I bought this lens on Amazon.UK, as there are much cheaper (about 155 incl. P / Nov 2013) is to have as in Germany. I used to date mainly manual fixed focal length, since they are used to get very favorable. My favorite was the case previously Asahi Pentax 50mm F1.7. With steady images obtained so fantastic pictures and due to the small aperture value very nice free parking effects. With moving subjects (eg a small daughter) one comes with the manual focus but very quickly reaches its limits and rarely receives sharp images (at least there is the focus not on the desired level). Therefore, I have decided, "afford" to me a prime lens with autofocus to. Here, the smc DA is me 50 f1.8 noticed - this is true for Canon / Nikon 50mm prime lenses a bit more expensive, for a Pentax fixed focal length but relatively cheap. At first I had also great concerns regarding the plastic bayonet. After unpacking but my concerns were gone: the plastic used is of high quality and has a high strength. Here I personally do not really a drawback to the metal bayonet, because I (as a hobby photographer) the lens is not this then several times every day and Change - and professional photographer will resort to more expensive anyway * DA or Limited lenses. Basically, the lens is very high quality and clean despite plastic case - here it can compete with higher-priced optical loose lenses. Moreover, this is a lower weight to good. The autofocus works with the "classic" rack drive. Although this is a little louder than an ultrasound drive, but still reacts quickly and precisely. In addition, the lens can be operated at slightly older cameras like the K100D, which support not make ultrasonic drive. The focus of the smc DA 50 seated properly on my two cameras (K100D and Kr). Now for the most important of a lens: the optics. This is the smc DA 50 f1.8 of 6 elements in 5 groups. In KB-format equivalent focal length about 77mm - so a slight telephoto focal length. This is in conjunction with the small aperture value excellent for highlighting and thus to portrait photography. The minimum focusing distance is 45cm. Even at full aperture, the sharpness and image quality in the center of "good" to "very good" - thus the lens is very well suited for low-light designs and can bring its light intensity; at f2.8 the sharpness across the entire image area "very good" and from f4.0 "excellent". Even at f2.8 beats the DA 50 the 18-55 kit zoom at 50mm stopped down to f8.0 to lengths. Even the manual 50mm F1.7 Asahi it is visually in every way. According to the statement of a colleague, it is in sharp focus even the more expensive FA50 F1.4 par. The criticism that the lens is focused properly until f4.0, I can not understand, because no lens at maximum aperture reaches its maximum sharpness - this is for physical reasons (keywords: aberrations / diffraction)! The Bokeh is thanks to 7 rounded diaphragm blades balanced and very "pleasant". Quickshift is not available - but I've never used my other lenses and therefore did not miss. The lens also has a manual focus ring, which can be turned clean and pleasant resistance.
The only two (small) criticisms are a lack of lens hood and a simple back-cap instead of an ordinary rear lid. However, this is probably due to the low price. All in all there is of me a strong buy recommendation - not only because of the very good price / performance ratio (with the AmazonUK Prize).
