Pentax smc FA 50 mm f/1.4 review - Summary

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Pentax smc FA 50 mm f/1.4

14 June 2010

Arkadiusz Olech

11. Summary

Pros:

solid but small barrel,
excellent image quality up from f/2.0,
low distortion,
acceptable astigmatism,
good autofocus work,
relatively good transmission,
good work against bright light on stopping down the aperture.

Cons:

noticeable „soap” by f/1.4,
high chromatic aberration,
narrow and not very comfortable manual focus ring,
weak work against bright light at the maximum relative aperture,
too high coma.

Although the “cons” list consists of as many as five items, the overall performance of the lens should be assessed as good. This device seems to be a tad better suggestion than the Pentax 2.8/40 Limited, tested before – mainly because of better results at the edge of the frame. Up from f/2.8 aperture the lens generates outstandingly sharp images. By f/2.0 you can have some reservations about the frame edge and inadequate lighting conditions certainly might make some photographers use f/1.4. Doing so, they will not be exactly happy with the results but they can’t complain either because for this price the competitors offer you nothing better.

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Sample shots:


Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.4, exp. 1/90 s, ISO 400 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.2 MB	Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.8, exp. 1/20 s, ISO 400 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.3 MB	Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/5.6, exp. 1/90 s, ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 3.9 MB

Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.4, exp. 1/3000 s, ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.3 MB	Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/4.5, exp. 1/250 s, ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.6 MB	Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/3.5, exp. 1/2000 s, ISO 100 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.6 MB

Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/1.4, exp. 1/750 s, ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.2 MB	Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/2.4, exp. 1/350 s, ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.2 MB	Camera: Pentax K10D Parameters: 50 mm, f/4.0, exp. 1/40 s, ISO 200 File: JPG, 3872x2592 pix, 2.4 MB