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

Pentax Lens Review Database » Film Era Pentax K-Mount Lenses » M Prime Lenses
SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4

Sharpness 
 9.2
Aberrations 
 8.5
Bokeh 
 9.4
Handling 
 9.4
Value 
 9.6
Reviews Views Date of last review
113 656,986 Sun February 4, 2024
spacer
Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
99% of reviewers $75.82 9.28
SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4

SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4
supersize
SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4
supersize

Description:
The SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4 is the fastest and largest of the 50mm standard M lenses. It is nevertheless more compact that most other M lenses, and smaller than the original SMC Pentax 50mm F1.4.



SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
Full-frame / 35mm film
Lens Mount
Pentax K
Aperture Ring
Yes (no A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 8 blades
Optics
7 elements, 6 groups
Mount Variant
K
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F1.4
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
Manual
Min. Focus
45 cm
Max. Magnification
0.15x
Filter Size
49 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

APS-C: 32 ° / 27 °
Full frame: 47 ° / 40 °
Hood
Various types
Case
Dedicated hard case
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Diam x Length
63 x 37 mm
Weight
235 g
Production Years
1977 to 1984
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-M 1:1.4 50mm
Product Code
20867
Reviews
User reviews
Notes
Lens was sold without hood. Several hoods will fit like PH-S49 (50mm) and screw-in type metal and folding rubber hoods
Features:
Manual FocusAperture RingFull-Frame SupportDiscontinued
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 31-45 of 113
Senior Member

Registered: March, 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 195
Review Date: September 19, 2014 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Good in all respects, a finished, polished, well rounded, sharp image
Cons: a little flare every now and then

This 50, to keep things straight, must score 10 since it is hard to find a better one. It does have it's own unique character and is a bit of a unique design even though it's in the long line of seven element Pentax 50s. It's a "friendly" lens, not finicky, that beats out most all fast 50s and tops its companion M, the quite good M 50 1.7 as well. I know, the M 50 2.0 is good, too, and shouldn't be forgotten. I keep the M 50 1.4 and the 8 element Super Takumar 50. To be fair, the K 50 1.2 must be noted as tip top fast 50, and, as a great walk around tessar design with trustworthy pictorial qualities and no ca, the Takumar Macro 50 4.0 must be mentioned. Speaking of 50s, in my opinion, other brands at times appear sharper with crisper corner to corner definition stopped a ways down. However, Pentax 50s, at least the older ones, make better looking pictures in most situations, even landscapes. It took a while for me to see this and to come to this conclusion. For psychological comfort in a 50, I mindlessly reach for the M 1.4. You can't lose carrying this lens along anywhere or anytime.
   
New Member

Registered: June, 2014
Location: Moscow
Posts: 4

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: June 21, 2014 Recommended | Price: $95.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Its very sharp and nice bokeh lens
Cons: none
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: Pentax K-50   

The pictures do not lie.
IMGP0222 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0221 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0219 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0218 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0216 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0215 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0214 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0213 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0212 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0211 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
IMGP0208 by korvinohc2i, on Flickr
   
Junior Member

Registered: March, 2014
Posts: 38

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: April 4, 2014 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Very sharp, nice bokeh, small, well built
Cons: none
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: Kx, K10, MX   

If you, like me, use your DSLR on manual pretty much all of the time, this lens is a no-brainer. The only lenses I've ever owned that are as sharp are the 50mm f2.8 Pentax-A Macro, the Pentax 77mm f1.8 Limited, the Nikkor 85mm f2, 50mm f2.8 Macro, 28mm f2.8, and the Olympus 100mm f2.8, and the differences would be mostly subjective.

I recently shot a gallery exhibition given by my niece and took the following shots, handheld, in dim light that got a meter reading from my Sekonic of 1/15th sec at f2.8, ISO 400. That's pretty low for available light flashless shooting. The 50mm f1.4 did it's thing. The first shot, my niece in front of one of her paintings, was taken at 1/20th second at f2.0, ISO 400




The second shot is in front of another painting, with her husband Dave. 1/20th second f2.8, ISO 400



Fine lens! and built like a tank. If you can get a copy in good condition, you will not be disappointed.
   
New Member

Registered: February, 2014
Posts: 14

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 28, 2014 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp,Great Bokeh,Smooth focus ring,Small
Cons: A little difficulty to focus at low aperture,Wegiht Heavy
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 8    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax K10D   

Sharpness-Yes great specially at the aperture 4 or greater..
Bokeh- Amazing very dramatic..
Focus-It could be a tussle because Its very difficult to focus at the aperture range between 1.4 to 2.8..But a little practice will overcome this.. Because at these range DOF is shallow..You can find information about manual focus of this lens in this thread..

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/120-general-technical-troubleshooting/252...ml#post2706854

Handling-I would say OK.
Style-Metal body Heavy lens this has a very compact hardy looks ..
This is a cheap very beautiful lens..And if its your first manual lens don't hesitate buy it..Cheers
Here are some picture taken by this lens..
   
New Member

Registered: November, 2013
Location: São Bernardo do Campo
Posts: 12

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 9, 2014 Recommended | Price: $104.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, bokeh, value, ease of use, aperture ring.
Cons: None.
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax K-7   

First I shall explain the high cost: I live in Brazil.
Anyway, the lens came perfect, nice handling overall and it got cleaned before sold to me.


I can't seem to find the problems with focusing most people seem to have, my focusing ring is a bit stiff at some parts, but as far as the looks of my pictures go, they look good enough to me, and that's all I need. I have no problem using the aperture ring also, actually I find it easier to us a lens with an aperture ring than changing the aperture using the e-dial.






   
Veteran Member

Registered: October, 2012
Location: Colorado
Posts: 1,437

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: February 2, 2014 Recommended | Price: $12.50 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Exceedingly Sharp, Bright Viewfinder, Versatile
Cons: Limited compatibility with crippled KAF mounts
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 8    Value: 9    Camera Used: K-7. K-3, K1000, K2, KX   

I picked this lens up as part of a larger camera lot and tested it out not expecting to keep it. Then I saw the results. This is the sharpest normal lens I have ever used. I'ts actually hard to put into words how sharp this lens is. Let me try.

- On a photo of a high-tension tower, the individual wire insulators were clear and distinguishable. So, too, were the bolts and nuts. (Second image link)
- On a lighthouse photo from about 500 yards away, the lighthouse's individual window pane frames were sharp, as was the handrail. (First image link)
- Photographing cloud movement through trees, at 15 to 25 feet, the leaves' individual veins were discernible. (Third image link)

Some key points: the lens is sharpest from f4 to f5.6 and very usable up to f11 without noticeable diffraction softening. The fast aperture makes focusing in poor lighting conditions very easy, especially with live view. To my eye, I like this lens most at f5.6, second at f8, and third at f4.5. The difference in sharpness between thethree is minimal to nonexistent, so selecting between those apertures should be solely a DoF consideration.

This lens is very light for the amount of glass inside it and operates well. I take this lens out when my photos need to count and I have high expectations for what I'm going to do with the images.

In short, this is part of my permanent Pentax kit. If you have an opportunity to snag one of these, jump on that opportunity. This is one of my three go-to lenses (the others being my 31mm FA Limited and 77mm FA Limited) for general use. This will be one of your go-to lenses, too. As of this review's writing, the best photo I have ever taken I captured with this lens. It's the first link below.

Here are some photos taken with my copy.

https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/1514K3#5973776973148037826
https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/111113K7#5945286301483113826
https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/111113K7#5945286357365185554
https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/1314K7#5969349011488823234
https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/111613K3#5955658960805054882
https://picasaweb.google.com/102333270936007447976/111613K3#5955658829889881122
   
New Member

Registered: August, 2007
Location: Madrid
Posts: 3

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: January 20, 2014 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: detail at high and low contrast;handling; construction
Cons: none
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 6    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax K 10D   

I'm using this lens without pause, since I bought it ending the 70's. In the analogic era with KX, MSE Super, SFX and at present, with K10 and K3. It's one of the best lenses I ever tried, comparable to the best Leica and Zeiss and believe me, I'm not exaggerating.
For architecture and portrait is my favourite. Of course, it isn't autofocus and this can be a serious inconvenient when action photography. For the rest, THIS IS MY LENS
   
New Member

Registered: December, 2013
Posts: 2

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: December 25, 2013 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Sharp, nice bokeh, build quality
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 7    Value: 10    Camera Used: Canon EOS 600D   

This lens is sharp as hell. Attached it to Canon APS-C DSLR (EOS 600D/Rebel T3i) through adapter and it works perfectly - no looseness, no collisions with the mirror or anything considering the aperture bolt, I did not perform the so called "leverectomy".
The lens is ideal for video recording and macros. Manual focusing is not a problem, I do advise using the LCD LiveView though with pixel peaking - makes life much easier than trying to hit the focus through the viewfinder with manual lens like this, especially without focus confirmation.
Build quality is classic Pentax M - absolutely nothing to complain. It's a pleasure just to use it, the aperture ring works great, the focus ring has very nice damping.
Bokeh is smooth and pleasant to the eye, background is nicely blurred even when stopped down a bit (like 2.8).
Once again, this lens is very sharp, even wide open. Some say that 50/1.7 is sharper, but I doubt it.
A real gem this lens, really. For the price it goes for, it's a keeper. I will definitely use it extensively.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: May, 2010
Location: Sydney
Posts: 217

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 25, 2013 Recommended | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: sharp, low light performance
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

I have had this lens for over 10 years but only been using it in the past 2 years or so. I also have the M 50 1.7 and A 50 1.7 but this is my favorite lens. In the past month or so, I have been shooting with it in tandem with a handheld meter (incident light mode). The results that I get are much more pleasing (IMHO) than when I am using my K5's or K7's built in meters. I highly recommend this lens.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: September, 2013
Posts: 306
Review Date: September 22, 2013 Recommended | Price: $20.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: F1.4,tank build,manual focusing,sharpness,bokeh
Cons: Flare, no lens hood
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 6    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: K5   

Great lens
   
Inactive Account

Registered: August, 2013
Posts: 9
Review Date: September 9, 2013 Recommended | Rating: N/A 

 
Pros:
Cons:

Red Spider Lily

Manjusaka

   
Senior Member

Registered: April, 2012
Location: Sweden
Posts: 211

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 25, 2013 Recommended | Price: $110.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, bokeh, manual
Cons: None
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax K-5   

Nothing much to add here that which is not already written about this legend. Prices are steadily rising for this gem as quality 1.4 primes get rare with time. Now I have two of them just in case one of them falls by the wayside due to old age
   
Pentaxian

Registered: April, 2011
Location: Lost in translation ...
Posts: 18,076

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 24, 2013 Recommended | Price: $60.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, bokeh, "M" quality, compact, 49mm filter ...
Cons: I really need a better focusing screen on the K-5 = add'l cost
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: K-5, K-r ... K-1000 (film)   

Bonjour,

I have hunted a while and finally found a very nice condition M 50/1.4 ... came with a broken MG that I bought off a French e-bay type site. Great lens and I cannot tell now whether it's going to be better than my M 50/1.7, which has a slightly higher rating here on PF.

I have three other 50/1.4 lenses (a Chinon Auto MC = https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/chinon-auto-mc-50mm-f1-4.html, a modified Yashica ML = https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/yashica-50mm-f1-4-ml-riorico-modification-pk-mount.html, and a modified Carl Ziess Jena MC = https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/carl-zeiss-jena-prakticar-1-4-50-mc-...ed-pk-fit.html) and I need to do a shoot off between them, but to me, it seems that the Pentax is going to win overall ... for me, each lens has its strengths.

Here are a few early test shots taken at dusk in my breezy garden, straight out of the K-5 with no PP ... more later or in a seperate thread.

Allez et salut, John le Frog

Wide open, ISO 100 @ 1/800



f2.8, ISO 100 @ 1/200



Wide open, ISO 100 @ 1/125 ... like the fun looks of this one ... J

   
Junior Member

Registered: June, 2013
Location: Batam
Posts: 43

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 26, 2013 Recommended | Price: $50.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp, fast, build like a tank
Cons: hard to focus at 1.4.
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 9    Value: 10    Camera Used: k-30   

this lens is awesome but it very hard to focus at 1.4 need to stop down to F.2 to get better change and little bit soft at wide open other than that nothing major problem tho just need time to use to it. one of my best lens i owned
@F1.4

@F2
   
Veteran Member

Registered: August, 2009
Posts: 417

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: May 29, 2013 Recommended | Price: $100.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, bokeh
Cons:
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10   

Firstly, on film, having conducted some systematic methodical testing, this is sharper than my 50/1.7, which is sharp already. Notably, the 50/1.4 is as sharp as the M 28/3.5. I comment using the Pentax-M 28/3.5 for reference, as its notable as being an excellent performer. It has shown itself capable of exceeding 80lp/mm on TMAX film previously, which is impressive given this is approaching the limits of film in normal contrast settings.

In recent testing, I got 77lpmm out of the M 50/1.4 at f5.6. The M 50/1.7 only managed 66lp/mm at f8, being less sharp at f5.6. I need to rerun the testing for all apertures for these two lenses. Its my feeling that the 50/1.4 is actually diffraction limited at f5.6, and that f4 may be sharper, whereas the 50/1.7 needs stopping down to f8 for controlling aberations. This might all seem boring, but once you have tested a lens, you can take pictures with it until your heart is content. Its quite tempting to pick up a Planar 50/1.4 on a Contax 139 and compare...it would be nice to know if the 50/1.4 is as good or better than the Contax.

These readings come from tripod mounted set up, careful development of a roll of film and then analysis of the film under a scope. Limits of resolution of the film are around 100lp/mm in normal lighting. Anecdotal results which do not follow a scientific method are tant amount to the veracity of horoscope forecasting from the back of a local newspaper. Importantly, my results fly directly in the face of anecdotal reports that the faster lenses in the Pentax line up are not as sharp as the slower ones. Practically, once you start hand holding a camera, resolution is going to drop off substantially due to camera shake.

Bokeh is smooth and pleasing, but this is always a subjective thing dependent on how the lens has been used.

One thing I would change: having recently used a OM1n with 50mm Mij lens, the M50/1.4 has a disappointing feel of the focus ring. The Oly rubber on the grip is substantially more tacky and feels like it will outlast the Pentax. However, rest assured that the Pentax is sharper!
Add Review of SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:05 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