Home > Consumer Reviews > Pentax SMCP-FA 50mm f/1.4 Lens

Despite the plastic outer skin, this is one excellent lens. Its f/1.4 maximum aperture combined with the clean high-ISO performance of Pentax digital SLR's allows you to get some amazing shots without the assistance of a flash, while stopped down a little you can get all the sharpness and detail you want. This lens also produces an amazingly smooth rendition of out-of-focus details (bokeh) which makes it a fabulous portrait lens. An alternative to this lens is the Pentax SMCP-FA 35mm f/2.0 which is closer to the normal perspective on a DSLR.

Honestly, this is the best lens you can get for the money. Sharp and clear with very smooth bokeh. Hands down it outperforms anything in this price range. Further, it is considered by many, including Photodo, to be superior to the equivalent lenses by Canon and Nikon.

In summary, if you have a Pentax, you need to own this lens.

Let me just say that theres a whole other pricepoint for pentax glass and gear than the big houses, just for reference, I'm coming from being a Nikon guy, my film kit got stolen, and so I'm getting into the digital scene fresh....I purchased a K10D, and have been sold ever since....now to the lens in question, the 50mm f/1.4 has been such an eye opening experience (pun?) I paid waaay under $200USD and got a ridiculously awesome prime lens, I had no idea that such quality could be had for such a low price.
Bokeh, I've seen the term used throughout various websites and reviews, and let say that I now know from experience what a creamy, smooth, out of focus backdrop, while your subject "pops" right off of the picture will do for your self esteem in photography. Absolutely lovely.....
Focus, is quick enough, yet I've found it hunts in low, or tricky light situtations....no biggie, if you need fast focusing, you're using another lens anyways.
I'm not going to get all technical on you, all I can say is that if you have been into Pentax for sometime, you already own this lens, if you're just geting into or are considering Pentax, please do, and make this prime a part of your kit.
Nuff' said.

For the price, this lens gives you amazing sharpness, super smooth bokeh, excellent colors, excellent contrast, and a really wide maximum aperture. It's definitely a lens that every Pentaxian should own.

Pros:
+ The obvious pro is the f/1.4 max aperture. This really comes in handy in low light situations.
+ One less obvious side effect of the f/1.4 aperture is a brighter viewfinder. A lot of newer photographers don't realize that the camera only closes down the iris when you take the photo. The rest of the time, the lens is wide open so faster lenses mean brighter viewfinders.
+ Amazingly sharp at smaller apertures.
+ Works on film and digital bodies.
+ Really smooth bokeh (out of focus area) once you stop down a little (about f/2.8 and up). This helps create photos where your subject really pops out because the background is blurred out so nicely. Some lenses can create harsh and distracting bokeh.
+ Very thin depth of field at f/1.4.
+ Excellent colors and contrast. I was surprised when I compared my kit lens photos to photos taken with the FA 50mm.

Cons:
- Pretty soft at f/1.4. This might be a desirable effect for portraits though.
- Autofocus is a bit slower than more modern Pentax lenses.
- The very thin depth of field and the general softness of the lens at f/1.4 can make it difficult to create pictures that look like they're in focus.


Compared to the DA 40mm f/2.8 pancake:
* The FA 50mm is bigger, but is still a pretty compact lens. The FA 50mm feels better because it gives you something to cradle when you're holding the camera.
* Both the DA 40mm and the FA 50mm produce excellent color contrast and sharpness, but I think I prefer the rendering of the FA 50mm.
* Both the DA 40mm and the FA 50mm work on film bodies. The DA 40mm doesn't have an aperture ring so it has to be used on a film body that can electronically set the aperture like on the digital bodies.
* The FA 50mm gives you a bit of extra room with f/1.4 vs. f/2.8.
* The DA 40mm auto-focuses a bit faster.

If you're deciding between the DA 40mm and the FA 50mm, I would suggest that you buy the FA 50mm. The DA 40mm is a fun lens to use, but the FA 50mm is a reliable workhorse.

I went to Egypt the first in May 2001 with my 35-80mm lens and I thought it would do well in the museums. How wrong I was. 98% of all the pictures I took in the museum were literally fuzzy - camera shake!! To add to my woes, I used low speed film. I went back this time armed with a Pentax standard 50mm F1.4 lens and iso800 films (flash not allowed). The result: everything, from the dimmest areas, was sharp with a good colour balance, except the effect of tungsten and flourescent light on pictures I developed back home - which can be completely eradicted when you develop your indoor pictures in Egypt since they know exactly how to develop such pictures). I was delighted with the lens. It even gave me good pictures in the tombs!

The only 'disadvantage', is that the lens is too sharp and therefore if you do not focus very carefully, u will get a lot of blur (not camera shake). Yet, a bit of practice will sort this out.

It is a rare lens and therefore a must have for people who need to take pictures indoors without FLAH! Unfortunately, I did not have the relevant indoor colour balance filters. They are necessary for indoor pictures to reduce that greenish and orange effect.

I recommend this lens!