't mind going manual. If you want autofocus, then the DA 50 1.8 is about the best 'cheap' option out there.

10-15-2013, 10:57 PM	#4
elliott Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Photos: Albums Posts: 1,720	For the cheapest manual focus, while still retaining full metering, you can't beat the Pentax A 50mm F2.

10-16-2013, 03:04 AM	#5
siamthai Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Svealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 172	Manual in every way but a real good lens which is also fast is SMC/S-M-C/Super-/Auto-/Takumar 55mm F1.8

10-16-2013, 03:31 AM	#6
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	Originally posted by siamthai Manual in every way but a real good lens which is also fast is SMC/S-M-C/Super-/Auto-/Takumar 55mm F1.8 While a superb lens, he'll need an M42 adapter to use with it, and a good one might cost more than the lens itself. The M 50 f/1.7 is the cheapest K-mount 50mm lens which is both common and excellent quality. From third parties, the Ricoh 50mm f/2 lenses are quite common, can be found very cheaply and are very sharp, though not as well built as the Pentax M above.

10-16-2013, 04:55 AM	#7
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by Jonathan Mac The M 50 f/1.7 is the cheapest K-mount 50mm lens which is both common and excellent quality. The M50 f2 is very good in its own right, and much cheaper. You can find excellent deals on third party 50s (most of them are good enough, it's hard to make a bad 50mm lens) but the f2 will be hard to beat regarding price.

10-16-2013, 05:23 AM	#8
VisualDarkness Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,439	My old Ato Chinon MC 50mm F1.7 was splendid, really smooth out of focus areas and reasonably sharp. I got it for almost nothing though I gave it away as a gift some time ago. Chinon Auto MC 50mm f/1.7 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

10-16-2013, 06:29 AM	#9
oli83 New Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Thank you guys for the help. Much appreciated. I'll read about them and I'll try to find a deal. I live in Brazil and here people got a little crazy and are asking beetwen $100/200 on a 50mm. And I don't mind MF only lenses. I think they are great to learn and an enjoyable experience. Some people just don't know how to focus manually these days! Thanks again.

10-16-2013, 07:16 AM	#10
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	If you do choose one of the older M50s (or A50s) make sure to get a hood. There are nice collapsing screw-in hoods. It will make a huge difference for a very low cost. Personally, I think the M50 f/2 is underrated merely because it's very common and inexpensive.

10-16-2013, 08:07 AM	#11
Andi Lo Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 2,924	If you can only afford one, save up for the DA 50/1.8. Unless you're 100% sure you dont need AF.

10-16-2013, 01:15 PM	#12
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	You can try a Horus Bennu 50mm f1.7, I think they cost under $60 with free shipping. Or Zenitar 50mm f2.0. If you buy a budget lens it might be good to buy a fitting hood, because those lenses usually dont have great coatings, Depends how low your budget is. DA 50mm f1.8 is relatively cheap even brand new, and its fully automated with modern lens coatings.

10-16-2013, 01:22 PM	#13
oli83 New Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 11 Original Poster	Originally posted by Na Horuk You can try a Horus Bennu 50mm f1.7, I think they cost under $60 with free shipping. Or Zenitar 50mm f2.0. If you buy a budget lens it might be good to buy a fitting hood, because those lenses usually dont have great coatings, Depends how low your budget is. DA 50mm f1.8 is relatively cheap even brand new, and its fully automated with modern lens coatings. Where can I find these? eBay?

10-16-2013, 01:47 PM	#14
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,894	Originally posted by Na Horuk You can try a Horus Bennu 50mm f1.7, I think they cost under $60 with free shipping. Or Zenitar 50mm f2.0. If you buy a budget lens it might be good to buy a fitting hood, because those lenses usually dont have great coatings, Depends how low your budget is. DA 50mm f1.8 is relatively cheap even brand new, and its fully automated with modern lens coatings. I have a Horsbenu, but branded as Centon (I think). It's a chinese model. I've barely used it but it's decently sharp. I certainly wouldn't pay $60 for one, I think I paid €15 for mine. It's a little lacking in build quality compared to other manual 50s, but a lot of bang for the buck.

10-17-2013, 03:06 AM	#15
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	I don't know exactly how true it is, but I was told in a photography class once that most 50mm lenses are fairly good because it's an easy lens to design.