Web Analytics RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: Would You Buy This Lens?

Thursday, January 09, 2014

Would You Buy This Lens?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMC-Pentax-A-50mm-f-1-2-MF-Lens-Serial-1414748-New-in-Box-/261370308717?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item3cdae2686d

It is claimed that it is a brand new item produced by Asahi Optical Company long time ago. Since I have also many of those excellent Asahi glasses, which are all in very good condition, I must be rich if I sell them! ;-p
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Joshua's avatar - Go to profile

Joshua · 586 weeks ago

Please save your money and buy this instead: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2014/01/06/fujifilm-.... Half the price and excellent modern optics. Oh, wrong mount? Sell your Pentax like I did and move on.
6 replies · active 585 weeks ago
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Vitaliy's avatar

Vitaliy · 586 weeks ago

Very expensive! I think it cost new 250-350 dollars.
3 replies · active 585 weeks ago
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FFprettyplease's avatar

FFprettyplease · 586 weeks ago

WOW! That's a load of money.

I'm always suspicious of old stock lenses, brand new in box but 20 years old. It says this thing was returned, likely due to optical issues and never resold.

Much sooner have a real used one. The more scratches on the thing indicates it's optically great.

Good to see f/1.2 is coming back. The manufactuers had stopped making them because ISO performance was getting better, but realize people actually want the shallow depth of field as well.

Joshua, which brand did you move to?
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Alexander's avatar

Alexander · 586 weeks ago

It is definitely overpriced. EX condition costs ~$650-700 now, and it is not a huge problem to find. Looking at other lenses, MINT or NIB usually costs 1.5 more. So $1000-1200 is probably the good price for those. And I've heard a couple of years ago this was about a price for the new lens in some Japan offline stores that time.
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Snappertim's avatar

Snappertim · 586 weeks ago

The question should be "Why would you buy this lens" most manufacure's made 1.2 lens' as a focusing aid, the bright image made focusing quick and accurate, most like Pentax dropped the 1.2 when autofocus became the standard, larger lens elements are harder to make in the correct way and this can effect overall performance, Olympus used to give dealers a free lens for meeting sales targets, this probably was such an item and therefore never had a customer waiting and did not get sold, but the price is too high and why would you want one.
Regards Snappertim
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FFprettyplease's avatar

FFprettyplease · 586 weeks ago

The Pentax-A 50mm f/1.2 is one of the great fast lenses, but I'd prefer the Revuenon MC 55mm f/1.2.

I have the earlier Pentax-K 50mm f/1.2 and it's a great lens but not as sharp as the two mentioned above. However, these lenses are bokeh kings and the K excels at this.

They are worth getting if you can get in good condition and at the right price. The one Rice has linked is way too much money.
15 replies · active 585 weeks ago
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Simon's avatar

Simon · 586 weeks ago

The A 50mm 1.2 Ltd. is just beautiful.
2 replies · active 585 weeks ago
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Jac's avatar

Jac · 586 weeks ago

I've used this lens for a couple of weeks in the film era. It's great but not as good as the F1.4 version, at least in my experience, so I wouldn't trade it for my Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 which is performing great on my K-5.
1 reply · active 585 weeks ago
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Anonimity is Great's avatar

Anonimity is Great · 586 weeks ago

At that price it will be bought and stored, never used, until such time it can be sold even more expensively. It is no longer a lens, it's a collectible item.
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Pop's avatar

Pop · 586 weeks ago

You never know if it's legit until you research the store like I did, I use the one I bought unused in the box for $500 on a daily basis.
3 replies · active 586 weeks ago
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dave's avatar

dave · 586 weeks ago

Buy the Nikon 50 1.8 g for 200 $ or wait for Sigma Art 50mm 1.4
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FFprettyplease's avatar

FFprettyplease · 586 weeks ago

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Frans's avatar

Frans · 586 weeks ago

I have find this Lens in ebay on the PEntax P30 for 30 € (25 dollars) A great lens. On my Sony A7, i Work great http://www.flickr.com/photos/criminologue/1157140... http://www.flickr.com/photos/criminologue/1154535...

BUT I prefer the 43mm F1.9 on the A7, The photo is more shine... is a little better combo.
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Chris's avatar

Chris · 586 weeks ago

Just ordered the 18-270 SDM (for movie clips) and the 20-40 Limited (to complete my collection). I would never buy a MANUALLY FOCUSED f/1.2 lens. My eyes are simply not good enough, I would be disappointed by the number of out-of-focus pictures.
7 replies · active 586 weeks ago
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Bukaj's avatar

Bukaj · 586 weeks ago

Third party - a chinese one. It needed a bit of adjusting (shimming with a scotch tape) to be precise and it is not exactly the brightest one (and did come a bit dirty from the factory:-), but when mounted properly and with some training it's priceless for using very fast MF lenses. I may try a KatzEye one, they are said to be better than those no name ones like I bought...
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Bosse's avatar

Bosse · 586 weeks ago

Well, in Sweden you can buy this lens for 6.750 Skr, apr 1.041 USD at http://www.l-foto.se/
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OGL's avatar

OGL · 585 weeks ago

I've sold mine 2 years ago for 600 USD. A50/1.2 is not bad lens, but it's ordinary 50 mm lens from f2.
1.2-1.6 are rather soft and with low contrast. No AF is big issue for me.
3 replies · active 585 weeks ago
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OGL's avatar

OGL · 585 weeks ago

The real price for new A50/1.2 is not above 600USD. I've bought my lens in Japan for 580USD. It was made in Japan.
But it could be assembled in Vietnam too.

Made approx. 100-200 photos and sold.
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FFprettyplease's avatar

FFprettyplease · 585 weeks ago

Having a look for alternatives for sharp manual primes, on the expensive end is Carl Zeiss ZK's (50mm and 85mm f/1.4), rare and found a few in Japan.

But a much better bet seems to be Samyang these days at a quarter of the price and by many accounts optically and mechanically excellent.

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