Fast fifties - info please!

ok, ok,

LOL!
Time flies when you're taking photos

Well, after the PostOffice being 3 days late on a Special Next Day delivery the lens finally arrived! (FWIW, FotoFrenzy were extremely helpful in resolving the problems.)

The SMC-A 50mm/f1.4 is a wonderful piece of engineering and glass. I had completely forgotten how good a decent manual focus lens feels! The SMC coating is just sublime, like nothing else. And the bokeh and colour - wow!

I'm off out to get some test shots

Matt

I hope it's better made than the 1.7. Mine seized up recently, and I discovered that it has a spring attached by a sort of plastic rivet, which had given up the ghost. Not impressed.

G

Where was that George? The only plastic I can make out on this A50/1.4 is the aperture release button and the yellow dot.
Matt

The 1.4's do seem to be made to a higher standard than the 1.7's when you put them sise by side.

Kim

Kim can explain this better than me, but there are two springy strips of steel behind the aperture ring, which relate to the A button. They are attached at one end by plastic passing through a small hole in the steel. Of course, they should have been attached with screws.

I'm going to try a bit of epoxy and see what happens.

G

Just a quick report on the SMC-A 50mm/f1.4:

An absolutely joy to use. Such a clear, bright viewfinder, and I was amazed I could focus by eye even in conditions where the AF of the *ist-D had serious trouble (e.g. low contrast & low light), in fact in some shots the *ist-D just wouldn't get a lock but I could see it was in focus. Most other times the focus aid helped a bit as a confirmation, but I'm beginning to trust my eyes more and more

The results are mind-blowingly good. I've not seen results like this from my *ist-D. It's the combination of resolution and out-of-focus highlights. The bokeh is sublime. Maybe it's personal taste, but I think the out of focus areas are just amazing! Even at f2.0 or f2.4 I have found it more than sharp enough. When it comes to portraiture I don't think I'll ever use another lens!!

Unfortunately, I don't have much I can post online yet, but as soon as I do I'll link it. The only one so far is: http://www.ephotozine.com/gallery/showlargepic.cfm?photoid=377948

Now I'm hooked on the "A" series... wonder what's next
Matt

Well, there's lots to choose from Matt, but you might look at two very useful lenses:

SMC Pentax-A 24-50mm f4
SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f4

If you can find nice examples, they really are very good lenses.

Thanks for that John.
Yes, I've seen these come up, but they cover the same range as my excellent SMC-FA 24-90, which is just superb as general allrounder AF lens. Very sharp, and gives superb results (very nearly as good as the 16-45).
I was going to look out for some either cheap or wide (between 18 and 24mm) to create a pocket *ist-D.
The 50mm is wonderful for portraiture, but a fast wide would be very nice.

The other alternative is a Limited 31mm - but that'd require some saving up first!!
Matt

Hi Matt,
The lens you might consider (which als might need saving) is the 20/2.8A. It is nearly always in my camera bag either for the D or the film cameras. Fantastic performance, certainly better than any of the zooms, I have tried in the range and very, very little distortion. The other very good performer is the 15mm A. This doesn't get quite as much use. For a start it is big and bulky. However, it is an astonishing lens. Not the easiest to use on full format because of the angle of view but fantastic when it works. Also very useful on the D.

Kim

You seldom see the A 20mm, and like the optically similar FA, which I have, it is therefore a bit pricey. But very nice.

However, the 31mm (which of course isn't wide on a DSLR) is perhaps the greatest bayonet lens of all. Big but beautiful. If I were only allowed one prime lens, that would be it. (Unless I could have a bayonet adapter fitted with a stop-down lever. Then I might choose an SMC Tak.)

G

I've just recently picked up a very nice SMC Pentax-A 20mm f2.8. Haven't had time to check it out properly yet, but I'll let you know how it is in due course.

The 15mm I used to have in its K version, but I passed it along as I almost never used it. When the subject is right, it is an outstanding lens.

To be honest, there are lots of great Pentax lenses, and when we single them out then we are really "splitting hairs".

I've made a comparison with my MZ-5 and now with my DS.
Lenses were
K 1.2
M 1.4 (sold)
FA 1.4
F 1.7 (sold)
A 1.7
K 1.8
I was comparing at indoor distances (1.5 - 2m), only wide opened, 1.7/1.8 and 2.8.

The K 1.2 was simply the best. When stopped down it compaes with the other lenses wide opened - so maybe unfair but then it's siply sharper.
The 1.7 is wide opened sharper than the 1.4 wide opened. At 2.8 the FA 1.4 improves dramatically and resulting in superb quality! It's much better than the 1.7-lenses then!
The M 1.4 cannot compete with the rest. Optically it's different to the A-version which is more like the FA.
The 1.7-lenses don't differ in quality, quite good wide opened, better when stopped down (of course), reliable quality but nothing outstanding.
The K 1.8 is surprisingly good and can compete with the 1.7-lenses very well!

As for macro with the 50's:
The K 1.2 has a fixed rear lens element which should improve macro-quality.
My result:
K 1.2 is the best if you can live with manual focussing. If you want automatic functions you have to look for the rare A-version.
If you don't need the 1.x-apertures the FA 1.4 is the best solution: Very good quality starting at 2.8 and full function (A-setting and AF).
If you're looking for a simple 50mm-lens with very good 'feeling' when focussing you may look for the K 1.8 !

Best wishes

Paul

Many thanks for the mini review Paul
I have to say, though, I am extremely pleased with the A50/1.4 which is about all that's been on the *ist-D since I got it!! It's just a lovely piece of glass to work with and I've got some lovely images already!
Matt