| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Posts: 1,673
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 12, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Small, light, easy to focus | | Cons: | all manual, inconsistent metering (on K10d) | |
Significantly nicer than my M50 f/2, but I don't have a strong preference between the M50 f/1.7 and my various 50mm f/1.4s (FA and Super Takumar).
I paid far less than market rate because there was a shattered filter jammed on the front filter threads. 5 minutes with a file and some pliers and the filter came off with no damage to the lens. I'm hanging on to the lens as a companion for ME body that came with it, for a total of $20 for the pair.
Samples: http://www.flickr.com/photos/steinback/sets/72157625221712468/ | | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: August, 2010 Location: Toronto Posts: 13,667
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | good bokeh great build sharp and fast | | Cons: | manual focus for those whop aren't used to it | |
I have 2 of these now one bought in portobello road for 10 pounds and one that just came as part of a much larger kit (3 cameras 5 lenses a bunch of filters for $300)
Can't really say anything that hasn't been said. If you don't have one and don't mind using your camera in manual mode this should be in your bag
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2010 Location: Hungary Posts: 12
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 20, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Beauty dof,massive construction | | Cons: | dont | |
I love this lens.
Really fantastic constructions,nice dof,massive,easy handling!
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| | | | | Forum Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Klaipeda Posts: 78
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 13, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $65.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | better than many 1.4 lens | | Cons: | | |
This is best from my 50-58mm lenses
| | | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: April, 2010 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 813
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 11, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | IQ, Colour rendition, Contrast, it has it all! | | Cons: | MF can be tricky at wide apertures. A little soft at 1.7 | |
Every review I read is positive, and I just have to agree.
I spent a month just using manual lenses like this, and learnt a lot about photography.
There are plenty out there and most are in very good condition, and will likely live on for 50 years!
Highly recommended.
| | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2009 Location: Van Nuys, California, USA
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 15, 2010 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | super-sharp, build quality, good color, low cost | | Cons: | short-throw focus, manual focus | |
I started using my SMC Pentax-M 50mm f1.7 with film on a Pentax KX. My first pictures with this lens were unlike any others -- absolutely breathtaking in their sharpness. This is one of the few lenses that are so good that you can't imagine giving it up.
On my Pentax K100D, the smooth quick-twist focus becomes something of a disadvantage. The lens is about a 75mm equivalent with the K100D's APS-C size sensor. Depth of field wide open is small, and critical focus is important.
Earlier reviewers have mixed reports on this lens wide open. It is still sharp at f1.7. What it loses is some of the punchy contrast it has at about f3.5 and smaller. This lens is wonderful wide open. G-Diesel's post has a good example.
On the K100D, the 50mm f1.7 delivers what we paid many hundreds of dollars for with film: a fast 85mm f1.8 lens for available light shooting. If you have a K100 and shoot available light, you need this lens. Its price is going up, and now it will probably set you back about $80. Still a bargain.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2010 Location: HI Posts: 168
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 10, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, built quality, color, lots of bang for the buck | | Cons: | Manual focus, short throw focus | |
It did an excellent job for replacing my kit lens when i demand more quality on shooting still objects and protrait. It is a very sharp lens, however i hardly use it because its not as varsatile as the other walkaround lens. I took a little "advantage" while it was wide open at 1.7 to shoot softer yet still sharp protraits at a wedding and it came out very nice. The picture from this lens is something that the modern lens could not offer you.
It is hard to beat when you can get a lens for $40-$50 for this quality  | | | | | New Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Oslo Posts: 3
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 31, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharp from 2.8, nice colors and bokeh, small, build quality, smoothness (focus ring), | | Cons: | little CA at 2.8, seems to be prone to flare | |
Just got this lens a few days ago and it already went a fishing trip and a small city tour, plus some family portraits.
Excellent lense for small budgets.
Tried shooting some architecture details at f2.8 and noticed CA, which should not be a big issue on post-processing.
Also seems to be prone to flare. But I was not using any hood (nothing came with at least).
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2008 Location: Rankin Inlet, Nunavut Posts: 3,948
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 23, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, light, sharp, fast | | Cons: | None at all | |
It's manual, but that's an asset. You get a tiny, super-sharp lens that feels like silk and exhibits warm, full colours. This is the epitome of a "fast 50". Every Pentax shooter should have a copy of this lens to keep them honest  | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2009 Location: Southern Tablelands NSW Posts: 406
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 30, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 7 |
| Pros: | Cheap, well built | | Cons: | There are far better at this price point. Not great opened up | |
There's a lot of hype associated with this lens, which was the very reason I bought one, and it certainly didn't live up to expectations. I caveat this by saying it is not a 'bad' lens, and is far better than the OEMs you get bundled with your latest K** digital body. Sharper than most budget zooms, the M50/1.7 would suit a beginner taking their first steps in what manual Pentax primes have to offer. But, and I know others may not agree, in my experience you will outgrow this lens faster than the f1.7. 
The build quality is of the high quality typical of Pentax M-series lenses - you know its all glass and metal in there. All rings are ample enough for manual shooting. I would suggest getting a KatzEye focus screen if you are really going to enjoy MF.
I compared this to another budget prime - the Vivitar 28mm f2.8 Close Focus. The performance of the M50/1.7 pales in comparison. As stated in my review there, the M50/1.7 is not so sharp set at anything less than f4 - and it suffers CA; esp. when opened up. Also, I found the 75mm eq. FoV not of much use for anything but portraits...and even there you'll find yourself a little short. Colour rendition is OK, but nothing like what you'll find with something like the K28/3.5! Oh and the build quality of K lenses - Mmmmmm.
I have recommended this lens, but only to the fresh-out-of-the-box Pentaxian. Otherwise, again, I fear that you will tire of this lens very quickly...and might even dismiss older Pentax glass because you are using this as a benchmark - assuming it must be representative of old Pentax glass especially since so many reviewers have rated it so highly. Keep looking, they are there!
If you want nice old glass that you'll hold onto, then I'd recommend doing a little more research. There are numerous better options out there, examples from my limited Pentax life include the Vivitar 28/2.8 (selling it on was a HUGE mistake) and K28/3.5 (a BEAUTY!!).
So avoid the hype, better invest those pennies and find something that will stay with you for as any years as the lens has been around. Like in the case of my K28/3.5, I look forward to the pleasure of fostering it for another of its 30 years.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 154
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 16, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | compact, simple, great colours!!! | | Cons: | none | |
Great colours, simple and small, a joy to use on days when you want to simply relax, compose and focus ... the FOV is a little too narrow for crop sensors but I have really enjoyed playing with this lens!!
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: April, 2009 Location: Uppsala Posts: 111
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 8, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | cheap, makes amazing pictures | | Cons: | manual focus was hard until I got a katzeye... | |
I found this at a used equipment store (very cheap!) and since day one it's been my favourite lens. The build quality is superb and the pictures are amazing compared to what I can get with the DA 18-55...
It was a bit hard to get the focus right in the beginning but I got a KatzEye focusing screen and now it's easy. It's still hard if I'm shooting close and wide open, but that's life with a shallow DOF.
Shooting in M all the time has also taught me a lot about photography.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: United States Posts: 24
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 4, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Fast, cheap, built like a tank | | Cons: | | |
Nice little fast 50mm lens that comes pretty cheap. Fully manual, but it's not like I am going to be shooting a whole lot of fast moving sports or anything with a 50mm lens.
I took it to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago recently, and even in some of the really dark areas with no flash, I was still able to get some really nice photos.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: December, 2009 Location: London Posts: 45
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 2, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $45.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, build, size, price, availability | | Cons: | Not made any more | |
Fantastic lens. Shame the SMCA was not built to this standard and feels positively flimsy in comparison.
It's so good that I am seriously considering keeping this and selling my Voigtlander Nokton. And for me to say that is quite an achievement as until recently the Nokton was possibly my favourite lens.
| | | | | Veteran Member Registered: February, 2010 Location: California Posts: 1,602
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 20, 2010 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | price, very sharpe, solid build | | Cons: | N/A | |
You cannot ask for more in a lens. At $50 or less this might be the best value in all of Pentax glass.
Images are very sharpe.
Vibrant colors.
Smooth bokeh.
Great for low light shooting.
Great for portraits.
All in all an Amazing Lens!!!
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