| Author: | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Utrecht Posts: 24 | | Lens Review Date: August 9, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $10.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Compact, smooth aperture, sharp, contrasty, cheep | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: ME super to K1ii
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Works fine on everything, snappy aperture, decent sharp wide open, super sharp stopped down, only a very little CA wide open in out of focus areas. I bought this ten years ago as a ME-super set (camera + M2.8/28 + M1.7/50 + M135/3.5) for € 45,-  . Lenses and camera were like new, camera was hardly used. I often mount this on my K-01, but also on Full Frame this is a stellar perfomer. Everyone with a K-mount camera should have this lens, they are often offered for little. Pentax made millions of it....
See also https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/390869-som...-compared.html
Pictures taken with K-01, (almost) wide open.
Original test report 1978
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2019 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: June 2, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Size and Weight, build quality, feel when using, optical performace | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony a6000
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This is hands down one of my favourite vintage lenses in the 50 something millimetre focal range. And with 12 others in this range from a multitude of manufacturers I have plenty to compare it to. I love the bomb proof feel of quality from the Pentax m lenses. It looks fantastic and is super easy to use. It is very easy to get focus on this lens using focus peaking. I really like how it renders colours and its sharpness. I got my copy with front and rear caps in great overall condition for what I consider an excellent price considering the quality of the images it produces. Highly recommended.
 
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: Telemark Posts: 36 | | Lens Review Date: April 7, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, bokeh, size, price | | Cons: | None to be reasonable | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 6
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-1
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For the price this is just amazing. I've also used it reversed and it does brilliantly there too.
What I love about Pentax is being able to use old lenses like this. It's also incredible to see how well they handle digital full frame cameras.
For me I dont mind using manual focus and manual exposure. It's really easy.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: October, 2018 Posts: 243 | | Lens Review Date: October 21, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $49.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, well built, great learning experience | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-70
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My first manual prime! It's been a very fun learning experience (that still continues), trying to learn the techniques to get the most out of this lens on a modern camera. Faults in my photos are due to lack of skill on my part, not a failure inherent in the lens itself. At the prices these can be found for, every photographer should have one to play (learn) with, at least once.
Quick and dirty, handheld, no PP:
100% crop
Quick and dirty, handheld, no PP:
100% crop
 | | | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2018 Location: Nottingham Posts: 10
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: October 9, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Looks like a "old school" vintage lens, great to handle | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Sony A6000
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I have had the lens for a month and it is attached to a Sony A6000 mirrorless camera via an adapter.
I love the "old school" feel to the lens and the manual focussing and turning the aperture ring
The Sony has a "peaking feature" to aid manual focus.
I have a Canon 50mm f1.8 lens for my Canon and a Sony 50mm F1.8 for my Sony, so I have some good glass to compare the Pentax too.
I have had some good results and I am very pleased with the lens.
I always think f5.6 is a sweet spot for all my 50mm lenses and the Pentax seems to follow this rule too. The bokeh is pleasing when wide open.
I am a street photographer at heart and manual focussing means you have to work a little slower than you would like, but that is a small price to pay for the excellent results.
I hope the links below work OK as I am trying to embed them from flickr
All my images are from Sony RAW files, edited in Rawtherapee and GIMP (I am an open source photographer)
A photo of me took by my wife
 Vintage Lens (Pentax) Selfie by Phil Howcroft, on Flickr
My Dog at somewhere around f2.8
 Ruby at 50mm wide open by Phil Howcroft, on Flickr
100 Strangers street Photography (f5.6)
 100 Strangers : Round 2 : No. 145 : Molly and Caroline by Phil Howcroft, on Flickr
Singer at Nottingham Green Festival (f5.6)
 Molly on the Bandstand by Phil Howcroft, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Slovakia Posts: 20 | | Lens Review Date: August 27, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $45.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, bokeh, atmosphere, 3D, size,price..... | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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I love this lens. Allways with me in. Make pictures in old fashion(good) look. Beautifull bokeh.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: April, 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 409
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: August 25, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, small, fast, cheap | | Cons: | Can be too sharp/harsh at times | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-5II
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A great little lens... it was the first manual lens I purchased for my K-5II. Out of all of my lenses, this is probably the least used - or has the least amount of keepers. It handles well and is built like a tank... it just doesn't render to my taste.... usually a bit too harsh. Here are a couple examples of it doing what it does well:
Pretty harsh bokeh, but very sharp:
 JAB_9095 by James Baron, on Flickr
A bit softer bokeh but still not great. Nice separation and sharpness though:
 JAB_9098 by James Baron, on Flickr
This one represents the scene well and has good border sharpness, but it is a bit more clinical than I like:
 Hidden Waterfall at Fall Run Park IV by James Baron, on Flickr
Another one that represents the scene pretty well. The focus transitions aren't nearly as nice as you'd see on the similarly priced K 55 1.8. This is another pretty sharp but clinical scene:
 Fall Run Park Stream Bed by James Baron, on Flickr
Finally, here's a couple that show you can get good bokeh with the right scene... these both achieve a dreamy look:
 JAB_1351a by James Baron, on Flickr
 Spring Halo by James Baron, on Flickr
Overall, it's worth the small amount of money that you can get it for... it definitely has it's uses and at the very worst, it is a good learning tool to help you distinguish the differences in how different lenses resolve.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2018 Posts: 287 | | Lens Review Date: August 25, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $25.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | size, weight, performance, quality | | Cons: | manual focus | |
I take about 5 thousands photos with this lens on my old K200D body. Very time it was good replacement for kit version II. Small, compact. Few times I use cap and jacket to get them with me. It is very comfortable to get them with you. It is very nice ring for aperture. Manual focusing if you have good eyes is not a problem. Marks are good and without trouble you can use them to get information about distance etc.
Quality of pictures is amazing for this price (I get it from second hand). If you get sharp image you can take excellent bokeh and photo with F1.7. You have a lot of fun with DoF if you undestund how them use allright. In low light condition my old K200D get new life with them. I use them a lot of with warmer Tiffen 49mm 80A filter. It was duo working very well. I take shot on small rain, mountains, fogs and len work well.
If you look for portrait lens it is for you. It has nice 50mm to use. Extreme constrast what no deal with this lens. My 77 limeted sometimes make me purple edges. On my old 50 it was not possible. Direct sunlight it was not problem. Small filter size, small weight and limited like build quality is why I recommended this lens.
Overall 9/10 is because 77 limited is sharper and is manual focus what sometimes makes troubles in dynamic situations like kids.
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: July, 2013 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 5,752 | | Lens Review Date: July 17, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, great colors, flare resistance, wonderful rendering | | Cons: | None, really | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: P30T, K20D, K10D, K-r, K-S1, K-50
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I have to give this lens a 10. I have had two copies and both of them were super sharp wide open. I thought I had a great copy but when I got a 2nd one it was just as good - and both are slightly better, especially wide open, than the A 50 1.7 that I used to have, and the F 50 1.7 that I still have (I keep the F, of course, because it is very handy to have an AF nifty fifty).
Everything about this lens is great. it's small and almost a pancake, and the positives in the top of the review tell the story.
I have a metal hood on mine but I feel it's more for looks than anything else - it's pretty flare resistant even without it.
I don't remember ever seeing aberrations that needed correction.
The bokeh might not be quite as good as the 50 1.4 models but it's still good.
It even works really great with an inverter ring for about 1:1 macro. Other 50-ish lenses I tested for this purpose (Rikenon 50 1.4, K 55 f2) were not nearly as good.
Very sharp in the in-focus area wide open:
 Sunflower M 50 1.7 @1.7 by ChristianRock, on Flickr
Stop it down a bit and it's perfection:
 Leaves on the Ground by ChristianRock, on Flickr
 Entrance Road in Fall 2015-50mm by ChristianRock, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2013 Location: Guadeloupe (french caribean island) Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: July 14, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | light, lovely, light, filter, colours, focus, brightness | | Cons: | don't know, old coating perhaps ? | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 9
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I bought two of these pretty little stones years ago for not much money ( 50 f1,7 et 50 f2) to use with a K10D, who went out of order suddenly ( sob...). I kept them with dust in a cupboard, and decided to sell all and said goodbye to Pentax. But, I don't know why, i read all advices you 've posted and admired some pictures, and wanted once more to use my lenses on a Lumix (K7).
I founded so pleasant, so nice, to shoot photos and videos that I don't want to sell my parcels anymore.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: October, 2015 Posts: 40 | | Lens Review Date: March 22, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, contrast, color rendition, cheap, build quality, micro-contrast | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5IIs
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This is a wonderful lens. The color saturation and rendition and also depth rendering is amazing which gives the images out of this lens a 3D look. You can find them for real cheap. I got mine in almost brand new condition. At 1.7 the images are a tiny bit soft but stop down to f2 and you will get amazing photos.
Don't hesitate, if you find one buy one, even if you have a 50mm. It is THAT good.
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2015 Location: Istanbul Posts: 2
1 user found this helpful
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2017 Posts: 2
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: December 18, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $5.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness & Bokeh | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
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Found my copy of this lens in a rural thrift shop for $5!!
This was my first "M" series lens so I wasn't sure what to expect, I was in for a nice surprise!
My copy function is very smoothly on both focus and aperture adjustments.
The lens is small and with an adaptor is a nice fit on my A6000.
The images the lens produces are amazing in sharpness. I also love the bokeh you can get in certain circumstances. especially at f2 (see last image).
I can't say enough good things about this lens. It's a keeper!
   | | | | | Junior Member Registered: May, 2014 Posts: 44 | | Lens Review Date: November 27, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Cheap nifty fifty | | Cons: | not sharp | | Sharpness: 5
Aberrations: 5
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K3-II
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Such a unique lens especially for the price! An absolute must own considering how cheap you can find it online. Its not that sharp wide open but I definitely wasnt expecting it to be tack sharp. Beautiful bokeh and a must buy
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2017 Posts: 5
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: November 24, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Price, aperture, size, sharpness, built quality, bokeh, can be used both on FF and APS cameras | | Cons: | No AF^ , no I'm kidding, for me nothing is wrong with this lens | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K1
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I paid $40 for mine shipping included and I don't regret it, I neededa first lens to my K1 and it was obvious to me to mount this 50 1.7 as 1st lens.
Small,cheap,sharp, nice bokeh,I don't find cons against this lens, it's a must have lens which can cover most situations except animal shootings.
I deeply recommend this lens for sure. | | |
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