| Author: | | New Member Registered: July, 2013 Posts: 2 | | Review Date: December 27, 2023 | Recommended | Price: $76.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Price, size, weight, optics | | Cons: | Plastic mount, no hood | | Sharpness: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-70
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This lens has been reviewed extensively, so this isn't so much an evaluation, rather encouragement to get one. I have two other 50mm primes, a SMC-A 1.7 manual focus and a Sigma DG EX 2.8 macro. I justified purchasing the DA 50mm on the basis that I didn't have a 'fast' 50 with autofocus. What I really wanted it for is astrophotography, for which it should outperform my older 50s. Amazon had it priced at $76 including delivery recently; what's to think about? Along with the 35mm f2.4, two Pentax must-haves.
| | | | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2022 Location: Ocala, FL Posts: 115
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 11, 2023 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Color, Bokeh, Weight & Price! | | Cons: | Plastic mount & Noise | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 7
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K5, K3, KS-2, K10D, K20D, K1
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This is a lens that I initially did not think I liked it, it is noisy in an irritating way when hunting in AF and has a plastic mount and I have had many of these break through the years so pardon me if I dont trust it! - there, both negatives out of the way.
This lens has grown on me as I've used it, its very small and compact and lightweight and it takes great photos.
I love its colors, contrast, sharpness and bokeh.
I have a FA 50mm 1.7 and an FA 50mm 1.4 as well as many - many - 50mm MF primes and this little lens holds up well to all of them and is better than most.
Great all-around lens, not very good close focusing abilities but this comes down to preference and isn't a negative.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: July, 2017 Location: Cinco de Mayo Posts: 793
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 23, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $75.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bokeh, Sharp, Cheap | | Cons: | No WR, No Metal Mount. | |
I have been experiencing many manual lenses: Takumar 1.4, A 1.4, A 1.7 and A 2.0; Carl Zeiss 50mm f2.8 and 3.5
This lens has fulfilled all my expectations for a very low price.
I think I could replace all vintage lenses with this gem... if you don't care about UNIKE bokeh in vintage lens.
For sure, the bokeh is a bit distracting, but by closing a click or two of the diaphragm the distracting disappears and really begins to shine.
Whoever decides to try it will not be mistaken: Modernity reflected in something as simple and cheap as this lens.
All samples at f1.8
 | | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2018 Posts: 2
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 13, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Inexpensive, Great rendition of colour, Sharp | | Cons: | Plastic build but expected for the price | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Km, K-01, K-50
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I use this lens on the APS-c crop sensor bodies Km, K-01 and K-50. It works great as a portrait lens and short telephoto. 50mm on crop sensor is approximately 76 mm on full frame. Its aperture of f1.8 is great for low light situations. The compact size and light weight are a bonus. The pictures from this lens are sharp and the colour contrast is very pleasant.
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: California Posts: 103
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 28, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Light, and Great for portraits | | Cons: | Fringing is apparent | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-3, K-1, KP
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I took this lens on a month long backpacking trip through europe without a case. Even though it's a plastic build it stayed in perfect condition the whole way. My copy has slight problems with infinite focus where I have to roll back the focus ring a touch and the aberrations are not the best controlled. That's really the only bad thing to say about it.
On the K-1 I would recommend this lens twice over, in FF mode it's a 50mm 1.8 with the only downside being vignetting wide open.
I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.
Edit: I have become quite attached to this lens, at times preferring it over the 43mm 1.9 in many instances. I have found the autofocus to miss in some crucial places but I would definitely feel comfortable taking this out in some fast action shoots.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2018 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 6
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 13, 2018 | Recommended | Price: $119.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Bargain price lightweight awesome bokeh | | Cons: | I found the auto focus a tad low quality | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax km and K1
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I brought the Pentax 50mm f/1.8 SMC DA Lens on eBay for what seems to be a bargain it has worked perfectly on my Pentax KM (K2000 in some countries) and works perfectly on my Pentax K1. I strongly recommend this lens if your in to bokeh I'm almost tempted to try it as a redundant lens on my K1000 as a experiment.....
| | | | | New Member Registered: November, 2017 Posts: 5
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: November 24, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | small, sharp, bokeh, lightweight, pretty fast af, works on ff as well despite it's a DA ^^ | | Cons: | AF noise, but there is worst for sure | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K1
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This lens was basicaly designed for APS Pentax camera but is fully compatible with FF and so no problem on my K1, I'll upload some pics soon.
50mm is my favorite prime lens when I don't want to be overloaded and don't want to use zoom, at this price and quality it's hard to find better bargain. | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2014 Location: Colorado Posts: 497
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 23, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Light, inexpensive, sharp, lens correction profille | | Cons: | For the price, none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1, K5iis
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This lens is very usable on full-frame K1. Sharp enough to feed the great 36mp sensor. Edges and corners are very good, too. Recessed front element - there is not much need for a hood. Very light and portable. The only con may be noise in focusing but most my lenses are screw drive anyway.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2017 Location: Plymouth, Devon. UK Posts: 3
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 20, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
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I am so sorry to hear of your bad experience with this lens. The difference between your review and the previous ones leads me to think you must have a bad copy. I cannot fault it on my K50.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2017 Posts: 2,032
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 17, 2017 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | size handling focal length IQ | | Cons: | does not work with extension tubes | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K3
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I bought my DA 50mm, as I was les than satisfied by the results I was getting with my 50mm A f1.7 on my K3. I already had the DA 35mm f2.4 and I am pretty pleased with that lens, but I do like the 50mm focal length an APSc cameras.
The DA 50 is definitely the best lens I own in terms of IQ on the K3. Pictures are consistently sharper with excellent contrast and colour rendition. I paid £90 for my copy so its also a damn good bargain!
My only criticism is that it does not function properly when used with my KA extension tubes. It only shoots at full aperture. There must be some fault in the communication between lens and camera. Funnily though me DA 35mm does work OK with the same tubes!
I've scored this lens as a 10 because of its overall IQ and great value for money. If it were more expensive I would be a little disappointed with the extension tube issue and could be picky about the plastic mount. I would still rate it as a 8.5/9.0 though.
If you don't have, one do yourself a favour get one!
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2016 Location: Sandpoint, ID Posts: 14
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 25, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Great for portraits, clean and decently fast AF | | Cons: | Fixed, not the best AF, loud as well. | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-S2
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I Love the old manual 50mm asahi pentax smc lenses from F/2 down to F/1.4 - this is as good as those but better :-) It is obviously an AF lens vs. MF lens, but sometimes having the MF control is nice. That being said, this lens almost always hits its focus target relatively quick.
totally reccomend for the price...as everyone has already stated..
touched up in GIMP 2
 | | | | | New Member Registered: July, 2010 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 12
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 14, 2016 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | 3D effects | | Cons: | be wary of focal points | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K 7
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Favorite lens. Worth the price. I use it more than any other, including my wide angle. | | | | | New Member Registered: June, 2016 Posts: 3
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 10, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $165.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | really inexpensive, quite sharp, size | | Cons: | no lens hood | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-x
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First review... 
I can really really recommend this glass. It is really inexpensive I spent about 170 bucks and I got quality. So small so light. It is really sharp I use a K-x and it's works really well on it. I use for fashion portrait and sometimes urban/building shots. It has amazing colors without any post editing. It became my favorite lens so far... f/1.8 is really good for portraits. This lens is recommended for almost everyone.
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: January, 2016 Posts: 66
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: April 13, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $89.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Fast, Cheap | | Cons: | Plastic Construction, Mild Hunting | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-50
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First lens review, please go easy on me! At the time of this review I have the K-50 body with the following lenses: 18-55 WR, 50-200 WR, 35/2.8 LTD, 55-300 WR
This was the first lens I bought outside of my kit lenses and I was immediately blown away due to the sharpness and wide aperture available. Out of all of my lenses this is my favorite to use, despite it not being a great walk around - any sort of landscape shot is very hard and not very practical. Even so this lens became my go-to at parties or taking pictures of people, it has a long enough focal distance to make subjects pop, but it's short enough to allow me to stay somewhat near the subject. I absolutely love this lens though, it's never going to be sold even if I end up replacing it. I'll make a shrine somewhere.
http://i.imgur.com/0vveXx5.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/BV587CT.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/bmAoApd.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/yQWohUs.jpg | | | | | Forum Member Registered: September, 2013 Posts: 62
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: December 12, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $100.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very good IQ, price | | Cons: | no quick-shift, but who cares? | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k-30
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it is very good lens.
very nice and high IQ.
quite noisy AF, but... for it's price...
it is made of plastic, but feels solid and robust.
even a lens hood no so much necessary.
I own one of them and second one purchased for my father.
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