I have both, the K feels a little bit better (and that's saying something, the M feels very nice indeed) and I prefer the slightly greater "girth" of the focusing ring to accomadate the 52mm filter thread (also one of the reasons I like my K30 and K105 as well). Optically, I haven't done any newspaper to the wall tests, but I am quite certain that the K is better than the M wide open. However, that difference seem to vanish by f/2 and I think that the M may even be a little better @ f/2.8 and f/4, but I will happily admit to not being so sure on that. I rarely shoot below f/4 but I wouldn't imagine any discernable differences at, say 5.6 or below. They are certainly both very nice lenses, with the K being rather scarce compared to the M so tends to go for more $$$ when found. However, you can be lucky, I think I paid $30 bucks for mine.
If I could only have one, I'd keep the K. Hope that helps, William in Utah. 1/1/2003 11:46:17 AM, "Steve Pearson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >It appears that Pentax makes both a 50 F1.4 SMC (52mm >filter) and a 50 F1.4 SMC-M (49mm filter). Which one >is better optically, build, etc.? > > > >--- William Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Hi, >> >> I have both the M and A 50/1.7's and a couple of >> M50/1.4's. It is my impression that the 1.4's are >> better at apetures that I tend to use fast 50's for, >> i.e. wide open to >> about f/4.5. I certainly prefer the bokeh of the >> 1.4's. >> >> I sought out the M50/1.4's because my experience >> with the build quality of "A" series lenses hasn't >> been overly positive. >> >> Thanks, >> >> William in Utah. >> >> 12/31/2002 9:58:54 PM, "Steve Pearson" >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> >Hi again, >> >I own the 50mm-A 1.7 lens. Seems that most think >> the >> >1.4 is a better lens? Do you agree? Has anyone >> ever >> >done a side by side comparison? >> > >> >I would like to pick up a 1.4, and also wonder if >> >there is much difference between the A version Vs. >> the >> >M version. This would be in the K mount, for a >> Super >> >Program, MX, etc. >> > >> >Thanks for your suggestions. >> > >> >__________________________________________________ >> >Do you Yahoo!? >> >Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up >> now. >> >http://mailplus.yahoo.com >> > >> > >> > >> >> >> > > >__________________________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. >http://mailplus.yahoo.com > > >
