Too Many Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Lenses? | Cameras & Coffee 6 June 2023

In this informative discussion, we delve into the features and performance of two exceptional 50mm lenses by Pentax: the HD Pentax 50mm f/1.4 and the Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic. Whether you're a professional photographer or an avid enthusiast, understanding the distinctions between these lenses will help you make an informed decision when choosing the ideal lens for your photography needs.
The HD Pentax 50mm f/1.4 lens combines advanced optics with a robust build, offering outstanding image quality and versatility. Its high-definition lens coatings minimize flare and ghosting, ensuring exceptional clarity and contrast in various lighting conditions. With a wide maximum aperture of f/1.4, this lens excels in low-light situations, delivering stunningly sharp images with beautiful bokeh. The smooth and precise manual focus control allows for precise adjustments, enabling creative freedom in capturing your subjects.
On the other hand, the Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic lens presents a beloved classic design with a reputation for remarkable image quality. This lens embodies the renowned optical heritage of Pentax, delivering sharpness, vibrant colors, and pleasing bokeh. The fast f/1.4 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance, making it suitable for various genres such as portraiture, street photography, and more. Its autofocus system ensures quick and accurate focusing, enhancing usability and convenience in various shooting situations.
When comparing these lenses, it's important to consider your shooting style, preferences, and desired image characteristics. Both lenses offer exceptional performance, but the HD Pentax 50mm f/1.4 lens leans towards advanced optical coatings and manual focus control, ideal for photographers seeking precise control and superior image quality. Meanwhile, the Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 Classic lens excels in its autofocus capabilities and traditional design, appealing to those who prioritize ease of use and a classic aesthetic.
And yes, the above paragraphs were written by AI.
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"White Gold (Instrumental Version)" by Tommy Ljungberg used under active license from Epidemic Sound at the time of this video's upload.

[@thebitterfig9903]

The thing I wish Pentax did with at least the HD version: release it with an AW or at least WR housing like the new 100mm macro. If there aren’t new designs like that macro was, simply leaning into the weather resistance capability of Pentax bodies seems like a worthy upgrade, something that could tempt me to get one rather than stick with my old copy I bought used.

[@highlander200107]

Look at the Voigtländer lenses, that have an SC and an MC version, the SC is the older single coat, and the MC is the modern multi coated.

[@DavidHancock]

OH yeah, good point. Thank you!

[@highlander200107]

@@DavidHancock welcome, I think this "Classic" may be similar, according to their write up on the website, which would mean that it performs better for B&W than it would in colour photography, as the colours may be muted.

[@Emma-zk6it]

Ese fue un buen intro! Appreciate the Spanish effort. I think they are aiming to sell the manual lens to mirrorless users, also is laying the ground for the upcoming film slr

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! I also hope that this is part of their future film camera project.

[@afrikabb]

Well, there are different coatings available from Voigtlander 35mm f/1.4 Nokton Classic being SC and MC version.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you. I did not know that.

[@sebastianreith9474]

In my opinion it was a great move by Pentax releasing those two lenses. I own the superior HD D FA 50 1.4 * lens and haven’t ever been interested in the old smc version. Now with the new rainbow effect I’m pretty much convinced to get one for getting a different option to play with

[@DavidHancock]

Good point. I also can't wait to try these.

[@sdhute]

Does the release of these two 50mm lenses mean we are closer to the 35mm film camera being released ? Lee iverson has a new video on the new classic version. Aka rainbow lens. Question are these going to have loud focus motors?

[@DavidHancock]

Good question and I don't know. For the AF motor, I'm expecting these to use the cameras' screw-drive motors. That could mean some gear whine, or not. The AF sound would depend on the way Ricoh makes these.

[@sdhute]

@@DavidHancock surprised they didn’t plm motor these unless they want backward compatibility.

[@DavidHancock]

@@sdhuteThe Ricoh website (just checked) confirms body AF. I have to assume there's no room in the housing for a motor, and it looks like they wanted to keep the same size and shape as the previous iterations of the design.

[@leotomma3494]

I'm trying to get the 50mm full frame lens

[@DavidHancock]

Nice!

[@cecilsharps]

I've never worked with phenidone developers. So i emailed clayton chemical to ask a technical question. They didn't have the answer but they offered to send me a free sample that retails for about 10 bucks. When i thanked em and said i'd put it to good use teaching my autistic nephew to develop and print, they decided to send me 50 bucks worth of free samples instead.

[@DavidHancock]

That's awesome! We used Clayton at one of the schools I took photo classes at and the professors said they made great stuff.

[@mamo4104]

Beautiful Dog.....I am thinking of switching to Pentax from Nikon due to the amazing selection of Pentax lenses, especially the 4 limited ones, the 21, 31,43, and 77mm Limited I always wanted to own, alas very expensive....and now the new 50mm. Nikon Z lenses are amazing however, compared to Pentax they are huge.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! Both makers make great lenses. Three of the full-frame limiteds (there are APS-C limited as well) can be used with adapters on mirrorless cameras (the 21mm cannot due to the KAF4 mount being incompatible with adapters unless you shoot wide open.) So you may be able to get a Pentax K to Nikon Z adapter (and macro adapters, if available, are AWESOME to boost a lens' usability) and then you can use the 31mm, 43mm, and 77mm on your Z.

[@Veterans_for_Harris]

I have the cheap 50/f1.8. It's all I can afford. On my K3 I find 50mm too narrow. I prefer the 35mm. The cheap one!

[@DavidHancock]

50mm is a bit narrow on APs-C. The 35mm f/2.4 Pentax lens is also an exceptional lens, just like the 1.8.

[@davidblanchard6785]

The k1 was a great camera but it was too heavy for me, I would love too get a k3 with a 18mm f2 lense or faster and a 35mm f2 which would be all that I would need. Please 🙏 if u know anyone at pentax tell them too come out with a apsc 18mm and a 23mm f2 or faster.

[@DavidHancock]

I concur that the K-1 is a heavy camera for the size, and with a couple lenses like the big 50mm 1.4 SDM and a zoom or two, it's a VERY heavy kit to carry around.

[@richardhale9664]

Due to the flange distance of a SLR it is impossible to make a small, light lens in the focal lengths you want with the desired aperture. Even mirrorless designs these days seem to struggle to do so, but that may be as a result of the AF motors. Like you I did struggle with the thought of a K1 for quite some time due to its size and weight. However, a couple of years ago I caved in and got one at a very good price. I have not looked back. It is beautifully engineered, a joy to hold (apart from the weight!), produces gorgeous images and has a proper sized OVF which I find very important for composition with wider lenses, of which there is a huge variety available if you don't mind old MF glass. Sadly, since the acquisition of the K1 I rarely use my K3 which I keep now partly for emotional reasons and partly because it is still my best camera for close up shots with macro lenses. With a lens like an M, A, F or FA 50mm f1.7, the K1 whilst obviously big and indiscreet, is not too heavy compared to my K3 and FA 35mm f2. When I want small and discreet these days I just choose to use a Fujifilm X-T10 and either a 27mm or 35mm. There are also a good few options for something similar in m4/3rds. Panasonic even makes a decent 14mm (28mm equivalent) which is very small.

[@davidblanchard6785]

Why on earth pentax hasn't come out with a 18mm or 23mm fast prime for the k3. I would buy a k3 in a second if they had these lenses available.

[@DavidHancock]

Honestly, it's likely just resource constraints. They. as I understand it, have a small team with many priorities.

[@xmeda]

This is why I have Sigma 18-35/1.8 and I do not regret anything. That lens is superb, perfectly usable wide open and AF works well on my K3 mk1. But yes, they are missing any own wide fast lenses.

[@davidblanchard6785]

@xmeda That lense is way too heavy for me I like too keep my primes around 350 grams max. I think a couple of standard wide angle primes would be great. It's crazy why nikon or pentax haven't come out with these kind of lenses for their dlsrs like the d500! They have a awesome 35mm 1.8 for apsc but no fast prime for it.

[@GODSPEEDseven]

Limited 15mm & 21mm Or simply Limited 20-40mm

[@eyeofalchemy]

Voigtlander did something like this too👍🏼

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! I didn't know that.

[@DcgK1000]

As film era litle and lighweight lenses we have the Limited lineup 😅

[@DavidHancock]

Good point and those are great lenses.

[@DcgK1000]

@@DavidHancock In fact the 43mm could be seen similar in price as the FA 50 1.4 ( both new)

[@cecilsharps]

The army paid for me to live in hotel in costa brava for a month. twice. I worked in Girona at spanish military base. They had a coffee drink that was quite interesting. Called a bo-bon. Sweetened condensed milk in an expresso shot.

[@DcgK1000]

Café Bombon ! ❤

[@cecilsharps]

@@DcgK1000 could be. i don't speak castillian or spanish and my neopolitan is very very poor.

[@DcgK1000]

@@cecilsharps Im spanish i corrected you with good will ;)

[@DavidHancock]

I am intrigued. I had to look it up, but I'm going to give it a go with what I have at home -- a single-cup moka pot and a milk frothing wand. I wish I'd given this a try when I was over there -- it looks awesome.

[@cecilsharps]

@@DavidHancock tutto nero is an italian cover of paint it black. it was the permanent patina on my mocha pot in napoli. The mocha pot is good to go.

[@luis-antoniogomez4094]

Your Spanish sounds very good.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@pavelpotehin4024]

Upgrading old fa 50 with new coating and better focusing ring is good decision for making cheap nifty fifty, but why on earth they rerelised old one as Classic with new black focusing scale? They could either leave it as is or also swap this awful focus ring. I don't understand why Ricoh doesn't want to remake more interesting and special Pentax lenses, like 28 and 85 soft focus duet.

[@DavidHancock]

I also don't have much fondness for the FA-era focusing ring. I find it to be an atrocious design choice, honestly. I was wondering a lot about the decisions with this release, too, and I honestly don't know. It could be they have a bunch of new old stock or components that they need to move (speculation on my part), or it could be that they're gearing up for a future film camera release, or they could need to show Ricoh they're still developing and moving products. Or some combination. I think it's an interesting approach and I suspect some number of people will buy both lenses, too.

[@xmeda]

There are SMC->HD lenses already. You have SMC DA55-300/4-5.8 and HD DA55-300/4-5.8 WR with identical optical design and just seals and HD coating. Then you have DA21/40/70 limiteds that received HD coating while nothing else changed. But they are now in deep trouble just releasing old reworked stuff. R&D department was devastated so much, that they are not able to work on more new things. They rushed into FF DSLR market while suspending APS-C ilne, but they only managed to create incompetitive incomplete FF system wannabe which now have obsolete camera, few own lenses, some overpriced Tamron OEM lenses and no market share. Lenses like 24/1.4 or 35/1.4 are missing, also any own DFA*24-70/2.8 is nowhere, just that rebranded G1 Tamron. There is nothing wider than 15mm rectilinear for FF unless you dig for old Sigma 12-24. There are no telephoto lenses with 450mm+ reach. Not even walkaround ultrazoom like 28-200/3.5-5.6 and also no light tele like 70-300/4-5.6 for that FF. APS-C line at least have some lenses to work with, but they need modern cameras too. K3III with fixed screen, shallow buffer and horrible price is nowhere near XT-5 competitor and low-end KF is a joke. Who on earth will buy 2016 K70 renamed to KF in 2023 for such price. I started using Pentax in 2008 with K20D. It was very promising alternative to canikon at that time offering a lot of value and functionality. Then K5 was released a bit later, which dominated APS-C segment for couple years.. and then Ricoh stepped in and everything started going downhill. Reduced R&D, barely any new products, FF experiment, Q line dead, 645 line dead..

[@DavidHancock]

Yes, but I'll argue this is different because the lenses are being made in concert, not succession. As for Pentax rushing into the FF market, I'm not sure how a development lifecycle of around 15 years constitutes rushing into anything. The first Pentax FF prototype, the MZ-D, was displayed in 2000. The K-1 arrived in 2016 after a very long period of R&D and refinement. Pentax doesn't ever rush anything to market. As for nothing longer than 450, you mean aside from the 560 f/5.6, correct? IF you want to limit the list to in-production lenses, yeah, 450 is the limit. 450 is a lot of length and there are very, very few use cases where anything longer than 500 actually makes sense. If I were on safari photographing man-eating lions without the safety of a vehicle to hide in, then yeah, I may want something longer than 450. But for birds, trains, sports, often 450 is a hair too long. As for nothing wider than 15mm on FF, since you mentioned the Sigma third-party lens: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hIPNc5eCadqenZY There are very good Pentax K third-party options and the Pentax K roadmap definitely appears to account for those options in the focal lengths that Pentax releases. Why would they compete with other makers when they can invest their R&D dollars into gaps that exist between their lineup and the third-party lineups? As for Q, yes, Pentax announced a long time ago that it was being discontinued. For the 645, when you say it's dead, you mean the Z is being replaced, correct? Ricoh started discussing what the 645Z replacement will look like in February this year, meaning one is in the works. So that seems to indicate that the system is not dead. Honestly, Ricoh is one of the best things that's happened to Pentax in decades. The Pentax cameras that Ricoh has released have all been very good, well developed, and well designed. The lenses that Ricoh has released for Pentax are exceptional performers for great build quality and fantastic image quality.