New FA 50 1.4 lenses!!

On the Rumors site - a HD-FA 50 mm 1.4 and smc FA 50 mm 1.4 classic - 55,000 to 60,000 yen....

Rumoured 6th June....

Quite happy with my FA 50/1.4 and F50/1.7 thank you.

Hard to imagine two versions coming out with just a difference in coatings.

The FA 50/1.4 could do with an upgrade to HD coatings and cosmetics in the same way as the FA 35/2.

Interesting they might be doing this. What I would like is an updated full frame UWA, say about 15mm or so. Like Pwynnej, I'm happy with my current FA 50/1.4.

I suspect they are already well into working on the next properly new lens, most likely a fast moderate wide (to go with the DFA* 50/1.4 and 85/1.4), these little re-vamp projects are a relatively cheap way of refreshing the line-up and will appeal to quite a few users I would imagine (cheap (relatively), compact, lightweight, new coatings, etc.). An UWA would be interesting but I think there may be a few others to arrive before they produce that

There's more on PR... The HD version looks just like the revamped HD-FA 35/2 while the 'Classic' is essentially the same as the SMC-FA 50/154 but the branding is different '1.4/50' instead of 'Pentax 50' - I prefer the 90's version.

Some pictures here: https://pentaxrumors.com/2023/05/13/first-leaked-pictures-of-the-upcoming-hd-pen...

I really don't understand the logic behind producing two versions. This lens was obviously overdue a revamp and the attractive finish of the HD 35/2 was certainly the way to go. I hope it has the relatively good manual focus feel of the HD 35/2 too. But why does the new SMC version even exist, especially as it's got older coatings and a worse manual focus ring?? And according to the link above, a slightly higher price.

They are now out.
Love the way screw AF is now a feature

I suspect you are right John. The "nifty fifty" is optically the easiest lens to produce well, and the optical formular of these revamps dates back to the "K" series 50/1.4. No need to change any of that, and with new coatings presents an affordable, lightweight lens, that will also work with a "future" film SLR.

The DFA* 50mm 1.4 is an exeptional lens of completely new design, but that is reflected in the weight and price. Choice for a photographer is always good.

Regarding a FF 15mm...... Pentax used to make a point in advertising that they never sold enough of the old K 15/3.5 to make a profit on them. I would love to see a new one too, but it would be horrifically expensive. Until then there is of course the exceptionally good 15-30 f2.8

Yes indeed (and not just for photographers :wink. So the 50mm prime lineup will be 3 x f1.4 and the f2.8 macro with the 43mm not far away. And then there are the zooms that cover 50mm. Spoilt for choice!

Interesting that the emphasis now seems to be shifting to aesthetics, artistry and the photographic experience rather than precision, pixels and technological wizardry. There's room for both and good for Ricoh/Pentax for choosing the 'photography first' path.

Steve

One of the missing lenses In the Pentax FF range line up. I feel. is an all round cheap "Walkabout" lens. Something you can almost permantly leave on the camera. Say a cheapish 18-250 f4 - f6.3. It would be nice to see an updated Pentax version. Rather than having to resort to the older no longer produded third party offerings..

Sue uses one of these, and gets fantastic results:
https://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/dpt/lenses/pentax-da-18-270mm-f35-63-ed-sdm-le...

If all you want is focal range coverage regardless of speed then the 18-135 covers that and it's not expensive. I've never used one but many people like it a lot. The 16-85mm provides even better image quality though covers less range overall and is more expensive.

For me, a walkabout lens means a prime, and for that there's the DA 35mm Limited (superb), the HD FA 35/2 (very good) and the DAL 35/2.4 (not so good but many like it).