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SMC Pentax 50mm 1.4 ?

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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
I have heard around the internet that these are pretty legit, I have the opportunity to get one for $60 to use with my T2i. Has anybody had any experience with them? Any ideas about a good mount with focus chip? Ant advice appreciated.
Aug 3 2011 1:27PM
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eheath
Posts: 61602 - Karma: 123,028
You're not gonna be able to get a focus chip adapter, since the pentax smc is a manual lens. Just look up (you camera, guessing EOS) to pentax mount (PK mount), they're like 20-30 bucks. definitely get it.
Aug 3 2011 1:33PM
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kootenayklaus
Posts: 3914 - Karma: 2,179
WHERE ARE YOU GUYS FINDING THESE? I can't find one for under like 100 dollars...
Aug 3 2011 1:35PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
Sweet, Thanks Evan-would camera stores carry that or is it an internet only type of thing?
Aug 3 2011 1:39PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
craigslist can be your best friend sometimes, it often has a lot of the older lenses on it
Aug 3 2011 1:40PM
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eheath
Posts: 61602 - Karma: 123,028
i dunno if a camera store would have it, but ebay sure does.
Aug 3 2011 2:17PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
On it, thanks! looking forward to see how the picture looks
Aug 3 2011 2:49PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
For anybody looking, my grandapa just gave me a smc pentax f/2. That is in immaculate condition, hardly used. No lens cap or back though. Hit me up if interested.
Aug 3 2011 4:05PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
Af confirm adaptors are 30 on amazon
Aug 3 2011 6:02PM
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eheath
Posts: 61602 - Karma: 123,028
.... pentax smc lenses are manual.
Aug 3 2011 6:32PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
overstock.com has them for 14.95
Aug 3 2011 6:33PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
im not sure exactly how it works, but they have some sort of focus confirmation chip in them. im guessing the af points blink/beep for what is sharp? Idk ive never used them personally.
Aug 3 2011 6:36PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
AF confirm is dumb. Just learn how to use an actual lens and it becomes a non-issue.

Also, the Pentax SMC 50mm 1.4 is my favorite lens. I don't know why everyone keeps buying that crummy Canon 50mm 1.8 when a far better lens can be had for cheaper.
Aug 3 2011 7:56PM
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B.Snow
Posts: 1859 - Karma: 92
I just got my adapter in the mail for my 50 1.4 and it works great. It was like 14$ on ebay with free shipping from hong kong. It took almost 2 weeks to get to me but it works well and feels solid.
Aug 3 2011 8:10PM
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
I own the Takumar 55 1.8, the SMC Takumar 135 3.5 and the Tokina 28 2.8 all cost me 50$ or less. GREAT SUCCESS
Aug 4 2011 9:25AM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
do you like the tokina? I want to get one
Aug 4 2011 10:35AM
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BieberHole69
Posts: 1374 - Karma: 2,718
hah I was/am looking at the same listing as you. I also have the 50mm f2 but wanted to upgrade to this one as well. You snag it yet?
Aug 4 2011 1:15PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
How is it wide open? Also, anyone know how it compares to the canon
Aug 4 2011 1:39PM
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TravelsTI
Posts: 1000 - Karma: 353
I got the one that was from Kent, but I think there are a few others out there as well.
Aug 4 2011 1:45PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
Tack sharp and contrasty. Although I don't know why you'd shoot it wide open...
Aug 4 2011 2:59PM
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
Yeah its a solid lens
Aug 4 2011 4:43PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
The stars, my friend, that's why. Anyone have thoughts on this vs. The canon 50 1.4?
Aug 4 2011 5:37PM
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alexat955
Posts: 2732 - Karma: 112
It's vivitar branded right? I've been looking at the 24 2.8 and the 28 2.8. Sorry for the slight threadjack
Aug 4 2011 7:33PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
All the more reason to stop it down...
Aug 4 2011 7:44PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
?
Aug 4 2011 11:48PM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
Stars are very far apart, and they require maximum sharpness in order to see them clearly. I don't see how having a lens wide open to shoot stars would be useful since not only is the lens softer when wide open, it also has a shallower depth of field.
Aug 4 2011 11:57PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
it lets in much more light, and i thought you said it is tack sharp wide open...
Aug 5 2011 12:27AM
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Balto
Posts: 25985 - Karma: 4,404
nothing is tack sharp wide open
Aug 5 2011 12:30AM
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andstuff
Posts: 1118 - Karma: 61
It is "tack sharp" wide open compared to how most 50mm still primes. However, its still sharpest at 5.6, and noticeably so. If you're shooting timelapses and you need light, opening the aperture isn't the way to do it. That's controlled by the shutter speed.

Not to say shooting wide open won't work, it just isn't optimal on ANY lens because most lenses have a sweet spot somewhere around f/5.6 - f/8.
Aug 5 2011 12:32AM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
i know its not optimal, i just wanted to make sure it would work
Aug 5 2011 12:33AM
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vandersteeze
Posts: 2650 - Karma: 1,511
No its labeled Tokina EL on the front.
Aug 5 2011 2:13AM
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solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
AMAZING lens for the price, buy it.
Aug 5 2011 4:31AM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
Alright, so after some research I bought what is the best version, the super-multi-coated one for m42. im going to use a uv light to remove the yellowing, but is a af confirm adaptor worth it? extra $20...
Aug 6 2011 6:17PM
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S.C
Posts: 3068 - Karma: 2,285
nobody?
Aug 6 2011 8:36PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
Im not sure anyone on here has ever used one. For video, definitely dont even bother. For photos, maybe? I find it SUPER hard to focus manual lenses on mine because it doesnt have the pentaprism viewfinder my film bodies do, at least when they are wide open and i have a razor thin DoF. But maybe i just suck haha.
Aug 6 2011 9:09PM
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the.cheat
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 171
i think its worth it, i got it in my nikon adapter, handy for photos (which is what i do anyways) and it can be dreadful trying to focus properly through a dslr viewfinder (especially on a 1.6 crop) without it or a pentaprism. if you do photos, i recommend it
Aug 7 2011 1:47AM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
how exactly does it work?
Aug 7 2011 2:55AM
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the.cheat
Posts: 2859 - Karma: 171
its a regular adapter with a little chip with the contacts to connect to your cam. no idea what it really does to make it work, but it hoodwinks the cam into thinking theres actually a lens on it so it'l give you af confirm i think. anyway, it works well.
Aug 7 2011 3:23AM
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