Pentax HD FA 50mm f/1.4 SDM AW Lens

What a beautiful lens, I bought this to compliment the DA* 200mm and 300mm lenses that I own. The HD FA 50mm f/1.4 really lives up to its name. So sharp with beautiful colour rendition and bokeh.

This lens is very sharp, probably sharper than any other lens I own, which includes the 77 limited. Possibly the best aspects though are the colour rendition and bokeh which brings the wow factor. I did have to correct for back focus, so I'd recommend anyone buying this lens to check for focus plus update camera to latest software. Perfect lens? Very close. A slight magenta cast wide open, but gone at 2.8. Expect this lens will be even better paired with the new ke iti.

This lens works up to all the great review. However, it took me few hour of testing time to realize - it requires latest firmware on camera. Almost returned it as bad copy. Luckily asked community first. Older cameras like k3ii might even overexpose with old firmware. Newer like K1 - will misfocus badly with firmware below 1.50

I committed to the Pentax K-1 as my main camera based on the release of this lens, it is an excellent performer in every regard. The new K-mount D FA* lenses by Pentax are incredible pieces of equipment and I eagerly await a wider lens in the series to compliment this and the HD Pentax-D FA* 85mm F1.4 ED SDM AW I recently purchased.

entax have always offered fine, compact lenses and the first impression here is that the new 50mm lens is instead very heavy and very bulky, weighing in at a substantial 910g without hood or caps. However, once fitted to the K-1 II, and by easy inference the K-1 as well, it balances amazingly well. It no longer feels or looks out of place, just very well suited. The longer it us used, the more appropriate it feels on the full frame bodies. There is a provided petal lens hood that bayonets cleanly into position. In common with many Pentax hoods, there is a small removable window that enables polarising filters to be rotated whilst the hood is still in position. Within the bayonet fit is a standard 72mm filter thread. The rest of the front of the lens is filled with the large front element, coated with a Fluorine Super-Protect layer to repel grease and moisture. The lens is also coated throughout using Pentax's new HD multi- coating plus their Aero-Bright II nano technology to eliminate flare and ghosting. Optical construction is 15 elements in 9 groups, a long way from the traditional 7/6 construction. There are also 3 Anomalous Dispersion and 1 Aspherical elements. Clearly a serious bit of glass. The bayonet mount is the usual Pentax quality, secured in this instance with no less than 7 screws. Many lenses have only three screws to retain their mounts, so hopefully this is indicative of a very strong and long lasting mount for this heavy lens. There are no handling issues '“ the lens operates flawlessly and is a total pleasure to use. AF is fast, balance is excellent and the all weather construction gives confidence to keep on shooting regardless of the weather.