| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Japan Posts: 1,146 | | Review Date: October 11, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | fast, colours, sharpness, solid build | | Cons: | Nothing | |
I bought this lens a few months back.
I bought it in Japan from an internet auctions site, for 6000yen including postage. Actual lens price was 4800 (roughly 48USD).
It's fast.
The focusing ring is tight and smooth, despite being over 30 years old.
My copy is very clean and in excellent condition.
Solidly built.
The colours are great, and it's got me back into taking care focusing with a manual lens. So much enjoyment.
The bokeh and DOF are superb.
If you can find a copy of this lens, don't hesitate to buy it.
Some very quick shots I took:
(Non working link removed)
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,091
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 2, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Speed, size & build | | Cons: | Not as sharp as the K55/1.8 | | Camera Used: K Series film bodies (K1000, KM, KX, K2, K2DMD)
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The K50/1.4 is in the middle (speed/size/weight) of the three K series standard lenses released in 1975. (K50/1.2 & K55/1.8 are the other two) All three lenses have a 52mm filter diameter and share the same round or square lens hood. The round hood is easier to use.
The K50/1.4 is small enough when attached to a KM, KX or K2 to close the eveready camera case, so it’s perfect to carry around in a small backpack when you want to travel light.
The K50/1.4 is very fast and is a great performer in all lighting conditions. It’s also very sharp, especially at f8. The build quality is superb being a K series lens.
You can get the K50/1.4 for a reasonable price and it is well worth seeking out. However I do think the K55/1.8 is a better value and the K55/1.8 is also a little sharper. The K50/1.4 is another Pentax classic, though not quite on par with the K50/1.2 or the K55/1.8.
Overall I rate the K50/1.4 a 9.5.
Sample shots taken with the K50/1.4. Photos are medium resolution scans from original slides.
Camera: KX Film: Kodak Ektachrome E100VS ISO: 100
Camera: K2DMD Film: Adox Silvermax 100 processed in DR5 Chrome ISO: 160
 | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2007 Location: Uppsala, Sweden Posts: 576
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 21, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast, Sharp, Long focus throw, Solid | | Cons: | No half stop between 1.4 and 2 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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First of, I only use film, haven't tried it on digital.
This is a solid performer, it does it's job in every condition I have tried. Low contrast light, straight against the sun, it doesn't matter, this lens handles it well. Quite sharp wide open but better if you stop down to 2 or 2.8. From there on very sharp. Vignetting is a non issue in most conditions. Pleasant bokeh also.
Build quality is about as good as it gets. I cannot comment on focus in general as my copy is in rather bad condition, but it does not run as smooth as for example the K55/1.8 but I would think this has to do with the condition my lens is in. But the long focus throw is something I like very much, makes it easy to focus precisely at 1.4.
A pure joy to use with the microprism focus screen of the LX, KX and MX. 1.4 does show in the viewfinder and it helps a lot! Overall a very, very good lens that you should by all means try if you get the chance.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2008 Location: Great Plain, Hungary Posts: 204
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 24, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Mechanical gem, outstanding optical quality | | Cons: | You do not say negatives about Mona Lisa, do you? | |
I have the 1.4/50mm line from SMC Takumar to FA (with the exception of F). Each one has its personality but this one is different. It is the first K-mount 1.4/50mm, it has 52mm filter ring, and still keeps up with the others concerning all aspects of quality.
Great, simple, lasts forever.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: South Central Nebraska - USA Posts: 1,771 | | Review Date: April 2, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | This lens worked great on my ME Super and my MX | | Cons: | It isn't the sharpest on my K-10D, may have some loose elements but I can't figure out why it's not tack sharp | |
My lens differs from the one shown in as much as it says on the front ring: (SMC Pentax-M 1:1.4 50mm)
Can someone give me an idea why I can't get a sharp picture with this lens on my K-10D. It looks focused in the view finder, but the picture is fuzzy. Has always been a sharp lens on my ME Super. Close range photos appear sharp but infinity or close to infinity are not sharp and seem out of focus.
I also have an (SMC Pentax-M 1:3.5 28mm lens) that seems to be sharp all the way from closeup to infinity.
This is a mystery to me
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Posts: 24 | | Review Date: March 11, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | small, portable, Bokeh, sharpness, build quality | | Cons: | | |
I use this lens on my k20d which makes it approx a short telephoto lens at ~75mm.
This lens takes beautiful photos and the bokeh is just fantastic. I also find that the colours are much nicer than from say my kit lenses.
Overall a fantastic old style lens that won't cost you (i picked up mine for less AU$75) and which is far superior to the modern cheap kit style zooms in every way. I whole-heartedly recommend this lens especially to someone who was perhaps thinking of buying a cheap mid range zoom..
example:
http://viewfromthemirror.deviantart.com/art/Through-the-Burning-Fire-113621885 | | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 11 | | Review Date: March 5, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | fast, sharp, small | | Cons: | no af. | |
My first lens other than my 18-55 DA kit lens.
Great for indoor photos, especially in low light! Super for portraits especially since on my Pentax K10D makes this effectively 75mm. I'm sure it would hold it's own against the FA 77 LTD as I have the FA 31 LTD and it is nearly that awesome. I would recommend this as a great first lens to anyone for the following reasons:
1) It is cheap, lots to be found on e-bay.
2) It helps you compose your shots and think about what you're doing as opposed to getting lazy and relying on a zoom. (move your feet, not the lens).
3) It takes really crisp shots.
4) For serious, I had a lot of fun with this and will probably still use it from time to time even though I've got other lenses, it's nice to feel old-school and go back to a manual lens.
5) I had used the lens for less than a week (indoors) and on my first outdoor trip, I submitted an image to the local News agency and my photo was accepted to appear on the nightly news. (Photo below)
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt43/drjones101/20090118-_IGP8119.jpg
-=drj
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2009 Location: Romania Posts: 1 | | Review Date: January 26, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $84.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | compact size, sharp, fine boketh | | Cons: | poor contrast outdoors on a DSLR | |
I really like this lens and I think it’s a great lens for the price you’re paying for it. I’m using this on a K200D and it works like a charm, indoors.
I have this lens for about 3 months now and the only thing I have to say it bothers me is the contrast of the pictures I’ve take outside with the K200D. I’ve tried a few landscapes with this lens and the contrast was poor.
When indoors there are no problems with the contrast. As a matter a fact the contrast is quite ok indoors. The picture below was taken in doors with the 50mm at f:1.4.
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: January, 2007 Location: Toronto Posts: 17,888 | | Review Date: December 2, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $90.00
| Rating: 9 |
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great lens, was my night time walk around lens for many years.
Note for DSLR Owners. This lens does not meter correctly on the K10D due to the focusing screen used. Exposure wide open is under exposed by 1 to 1.5 stops, shifting to over exposure by 1.5 stops by F8.
ALso, at least my copy seems to have a slight error in apature increasing slightly at each apature up to a maximum of about 1/2 stop between wide open and F22 .
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: April, 2008 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 49 | | Review Date: June 30, 2008 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Tack sharp. | | Cons: | None. | |
This is one of my favorite lenses. It seems to have the ability to pick out subjects with a selective lighting that is truly sublime.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: November, 2007 Location: Eau Claire, WI Posts: 2,701
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 15, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very fast, very sharp past f2, very smooth operation | | Cons: | None I can think of. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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I've owned this lens for 30 years - used it on a KM, an ME Super, Super Program and now on my DS. It has never disappointed me.
I now mainly use it attached to a 1:1 Macro converter and/or reversed on my DS - fantastic.
I've found that I really enjoy using all-manual lenses - whether primes or zooms - makes me think more about what I'm doing and why.
Anyway, back to the lens - if you find one for sale - BUY IT!!
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2007 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 10 | | Review Date: April 17, 2007 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | So nice a feel!!! | | Cons: | what?? | |
Ok, there is som purple fringing, and maybe the fa 50/1.4 is a bit sharper... but this lens feels so great when manual focusing! And pictures looks so nice!
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 30, 2007 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, excellent quality optics | | Cons: | none that I have encountered | |
Super lens for MANUAL FOCUS cameras. I've personally used this lens more than any other - due to its small, excellent optics, smooth control and great image results. used on my ME SUPER for almost 25 years now!! Can't beat it!  | | |
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