Need Lens Advice for Portraits (FA 2.8 50mm vs DA 1.8 50mm)

okta · 06-27-2016, 11:34 AM

Interesting. Thank you everyone, I can't believe the amount of support that this forum has. I've decided to get the DA 1.8. It's the cheapest option and I can return it locally if it doesn't turn out.

I'll make sure to report back with how it worked out

and when I get the budget I'll certainly look into the more expensive lens'!

pentasonic49 · 06-27-2016, 02:52 PM

An excellent choice, great value and versatile, everyone should have a standard lens with f2 or greater in their collection, and its a good portrait focal length for APSC.

pathdoc · 06-27-2016, 03:19 PM

Originally posted by pentasonic49

An excellent choice, great value and versatile, everyone should have a standard lens with f2 or greater in their collection, and its a good portrait focal length for APSC.

When the two big New York stores were fire-sale-ing the K-3 series last year, it's not for nothing that this was the lens a lot of the bundles were going out the door with. Shades of its Tak50/1.8 ancestor going out the door on Spotmatics instead of the pricier 50/1.4, really, except nowadays zoom lenses are the desirable high level standard instead! It's by no means best for everything, especially in tight spaces on an APS-C camera, but you could get by with it at a pinch if it were the only lens you had.

(When I ordered my K-5 I got Newfoundland Camera to ship a 35/2.8 Limited Macro with it, but this was because I needed a macro for work, had found the 100/2.8 far, far too narrow in FOV terms, and didn't want to risk repeating the mistake by getting the DFA 50/2.8 and finding that I still didn't have enough FOV. Experience since then has shown my choice was justified in my particular operating environment. Early last year I missed having a fast fifty available, and the DA50/1.8 was the thin edge of the wedge that began a massive LBA-splosion.)

pentasonic49 · 06-28-2016, 08:01 AM

If I didn't already have an F 50 1.7, from film days, the DA 50 1.8 would be top of the affordable lenses to get. The strange thing is that the old one is worth more than the new one, although I am sure I couldn't tell them apart from the results

Phenix · 06-28-2016, 08:34 AM

Get DA 50 or FA50 1.4 1.7 (more expensive but metal mounts)
If creamy bokeh is what you are after and dont mind manual, Samyang/Rokinon 85 1.4 is great for the price.

gatorguy · 06-29-2016, 05:36 PM

So I rec'd the DA *55 yesterday. I wanted my Sigma 17-50 to be nearly as good, and that's what I've read. Dang it, it's not IMO. The *55 has that special 'POP", kind of a 3D effect, I sometimes get with my HD D FA100WR so now I'm pretty sure I'll now be buying this lens that a friend kindly loaned me. It's GREAT, tho my wife may not appreciate the quality of it!

On a minor note this is something I wasn't aware of: The lens hood has a felt liner, I suppose to minimize reflections?

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06-27-2016, 11:34 AM	#16
okta New Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Interesting. Thank you everyone, I can't believe the amount of support that this forum has. I've decided to get the DA 1.8. It's the cheapest option and I can return it locally if it doesn't turn out. I'll make sure to report back with how it worked out and when I get the budget I'll certainly look into the more expensive lens'!

06-27-2016, 02:52 PM	#17
pentasonic49 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: weston-super-mare Posts: 395	An excellent choice, great value and versatile, everyone should have a standard lens with f2 or greater in their collection, and its a good portrait focal length for APSC.

06-27-2016, 03:19 PM	#18
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by pentasonic49 An excellent choice, great value and versatile, everyone should have a standard lens with f2 or greater in their collection, and its a good portrait focal length for APSC. When the two big New York stores were fire-sale-ing the K-3 series last year, it's not for nothing that this was the lens a lot of the bundles were going out the door with. Shades of its Tak50/1.8 ancestor going out the door on Spotmatics instead of the pricier 50/1.4, really, except nowadays zoom lenses are the desirable high level standard instead! It's by no means best for everything, especially in tight spaces on an APS-C camera, but you could get by with it at a pinch if it were the only lens you had. (When I ordered my K-5 I got Newfoundland Camera to ship a 35/2.8 Limited Macro with it, but this was because I needed a macro for work, had found the 100/2.8 far, far too narrow in FOV terms, and didn't want to risk repeating the mistake by getting the DFA 50/2.8 and finding that I still didn't have enough FOV. Experience since then has shown my choice was justified in my particular operating environment. Early last year I missed having a fast fifty available, and the DA50/1.8 was the thin edge of the wedge that began a massive LBA-splosion.)

06-28-2016, 08:01 AM	#19
pentasonic49 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: weston-super-mare Posts: 395	If I didn't already have an F 50 1.7, from film days, the DA 50 1.8 would be top of the affordable lenses to get. The strange thing is that the old one is worth more than the new one, although I am sure I couldn't tell them apart from the results

06-28-2016, 08:34 AM	#20
Phenix Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 47	Get DA 50 or FA50 1.4 1.7 (more expensive but metal mounts) If creamy bokeh is what you are after and dont mind manual, Samyang/Rokinon 85 1.4 is great for the price.

06-29-2016, 05:36 PM	#21
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	So I rec'd the DA 55 yesterday. I wanted my Sigma 17-50 to be nearly as good, and that's what I've read. Dang it, it's not IMO. The 55 has that special 'POP", kind of a 3D effect, I sometimes get with my HD D FA100WR so now I'm pretty sure I'll now be buying this lens that a friend kindly loaned me. It's GREAT, tho my wife may not appreciate the quality of it! On a minor note this is something I wasn't aware of: The lens hood has a felt liner, I suppose to minimize reflections?