| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: May, 2012 Location: Mission, B.C. Posts: 166
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 30, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $15.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | Size, price, focusing, good sharpness from f/2 | | Cons: | For the price, basically none | | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-r / z1p
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My M50mm f/1.4 is away at Pentax (sorry, I mean Ricoh), and I stumbled across this guy for $15, along with a dusty old MX in a thrift store so I decided I'd give it a try.
Like the f/1.4, this lens benefits greatly from a proper hood.
My copy at least of the f/1.7 isn't any sharper at f/2 than my f/1.4, and is significantly softer wide open than the f/1.4 is. Also, without a hood the f/1.7 seems to lose a lot more contrast than the f/1.4 does. However, it's a lot cheaper than the f/1.4 is.
For anyone just getting into the wonderful world of legacy primes, you can't go wrong with this lens in terms of bang for your buck.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2013 Posts: 3
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 26, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $10.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Colours, contrast, size, weight, smoothness | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-r
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Nothing much more to be said about this lens, get down to your local boot sale / swap meet and get one for next to nothing. They don't make them like this anymore for anywhere near the price in relative terms.
 | | | | | Inactive Account Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 1
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 25, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Optical quality, sharpness, 3D image | | Cons: | Nothing i can say | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-X
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I bought my K-X body 2nd hand and this is my first lens. I've shoot with a lot of cameras and lenses but I've never see such great quality optic like this little gem. the focus is a bit tricky and for sure you need to get used to it specially for fast action shooting but when you done you will understand what you have. I thing for the portrait shooter this lens is great. but the focal length is not really good on APS-C to stay on camera all the time, specially for street shooting. but you can use it for macro and portrait. great color rendition and pretty nice bokeh. here are some of my first shots, handheld...
I rate the lens 9 because nothing is perfect... cheers
 | | | | | Junior Member Registered: March, 2013 Location: Boys Town, NE Posts: 35
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 10, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, easy to focus, build | | Cons: | Less contrast and sharpness at f1.7 | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-01, K-5
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Recently got this lens off of Craigslist because the great reviews, and I must say, I AGREE!
This lens is particularly great with the K-01 (with focus peaking). I have used it with the K-5, but I think I prefer it with the K-01.
Of all the manual lenses I own (five), this one is by far my favorite to use.
I typically bump it up a stop from 1.7 because it is a bit soft there. That's really the only complaint I have about the lens. I have found all the other stops to be quite sharp.
Visit andrewseamanphotography.com/apicaday/september13 where I highlight one picture a day using this lens.
| | | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 963
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 17, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp. Easy to focus. Sharp. | | Cons: | Prone to flare. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: KX
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This must be the pound-for-pound, dollar-for-dollar lens champion.
It's cheap, it's everywhere yet it will easily shame other lens when its starts taking images.
Build is very good, and I find it easy to focus. However, it's easy to provoke flare when subject is backlit. Bokeh is not as good as its 1.4 brethren, but under most circumstances, I'd say that this is a must-have lens.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2013 Posts: 24
1 user found this helpful
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: June, 2013 Location: Port Angeles, WA Posts: 505
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 11, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Fast, super sharp, wonderful colors | | Cons: | 1.7 is so-so, much better by f/2, close-focus range | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: ME Super, K-X
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This is the best $40 I've ever spent on a lens, and it came with an ME Super, nice camera bag, 3 rolls of film, and a sweet strap. Much better deal than any old Nikon or other glass.
I've been taking photos mostly of a bunch of stuff I have been selling-- I have been amazed by the sharpness and color this produces! Much, much better than the 50 f/2 version. Image quality is spectacular on a K-X, and green button metering takes about as long as setting exposure on my ME Super-- no issues there. Bokeh is very pleasing, not quite as nice as the macro 50mm, though. I Have yet to see any C.A., but I have only seen my images from an APS-C sensor.
The only downsides to this I have found-- The clicks on the Aperture ring-- full stop between 16 and 22, half-stops everywhere else. Took me a few minutes to get used to using this by feel, as the f/2 model has a full-stop between 11 and 16.
Maybe it's just my copy (looks like it hasn't been used since it was purchased in 1985) but the aperture ring has a very stiff action. Focus is buttery smooth, though.
Big pro: I'm a new Pentaxian, but all the lenses I've used so far have a fixed front element (filter does not rotate). This is awesome for grad and polarizing filters. Several Nikon lenses I've used rotated as you focused-- this was a pain in the ass.
I'll post some pictures when I get some film developed of my more artistic shots.
If you're thinking about getting one, just do it. Best 50mm I've used for under $300, and the best sub $100 lens I've used period.  | | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2012 Posts: 103
4 users found this helpful
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 66
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 23, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, beautiful colors, compact | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
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The focus and diaphragm rings are very smooth and make this all glass and metal lens pleasing to use.
At f1.7, the center is sharp enough letting me see many small details, the borders are soft: a portrait aperture. The sharpness increases to become extreme at f8 all over the frame. The rendered colors are awsome.
There is a certain amount of purple fringing that can be seen in certain conditions.
This lens is great. I love it.
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Location: France Posts: 9
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 11, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small lightweight, fast, build quality and optical performance | | Cons: | ? | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
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I post this review to confirm what has already been said about this lens.
small, light, well built.
high optical quality of this lens does not have a weak point.
use a f1.7 aperture, from f2 surberb, sharp and uniform from f4 to f16.
strong resistance to flare, almost never abberrations color.
I remain a fan of raw format for all lenses, but especially for older lenses.
In conclusion, I think it is the perfect lens for those who want to try an old lens for the first time.
With a little practice you'll be happy sourtout in raw format  | | | | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2012 Posts: 118
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 2, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | think think think so everything | | Cons: | no nope none | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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i bought this lens for $20 and $10 shipping. Has fungus on front and rear element.
test it with K20D and guess what? it's sharppppp on 1.7!!! even with fungus i didn't see colour contrast or whatever decrease.
i own nikon as well, D90 + 50 1.8G, 35 1.8G, 50 1.8D 50 1.4D without fungus, scratch , etc, all these lenses are the "knight" and highly regarded in nikon user and cost me 5-10 times more expensive than this pentax lens.
i used this lens with pentax k20d and nikon lens with nikon d90 for people/family/face portrait mainly open wide to get shallow DOF.
and the winner goes to PENTAX M 50 1.7!
i feel "stupid" because all my nikon lenses are looser.
if you have, keep it!! This is one of the best lens in the world, lets say the "Hidden Lord". 
NOTE: I CAN NOT GIVE SCORE 10 because 10 ONLY FOR GOD | | | | | Forum Member Registered: August, 2012 Posts: 90
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 7, 2013 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Well built, good optically, compact | | Cons: | Manual focus, manual aperture | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
Camera Used: ME Super, LX, *ist DL, K-01
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This lens is a solid performer, even after 30 years. Well built, optically excellent, compact. There are no particular weaknesses. I used it a lot in the film days. On APS-c digital cameras it is of course no longer a normal lens but rather a short telephoto lens. As such it makes a good portrait lens. I don't use it much these days but mainly because I bought a FA 50mm 1.4. Optically these two lenses are quite similar, both excellent, but the FA lens has the advantage of autofocus and auto aperture. It is of course also far more expensive.
| | | | | Inactive Account Registered: February, 2013 Location: Guadalajara Posts: 14
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 16, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $30.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, construction, handling, size, light | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K30
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I think this is the best lens i'm going to have ever for the price. The bokeh is beautiful really strong metal construction. If you want to repair it it is really easy too. The focus ring is smooth and precise. And the sharpness at f1.7 is more than acceptable. Highly recommended for anyone. For newbies (best lens to learn full manual without getting frustrated by results) and for pro's (incredible results)
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2013 Posts: 11
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 7, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $67.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Fast, Cheap, Excellent bokeh | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: K-5
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I love this lens, very sharp and the focus ring is very smooth. A very awesome lens to own.
obviously it has some problems, its old and everything doesn't work.
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2012 Posts: 15
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 4, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharp from F2, solid build, cheap, small, vintage look | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: K5
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This is the first lens I bought along with my K5, but didn't really start using it until recently. I think you have to get the feel of a manual lens before really enjoying to use it. Once you find the sweet spot, get use to the manual focus, and learn depth of field, then it's magic! You're thrown back in time at almost no cost!
For the M 50 1.7, I find it soft wide open but it becomes sharp from F2 which is really good for its value. The colors are vibrant.
Much has already been said about how good this lens is. Every pentax camera owner should own one!
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/members/53864-marama45/albums/6481-pentax...cture56856.jpg | | |
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