Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super-Takumar M42 Lens
The Pentax 50mm f/1.4 is a 50mm f/1.4 lens designed for M42 Screw Mount mount cameras. Used copies start from $129.26 on GearFocus, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super-Takumar M42 Lens
Used Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Listings on GearFocus
Lens Overview — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
Key Features — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
50mm f/1.4 Prime: A fast standard focal length that renders a natural, true-to-life perspective suited to portraiture, street, and everyday shooting.
M42 Screw Mount: Universal thread mount that adapts to a wide range of modern mirrorless and SLR bodies with readily available, inexpensive adapters.
Full-Frame Coverage: Designed to cover a full-frame image circle, making it compatible with both full-frame and smaller APS-C or Micro Four Thirds sensor bodies.
Manual Focus Only: Smooth manual focus ring encourages deliberate, hands-on focus control favored by street and portrait photographers.
Vintage Optical Character: The Super-Takumar series is well regarded among film and digital shooters for its distinct rendering and smooth out-of-focus quality.
Lightweight Build: At 230g, the lens adds minimal weight to any camera system, making it an easy everyday carry option.
Lens Specifications — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use Cases | Portrait, Creative Effects, Night |
| Lens Type | Prime |
| Format | Full Frame |
| Zoom/Prime | Prime |
| Focal Length | 50mm |
| Maximum Aperture | f/1.4 |
| Camera System | SLR |
| Lens Mount | M42 Screw Mount |
| Autofocus | No |
| Focus Type | Manual |
| Image Stabilization | None |
| Filter Thread | 49mm |
Description — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
The Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super-Takumar is a manual-focus prime lens built on the M42 screw mount, one of the most widely adapted vintage lens mounts available. With a 50mm focal length and full-frame image circle coverage, it delivers a standard perspective suitable for a broad range of photographic subjects. The f/1.4 maximum aperture makes it well-suited for situations where light is limited or when a shallow depth of field is the creative goal.
Weighing just 230g, it's easy to carry without adding significant weight to your kit. The 49mm filter thread is a practical, commonly available size that works with a wide selection of screw-in filters. Focus is entirely manual, placing full control in the photographer's hands — a quality many shooters actively seek out in vintage glass.
There is no image stabilization, so a steady hand or stable platform is important when shooting in challenging conditions.
Pros — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
- ✓Wide f/1.4 maximum aperture provides strong low-light capability
- ✓Full-frame coverage suits both full-frame and smaller sensor bodies
- ✓Lightweight at 230g, easy to carry and handle
Cons — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
- ✗Manual focus only — no autofocus support
- ✗No image stabilization, relying entirely on the photographer's technique
- ✗M42 screw mount requires an adapter for use on most modern camera bodies
Videos — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (8-element version) Lens Review — Analog Insights