Used SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7
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Condition & contents
| Grading | Good used condition. Focus smooth, aperture slightly notchy but functional. Optics free from fungus/haze but some minor internal dust present. |
|---|---|
| Testing | Fully tested |
| Warranty | 3 month warranty |
| Includes | Lens, caps and hood |
At a glance: SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 - compact fast manual-focus standard prime for Pentax K mount, with A aperture position.
About this lens
The SMC Pentax-A 50mm f/1.7 is Pentax's compact manual-focus standard prime from the mid-1980s. The A designation is the important part: it adds an 'A' position on the aperture ring that lets the camera body set the aperture, so the lens supports program and shutter-priority modes on Pentax bodies that offer them, while remaining a fully manual lens when you want it to be.
Build & handling
| Angle of view | 50mm on 35mm film, approx. 75mm equivalent on APS-C digital |
|---|---|
| Aperture range | f/1.7 to f/22, with A position for body-controlled aperture |
| Optical construction | 6 elements in 5 groups |
| Focus | Manual, with a smooth long-throw helicoid |
| Minimum focus distance | 0.45m |
| Coating | SMC (Super Multi Coating) |
| Filter thread | 49mm |
| Weight | Approx. 185g |
Works with
- Pentax K-mount film SLRs (ME Super, Program A, Super A, P30 and similar)
- Pentax K-mount digital SLRs (acts as approx. 75mm-equivalent, with metering support)
- Other systems via K-mount adapters, manual focus and aperture only
- 49mm screw-in filters
Best for
One of the best-value fast standard primes in any system - optically excellent, beautifully built in metal, and small. It suits Pentax film SLRs of the period directly, and mounts on modern Pentax K-mount DSLRs where the 1.5x crop makes it a 75mm-equivalent short portrait lens. The K mount's long production life means this lens remains genuinely useful rather than merely collectable.
Frequently asked questions
What does the A on the aperture ring do?
Setting the ring to A hands aperture control to the camera body, enabling program and shutter-priority modes on bodies that support them. Turning it off A returns full manual control of the aperture.
Will it work on a modern Pentax DSLR?
Yes. The K mount has been consistent since 1975, so it mounts directly and meters on current Pentax DSLRs. Focus is manual, and the crop factor makes it behave like a 75mm short telephoto.
Specifications
| Focal Length | 50mm |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Prime |
| Max Aperture | f/1.7 |
| Lens Mount | Pentax K Mount |
| Condition | Used |
| Brand | Pentax |