Pentax DA 50mm f1.8 Lens for Pentax DSLR Cameras

First of all, This $150 f1.8 Nifty Fifty by Pentax is fairly better than the $350 Canon 50mm f1.4 in Image Details as said on a Comparison Video by Tony Northrup. You'll find it on YouTube. Believe me You can't find this level of image details on any other f1.8 50mm Prime. First I thought that the 'All Plastic' lens would be flimsy and light weight (like the Canon 50mm f1.8 which has a hollow feel). Actually didn't expected much from this budget lens. But When I held it in my hand for the 1st time, I was surprised. It was fairly lightweight but solid. This one feels Robust for a plastic build one. I don't mind the Plastic Mount as no Brand is offering a Metal mount at this price. For a Imortant Information to other users, This Lens is a 'DA' series lens which is meant for all Digital Pentax SLRs said to be optimized for FF Cameras. On Cropped Sensor Cameras, It's focal length translates into 76.5mm. Thus, good for Portraits and as a workaround lens. Inside the box, there was the lens itself with lenscaps on both side. No lens hood or pouch. There's a 'Serial Number Card' but no Warranty Card though. Got this lens from 'Tridev Deals' as a Amazon Fulfilled item. (Though the retail box was all wrapped with a thin plastic film, I doubt if the product is brand new as I heard that Pentax don't seal their product package. And I found the rear element lens cap was scratched allover.) And thhe Courier Service Provider "Gati" was too slow. It took 2 weeks to deliver the product when other courier services took only 3/4 days on maximum to my PIN (in India). There's slight Color Fringing and fair amount of softness with this lens wide open. Normal user won't find anything at all (You need to peep the image at 100% or need a hige sized print). But as you stop down to 2.5 and on, the Sharpness Increases relatively. And the lens is just gorgeous from f4.0. It is Super sharp from f4.0 to f8.0. Autofocus is accurate most of the time with my K-50. but it was loud because of the old school Screw Drive type AF Motor. Low light Images are good and AF performed decently in dimmed conditions. Though it hunts. You just cannot expect too much at this price point with all these features already offered. But the main thing, this lens can create some excellent Bokeh! Bokeh is Round and Smooth. People love the photos out of it. Focus Ring is Smooth and have a long travelpath. but no distance markings on it. No QuickShift and No Aperture Ring. Filter Size Is 52mm and front element is Non-Rotating type (Focus ring rotates while Auto Focusing though). Hence One can attach any commercially available Filters on it. I use a Screw Mount Rubber Hood with it. Overall I must say This SUPER SHARP Lens is a must have for the price it has been offered. Thank you guys. Hope it helps.

This is a little wonder. Amazing piece of engineering. Quick focusing and crispy shots. But finds it difficult to focus quickly in low light conditions, shifting to manual mode in such conditions would be wise, it works like a breeze in manual mode as well.

Still exploring but a great lens, value for money. I attempted to buy an SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.4 with an unsuccessful international shipping to finally settle down for this one. Although the F1.4, a manual focus, is in a different league, it would have meant that I would never have my own pictures through that. This F1.8 allows me an occasional picture of myself being snapped by my kids or friends. Many have commented about its loud auto focus but I am OK with that in most situations and when I do need to work quietly, I simply switch to the manual focus mode.

Awesome. But if you are using a crop senser (google it) dslr, I would recommend to go for a 35mm lens as in a crop senser it acts as 50mm and the 50mm (this one) acts equivalent to 75mm thus allowing only a very narrow ccoverage. I have both the 35mm and 50mm but now I only use 35mm more coz of it ability to capture wider area and produce the same greatness of 50mm in picture quality. Regarding this lens, barring the area of coverage being very narrow, you will just love it so much that you will guve up the regular kit lens completely. The picture quality is amazing and the bokeh just too good.

I'm a new dSLR owner and this is my first prime so by no means an expert. I use it whenever possible instead of the 18-55 kit lens. Wonderful as a walkaround lens and works well for candids as it doesn't draw as much attention as a kit lens. As a newbie using this lens is just a joy and for the price I paid I have no complaints at all.

The lens is quite loud while auto focusing, but clarity is excellent with great bokeh. It is very lightweight due to the plastic body.

Neat cheap lens. Very handy for getting good quality shots as long as it lasts. Used it on Sony mirrorless with adapter. It becomes manual focus lens then. However Pentax coating helps produce surprisingly high standard jpegs. Bonus: it doesn’t vignette much on full frame. No vignetting after HDR shooting.

Amazing sharpness, verryy noisy, autofocus is most of the time bang on. the price got reduced by 500 bucks after i purchased for Rs 7999. The build quality is plastic, but the lens is an absolute value for money!!