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 F1.4 AS UMC 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 F1.4 AS UMC is the longer of the two lenses at 75mm. The Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic with a length of 37mm, is 38mm shorter. Besides being longer, the Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC also has a larger diameter of 82mm 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 319g (59%) lighter than the Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC which has a weight of 535g.
Below you can find the dimension and weight table of the Standard Prime Lenses in Pentax KAF Mount for size comparison purposes.
Standard Lenses in Pentax KAF Mount for Size Comparison
Filter Threads
The Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic has a filter size of 49mm whereas the Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC has a 77mm 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 77mm filters that we recommend for the Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC:
Lens Mounts
Both the Pentax FA 50mm F1.4 Classic and the Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC has the same Pentax KAF lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with the Pentax KAF lenses are Pentax K-3 III Mono, Pentax KF and Pentax K-3 III.
Samyang 50mm F1.4 AS UMC is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Sony Alpha and Sony E mounts.
Focal Range
Both lenses have the same focal range of
50mm and the fastest aperture of
F1.4.
