Payment on its way.

It doesn't matter what lens you use, it's close up subjects, not necessarilt actually being close ourselves. A picture of a brid could be a close up on the bird, even if shot from quite some distance.

Here's the discussion thread for the new weekly competition. Any questions, please ask!

We have had threads looking at this issue before aqnd the conclusion has always been that it's related to the RAW converter.

It is a better lens and well worth having for a slight increase in quality, especially at the edges, and a slightly wider wide angle. They sell quickly second hand.

Perhaps you could share where this shop is so others could take advantage of any offers?

Pixie dust you mean? That's the most likely explanation....

I'm not sure you read my statement properly rparmer - what I said was that my favourite was the 43mm, so how you contend that it isn't true?

As regards the tests, the samples I had are available to view as EPZ reviews and that is what I said about performance on paper, not specs on paper, which would be a different thing altogether.

I don't need to check out the EPZ published reports, mainly because I wrote them....

The SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4 is sharp and contrasty, making it an ideal low light and reportage lens. Where I like it less is the relatively harsh rendering and the lack of gradation in finer details.

I'm really thinking here in terms of black and white. In terms of colour I find the SMC Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4, its latest incarnation, to be OK but just a little bland.

The 43mm f/1.9 seems to share more of the warm quality I like about the older 50mm f/1.7 lenses, or indeed the even earlier f/1.8 ones.

Why not just switch to MF and use tape to fix the focusing on infinity?

Nonetheless some lenses perform better than others in a technical sense, but it all depends on what the desired effect is as to whether a lens is "better".

If you want soft focus, look for an old rubbish lens that's full of flare. If you want to reproduce documents, look for a macro lens. This is why over the years I've found lenses that I like and those I don't like.

I don't like:
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.4
SMC Pentax-M 85mm f/2
SMC Pentax-M 120mm f/2.8

I do like:
SMC Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7
SMC Pentax-M 100mm f/2.8

Just to take some examples out of the M series range. I'm sure that others will have different preferences. Unfortunately the only real way to get to know a lens is to own it and use it. This has been an expensive business for me over the years.

Of the three FA Limited lenses though, my favourite is still the 43mm, despite its technical performance on paper being the lowest.