The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic and the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Size and Weight Comparison
The size of a lens is a crucial factor to consider when comparing two lenses. Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS is the longer of the two lenses at 74mm. The Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic with a length of 37mm, is 37mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS also has a larger diameter of 68mm compared to the Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic's 65mm diameter.
The weight of a lens is equally significant as its external dimensions, particularly if you intend to handhold your camera and lens combination for extended periods. Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic weighs 216g, which means it is 159g (42%) lighter than the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS which has a weight of 375g.
Filter Threads
The Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS has a 62mm diameter. Larger filters are generally more expensive than the smaller ones given all the other features are equal.
Below are links to the 49mm filters that we recommend you to consider for the Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic:
And these are the 62mm filters that we recommend for the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS:
Lens Mounts
The Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic has the Pentax KAF lens mount whereas the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS has the Canon EF-M lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III for the Pentax KAF Mount and Canon M50 II, Canon M200 and Canon M6 MII for the Canon EF-M Mount.
Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS is also available in Fujifilm X , Micro Four Thirds and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm but while Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic has the fastest aperture of
F1.4, the Samyang 50mm F1.2 AS UMC CS's widest aperture value is
F1.2.
