Incredible niche deal for the Pentax shooters. Comes with case + ND filter.
I recently inherited an old K-Mount AF film body and this looks to be compatible. RRP is $649.99, with the next lowest price $499.95 at Teds.
CamelCamelCamel.
Not really this is a manual lens based on the original Pentax super-takumar 50mm f1.4 released in 1964.
That lens can be easily purchased for around $100 second hand and will provide a better image quality than this plastic made inferior reproduction.
And taking photos at f1.4 with manual focus is really only usable for static objects. Good luck trying to focus on a moving object.
it's an autofocus lens. additionally if you can find a mint vintage takumar for $100 let me know and I'll buy 5 😄
Wow did not know these are AF now.
Don't need mint to take good photos. As long as the glass is clear that's all it matters.
Have bought a few for $50 on eBay. Body is heavily used but lens is in good condition.
Plus the wear and tear on the body just gives it more character and gives you extra hipster points.
I found the trick to getting cheap good Takumars (or M42 lenses) is buying them attached to cameras, although it means you will end up with a zillion 50mm f1.8s :)
Used to live in London and the camera fairs were a goldmine.
I've had this lens for close to 15 years. It is auto focus - in the earlier Pentax K-mount SLR/DSLR systems the AF motor is in the camera body. It drives autofocusing on the lens via a screw drive. Back in the day coupled with sensor shift Shake Reduction this lens served many good night shots.
I also collect M42 Takumars & other M42 lenses as well.
But yeah this lens is a bit outdated for the price. You are better off either getting a vintage M42 and adapting it, or getting something current generation with supersonic AF motors
this is the 2023 "updated" version as covered here on Petapixel https://youtu.be/kjlrAL1_P0k?si=0r1B_dKf81t3OVy8
but agreed, it's probably outdated a bit but there's not a whole lot of new AF lenses that work on film bodies being manufactured these days…
@ShoeyAU: I need to find all the Contax/Yashica enthusiasts now lol
I have a heap of M42, PK and C/Y mount lenses that are great fun to use on mirrorless. I always find a heap of f1.7 and f1.8s… the f1.4s seem to get snapped up so quick now
@hyperfuzz: Not sure how many film shooters there are, would expect people buying these are getting adapter's for their modern digital camera bodies.
I have a small collection of m42 lenses and use them with a eos adapter for my aps-c sensor Canon DSLR. The images has so much character to them and has that vintage film look to them.
Well I found out where my uogadeitis comes from when my dad passed down his home made hard case of Pentax film cameras with Takamur lenses. Have 4 of the 50mm/1.4 of different generations. Use with converters on my Olympus but generally only for portraits. Manual focus is a pain but then im old enough to remember manual focus anyways. Some of the lenses have a nice vintage yellow tint, 😊
manual lens based
Brother, even from the thumbnail you could clearly tell it's got AF lol.
It’s cheaper for a reason—unless you’re prepared to stick with Pentax and DSLRs, and an outdated even by Pentax standards.
as i said, it's a niche lens.
dude, 50mm F/1.4 is not a niche lens, this is Pentax's bread and butter albeit outdated.
Pentax makes actual niche lenses, like the FA 31, 43 and 77mm.
Agreed. This is only suitable if you are interested in taking pictures, not for gear heads.
That knocks off most camera owners then (myself included)
I took a bunch of guest portraits at a friend's wedding with this lens and got huge plaudits.
Fast enough to use inside without flash and great bokeh.
that's the HD version as opposed to the Classic (which does the rainbow flares thing and includes an ND for some reason). aside from the difference in coatings, those who have tested it reckon it's fairly similar.
To shoot wide(r) open in daylight with 400 speed film? Kind of Pentax to include it, and probably a decent one at that if they put their coating on it
Your link is the one with HD coating, here the correct one https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-50mm-…
Geez wonder if my Pentax K30 still works. Keen to give this lense a try.
Damn! They found us!
Pentax4Evah
Ah… tempted to take my aging Pentax DSLR out of the pack. Got this lens in the older AF version. Great piece of kit.
Expensive for a coffee tamper
Wow this is an ancient lens released in the early 90's. I had this about 20 years ago (well the older FA incarnation without the new coatings) and it was soft wide open on my 6MP CCD *ist D DSLR camera. I would save my money and buy a sigma 50mm 1.4 instead as it would be much better. Can't believe they are still selling this relic. Pentax really is a company managed by morons. I was a big fan and shot only with Pentax for about 10 years until i saw the writing on the wall. They are so conservative they let almost every trend pass them by and never capitalised on what made them good (limited lenses, compact bodies, good ergonomics). Using a Sony mirrorless now is like using alien technology compared to a Pentax DSLR
released in 2023 good sir
More like very basic cosmetic facelift in 2023. The optical design goes back to the to 80s. The FA 50mm 1.4 was released in 1991 and was based on the F 50mm 1.4 from the 80's. The lens is absolutely ancient. Still if you like the soft look of those old lenses you may like the lens but I definitely prefer a modern lens
K mount killed it for me.
Prefer an M42 that's more universal (and I've got an adaptor for already).
Hey everyone, sorry for the question if it is not the place however given all you pentaxians have popped your heads out, what pentax DSLR would you recommend to me as an enthusiast who doesn't want a k1 size or a k3 mark iii price. Cheers!
Jeez that's cheap for an f1.4 lens!