Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 
Log in or register to remove ads.

Pentax Lens Review Database » Digital Era Pentax K-Mount Lenses » DA Prime Lenses
SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM

Sharpness 
 9.8
Aberrations 
 8.8
Bokeh 
 9.6
Autofocus 
 7.9
Handling 
 9.4
Value 
 8.8
Reviews Views Date of last review
72 350,741 Mon January 23, 2023
spacer
Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
97% of reviewers $595.31 9.19
SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM

SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
supersize
SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
supersize
SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
supersize

Description:
The DA* 55mm lens features weather-sealing and SDM auto-focus. This lens does not provide 'screw drive' autofocus. The lens will thus be manual-focus only on older DSLR bodies (*istD series, K100D, K110D).

SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
APS-C
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
No
Diaphragm
Automatic, 9 blades (rounded)
Optics
9 elements, 8 groups
Mount Variant
KAF3
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F1.4
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
AF (in-lens motor)
SDM
Quick-shift
Yes
Min. Focus
45 cm
Max. Magnification
0.17x
Filter Size
58 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 29 ° / 25 °
Hood
PH-RBH 58 mm
Case
S90-100
Lens Cap
O-LC58
Coating
SMC,SP
Weather Sealing
Yes (AW)
Other Features
AF/MF Switch
Diam x Length
70.5 x 66 mm (2.8 x 2.6 in.)
Weight
375 g (13.2 oz.)
Production Years
2008 to present (in production)
Pricing
$496 USD current price
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-DA* 1:1.4 55mm SDM
Product Code
21790
Reviews
User reviews
In-depth review
Unofficial Full-Frame Compatibility Tests by Pentax Forums
★★☆ Full coverage at some F-stop and focal length combinations
Show details
Notes
One ED glass element.
No autofocus on older bodies (*istD series, K100D, K110D, and film).

Features:
Supersonic AutofocusQuick ShiftWeather SealedInternal FocusingAutomatic ApertureAPS-C Digital Only
Purchase: Buy the SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
In-Depth Review: Read our SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM in-depth review!
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM Buy the SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Ascending) Showing Reviews 1-15 of 72
Veteran Member

Registered: February, 2007
Location: Bremen, Germany
Posts: 1,521

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 24, 2009 Recommended | Price: $550.00 | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Optically improved (sharpness, contrast)
Cons: AF speed is slow

I have written a short review here:
http://www.informatik.uni-bremen.de/foto-ag/DA55/DA55.html

The lens is good!
Very good sharpness and contrast already at f1.4.
It is a joy to work with it ... if you have non moving subjects.
The AF speed is slow.

Bokeh?
Almost the same as the FA50. No improvement.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2006
Location: EU/Slovenia
Posts: 774

6 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 16, 2009 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharpness, bookeh, SDM, hood, manual focus, build quality
Cons: price, bulky compared to FA 50/1.4
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 8   

Like all DA* primes this lens is very well made. Optics as well as mechanic of this lens perform very well. Manual focus is easy enough, thou I wouldn't mind more ring travel. While autofocusing the focusing ring doesn't move, only the distance scale does.
I tested it against FA 50/1.4 and I must concour that wide open it's sharper towards corners. I also liked pictures with it more than those with FA but I can't point my finger why. Some day I'll have it. I know it

I took some pictures for comparison. They're all scaled down to 50%

f1.4
DA55 FA50

f2
DA55 FA50

f2.8
DA55 FA50

f4
DA55 FA50

f5.6
DA55 FA50

f1.4
DA55 FA50

f2
DA55 FA50

f2.8
DA55 FA50

f4
DA55 FA50

f5.6
DA55 FA50
   
Inactive Account

Registered: October, 2008
Location: Torun, POLAND
Posts: 119

5 users found this helpful
Review Date: April 27, 2009 Recommended | Price: $550.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: sharp, bokeh, SDM
Cons: bit slow (but it's not prime for me)

I love this lens - much better then my Pentax-M 1.7
DA* 55 is more sharp than M 1.7
I love bokeh and colours.
In my opinion - it's excellent lens




Update (30-Aug-2009):
it's still my favourite lens. Few samples :

1. My friends doughter :
Link to photo : http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-c-r/3590199238/sizes/o/

2. My wife in colza :
Link to photo : http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3291/3553782926_e31ca9a9bc_b.jpg

3. My friend with doughter:

Link to photo : http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3607/3533659105_4dc2482744_b.jpg
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2009
Location: seattle
Posts: 23

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 7, 2009 Recommended | Price: $625.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros:
Cons:

An wonderful piece of engineering and design!
A pleasure to use and own.
   
Senior Member

Registered: July, 2008
Location: plymouth
Posts: 101

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 11, 2009 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: IQ,Oozes Quality
Cons: None Yet

Beautiful,well made lens.I love every shot ive taken with it.I love it.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: November, 2009
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 479

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 27, 2010 Recommended | Price: $647.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Beautiful Bokeh, Great Contrast and Colour Rendition, Excellent Lens Hood
Cons: Slow Autofucs (Didn't inconvenience me in real life use)

Yes its' pricey and yes people will complain about the slow autofocus but my goodness do I love this lens. Beautiful rendition of colour, contrasty and absolutely gorgeous bokeh. This is the perfect Pentax portrait lens!
   
New Member

Registered: May, 2010
Location: Overijssel
Posts: 7

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 23, 2010 Recommended | Price: $680.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Built quality, Sharpness, Contrast, Color
Cons: Slow auto-focus, Back-focus (corrected with +9 on my K7)

Ok normally I like to shoot focusing manually, but as you all know there is not always enough time to focus manually, that why I wanted to have an autofocus portrait lens besides my manual CZ 50/1.4. When Pentax came with the DA*55/1.4, I was thrilled; “made for portrait”, “new (faster?) SDM focus” and “sharper than the FA50/1.4”.


I like the lens for it’s; sharpness, contrast and color representation (The DA*55 is definitely sharper @ 1.4 than my CZ 50@1.4 but then again the CZ bokeh is slightly better).


I dislike the lens for (in my case) the incorrect calibration of the lens and the slow auto focus. I had some problems with a rather extreme back-focus. I bought this lens when owning a K100Ds (so no micro focus adjustment), this meant that I had to focus manually anyway, with my K7 the problem of the back-focus is solved with a 9+ adjustment (with close focus the adjustment is 7+ for the best results).


Despite all I would recommend the lens, but only to the people with a micro focus adjustment camera body.
   
New Member

Registered: March, 2010
Location: Prague
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: May 31, 2010 Recommended | Price: $600.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharpness, bookeh, breath taking micro-contrast, WR, SDM - as in silent
Cons: price, bulky compared to FA 50/1.4, SDM - as in slow

The lens is a 10+ opticaly AND it realy is dissapointing that you pay a premium price to get a slower autofocus then the FA50.
The filter diameter could be 49mm (to match with the Limiteds), I see no reason for the 58mm.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2007
Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia
Posts: 7,183

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: July 7, 2010 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharpness, contrast, WR, hood arrangement
Cons: OOF wide open
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 9    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 9   

OK,
I only owned this lens for week but decided to pass my opinion.
Main reason of getting it was to have AFing 50ish instead my old K50/1.2 & 55/1.8.
There is a lot to like about this lens. It's good size for bigger hands, very well finished. WR is great. SDM.. well, not the fastest but definitely faster than my MF and fast enough for most of the real life shots. One thing I really liked is the arrangement of hood bayonet/filter thread. These are both on FIXED non moving part of the lens, completely free of front element and moving barrel. This is fantastic arrangement IMO.
IQ is good under most circumstances. The lens is really sharp, contasty from wide open. OOF in general is OK. Not better than 43ltd. I'd say it's bit nervous at certain conditions. Big advantage are the rounded aperture blades, they do make difference.
So why I didn't keep it? Well, as good as this lens is with all it's bells and whistles of modern technology, I simply don't think it's optically better than K50/1.2! Wide open, and even at f1.4 the "old lady" is better in OOF rendering by MILE!
That argument alone was enough for me to keep the old K and return DA*.
Having said that, I wold recommend this lens to anybody who has not experienced the 50/1.2 from Pentax as I consider it second only to that.
edit 2011:
early 2011 I sold K50/1.2 and tried to make my way with FA ltds, but 43 being too short and 77 too long, I decided to give the DA*55 another chance. I sold 77 since and will be selling 43 too. Don't regret it at all. This 2nd copy of 55 seems better than my first. Easily my default lens on K-7. AF could be tad faster and the OOF is still bit busier but all in all with no 50/1.2 in the way, this is the best lens for K mount from 43 to 55 IMO.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: February, 2010
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 1,902

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 15, 2010 Recommended | Price: $635.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Small, fast, sharp, great Bokeh, weather sealed
Cons: Not 1.2, the corner sharpness could be a little better, af is a little bit slow

I find the highlight of this lens is the out of focus area. With the right background, everything becomes a painted dream.

The highlight bokeh this lens produces is fantastic, and in my opinion the primary reason to purchase it over the Sigma.

When I was making this purchasing decision, I put together a thread here with a fair amount of details: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/91916-pentax-d...tml#post945277

The AF speed is a smidge slow, but it hasn't proven to be a hurdle in the field.

9 feels like a solid rating for this lens. It could be a little better, but all in all I've been pleased with the results from this lens.
   
Pentaxian

Registered: May, 2009
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 836
Review Date: September 14, 2010 Recommended | Price: $510.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Looks, Sharpness, AF accuracy
Cons: Cost

It's too expensive for a 55 1.4. By about $200.

That said, it's extremely well built, and looks good. AF is extremely accurate on my copy. And while people say the AF is slow, it's much quicker than I could MF.

It's very sharp to my eyes, and I love the bokeh and contrast.
   
Senior Member

Registered: November, 2007
Location: Berlin, Germany
Posts: 150

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 3, 2010 Recommended | Price: $520.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, contrast, sealing, magic look
Cons: Negative aspects? - non; not perfect: AF speed, bokeh can be a bit harsh at times, but in most cases it is excellent
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 8    Handling: 10    Value: 10    New or Used: New   

Of all my lenses this is my favorite. It really can make the world shine, and 1.4 takes available light photography really to its most. Love this lens.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: March, 2009
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 509

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 6, 2011 Recommended | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Looks and feels great. Professionally built.
Cons: Much better than older FA and F 50mm in IMQ.
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 10    Autofocus: 7    Handling: 9    Value: 7    New or Used: Used    Camera Used: K5   

This is my first *(star) lens and it is a good one.

Built: Superb. One of the best that I own. Manual focus override is reasonably smooth and precise. Focusing resistance is just right. Focusing speed is average and focusing is pretty quiet. My DA17-70mm SDM motor dead (bought from anther PF member / dying in one week and completely dead in 3 weeks). But this one is still working well. Feel more substantial in hand than other DA lenses. AF/MF switch allows the focusing trap function on this lens. But the focusing trap function does not always work. Has to adjust for back focus on my Kx.

IMQ: It appears only slightly superior to FA50 f1.4 or F50 f1.7 from all of the technical measures. There is slight PF under extreme lighting condition at the largest apertures (slightly better than my F50 f1.7, but worse than my Samyang85). Resolution is average at the largest aperture. But the contrast at the largest aperture is good. I think that it is specially designed for portraits and it accomplishes the goal well. While not super sharp at the largest aperture, it produces very smooth results and nice background blurrs. Even though I do not have any technical proof, I feel that the real-life results are significantly better than the older FA and F prime lens for the purpose of portraits. Clearly, the contrast is better and the border resolution is higher than older 50mm lenses in the Pentax line.

I have many primes including the FA, F, K... I do not really need this. But... You know what have happened and I have not regretted the decision yet. The lens is a bit overpriced, I have to admit.

Lowered my rating (a bit) to 8.5 due to the problem of mis-focusing and some CA.

@ f1.4




An update 09/10/2012

The AF works much better with my K5. It is almost a different lens than before (on my Kx) for large aperture shooting. But it is still slow for a * lens.

One SDM metal contact (there are a total of two golden color contacts) is broken which will take $200 to fix. CrisCam refuses to fix it unless the SDM motor is replaced at the same time. A rip off? Or a necessary procedure. I do not know. Despite these, I still love the lens.

Drop the rating to 8, because of this.


An update 10/10/2013

Focusing is slower than Nikon AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.8G Lens on D7000.

The lens shade seems less tight over time.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: April, 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,054

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 9, 2011 Recommended | Price: $600.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Pretty much everything except for the one con
Cons: Comparatively slow AF
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 8    Autofocus: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    New or Used: New   

This is an absolute workhorse of a portrait lens. IMO, the sweet spot is f/2.0 without question. Results I have gotten with this lens leave me wanting for nothing. Those who feel the bokeh is not the best may just need to put more thought into what is going to be in the OOF areas of your photo. MF feel cannot compete against a top-quality dedicated MF lens, but it doesn't have to. I am so pleased with this lens for portraits that I am questioning why I even need that new Sigma 85/1.4, a lens that costs 150% of what this lens does. Very few that have this lens ever sell it, and that says volumes.
   
Senior Member

Registered: March, 2010
Posts: 234

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 14, 2011 Recommended | Price: $450.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros:
Cons:

Hi.

My name is Sergey Yaskevich and today i'm aimed to post here my thoughts on this lens.

I have it since spring 2010, and I have got it with my DA* 50-135.
And at first monthes I used almost only 50-135. But know, if there is any chance to pick on 55 1.4... I use this chance...because I fell myself "being in love with it."))))

Besides I have already had FA 50 1.4, but when the 55 arived I haven't mounted it since then, and gave it to my brother.

Lots f people told me not to by this lens...shame on them....you can find lot of such opinions about its slowness/... Whatever for portrait lens this is not main parameter.

This lens is of great bokeh, so I'm not seeking any chance to by f1.2 lens.

It is SDM...may be it will be ruined....but it still works.
For me this lens is one of the greatest portrait lenses.
Besides it is waterproofed.....
Add Review of SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM Buy the SMC Pentax-DA* 55mm F1.4 SDM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:08 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top