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. Check GearFocus for current availability, with buyer protection on every purchase.
Pentax 50mm f/1.4 Super-Takumar M42 Lens
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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
Frequently Asked Questions — Pentax 50mm f/1.4
What cameras is this lens compatible with?+
This lens uses an M42 screw mount, which is its native mount as listed in the specifications. It can be used on many modern mirrorless and DSLR bodies with an appropriate M42 adapter, and natively on vintage M42-compatible SLR cameras.
Does this lens support autofocus?+
No. The specifications confirm that autofocus is not supported, and the focus type is listed as manual only. Focusing must be done by hand using the lens's focus ring.
Will this lens cover a full-frame sensor?+
Yes. The specifications list the lens format as full frame, meaning it is designed to project an image circle sufficient to cover a full-frame sensor or 35mm film frame.
What filter size does this lens use?+
The lens has a 49mm filter thread, as specified in the product data. This is a widely available size compatible with many standard screw-in filters.
How heavy is this lens?+
According to the specifications, the lens weighs 230g, making it a relatively compact and lightweight option for everyday carry.
Does the lens have image stabilization?+
No. The specifications explicitly list image stabilization as none, so there is no optical or mechanical stabilization built into this lens.