Originally posted by little laker When I want a certain effect the 50mm f1.4 can't be beat.
The same goes with my 55m f1.8
I hope I can get one of those sometime relatively soon...
anyway, fifties? what's the appeal.
Well, there is millions of them. From f1.2 to f2.
They are some of the fastest lenses, and some of the best too.
It's hard to find bad fifty (by Pentax) I don't have first hand experience but I'd say even the x50/2 (considered by many the weakest of 50s) spanks F28-80 at comparable aperture.
Apart from that 50s are relatively compact lenses, and they offered normal (or near normal) FOV on FF (35 SLRs). Unfortunately on crop sensors they offer FOV of around 75mm (55 are around 83-84mm). And that's the problem with them these days. Optically still perfect but offering FOV that not everybody "digs". Anyway, they make still great lenses, and even better portrait lenses.
I personally have F50/1.7, and it's very fine lens. I don't think I use it as much as it deserves but at the same time I know I won't be parting with it anytime soon.
BR
Peter