| Author: | Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 16-30 of 75 | Forum Member Registered:December,2015 Location:Charleroi (Belgium) Posts:60 | | Review Date: May 4, 2016 | Recommended |Price:$24.00 |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | decent and cheap | | Cons: | decent and cheap | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 8 Value: 10 Camera Used: Pentax K-50 | |
So, here's the deal: it's a good lens, but... the 50mm A f1.7 does better. It's as simple as that. Color rendering is good, sharpness too, handling too, bla bla bla. It's not really an "exciting" lens, but it does the job. Buy the 1.7 version if you can, otherwise this is nearly as good, for cheaper. I don't have much to add. | | | | | | Forum Member Registered:February,2016 Location:Moab, Utah Posts:90 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: February 18, 2016 | Recommended |Price:$5.00 |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | Sharp, color rendering | | Cons: | bokeh, only 6 aperture blades | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 6 Handling: 10 Value: 9 Camera Used: Sony A7s, A7m2 | |
This lens is the lens I used in high school with the camera Mr. Schaeffer let me borrow for journalism class  . I also own the 1.4 which he would never let me touch. This lens, as far as I can tell is just as sharp as the f1.4, colors just as good. It's sharper than my Sony 28-70 kit lens. Where it lacks is the 6 blades of the aperture just don't make for cool looking out of focus stuff. It's not bad, but not the same wow factor as the 1.4. I've had at least 3 of these. They're easy to take apart and get any dust out of and put back together. Really a pleasure to use this lens too. It just feels right. | | | | Veteran Member Registered:October,2012 Location:Colorado Posts:1,437 | | Review Date: October 11, 2015 | Recommended |Price:$6.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | Color quality, contrast, sharpness, size, weight, speed, handling | | Cons: | | |
I'm not sure why this 50mm lens has such a different rating than the faster lens. Sure, it lacks the added fractional and whole stops of the 1.7, 1.4, and 1.2, but it's a sharp little lens, very light, it handles well, and the image quality is great. I've had, I think, seven of these now and all have been good performers. To my eyes, this lens transmits color better than most any lens I've used. The same is true with contrast. It is not quite as sharp, across the aperture range, as the 1.4, but you have to go to the FA Limited lineup to find lenses sharper than the 1.4. So, take this lens for what it is: a fast 50 that typically sells in good condition for about $15 (including shipping, in 2015) on eBay and makes a great walking around general-use lens. | | | | Veteran Member Registered:August,2012 Posts:705 | | Review Date: August 22, 2015 | Recommended |Price:$10.50 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | very light weight, precise build quality, nice bokeh | | Cons: | Fully functional only in 'Auto Pict' mode on my DSLR camera bodies | | Sharpness: 8 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 10 Value: 10 Camera Used: K-x, K-2000, K-100D | |
I learned SLR photography back in the '80s with a very similar lens on a Minolta X-570 so this one takes me for a ride in the way back machine. I find that I really enjoy getting back to basics with this lens. The simplicity of manual focus and a fixed focal length forces me to compose my shots more carefully. One thing I do miss on my DSLRs when using this manual lens is split screen focusing. It is thus doubly important to make sure the viewfinder's diopter is dialed in correctly. After setting it with my sharpest autofocus lens on the camera, I feel reasonably certain I'm focusing accurately with this manual lens. User control over exposure setting is also somewhat limited as this lens only seems to work in 'Auto Pict' mode, which leaves the camera body in charge of setting the aperture and shutter speed. To work around this somewhat, one can bracket exposures or manually set the ISO. These limitations give the lens a somewhat short depth of field when used on a DSLR body, but that can be great for medium to close up shots where a soft background is desired. Considering that I grabbed this lens on eBay for $10.50, including shipping, I have no real complaints about it at all. It can be fun to use and will produce nice results if you take the time to understand its inherent strengths and weaknesses, especially when using it on a DSLR body, for which it was never designed. | | | | | | New Member Registered:December,2014 Posts:18 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: December 10, 2014 | Not Recommended |Price:$60.00 |Rating:7 |
| Pros: | Cheap, auto aperture, smooth focusing ring, lightweight | | Cons: | Very soft, (not sharp) only decent size aperture (f2) | | Sharpness: 6 Aberrations: 7 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 8 Value: 7 Camera Used: K-3 | |
Okay, this lens is not sharp at all. I also own the 18-135 WR, which actually has a lower sharpness rating, but the 18-135 is FAR sharper. This lens' bikes is alright, but seriously, just get a 50mm a 1.7 if you want a cheap, fast, sharp lens. | | | | Site Supporter Registered:June,2014 Location:Springhill Nova Scotia Posts:436 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: July 2, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$35.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | build quality | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 9 Value: 10 Camera Used: ist D | |
Very nice lens. Having A setting makes it very quick to use. colour is nice and the build quality is good, not a lump of plastic feel. | | | | New Member Registered:April,2014 Posts:4 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: April 1, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$60.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | Not too bad wide open, Cheap, f/2.0, Great colours, Sharp when stepped down ! | | Cons: | None so far. | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 10 Value: 9 Camera Used: Kr | |
It is a great lens ! I have it almost a year. I love it ! totally replaced my Kit.
I have mentioned everything above. Plus manuals are way better for the learning curve.
[/url] | | | | Pentaxian Registered:October,2009 Location:North Posts:4,753 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: January 21, 2014 | Recommended |Rating:7 |
| Pros: | small; very cheap; fast enough at f2; decent performance for the low price | | Cons: | Hexagonal bokeh; Not much cheaper than 50mm f1.7 options | | Sharpness: 8 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 6 Handling: 8 Value: 8 Camera Used: K5; K30; Sony A7 | |
This is mainly reviewing the lens on FF (Sony A7)
For full sized samples, just click on the links and get to the original image
DSC00409 M50 f2 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2
DSC00429 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2.8
DSC00439 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f4 (sharpness is good, but the hexagonal oof highlights is obvious)
DSC00450 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f5.6
DSC00458 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f8 IMO, the lowly 50mm f2, does well enough and not much issues at all on digital FF.
The main bad point and the one that I would mark down this lens on, would be the hexagonal OOF highlights when used at any setting other than wide open.
The 50/1.7 options are not much more expensive for a bit faster aperture which is another reason it can't be considered a better buy. Excellent small size as a 'might as well add to the bag' fast 50mm. | | | | Pentaxian Registered:April,2011 Location:Lost in translation ... Posts:18,098 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: January 5, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$30.00 |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | Can be sharp, IQ, overall build, bokeh ... | | Cons: | "Slow" @f2, but gets to job done well stopped down ... | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 9 Value: 10 Camera Used: K-5, K-r | |
Bonjour, I picked up a copy of this lens (finally) from an eBay auction via the British Heart Foundation ... and I really do not know why I had not acquired one earlier. I have the SMC A 50/1.7 (and maybe someday I will break down and get the f1.4 ...). There's really not a huge difference between these lenses, IMHO. Sure the f1.7 gives you another half stop, but once the A 50/2 is stopped down a few steps, I really do not see much difference. You really pay a "speed" premium for the f1.7 ... and even more so with the f1.4 that is really not justifiable in a lot of shooting circumstances. Here's how mine came with a "freebie" MV , case and strap attached ... and some sample captures to come later at springtime ... Salut, John le Green Frog Edit of 04/04/2015: I have had an A 50/1.4 for over a year now and the extra speed of f/1.4 can be quite useful. Still if one does not need this extra stop, the f/2 is still a very decent performer IMHO. J | | | | Site Supporter Registered:November,2010 Location:California Posts:2,223 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: January 4, 2014 | Recommended |Price:$70.00 |Rating:10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, Useful, Easy to Use, Good Bokeh, one of the best | | Cons: | Came as a Kit lens, and it is abundant | | Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 10 Value: 10 Camera Used: Kx, K5 | |
After several years of having this lens, and after selling it, I bought two copies recently. Afterying so many other lenses, I discovered that this is probably the best lens made by Pentax in the A model.
Here are some samples:
SMCPetax-A-50mmf2-a-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
K5-SMCPentax-A-50mmf2-TheGarden1-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
K5-SMCPentax-A-50mmf2-TheGarden2-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr
K5-SMCPentax-A-50mmf2-Mandarine1-1 by Palenquero, on Flickr | | | | New Member Registered:January,2013 Location:Washington State Posts:9 | | Review Date: January 14, 2013 | Recommended |Price:$50.00 |Rating:9 |
| Pros: | Sharp, smooth focusing ring, great DOF | | Cons: | CA (purple fringing) | | Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 6 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 9 Value: 10 Camera Used: Pentax K-5 | |
For an older film lens, this is fantastic. I use it mainly for still life and it does deliver. When shooting at f/3.5, I still get a tiny bit of purple fringing, but it can be easily fixed in post. The focusing ring on this lens is incredibly smooth and hefty. On newer lenses built from plastic, the rings are much looser. It is light for it's metal construction and is a great lens for the price.
KEYS by Kristy Jarczak, on Flickr | | | | New Member Registered:January,2012 Posts:3 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: January 8, 2013 | Recommended |Price:$30.00 |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | cheap, sharp, portable | | Cons: | soft at wide open | | Sharpness: 8 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 7 Value: 9 | |
I have this lens and i think it is very useful one. There are lots of compares between A or M 50mm f 1.4. I agree with that f 1.4 is better than f 2.0 but if you dont want to pay more money for this kind of lens, 50mm f 2.0 will be good choise for you. Some samples from me:
Gece sonbahar by srdnc, on Flickr
Gençlik Parkı by srdnc, on Flickr
kitapla gelen aydınlık by srdnc, on Flickr | | | | New Member Registered:November,2012 Posts:1 1 user found this helpful | | Review Date: November 23, 2012 | Recommended |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | simple, re-learn manual focusing | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 8 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 9 Value: 9 Camera Used: ZX-M, T2i w/ adapter | |
This lens came with my old ZX-M (which has a broken mirror motor gear now) and I've now it's adapted onto my Canon T2i. While I haven't had a chance to take too many pictures with it, it beats the pants off the kit 18-55 for video, as long as you can stabilize it. And as far as functioning on the ZX-M, it was fantastic; the auto-aperture setting was spot on 95% of the time. The only real 'problem' I can say I have with this lens is the quite thin depth of field, but that's a prime lens for you. The focus ring is also incredibly solid. It's hard for me to determine user error vs. lens quality, so I'll just post some pictures I took with this lens, and you can be the judge. http://www.flickr.com/photos/90591969@N00/6193586188/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90591969@N00/6193069397/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90591969@N00/6193587796/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/90591969@N00/6193070271/in/photostream In summation, I think it's an absolutely fabulous lens for portrait photography, and also great for medium and close-up shots for video. And the very slight lack of sharpness I think lends to the pictures in most cases. I'll get some video links up soon as well. | | | | Junior Member Registered:July,2012 Location:Perth, Australia Posts:47 | | Review Date: July 24, 2012 | Recommended |Price:$70.00 |Rating:7 |
| Pros: | Compact, easy to use, reasonably sharp | | Cons: | Wide open performance | | Sharpness: 7 Aberrations: 7 Bokeh: 7 Handling: 8 Value: 8 Camera Used: Pentax Kx | |
I certainly love the feel of a 50mm prime on the Kx. The camera asks you for the focal length, shove the lens onto A and away you go in aperature priority mode.........maybe I have come from the film days....maybe the lens without AF just made the camera performance improve .........and I have good eyes, so going back to Manual Focus was a breeze. It felt easy and natural. Not meant to be as sharp as the f1.7 and wide open at f2 its plain horrible.........but at f8 its definitely better than the 18-55 kit lens. A worthwhile buy at a reasonable price or if your uncle or grandad has one hidden away that he will give you. Its one of the reasons I love the Pentax way......... | | | | New Member Registered:February,2011 Location:Malang (East-Java) Posts:4 | | Review Date: March 4, 2012 | Recommended |Price:$30.00 |Rating:8 |
| Pros: | cheap,sharp | | Cons: | plastic body | | Sharpness: 8 Aberrations: 7 Bokeh: 8 Handling: 9 Value: 9 Camera Used: Pentax p30T | |
alternative for 50 f/1.4 and 50 /1.7...for image quality A 50 f/2 litle same | | |
. I also own the 1.4 which he would never let me touch. This lens, as far as I can tell is just as sharp as the f1.4, colors just as good. It's sharper than my Sony 28-70 kit lens. Where it lacks is the 6 blades of the aperture just don't make for cool looking out of focus stuff. It's not bad, but not the same wow factor as the 1.4. I've had at least 3 of these. They're easy to take apart and get any dust out of and put back together. Really a pleasure to use this lens too. It just feels right. 
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alternative for 50 f/1.4 and 50 /1.7...for image quality A 50 f/2 litle same 