| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2020 Posts: 131
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 11, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very fast and very sharp; small and light, making it very versatile; good AF | | Cons: | focusing ring and aperture ring not the best designs; no dedicated hood | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: LX, PZ-1, K10D, K-3 II, K-1 II
| |
This is definitely near the top of my lens collection in terms of sharpness, and it's the fastest lens that I own.
I bought this lens many years ago (so whatever the standard new price would have been in the late 1990s, I guess).
For me, this lens is highly versatile. It performs about the best among all my lenses in autofocus (perhaps because of the lens' speed and large glass), with relatively little hunting even in low light and complex situations; now, this is with non-moving targets, so please understand my autofocus grading in that light -- but when I move quickly from stationary target to stationary target, the AF locks on quickly with no hunting most of the time. I can use this 50-mm f/1.4 lens well with my Pentax 2X converters (A 2X-S; K T6-2X), giving me an instant 100-mm f/2.8 lens with excellent optical results. Thus, if I'm packing lightly for a trip or a hike, I can bring just my small 50-mm lens and an even-smaller 2X converter to give me both 50- and 100-mm lenses that are fast and sharp.
This lens is also versatile to me for macro photography by using my three Pentax K macro extension tubes -- great for close-ups of flowers -- even though this is not a macro lens. The speed of the lens allows for sharp, hand-held macro photos because you can use such fast shutter speeds. I've also used this lens at the other extreme -- for astrophotography, with good results. Chromatic aberration may be slight in extreme conditions but for most purposes it is close to zero. As for sharpness, I'm limited only by the pixel size in my K-3 II camera (when magnifying images on my computer greatly), and I'm eager to try it out on my forthcoming K-1 II.
My main gripes are that the aperture ring has always been stiff (not smooth), though it works fine; it's just that with this lens, it's a long, rocky turn on the aperture ring from f/1.4 to f/8. The aperture ring is thick and (even though next to the camera/mount) is flush with the width of the rest of the lens, so it's easy to turn the 360-degree aperture ring from any side even with fat fingers (aside from the high degree-of-friction just noted). And the thin manual-focus ring is not my idea of a great focusing ring, but it works; it rotates about 150 degrees from infinity (counterclockwise as seen from the back of the camera) to shortest focus, so it does allow a fair amount of room to get fine focus.
My only other wish would have been for a good dedicated lens hood; mine did not come with it new, so I assume that there is none. It really needs a hood with its big glass. For years I suffered along with a cheap round rubber screw-on hood, but rubber hoods always seem to get distorted easily on the outside rubber (i.e., bent in here and there), so I opted to buy a new 49-mm screw-in round metal hood (Sensei Pro) from B&H, only $9, but it should have come with the lens. But overall, this lens is fabulous, and it's hard to give it anything less than a "10" as an overall rating; the aperture ring and focusing ring just aren't big-enough negatives to bring that down (I'd rate it "9.5" if there was an option for something other than whole digits).
Here's a photo with the lens on my camera:
 | | | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2007 Location: In the most populated state... state of denial Posts: 1,854 | | Review Date: August 6, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Classic lens, cant go wrong with it | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5, K100, KX, film cameras
| |
The same classic optical formula (7elements 6 groups) that has been carried over from the Super-Takumar era (1965) on a small package
The lens is plasticky when compared to the older versions, but still feels solid, both autofocus and manual focus are smooth
Some purple fringing in the corners when wide open but then the center becomes important, and having large areas out of focus is a big plus to provide the dreamy feeling of the 1.4.
At 2.0 the specular lights become octogonal, per the 8 diaphragm blades
PS. Purple fringing is gone in cameras after K5, with lens correction
Camera has a hard time at 1.4 with focusing and light
With the K3-III the images are great, color rendition still beautiful; fringing is well corrected
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2020 Posts: 6 | | Review Date: April 29, 2020 | Not Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | perfect | | Cons: | I do not find | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Ks-2
| |
I had da50мм 1.8 , but this one is faster and sharp
my first photo
unique bokeh
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: September, 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 10, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $345.99
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small and compact, AF. | | Cons: | | |
This is a nice standard lens. Sharpest at f/4. A bit soft and dreamy wide open. Only difference I could find with the M version are the newer coatings and of course the exterior and AF. Originally got it for my K-5 around 2011 but stays mostly on my MZ-S now.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2019 Posts: 18
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 27, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, handling, fast aperture, good bokeh | | Cons: | low contrast backlight, some CA (easly removable), plastic but it helps for lightness | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K1
| |
This is one of my best Pentax lens, maybe the best one. Consider it is compared to my other lens like FA * 80-200, 24, 28-70 and F* 300. Thanks to this lens I carry my heavy K1 every where  I use it especially for my son's portrait and it gives me awesome sharpness, colors, contrast and definitely wonderful memories. IMHO this lens is underestimated, maybe because pro user wants more subjects pop and creamy bokeh. For this you can buy 85mm A or FA star. I can say this lens is fine at full aperture, but in some situation you can have CA and loss of contrast especially in backlight condition. When you stop down from F1.8 this lens is a pleasure, like a dream.
Full aperture 1.4 is very useful for my nighty video clips, it helps me to not push iso (I don't like high ISO
on video) and at same time great bokeh. Very good focus ring, quite smoothly. Constructions is fine, even there is too many plastic, but it helps lightness of this lens.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: December, 2012 Location: Wild-Nord-East Hungary Posts: 149 | | Review Date: September 3, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | all | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3 II
| |
... like a beautiful dream ...
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: June, 2009 Location: VA Posts: 48 | | Review Date: August 25, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Fast Lens | | Cons: | None so far | | Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-50
| |
Hi,
I recently bought think lens and this exceeded all my expectations.
I was not sure what condition this lens will be as i bought it used and luckly this is in very good condition.
I am surprised how fast this lens is and how quickly i can focus.
Thanks
Sateesh
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 1,070
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 5, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, excellent low light abilities, nice bokeh | | Cons: | Lower contrast at wide apertures, some chromatic aberrations | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-3
| |
Had a Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 and it was an excellent lens, but wanted more automation. Not sure if this FA 50mm f1.4 lens is based on similar optical qualities but it is basically the modern version of this lens I was looking for. Yes, it is not built as well as the old Takumar, but good enough and still quite a dense little piece of glass that doesn't turn yellow like the radioactive Takumar would. It is a very sharp lens, and those that are saying it is not are probably confusing softness with lack of contrast when wide open. All that is usually needed is a little boost of contast in photoshop. And some purple fringing can appear at large apertures but it is actually much less worse than my 77mm limited was.
The bokeh is excellent and dreamy wide open. I do notice slight saw-blade shaped bokeh around f1.7-f4, which my Takumar and its 6 bladed aperture didn't do, so you have to be careful at thee apertures with out of focus highlights. At f4 and on, out of focus highlights become octagons since it is an 8 bladed aperture. Mine is a made in Japan version and I like the way it looks on my K-3.
Autofocus is pretty darn good, it rarely misses, and is very fast due to a short focus throw. It's just a little bit noisy which I expected it to be. Focuses much more quickly and consistently than my DA 50mm f1.8 I used to have. Switching to manual focus is fine too, I mean the thin focus ring requires careful movements and will never be as good as the Takumar in this regard, but it does turn smoothly and is perfectly adequate for me, so the handling of this lens is as good as it needs to be. It is also a small lens and easy to carry around with you. Compared to the prices of competing lens, this lens is still an excellent value and I recommend it. If it was updated with quick shift or a more modern autofocus system and/or more modern lens coatings it would be even better, but more modern coatings could take away from the wonderful way it renders images so I will keep and enjoy mine just the way it is. Might I add I have played around with the new DFA 50mm f1.4 on a K-1 in a store and can attest that it is indeed a much superior lens but at a much larger price tag and size.
Here are some samples from my lens:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhphotography/46273960235/in/dateposted-public/ (Notice slight purple fringing around her head and around her camera. Barely distracting unless you are looking for it).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhphotography/46464558144/in/dateposted-public/ (It was a hazy day, pay attention to the sharpness of the foreground. f8.)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhphotography/40223481793/in/dateposted-public/ (Dreamy/glowy wide open but still very sharp).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhphotography/47136173742/in/dateposted-public/ (Shot directly into the sun and at minimum focus distance).
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joshhphotography/47136181792/in/dateposted-public/ (Also shot into the sun at f1.4, focus point about 10 feet away. You can get very thin depth of field at f1.4)!
| | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,660 | | Review Date: March 5, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Crazy-sharp between f/4 and f/11. | | Cons: | Soft wide-open (not a concern for landscape photography). | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K1, K5, K20
| |
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2018 Posts: 72 | | Review Date: August 28, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Cheap and realy good. small size. | | Cons: | A lense of this quality should be built in metal. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-x
| |
Incredible bokeh on digital camera. Short, lightweight, this lense is essential for me.
For exemple, family photos, without flash, camera in hand.
  | | | | | Forum Member Registered: June, 2016 Location: Gislev Posts: 87
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 22, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $425.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, Build Quality, Ergonomics, Weight and Size | | Cons: | None | |
A perfect short tele on the K-3 II, and a gem in available light situations.
IQ is wonderful - and it's hard to fault stopped down from 2.0. I actually find the rendering of the lens at full 1.4 rather charming. There's some film photography rendering in the way it depicts things ... Yeah, I am an analog photographer, too.
I really love this lens for all its perfection and virtues: It's sharp as hell, it's got stellar resolution, It has a lovely bokeh, aberrations are neglectable in real life situations, and the autofocus performance is great.
It's an old design, but it more than holds its own.
Pentax - please don't discontinue this lens, just because you've made a 50mm/F1.4 behemoth: This is the way a nifty fifty (for APS-C and Full Frame) should be!!
Highly recommended!
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 55 | | Review Date: April 9, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness | | Cons: | looks | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3
| |
This lens has been to me the one I use as first choice, and also when all else fails. Rarely ever fails me in nailing the focus. Even better with later technology.
I'm not an advanced photographer that was tried tons of lenses, so I can't attest to the color, but bokeh is pretty decent, and again, sharpness is amazing, dead on, and consistent.
If a photo from this lens is not usable, it is almost always my fault.
Had it stolen once, replaced with a "rare legend" but did not satisfy my sharpness requirements (not as dead on or consistent), so bought this 1.4 again. Even though my second copy was older than the first, the performance was just as I remember. Happy to own it again.
| | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2017 Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 19, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $170.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Colour, Price | | Cons: | Build Quality, Inconsistent focus (at least my copy) | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
| |
Overall, it's a great lens for the price. Picked mine up for around 170USD (which is admittedly quite a steal). I'd recommend this as the first lens you get, if you get the full frame K-1. It makes for a great walkaround lens.
At f/1.6 (I haven't actually shot this lens wide open yet), it's already pixel sharp in the centre, and the corners are pretty decent, but it suffers from halation (soft glowy edges) that most 50 1.4s are prone to. At f//2.2 you could consider it sharp, throughout the frame already. Stop it down to f/4 and it's great. Somehow, it gets even sharper as you stop down further to about f/8. Haven't tested it past f/10 though.
Aberrations and fringing are pretty well controlled too.
I think I am unlucky, but my copy of the lens suffers from inconsistent focus. Worst of all is that it can't be corrected, because sometimes it's back focused, sometimes front, and sometimes on point. The misfocus is microscopic though, and hard to tell past f/2.2. There's a slight bit of play in the barrel which I'm sure isn't supposed to exist, so probably just a bad copy.
Compared to the Canon and Nikon 50 f/1.4, the Pentax is definitely inferior in terms of build quality and focus. The while the Pentax has a good weight to it, it still looks cheap, especially with the tiny rubber focus ring squeezed at the front of the lens. (It doesn't make manual focus hard, it just makes the lens feel low budget.)
Autofocus is fast enough for most uses, but is still slower, and definitely noisier than the Canon 50 1.4 I've used.
I guess those two are trade offs to make the Pentax 50 so much cheaper than the competition. For the price, it's definitely worth it.
| | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2011 Location: Brisbane Posts: 4
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 24, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $180.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, good autofocus a pleasure to use | | Cons: | small focus ring if manual focusing | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K100d
| |
Like the previous reviewer, I picked mine up in Japan while on holiday for almost 50% of what it would have cost in Australia.
I have the Pentax M 50mm f1.4 so I was looking forward to comparing them. I felt that the lens had exactly the same image quality, but the convenience of the Autofocus and aperture control make me think that it is tme to say good bye to the old M 50mm the only time the M had any advantage was when I mounted them on an m4/3 camera for a test. The FA's small focus ring was no match from the M's big beautiful manual focus ring.
See review here:
https://youtu.be/TDfiIHZPwKQ | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2015 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: December 16, 2015 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Really Sharp, Excellent Bokeh | | Cons: | Very thin DOF wide open | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-50
| |
I have the M version of this lens which I love but, it is nice also to be able to utilize auto focus and exposure at this aperture level. Glad I purchased and added to my collection.
| | |
;)
;)
K1
K5
K20
K5
