Hi Boris, > It is optically identical to A 50/2.0
I'm not sure if this means you'd also be interested in hearing about the A 50/2.0, but just in case it does, here's one non-pro's experience: I started with the A 50/2.0, then went to an A 50/1.7. I did a roll of (informal, non-chart) test shots at all aperatures with the A 50/2.0, but with the birth of our child I haven't had time to do the same with the A 50/1.7. However, I've taken hundreds of pictures with it. The main difference between the two in my experience is that the 2.0 is quite soft wide open, while the 1.7 is quite sharp wide open. Since I haven't done my test shots with the 1.7, it's hard for me to compare sharpness between wide open and medium aperatures. But the 1.7 does seem sharper even at f8 & f11 than the 2.0, where the 2.0 is at it's best. The 2.0 is so soft at 2.0 that on my first roll, before doing the test shots, I thought I had been careless in focusing. Then, my tests showed that it starts very soft at 2.0, then sharpens up gradually to 8.0. After doing those tests, and before upgrading to the 1.7, I tried to avoid shooting at f2.0 and f2.8 (unless I wanted a soft look, which I usually didn't), and really tried to get to f5.6 when I could. I don't have the knowledge to compare other optical aspects of the lenses, except to say that I'm 100% pleased with the 1.7, and that the sharpness issue is the only thing I dislike about the 2.0. The comments on Stan's site make the M 2.0 sound great. But my experience is that the A 2.0 is inferior to the A 1.7, and simply unusable if you want relatively sharp shots wide open. I'm very pleased with the A 1.7, though, at all aperatures. Hope this helps, Greg > Hi! > > I am about to be enabled with the above lens (SMC M 50/2.0). It is > optically identical to A 50/2.0 and very similar (AFAICT) to 50/1.7. I > wonder how come Stan's site has nothing to say about it and except one > line on Alex's site I couldn't find anything in regular PDML annals > <g>... > > Especially of course I would be interested in opinions of people who > have (had) and/or use (used) this lens. > > Thanks in advance. > > Boris > >
