The Pentax 50mm Lens Thread

[creampuff]

Just the other day as I was sitting down with a friend, she asked me if I had a 50mm lens to lend her. I actually had to stop to think because it was always the case that I've a 50mm lens stashed away somewhere. That got me thinking about the number of lenses in the 50mm range I've actually owned and used and thought about starting a thread where we can all fess up how many of these workhorse lenses we got stashed away and some of the nice images these utilitarian lenses can deliver. So if you are a 50mm lens junkie, have an M42 or K-mount lens (or any other mount but converted for Pentax) in the 50mm range list it out, and share a pic or two and elaborate. For the sake of simplicity, please exclude lenses in the 40-43mm range.
As you can see I've had too many 50mm lenses:

Now
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 (AF)
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro (MF)

History
DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM
DFA 50mm f/2.8 Macro
Voigtlander 58mm f/1.4 SL
FA 50mm f/1.4 (3x)
FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro
A 50mm f/1.4 (2x)
A 50mm f/1.7 (2x)
A 50mm f/2 (2x)
A 50mm f/2.8 Macro (2x)

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/ideastoprint/2740396174/]
Lonely Fisherman by dlbj23, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[canbedone]

i saw at Pentax forum i really like DA* 55mm f/1.4 SDM of cos its an expensive lens

 

[edutilos-]

I do have a FA 50mm f/1.4 that I love for cats... The trouble is that it 's still slightly heavier than the 40mm XS so I've neglected it of late.

The shallow DOF is great for capturing close-ups of cats.

And f/1.4 is of course quite useful at night, when cat's eyes are the most beautiful.

Sorry, I haven't gotten my hands on any other 50mm lenses so that's about it, but the lens is light, relatively sharp wide open, and tack-sharp from F/2.4 onwards. It's also quite small and rather well-built. I'm actually wondering if I should grab the new 50mm to try... Especially since it's touted to have circular blades and those were pretty nice on the 40mm XS...

 

[felixcat8888]

I have owned a few but now only have the following:

FA50mm F1.4 (SOLD)
Chinon 50mm F1.9 (SOLD)
Chinon 50m F1.4
Ricoh 50mm F2 (SOLD)
Ricoh 50mm F1.7

I need to start reusing the 2 I have as all my old photos were lost when my external HDD crashed. Forgot to burn to CD. :cry:

 

[creampuff]

I need to start reusing the 2 I have as all my old photos were lost when my external HDD crashed. Forgot to burn to CD. :cry:

Burning to CDs and backing up to external HDDs is one thing but it is far quicker and easier is to send your image files to a Cloud server like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. that you can access from any device... mobile, tablet, laptop, etc. So if any device fails, you can still retrieve the files.

 

[creampuff]

Bro edutilos,

Such lovely cat shots!
50mm is the new kit(ty) lens! :thumbsup:

 

[felixcat8888]

Burning to CDs and backing up to external HDDs is one thing but it is far quicker and easier is to send your image files to a Cloud server like Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. that you can access from any device... mobile, tablet, laptop, etc. So if any device fails, you can still retrieve the files.

All before the cloud server time. That was 2 or 3 years ago. Now I have at least2 HDD to back up my photos.

 

[oceanpriest]

50mm is my favourite focal length. I feel it's the easiest to focus on SLR (focus throw is long enough and most of 50mm lenses are really bright) and most of 50mm lenses are sharp, since it's apparently an simple focal length to design.

SMC K 50mm f1.2

Revuenon 55mm f1.2

FA 50mm f1.4

FA 50mm f2.8 macro

Panagor 55mm f2.8

If I have to choose only one lens to bring for travel, definitely it's a 50mm.

 

[pinholecam]

50mm is my favourite focal length. I feel it's the easiest to focus on SLR (focus throw is long enough and most of 50mm lenses are really bright) and most of 50mm lenses are sharp, since it's apparently an simple focal length to design.

If I have to choose only one lens to bring for travel, definitely it's a 50mm.

Impressive collection and nice shots with all your 50's.
Wait till you get to use it in its full glory when the FF arrives

 

[pinholecam]

I've got a few 50's and at one time had f2/f17/f1.4 for both A and M series.
Now I regret selling the M series off.
They were sold for a song and I could well have afforded to keep them.

Here's one from the A50/1.4

Probably can add more to this thread once I have time to dig thru my files...

 

[canbedone]

so in APSC 50mm is actually 75mm

 

[oceanpriest]

Impressive collection and nice shots with all your 50's.
Wait till you get to use it in its full glory when the FF arrives

to me, FF arrived already

full glory when kodachromes rise up from the ashes :bsmilie:
4×5 Kodachromes « Pavel Kosenko's blog (English version)

 

[pinholecam]

to me, FF arrived already

full glory when kodachromes rise up from the ashes :bsmilie:
4×5 Kodachromes « Pavel Kosenko's blog (English version)

Ha ha. Its been here all this while.
Very nice shots.
Thanks for the link.
Speaks of another era too.

 

[fengwei]

Thanks Denis for starting this 50mm thread. I think everyone should at least have a 50mm lens, manual or auto focus.

When I started shooting dSLR in 2004, I only got an FA50/1.7 plus a few cheap zoom lenses. Used 50mm lens mostly when shooting my daughter (she was a few months old back then), really love the lens:

 

[PhilipKr35]

#Q 47mm f1.9

# DA50mm f1.8

# M50mm f1.4

 

[seefei]

was intrigued by Denis thread, so googled and found this youtube link, 5 reasons why need a 50mm lens. the link is here.

the host is quite a quirky guy combining a 50 lens with a big body cam; and wearing a jacket for street photography is not really my idea of blending in.

 

[cyk13]

From F50 f1.4

Picture 1



Picture 2

 

[oceanpriest]

any DA 50mm f1.8 pics?

 

[fengwei]

any DA 50mm f1.8 pics?

I've taken plenty of photos w/ the DA50/1.8, will post some later on. It's a very good performer as all the other Pentax 50s

 

[Nanoo]

Wow...all very nice shots.
Thank you Bro Denis for starting this thread which I realized later that I do not have any 50mm lens at all. Oh man..what have I been missing?
Now if I want to buy a cheap 50mm to try out, which is more recommended?
Is it the FA50mm f1.4 or the DA50mm f1.8?
I will be using for outdoor portraits and street shoot.
Thanks