Still a great lens, especially with the FF DSLR on its way

offertonhatter wrote:

This lens has been available for what seems eternity, especially in the modern era where optics seem to being replaced by newer models every few years.

I am on my second copy, due to my original version being stolen along with a number of other lenses and cameras recently.

What do I think of it after many years of use? Well to be honest I love it! Sure there is a lot of CA and PF wide open, and it is soft from F1.4 through to F2.5, but not excessively so. From F2.5 through to F8 it REALLY comes into its own. tack sharp and contrasty.

Is it Pentax's finest Nifty? Possibly not, the manual focus M50mm F1.7 is superior wide open and has what I consider a better look in the images up to F2.8 and the DA50mm is better at controlling CA and PF on digital sensor bodies. But then again what we have here is possibly the smallest F1.4 auto-focus nifty that is available new. Only (i think) the Leica 50mm summilux F1.4 is smaller and that is for a rangefinder.

Biggest positive? Well it is the only new 50mm that you can get on the K-Mount what has AF and the aperture ring so it will work on every single K-mount body made, whether digital or film. Something you cannot say with the, albeit delightful, DA50 and DA*55 lenses.

Downsides?

Well, it is only screw AF so noisy and it does not have weather sealing. Then again if it had both it would be a lot bigger, and probably lose that very useful aperture ring.

Oh and a hood would be nice. but you can buy a rubber hood for a tenner.

Sum Up.

A nifty that needs no excuses. Shoot RAW and post process you will get rid of that CA and PF easily, and increase the slight lack of contrast wide open.

Use it well and it will pay you back in spades!

Let's hope that the forthcoming FF does have the screw AF mechanism...