| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Svealand Posts: 172
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 5, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $210.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, bokeh, fast | | Cons: | Plastic | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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A fantastic lens with only one downside - It's not made of metal  | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 941
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 23, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, quick focus, fast | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3
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Truly an amazing lens. I actually sold my DA 50 1.8 to get this lens and I am happy I did. Focusing seems to be more precise, quieter, and locks focus with more confidence than the DA 1.8. Too bad this one is so rare. It is, in my opinion the best 50 1.7/1.8 autofocus lens Pentax has made.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2010 Location: New Berlin, WI Posts: 528
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 16, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $250.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, fast | | Cons: | prone to flare | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5, K-3
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Very good 50mm f/1.7 from Pentax.
It may lack a little bit of contrast wide open but it surely is a very capable lens. It's sharp, bokeh is good and the autofocus is accurate.
If you do not have a fast 50mm lens yet and are looking for a big step up in IQ and depth of field control from your kit lens, this FA50 f/1.7 will make you happy.
@f/2.2 with PP in Lightroom
@f/2.2 with PP in Lightroom
 | | | | | New Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 16, 2014 | Recommended | Price: $102.50
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | ultra sharp, small, fast focus, low light, bokeh | | Cons: | CA, hard to find one | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K50
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I bought mine on ebay. It was stated as mint but at the arrival there were several fungus threads between elements. Unfortunately after disassembling the lens I found that front and back elements are factory sealed and fungus can't be removed. Even plastic part of the front element was damaged. Anyway I killed the threads using concentrated sunlight, I washed each parts in medical alcohol and it stopped spreading. I'm not a professional photographer but it isn't influencing the image quality and I can shoot insanely sharp and good pictures.
Overall it's a really good value. I hesitated between F1.4 and F1.7. Maybe I'll invest in a F1.4 later but right now I'm satisfied with its sharpness, low light shots and bokeh.
You don't need to close aperture for sharpness because it's sharp at 1.7. But at 2.8 it goes insanely sharp even at the edges.
Fungus at front element:
It was a surprise at cleaning. Force damage on plastic of the front element:
After this shock I'm still satisfied with the results:
Taken at night (no additional lighting) on f1.7 ISO 3200 1/10s:
 | | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Lincoln Posts: 106 | | Review Date: October 17, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $16.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, fast and accurate | | Cons: | None really but I could say plasticky | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-30
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I picked one of these up for a tenner (£10) because it was a tenner. It was not until I checked ebay that I realised what a ridiculous bargain I had got. I haven't used this lens nearly enough as opportunities have been few this summer but when I have used it I have loved it. Sure and quick to find focus, sharp sharp and even more sharp, accurate colours and pretty good bokeh. Nice and fast. Feels a bit flimsy but I can live with that and I will have to get some sort of hood for it but if I could get bargains like this everyday... | | | | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2012 Location: Ajman, United Arab Emirates Posts: 55
6 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 3, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $280.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Clear, sharp look, not arsty. | | Cons: | Plastic finish, not the plastic itself. Fiddly, older type front cap is flimsy. | | Sharpness: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-30
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My first 50mm lens was/is a Pentax Super-Takumar 50 mm f/1.4 (M42 screwmount) lens. That lens is arsty, not soft like others say.
This lens is sharp (too clear at times if you prefer artsy). It's not artsy like the Super-Takumar 50 mm f/1.4. It looks and feels plasticky, but it's strongly built.
Samples (JPEG quality was set to vibrant)
Laid back at ZanziBar, Kempinksi Beach, Ajman, UAE
 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: November, 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 4,002
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 29, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $200.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Very sharp, fast, compact design | | Cons: | Plastic feel | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-7
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This lens is very sharp and I am very impressed, especially considering its cheap price. The plastic feel is obvious but should not be a deterrent IMO because the lens has a lot to offer.
When I was first looking for a fast 50mm lens, I considered the FA50mm f1.4 but felt that the photographs were a bit soft. So I bought a Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 and I love it. 3 years later, I bought the FA50mm f1.7 because I was curious (LBA). Hence my comparison may be biased because I tested the FA50mm f1.7 against the VL58mm f1.4.
The verdict: Overall and independently of price, the VL58mm f1.4 is a clear winner, but not be that far. Hence I rate the FA50mm f1.7 as 8/10 overall. But ... if I consider the price (the VL58mm costs more than twice the price of the FA50mm f1.7), the comparison is much closer and an overall rating of 8.5/10 would be fairer for the FA50mm f1.7.
EDIT - Since I bought also the Pentax A50mm f1.2 (LBA). Thus I have now three fast 50mm lenses.
The VL58mm is faster and I prefer its colour rendition. But the FA50mm f1.7 is as sharp IMHO. The photographs are tack sharp, and sharper IMHO than the FA50mm f1.4. The sharpness is possibly one of the most important asset of the FA50mm f17 and it is very important to me. The AF is fast. The lens is very compact and light. It is a pleasure to use it on my K-7. The FA50mm f1.7 suffers from the plastic feel, compared to the all-metallic VL58mm f1.4. The colour rendering is disappointing with the FA50mm f1.7, especially compared to the VL58mm f1.4, but also compared to the A50mm f1.2.
In summary I may be biased for the VL58mm f1.4, and to some extent to the A50mm f1.2 for its speed, but I am not too disappointed by the FA50mm f1.7. I can recommend it highly for someone on a budget, or anyone who dares to have a different lens!
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 3
7 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 11, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $270.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, speed autofocus, bokeh,... | | Cons: | Plastic, to find something. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Kr
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This lens is extraordinary. Nothing to complain about.
A must for the portrait.
Sharpness at f5.6
Bokeh at f1.7
More examples here | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2011 Location: Near Sydney, NSW Posts: 331
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 2, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $360.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Stupidly sharp wide open or otherwise | | Cons: | 6 sided bokeh not 8 (worth it for the sharpness over that f1.4 version) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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I've owned two copies of this lens and one of the F-version, which is optically the same.
All 3 have been outrageously sharp. In fact I thought my Sigma 105mm f2.8 was sharp until I saw these lenses at f2.0. Suddenly everything else was soft.
The 6 sided bokeh is almost always fine, and sometimes quite lovely, but occassionally a bit messy. I can live with that - compared to the f1.4 version which is just soft soft soft, but has nice bokeh.
That's about all there is to say except for:
Um, Pentax - if you can make a lens this sharp - why is the FA 50mm f1.4 so NOT sharp, and why is THAT the one still in production? That would be like discontinuing the K-5 and continuing to make the istD.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: October, 2011 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 2, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $190.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, sharp, sharp, fast, color, contrast | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-r
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I own this lens quite a while. Great for portrait shooting. Very nice color-rendering. Contrasty pictures and lightweight. Well built. And sharp open wide, razorsharp stopped down (F 2,0/2,2). I love it.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2010 Posts: 33
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 29, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $110.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, bokeh, contrast | | Cons: | none really | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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Fantastic lens, very sharp and beautiful contrast, I use it a lot because of its image quality.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: September, 2011 Posts: 6
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 13, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $328.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | extremely sharp, great bokeh | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-r
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Bought this off ebay recently. It's very sharp. Wide open and up to f2, it is sharper than my FA 50 1.4 in comparison. The bokeh is also wonderful.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2009 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 765
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: February 25, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, compact, 3D effect, warm FA rendering, CA resistance | | Cons: | Micro-contrast not as good as FA 43, getting pricier, durability | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K5
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A classic lens. Though price is much higher than a few years ago, still worth it at current prices ($250-300 used) IMO. Has the classic warm FA rendering, with great 3D subject pop. I like the focal length on APS-C (essentially a very short telephoto) for indoor portrait shooting; it's a little long for a walk-around "normal" lens on APS-C. Some argue that FA 50/1.4 beats it in bokeh; I personally found that the FA 50/1.7 rendered OOF areas beautifully. AF was fast, but not lightning. The sharpness is great across the frame, but the degree of micro-contrast at pixel peeping levels isn't up to par with the FA 43 limited, giving the latter the appearance of being sharper. Overall this was a great lens, which I felt fortunate to acquire. While I replaced it with an FA 43, it's the one lens I've had any regret about parting with. Very highly recommended. Get one if you can.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: April, 2011 Location: near Berlin Posts: 9
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 24, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $150.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, size & weight, fast AF, bokeh wide open | | Cons: | a bit soft up to f/2.2, bokeh stopped down | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
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In 80% of all cases I use this lens and I can rely on it. IQ is very fine maybe a bit warm but I like it. Wide open the bokeh is fine but the sharpness is not best. Stopped down a bit it is quiet sharp but the bokeh... It can be a bit nervous. CAs are well controlled but sometimes too visible. I won't miss this lens. As hood I use that one from the smc M 85/2. Fits great!
Paul
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2011 Posts: 118
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 7, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bokeh, compact size | | Cons: | manual focus | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
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I bought this lens new in box, many moons ago, for about $150, can't remember exactly how much.
Looking at ebay lately, I see that price has jumped like other Pentax lenses.
Much like M50/1.7, it is a sharp little lens. Sharper wide-open than 50/1.4, up to about f2 or f2.8. I would not use FA50/1.4 wide open but this lens is very usable at f1.7.
Love to bring this lens along when low light shot is required. The only drawback is, like most AF lenses, small focusing ring is a challenge to manually focus.
Same optical spec as F50/1.7, but interestingly this is one of odd lens where FA version is rarer than the F, as many have reported.
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