Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm
Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN
What Buyers Say
Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm
The HD FA 50mm f/1.4 lens is widely praised for its exceptional sharpness, beautiful color rendition, and smooth bokeh. Users appreciate its fast and silent autofocus, solid build quality, and compatibility with both film and digital Pentax bodies. Some mention the need for a firmware update on older cameras and occasional back-focus issues, but overall it's considered a top-tier prime lens.
Pros
- Exceptional sharpness
- Beautiful color rendition
- Smooth bokeh
- Fast and silent autofocus
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Firmware update required on older cameras
- Occasional back-focus issues
- Slight magenta cast wide open
- Heavier than some other lenses
- Price may be higher than Pentax direct
Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN
The Sigma 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary lens is highly praised for its compact, lightweight design and sharp image quality, making it an excellent choice for travel and real estate photography on APS-C cameras. Users appreciate the fast f/2.8 aperture for low-light performance and pleasing background blur, though some note the lack of in-lens stabilization and the need for post-production correction of distortion and vignetting on certain camera systems.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight design
- Sharp image quality across frame
- Fast f/2.8 constant aperture
- Excellent for travel and landscapes
- Good low-light performance
Cons
- No in-lens image stabilization
- Distortion and vignetting need post-production correction
- Lacks aperture ring on some versions
- No USB dock for firmware updates
- In-camera focus stacking not supported on Canon R7
Scores
Specifications
| Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm | Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN | |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | prime | zoom |
| Focal Length Min | 50 mm | 10 mm |
| Focal Length Max | 50 mm | 18 mm |
| Elements | 7 | 13 |
| Groups | 6 | 10 |
| Aspherical Elements | 1 | 1 |
| ED Elements | 1 | 4★ |
| Coating | Multilayer HD Coating | Super Multi-Layer Coating |
| Aperture | ||
| Max Aperture | f/22 | f/2.8 |
| Min Aperture | f/1.4 | f/2.8 |
| Constant | ✓ | ✓ |
| Diaphragm Blades | 8★ | 7 |
| Build | ||
| Mount | Pentax K | Sony E |
| Format | full-frame★ | APS-C |
| Weather Sealed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Weight | 0.91 kg | 0.26 kg★ |
| Filter Thread | 49 mm | 67 mm |
| AF & Stabilization | ||
| AF Type | Autofocus | Autofocus |
| Stabilization | ✗ | ✗ |
| Focus | ||
| Min Focus Distance | 450 mm | 117 mm★ |
| Max Magnification | 1:6.67 | 1:4 |
Pros & Cons
Pentax HD PENTAX-FA 50mm f/1.4 50mm
- Strong social proof (86th percentile)86th %ile
- Strong user sentiment (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average bokeh (19th percentile)19th %ile
- Below average aperture (22nd percentile)
- Below average versatility (33rd percentile)
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN
- Strong social proof (94th percentile)94th %ile
- Strong macro (90th percentile)90th %ile
- Strong aperture (88th percentile)88th %ile
- Strong build (87th percentile)87th %ile
- Below average stabilization (34th percentile)
Pricing
Sigma Contemporary 10-18mm f/2.8 DC DN offers 1.3x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 93 overall, wins 9 of 9 usage categories and 3 of 21 specs.
