Lens options for Pentax MX

hoakin1981 · Sep 18, 2014

I currently use my Pentax MX with a Chinon 50mm f1.9.

I was just wondering whether I would be able to achieve much better IQ results in both sharpness & contrast with a different brand 50mm lens.

Any options available that would not break the bank?

Thanks

Nuff · Sep 18, 2014

Get pentax smc 50mm. They don't get much better than them. Get the m or k version

Roger Cole · Sep 18, 2014

Nuff said:
Get pentax smc 50mm. They don't get much better than them. Get the m or k version

I bet the OP won't notice a difference.

Most off branded 50mms are fine, especially the f/1.7 and slower ones.

Is there some particular dissatisfaction with the Chinon lens, or is this just idle wondering? Unless you see a real deficiency (could be a bad sample of anything, and granted, I don't know this particular lens) you'd probably be better off to spend the money on a new focal length, or just more film and supplies. Of course if you shoot a lot in low light you might want a faster 50mm, but that's going to cost a bit (not much point in going from a 1.9 to a 1.7 so I'm talking about a 1.4, which would cost more, or a 1.2 which would indeed probably "break the bank") and, what's more, you'll find that your 1.9, if it's a decent sample, is probably just as good or better at medium apertures, and probably far better if used with extension tubes for close ups.

Ian Grant · Sep 18, 2014

The Chinon standard lenses were excellent performers so as above it's unlikely you see any difference with a Pentax lens. I've used and still own both.

Ian

hoakin1981 · Sep 18, 2014

Thanks for input.

So, apart from the Pentax, any other options that might make difference? And just to clarify, I have no problem spending up to 150-ish $ for a decent upgrade in IQ

E. von Hoegh · Sep 18, 2014

hoakin1981 said:
Thanks for input.

So, apart from the Pentax, any other options that might make difference? And just to clarify, I have no problem spending up to 150-ish $ for a decent upgrade in IQ

Most of the slower -1.8,1.9, 2.0 - standard 50s are excellent, with less difference between manufacturers than you might expect. I have a 55/1.8 SMC Takumar on a Spotmatic and it's superb. Better than your Chinon? No idea. Coatings, single vs multi might make a bigger difference than manufacturer.

dynachrome · Sep 18, 2014

My favorite standard K lens is the 55/1.8 SMC Pentax. As far as I can tell the 55/2 SMC Pentax is the same lens but with a different sppeed marking. Both are excellent. The 50/1.7 M is also very good. I do not care for the 50/2 M and I do not know whether any later 50/2 models are different optically. There are a number of Sears and Ricoh brand standard lenses in my K mount collection and they all seem to work well too. The 50/1.7 Promaster also seems good and is decently made.

E. von Hoegh · Sep 18, 2014

dynachrome said:
My favorite standard K lens is the 55/1.8 SMC Pentax. As far as I can tell the 55/2 SMC Pentax is the same lens but with a different sppeed marking. Both are excellent. The 50/1.7 M is also very good. I do not care for the 50/2 M and I do not know whether any later 50/2 models are different optically. There are a number of Sears and Ricoh brand standard lenses in my K mount collection and they all seem to work well too. The 50/1.7 Promaster also seems good and is decently made.

It is. Pentax did that more than once, I have an old AutoTakumar that was standard on the H1/S1. It's a 55/2.2; there was a 55/2.0 that was the same lens - the 2.2 version has a "restrictor" - a washer - over the front element.

Hatchetman · Sep 18, 2014

I have a screwmount Takumar 55MM f1.8, which is outstanding.

dynachrome · Sep 18, 2014

I forgot one more lens. I have a 50/1.7 SMC Pentax-F which is also excellent. When I am not using film I use it for portraits on a Pentax K-x DSLR.

Mark Crabtree · Sep 18, 2014

All these lenses are good, but I think the SMC M 50 1.4 is a particularly good version of a good lens design. The Pentax multi-coatings are great, plus I often need 1.4 aperture. The 1.4 50 should also be very slightly better than the other lens when shot at f2. That is my experience anyway, but the difference isn't at all significant in real life. From 2.8 on all the Pentax lenses will be pretty fabulous; I can't speak personally about the Chinon.

I use both M42 and K mount on my MX, but certainly prefer the auto aperture of using the native K mount.

benjiboy · Sep 18, 2014

The Pentax 50mm SMC f1.4 or f1.7 KA lens on your MX is a good combination they were made for each other.

Ian Grant · Sep 18, 2014

benjiboy said:
The Pentax 50mm SMC f1.4 or f1.7 KA lens on your MX is a good combination they were made for each other.

The KA lenses were made for later Pentax cameras which allowed shutter & aperture and program modes. They tend to sell for more than the K & M series lenses.

Ian

johnha · Sep 18, 2014

I doubt you'd notice much difference, but the Pentax SMC 50mm f/1.7 lenses are probably slightly better, the f/1.4s being slightly faster are better suited to lower light but in reality the difference would be marginal. Better to look for another focal length that would be more useful in my opinion.

My 'standard' lens choice would be to consider the Pentax-M 40mm f/2.8, slightly wider, slightly slower but much more compact (it only protrudes 18mm beyond the lens mount), and on an MX makes the camera almost 'pocketable'.

Roger Cole · Sep 18, 2014

E. von Hoegh said:
Most of the slower -1.8,1.9, 2.0 - standard 50s are excellent, with less difference between manufacturers than you might expect. I have a 55/1.8 SMC Takumar on a Spotmatic and it's superb. Better than your Chinon? No idea. Coatings, single vs multi might make a bigger difference than manufacturer.

The more elements in the lens, the more difference coatings will make so in complex zooms the difference in substantial. I doubt you'd notice the difference in a 50mm prime. If you did it would likely only be with really strong back lighting.

Now the difference between uncoated and single coated, that's a much bigger difference.

MattKing · Sep 19, 2014

I'd look for another focal length to supplement my kit before I looked for another lens similar to the excellent quality one I already have.

Or something much faster, or with macro/micro capabilities, or with a leaf shutter ....

Pioneer · Sep 19, 2014

The sharpest Pentax 50 I own is one of my M 50/2 copies. At 5.6 it is excellent though it is also very good at f2 as well.

The 50/1.4 and 50/1.2 are very useful in low light but the 50/2 is lighter and gives up nothing to the other two in 95% or more of your picture taking scenarios.

And it is a LOT less expensive.

Over the years I have learned a few interesting facts about lenses, particularly normal lenses.

1) Most lenses are actually very good whether they are considered "fast" or not; a good example is your Chinon. A really fine piece of glass, though very underrated.
2) If your lens isn't very good it is almost certainly your copy, not the lens design. Keep trying them out until you find a good one. Then don't ever sell it!!
3) Life is too short to put up with a bad copy of a Pentax lens. After all, they really aren't that expensive. It isn't a Leica after all.

Steve Smith · Sep 19, 2014

Whilst the Pentax 50mm f1.7 is a great lens, if I remember correctly, the Chinon lens is good too.

Steve.

Les Sarile · Sep 19, 2014

I tested my Pentax 50mm lenses and as already reiterated above, unless you are conducting controlled target testing under ideal conditions, you will be hard pressed to tell the difference.

Link to full res -> 50mm lens test

Of course with the Pentax MX huge viewfinder and lightweight, it will give an advantage in critical focusing and hand holding situations.

moltogordo · Sep 26, 2014

I use the 50mm f1.4 Pentax-M lens on my MX, and for portraits on my K10 and Kx DSLRs. I remember Herbert Keppler saying that this was the sharpest normal lens he'd used ever, and while I'm not going to say otherwise because I've not shot as many as he, I can tell you it's pretty fine. What I like about it is that it's usable wide open.

My niece is a professional artist, and I photographed her against one of her pictures at a gallery exhibition. This shot was made at f1.4, handheld at 1/20th second with my Pentax K10. I think you can see why I like it.

However, I don't think your Chinon would come off much different in the field. If you really want to buy another lens, I'd suggest keeping your Chinon (which is more than decent - I had one), and pick up a 50mm f2.8 Pentax-A Macro. You'll be dazzled. It's the sharpest lens I own, and I put it ahead of my 55mm Micro-Nikkor f2.8. It's that good. Another gem (if you can get it) is the 35mm Pentax-A f2.8. The guys on the Pentax Forum say it's at the head of the 35mm class. Having one, I'd agree! But they're hard to get!

Lens options for Pentax MX

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