SMC-A 50 f/1.4

The 50 mm lens used to be the work horse in film photography, not too long and not too wide, or just “lagom,” as we say in Swedish. On the DSLR it becomes a short tele of about 75 mm but hardly less useful in the process. Perhaps even more so when considering that these Pentax primes are among the best lenses ever made.

Achiko and Yoshiko are duly impressed by all the glass and metal in this vintage SMC-A 50 f/1.4.

Impressions

For more on these wonderful lenses see “My Favorite Lens” by Mike Johnston.
Mike Johnston also writes in Stan’s Pentax Site: “I have owned or used the Carl Zeiss Contax 50/1.4, the AF-Nikkor 50/1.4, the Canon EF 50/1.4, the Leica R 50/1.4 (the old one with the 55mm filter thread), a Yashica 50/1.4, The Leica M 50/1.4, and the Voigtlaender Nokton 50/1.5. For all-around image quality in real pictures, the Pentax 50/1.4 is my favorite of them all.”

Examples

Fake window with reflections (1/180 f/4.0).

Unretouched detail from the original image (3008 x 2000 pixels).

Don’t Panic!

No, I could not get the lens to work in manual mode either, not at first. It turns out that the answers can be found in the camera manual, but not that easily.
First of all – set the camera to Manual Focus mode, if you don’t, it wont let you expose at all if the object is out of focus or it is too dark for the focus measurement to work.
Better then to start with the excellent advice in “K mount (M) lenses on *istDS – what's the real story ?” on photo.net.

To sum it up:

• In the *istDS set Custom Setup > Using Aperture Ring to Permitted.
• Set the Mode Dial to M.
• Set the Aperture Ring to the desired value and focus the camera at your subject.
• Press AE-L. This will stop the aperture down and set the exposure time.
• Check the depth of field if you wish. Take your picture.

Specifications

Lens construction: 7 elements in 6 groups
Number of diaphragm blades: 8
Minimum aperture: f/22
Minimum focusing distance: 0.45m
Filter size: 49mm
Maximum magnification: 0.15X
Dimensions (diameter x length): 63mm x 37mm
Weight: 235g

Links

Tips from digitalkamera.de Alte Juwelen – Analoge Objektive an DSLRs
Pentax Lens Wiki 5014
The Lens Gallery: Bokeh & flare SMC A 50/1.4
Lens Comments in Stan’s Pentax Photography Site.
Pentax Lenses are among The Best (Autofocus) Lenses Money Can Buy
Bojidar Dimitrov’s Pentax K-Mount Page

Messing around with lenses is safe, pleasant, and harms no one.