Portrait Lens (50mm) advice
Sometimes I'm serious and sometimes not, but I consider sarcasm an artform. Which is it today?
I love my DA 50 f1.8. Buy it quick before Pentax realise what they have done!
The Sigma 50mm f1.4 in my opinion is the best portrait lens for the money, unless you don't have the money and then the Pentax is good to.
Nothing like muddying the waters for a little entertainment
Sometimes I'm serious and sometimes not, but I consider sarcasm an artform. Which is it today?
However, I'd go for the 50mm f/1.8 as it has been designed with portraiture and softness of bokeh in mind. It has an almost circular diaphragm construction for pleasing bokeh. Also, f/1.8 lenses have flatter field and behave better close up and with accessories such as close up lenses, tubes, bellows. etc.
Add to that a very low price and you can't go far wrong. If you didn't like it, selling it on would lose you very little as well.
I don't know about Sigma, but the Pentax lens makes a lot of noise when focusing.
Personally I would go the DA50 route, as bangs for buck, and more, it is a bargain.
There is another option if you don't mind slowing down a little and manual focus only. The SMC-M 50mm F1.7. Now that is a very good lens indeed and very cheap to buy.
There is another option if you don't mind slowing down a little and manual focus only. The SMC-M 50mm F1.7. Now that is a very good lens indeed and very cheap to buy.
I actually have one of these on my Super ME but have never tried it on the K5. I'm doing a Gavin Hoey workshop with a half time model shoot next weekend, so a prefect time to try it .
Playing Devils advocate...you may like the idea of the DA50 and the DA35 f2.4 and some change?
Nothing like muddying the waters for a little entertainment
I also already have the DA35 f2.4, a bit wide for portrait but a nice lens.
I will probably go for the DA50 in the end.
I have never heard of Microglobe, damn now I'm tempted by the Pentax HD-DA 55-300mm F4-5.8 ED High Definition WR Lens Sale Price: £239.91
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.
Regards
I don't have the Sigma, but I do have the DA50, and the FA50 F1.4. Wide open the DA50 is a lot sweeter and more contrasty than the FA50. Plus it is lighter and very cheap indeed. I have seen examples of shots taken wide open and it is indeed even better. But when stopped down the Pentax pair overtake it in IQ (Look on Flickr)
Personally I would go the DA50 route, as bangs for buck, and more, it is a bargain.
There is another option if you don't mind slowing down a little and manual focus only. The SMC-M 50mm F1.7. Now that is a very good lens indeed and very cheap to buy.
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123 posts
9 years
I am looking for some advice, if you would be so kind?
I would like a prime lens for portraits and a bit a street photography. The two lens I have been looking at are;
Pentax smc DA 50mm f1.8 Lens - £115.00
or
Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Lens - Pentax - £329.00
Obviously the Sigma is over twice the price and a part from weight and build is there any real difference in image quality?
Also is there options I may have missed?
I will be using the lens primarily on a K5IIs.
Any advice would be welcome.
Thank you,
Lenses: Pentax D-FA 24-70mm 2.8, D-FA 15-30 2.8, D-FA 70-200 2.8*, Pentax 35mm 2.4, 50mm 1.8, 18-135mm WR, 55-300mm HD, Sigma 70-300mm (macro), Tamron 17-50mm F2.8.
Film: Mamiya C330 Medium Format, Pentax Super ME.