Algi: I have recently noticed a few Pentax 50mm f1.2 for sale.

Rockycameras: SMC K50mm f1.2 = GBP 399,- (mint)
KEH: SMC K50mm f1.2 = USD 645 (LN-)
SMC A50mm f1.2 = USD 789 (EX+)

London Camera Exchange (Bristol) had a very nice SMC A50mm f1.2 in stock last week for GBP 256,-, but it was sold in short time. The price I paid for mine was maybe a bit high, but at least I got one in good condition (hopefully...).

I did not know Pentax still made these lenses.

Regards
Bjørn

Thanks Robbie for sharing your experience with these lenses! I have already plunged into a purchase of a SMC A50mm f1.2 But I hope someday I will be able to add a FA43 to my collection.

Your suggestion about selling the M50 f1.4 makes sense, I will try to sell it here in Norway together with my MX cameras, and in this way finance my latest acquisition

Very nice images, by the way!

Best regards
Bjørn

Thank you for valuable information about these lenses George!

The reason for me to ask these questions was that I had found a mint SMC A50mm f1.2 at the Leica Shop in Austria for 450 EURO. Believing this was a good price, I purchased it The FA43mm can still be bought new. The SMC A50mm f1.2, on the other hand, is becoming quite rare and often command very high prices.

Bjørn

PS: The Leica Shop has lots of Pentax lenses in at the moment, amongst them a SMC 30mm f2.8, but it is quite expensive (330 EURO).

I am contemplating investing in a high quality prime. Is the SMC A50 f1.2 a "special purpose" lens (portrait, macro, etc) because of its legendary bokeh and shallow DOF, or does it also have special qualities as a landscape/general purpose lens? I already have a SMC M50mm f1.4 and a SMC K55mm f1.8, will the SMC A50mm f1.2 beat them in the landscape/general purpose area? What kind of price must one be prepared to pay for the SMC A50mm f1.2?

I already know quite a lot about the FA 43mm f1.9 limited, and that this lens would fulfill my needs perfectly

Do any of you have any advice concerning the SMC A50mm f1.2?

Regards
Bjørn

Take a look at this as a comparison: http://ffordes.co.uk/product/13051016263681

Regards
Bjørn

The Pentax 67 went through three different major version upgrades: Pentax 6x7 (1969), Pentax 67 (1989) and the Pentax 67II in 1998. The earliest version, the 6x7 model started out without MLU, but this was included in the later 6x7 models. The 67 differs from the first model in this way:

"In 1989, the Pentax 6x7 underwent some other upgrades, most significantly the shutter timing was changed from being partly mechanically to being fully electromechanically controlled. This helped improve exposure accuracy (unfortunately it also meant that the bulb-mode required batteries, which disappointed many astrophotographers; you can get Pentax to modify your camera to not require batteries in bulb). Some components of the all-metax 6x7 were replaced with polycarbonate to lighten it. The upgraded model was renamed the Pentax 67." http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/AsahiPentax67.html

It is difficult to say much about the condition of the camera you have been looking at, but I guess one could find out by examining the camera carefully, if it has seen much use or been mistreated. I believe for instance that the film forwarding mechanism is a weak spot on these cameras. You should also check the locking system for the prism housing, it is important that this is not damaged. The light seals on a camera from 1989-1998 could possibly still be okay...?

GBP 170 seems like a very low price for the Pentax 67 + 105mm. Take a look at prices at ffordes and KEH, they usually go for much more than that.

I am a happy owner of a Pentax 67ii system, and my best advice is: Go for it

Good luck!

Bjørn

After I purchased a Pentax 67ii system I have realised that I will probably never use my 35mm film cameras, digital and the occasional medium format film completely satisfies my photographic ambitions.

I have two Pentax MX that I consider selling, and I am wondering what price I can set.

1. The first one is a mint chrome version that has recently been to Robin at Harrow Technical for CLA. This MX looks and feels as if it is new, it has seen very little use.

2. The second is black, and has seen some use. There is some brassing, but no dents in the camera casing. This MX needs new light seals and mirror damper foam, and possibly a full CLA.

I would be grateful for advice on this matter!

Regards
Bjørn

I just downloaded the pdf file, and there is no problem at all with the formatting. Thank you very much John, very interesting reading!

Best regards
Bjørn

I have currently two DA 18-55mm WR. The one I got with my K20D is very sharp and I have used it a lot. The newer one, that came with my K-5 kit, is quite different and less sharp. I second the notion about sample variation amongst these kit zooms.

Regards
Bjørn

You probably do not want to hear my view on the SMCA 24mm f2.8, but I am writing anyway. I have had both the A and the K version of this lens, and they were almost indentical in terms of performance. I believe they have the same optical formula. The SMCA 24mm f2.8 I had could produce decent images, but nothing to rave about. I have also had a Sigma Super Wide 24mm f2.8, this was much sharper but had probably not as much contrast as the SMCA 24mm. When I realised that my DA18-55mm WR could produce equally good (if not better) images than my SMCA 24mm, I sold it. If I had needed to get a cheapish 24mm prime, I would have tried to find a Sigma Super Wide 24mm.

Regards
Bjørn