Pentax FA 50mm 1.4 or Pentax DA 55mm 1.4 or Sigma 50mm f1.4 HSM

[pinholecam]

Don't want to lead you away with all the 85mm talk

There is really no wrong choice out of the 3.
Value for money - FA50/1.4
gets the job done; use a hood and see that its not really that 'less sharp'.
A lot of what we see is at normal viewing sizes. Not 100% crops.
At f1.4 what makes the image interesting is the subject isolation and apparent sharpness the OOF area gives.
Its not really 'soft' anyway. Just hard to get tack focus with the shallow DOF and it gets far sharper stopped down from f2 onwards.
Certainly 'sharp enough' if focus is tack on.

Dont mind the size/weight/price - Sigma 50/1.4 is perhaps the sharpest 50mm out there from f1.4.

Nice lens with good rendering, but pricey, orientated towards portraits for APS-C - DA*55/1.4


Then again if you are considering the Sigma 50/1.4 do look at the FA43ltd as your '50mm' as well.
A bit of a 'wider' 50mm, which can prove to be more versatile.
Nice small size and build quality.
Very sharp lens immediately from f2.0
Nice rendering.

 

[Anthony Lee]

From my experience with many exotic lenses like the Leicas and Zeisses, CVs and everything there is, I will be very satisfied with the 31, 43 and 77 Ltds. Aesthetically, size, weight, convenience, these lenses match the K5 so well that one would think they are fixed lenses on the K5 when mounted. IQ is up there with the best and with today's PP softwares, is there anything one can't do? My advise is, stop dreaming and just reading reviews, go buy that lens, get intimate with it, and produce the photos that people will hoo and ha about. When you are up there with the best, any lens will do.

 

[Nanoo]

Hi TS...few months back I was in your shoes. Trying to decide between FA 31 and DA* 55.
I know the application of these lens are different and I was more of a portrait shooter.
So I went down to the shop to try out both.
I tested the FA 31 first and boy oh boy...the built, the bokeh, the IQ...
Then I tested the DA* 55 and MIND OH MIND...the BOKEH...the IQ, the SDM...
In the end..although I love the DA* 55's bokeh and IQ, I ended up buying the FA 31 because of its look, built and FL versatility in landscape and portrait.
So, in short, if you want a hardcore portrait lens that doesn't disappoint...DA* 55, I'd suggest.
Lastly, just wanna just with you a quick picture I took during the testing of DA* 55.

Taken with K-x at ISO 200, 1/160, f1.4

 

[umar911]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

I have decided to go for Sigma 50mm 1.4

 

[detritus]

From my experience with many exotic lenses like the Leicas and Zeisses, CVs and everything there is, I will be very satisfied with the 31, 43 and 77 Ltds. Aesthetically, size, weight, convenience, these lenses match the K5 so well that one would think they are fixed lenses on the K5 when mounted. IQ is up there with the best and with today's PP softwares, is there anything one can't do? My advise is, stop dreaming and just reading reviews, go buy that lens, get intimate with it, and produce the photos that people will hoo and ha about. When you are up there with the best, any lens will do.

:bsmilie: i couldn't disagree less.

 

[jason1980]

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge.

I have decided to go for Sigma 50mm 1.4

Have you gotten it? May i know what is the price?
Need to do calibration?

 

[umar911]

yes, I got it last week for 740. Just to be on the safe side I would take it to sigma distributor for calibration as well.

 

[jason1980]

Thanks bro, i am thinking of getting one too. Da*55 is outta reach for me. and i might as well top up abit more for the sigma over the FA50

 

[umar911]

Thanks bro, i am thinking of getting one too. Da*55 is outta reach for me. and i might as well top up abit more for the sigma over the FA50

Its a good lens. I compared it with DA 55 side by side before buying it. I found 50mm hsm to have a higher IQ. The only downside is WR feature which is not a problem for me.