Sigma EX 50mm f:1.4

I saw this new lens : http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/ (see link) or http://www.dpreview.com/news/0803/08031801sigma50mm.asp .
Its HSM AF lens so the AF will work only on K10D, K100D Super, K20D and K200D .

The question is, why would you buy it. It is inevitably going to cost over £250, when the Pentax 50/1.4 costs arund 140-160, and has an extremely high IQ. Yes, the HSM may be good, but the IQ probably wont be better, and if its anything like Sigma's 30/1.4, it will be shocking at the edges.

If you want a 50/1.4 alternative, the zeiss is the way to go at £350. It all depends whether HSM is important to you or not.

Daft I suppose, but IMO it doesn't look as nice as the pentax either!

Sigma state that if your camera does not support hsm then autofocus is not available. Does any Pentax camera support hsm?

HSM is just their term for SDM, so as montecarlo says the lens is suitable for the K10D, K100Dsuper, K20D and K200d only.

Or you could buy the 50mm "A" 1.7 manual focus!....for about £35/40.....it is superb and I love mine!..................

Although this lens doesn't seem to appeal to many, including myself, what I do like to see is that they are supporting their HSM tech in new models for Pentax users. Now if they could just add it to all models, that would be great!

It's interesting that an independent lens maker should feel the demand is there to warrant a new 50mm f1.4 lens.

They must see that they are selling and selling well.

Or perhaps SD14 users were calling out for the standard lens

I'm not sure that there are many SD14 users in the UK.

I don't suppose the lens is being made just for the UK market.

Dan