Short review SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm

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In short

SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm is a good classic manual high-aperture fifty kopeck piece from a bygone era. There is a whole family of such lenses, in which there are approximately 8-9 main models. I already had an older version on the review SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.4 50mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN, on the basis of which the lens from this review was made.

In our time, the SMC PENTAX-A 1: 1.4 50mm is primarily interesting for the 'legendary pattern' characteristic of all similar Takumar / Pentax 50 / 1.4 lenses, compact size and high aperture.

All lenses of this family (except for the first and the last) use the same optical scheme of 7 elements in 6 groups (classic planar scheme [Planar]). The first was'Planar killer'and used an advanced scheme for those times 8/6 (difference between 7/6 and 8/6), and last - super-modern circuit 15/9!.

This SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm belongs to the 'PENTAX-A' with a Pentax K mount. The main difference between the series PENTAX-A from PENTAX-M considered 'A'-mode on the aperture control ring, which allows you to use 'A' auto iris control directly from the camera. The 'PENTAX-A' series is the last to consist of manual lenses, followed by the 'PENTAX-F' autofocus lens series.

In parallel with the '50/1.4′ line, the Pentax/Takumar lens lines of the 50/1.7, 50/1.8, 50/2, 55/1.8, 55/1.9, 55/2, 55/2.2, 58/2, 58/2.4 classes developed and 50/1.2.

It's important: This lens does not suffer from lens coating degradation. For example older versions like Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPANsuffered from severe degradation of enlightenment.

All major versions of similar lenses Asahi Opt. Co., Takumar / Pentax:

1.2/50

1. SMC PENTAX 1: 1.2 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (7/6, 20947, 1975-1984)
2. SMC PENTAX 1:1.2/50 ASAHI OPT. CO.,JAPAN'GOLD' (7/6, 1981)
3. SMC PENTAX-A 1: 1.2 50mm (7/6, 20987, 1984-2004)
4. SMC PENTAX-A 1: 1.2 50mm Special (7/6, 2000)

1.4 / 50 (video)

1. Super takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan (8/6, 358, 1964-1966)
2. Super takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan (7/6, 37800, 1965-1971, F/2 in number)
3. Super takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan (7/6, 37801, 1965-1971, F/2 dot)
4. Super takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan (7/6, 37802, 1965-1971, comma after 'CO.')
5. Super-Multi Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (7/6, 37902, 1971-1972)
6. SMC TAKUMAR 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (7/6, 37908, 1972-1975)
7. SMC PENTAX 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (7/6, 20847, 1975-1977)
8. SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.4 50mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (7/6, 20867, 1977-1984)
9. SMC PENTAX-A 1: 1.4 50mm (7/6, 20887, 1984-1989)
10. SMC PENTAX-F 1: 1.4 50mm (7/6, 20827, 1987-1991)
11. SMC PENTAX-FA 1: 1.4 50mm (7/6, 20817, 1991-2023)
12. HD PENTAX-D FA * 1: 1.4 50mm SDMAW (15/9, 21260, 2018->)
13. SMC PENTAX-FA 1: 1.4 50mm Classic (7/6, 2023->)
14. HD PENTAX-FA 1: 1.4 50mm (7/6, 2023->)

1.8 / 55 (video)

1. takumar 1:1.8 f=55mm Asahi OPT. CO., Japan (6/5, 1958, zebra)
2. Auto-takumar 1:1.8 f=55mm Asahi OPT. CO., Japan (6/5, 1958-1960, zebra)
3. Auto-takumar 1:1.8/55 ASAHI OPT. CO., Lens made in Japan (6/5, 1960, with 'R')
4. Auto-takumar 1:1.8/55 ASAHI OPT. CO., Lens made in Japan (6/5, 1960-1962, no 'R', oblique lines of the depth of field)
5. Auto-takumar 1:1.8/55 ASAHI OPT. CO., Lens made in Japan (6/5, 1962, no 'R', straight lines of depth of field)
6. Super takumar 1: 1.8 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan (6/5, 1962, fine ribs, f/1.8 left)
7. Super takumar 1: 1.8 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan (6/5, before 1965, fine ribs, f/1.8 right)
8. Super takumar 1: 1.8 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan (6/5, 37106, before 1971, large ribs)
9. Super-Multi Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.8 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (6/5, 37104, 1971-1972)
10. SMC TAKUMAR 1: 1.8 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (6/5, 37108, 1972-1975)
11. SMC PENTAX 1: 1.8 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (6/5, 20747, 1975-1977)

2 / 55 (1.9 / 55)

1. Auto-takumar 1:1.9 f=55mm Asahi Opt. Co.,Japan (6/5, 1958-1959)
2. Auto-takumar 1: 2 f = 55mm Asahi Opt. Co., Japan (6/5, 1958-1959, zebra)
3. Auto-takumar 1: 2 f = 55mm Asahi Opt. Co., Japan (6/5, 34100, 1958-1959)
4. Super takumar 1: 2 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan (6/5, small fins, F/2 left)
5. Super takumar 1: 2 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co., Lens made in Japan (6/5, small ribs, F/2 on the right)
6. Super takumar 1: 2 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan (6/5, 37103, 1962-1973, large ribs)
7. Super takumar 1: 2 / 55 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan (6/5, 37107, additional aperture pins)
8. SMC TAKUMAR 1: 2 / 55 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (6/5, 37109, 1973-1975)
9. SMC PENTAX 1: 2 55mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (6/5, 1976-1977)

1.7/50

1. SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.7 50mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN (6/5, 20877, 1977-1984)
2. SMC PENTAX-A 1: 1.7 50mm (6/5, 20897, 1984-1989)
3. SMC PENTAX-F 1: 1.7 50mm (6/5, 20837, 1987-1991)
4. SMC PENTAX-FA 1: 1.7 50mm (6/5, 20907, 1991-2004)

2/50

1. SMC PENTAX-M 1:2 50mm ASAHI OPTICAL CO. (5/5, 20677, 1979-1985)
2. SMC PENTAX-A 1: 2 50mm (5/5, 20697, 1985-1998)

2.2/55

1. takumar 1:2.2/55 Asahi Opt. CO., Japan (6/5, 1961-1963)
2. Auto-takumar 1:2.2/55 ASAHI OPT. CO., Lens made in Japan (6/5, 1961-1963)

2/58

1. takumar 1:2 f=58mm Asahi Opt. Co., Japan (6/4, 1957-1958)
2. takumar 1: 2 f = 58mm Asahi Opt. Co., Japan (6/4, 1957-1958, labeled 'R')

DA (APS-C: 1.4/55 DA* + 1.8/50 DA)

1. SMC PENTAX-DA * 1: 1.4 55mm SDM (9/8, 21790, 2008->)
2. SMC PENTAX-DA 1: 1.8 50mm (6/5, 22177, 2012->)

Asahi-Kogaku (M37x1, 3.5/50 + 2.4/58 -> M42)

1. takumar 1: 3,5 f = 50mm Asahi-kogaku (4/3, 1952, M37×1)
2. takumar 1: 3.5 f = 50mm Asahi-kogaku (4/3, 1952, , M37×1, pre-set)
3. takumar 1: 2.4 f = 58mm Asahi-kogaku (5/3, 1954, M37×1, silver)
4. takumar 1: 2.4 f = 58mm Asahi Opt. Co., Japan (5/3, 1957-1958, M42)

The lens names in this list correspond exactly to the lens name label on the lens barrel (except for the serial number and/or filter diameter).

Main technical characteristics of SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm:

Review Instance Name	SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm 1048623 JAPAN
Basic properties	Pentax K - K mount manual focus only. aperture control ring A - automatic iris control mode lock button 'A' SMC (Sopera-Multi-Coated) - multi-layer optical coating lens suitable for full-frame cameras compact sizes 20887 - lens revision code
Front Filter Diameter	49 mm, metal thread for filters
Focal length	50 mm
Zoom ratio	1 X (this is a fixed lens, it does not have a zoom).
Designed by	for film cameras with a frame size of 24 x 36
Number of aperture blades	8 petals. Petals dark matte At values ​​from F / 2 to F / 2.8, the aperture blades form a hole with small notches
Tags	focus distance scale in meters and feet depth of field scale for F / 4, 5.6 (not explicitly), 8, 11 (not explicitly), 16, 22 red line-label for working in the infrared spectrum white dot mark mount red dot
Diaphragm	from f / 1.4 to f / 22. The lens has an aperture control ring. The ring has markings for F/1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22 and an 'A' mark. One additional value can be set between each pair of numbers (except F/1.4->F2, F/11->F/16 and F/16->F/22). The aperture control ring has an 'A' lock button. Press this button to enter and exit 'A' mode. In position 'A', the aperture control ring is locked.
MDF	0.45 meters, maximum magnification ratio 1:6.7
The weight	235 grams (measured)
Optical design	7 elements in 6 groups The lens does not use special optical elements in its optical design. The same optical design is used by older lenses of this family: SMC TAKUMAR 1: 1.4/50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN Super-Takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan and newer: SMC PENTAX 1: 1.4 / 50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.4 50mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN SMC PENTAX-F 1: 1.4 50mm SMC PENTAX-FA 1: 1.4 50mm
Lens hood	Threaded, screwed into the front filter thread
Manufacturer country	JAPAN (inscription on the body, the lens is made in Japan)
Period	1984-1989. Later replaced by SMC PENTAX-F 1:1.4 50mm
Price	About 100 cu for used option.

Lenses based on the optical design on which the SMC PENTAX-A 1: 1.4 50mm is built (from this review, produced from 1972 to 2018 (almost 50 years). The first was a manual SMC TAKUMAR 1: 1.4/50 ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPANand the last one is autofocus SMC PENTAX-FA 1: 1.4 50mm.

Assembling, focusing

The SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm is well built. Separately, it is worth noting the small size and diameter of the light filter by 49 mm. The design of the SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm is significantly different from the older one SMC PENTAX-M 1: 1.4 50mm ASAHI OPT. CO., JAPAN.

It is a little strange that instead of the classic 'MADE IN JAPAN' inscription, the SMC PENTAX-A 1:1.4 50mm has only a faint 'JAPAN' inscription.

The focus ring has an anti-slip insert made of very rough material, rotates approximately 225 degrees (5/8 of a full turn). The course of the ring is very smooth, oily, pleasant. During focusing, the front retractable part of the body does not rotate. Focusing occurs by moving the entire lens block.

The lens uses a Pentax K mount and can be mounted on any modern Pentax digital SLR camera with a K mount.

The front lens shimmers with bright colors and shades: cran, pink, yellow and purple. The lens, as it were, immediately shouts to us 'look at my SMC'!

Sample photos (Full Frame)

The pictures in the gallery were taken with a camera Canon EOS-1 Ds Mark II (Full Frame, 17 MP) and adapter Pentax K -> Canon EF. Converting original RAW files with the original Canon DPP4 utility. The original ASAHI PENTAX 49ø SKYLIGHT JAPAN light filter was used everywhere.

RAW '.CR2' original photos can be download / watch this link (25 photos). A few examples in a little processing: 1, 2, 3.

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Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.