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Pentax

Pentax smc DA 50mm f/1.8

A cheap, 122g short-telephoto for APS-C (76mm equivalent) — the budget portrait lens for Pentax DSLRs. Screw-drive AF and a plastic build.

Starting from
£159 new
Average price across retailers: ~£159
Available at 3 retailers
Check price at Clifton Cameras
✓ Available at 3 retailers 🔒 No signup needed 📦 UK stock only
RetailerPrice
Clifton Cameras
Clifton Cameras
£159
Check on Clifton Cameras →
Wex Photo Video
Wex Photo Video
£159
Check on Wex Photo Video →
Amazon
Amazon
—
Check on Amazon →
Prices are synced live from UK retailers. Not every product will be stocked by every retailer; older models may only be available second hand.
Value & Depreciation
£250
Launch price
→
£159
Today
=
36%
Value drop
Over ~14 years, this camera has cost roughly £6/year to own (buy at launch price, sell today). That's one of the lower cost-per-year cameras in its class.
Core
Released
2012
Focal Length
50mm
Aperture
f/1.8
Compatible Mount
Pentax K-mount
Filter Size
52mm
Dimensions
63mm diameter × 38.5mm length
Weight
122g
Weather Sealed
No
Optics & Focus
AF Motor
Screw drive from the camera body
Optical IS
None (relies on body IS if available)
Aperture Blades
7
Magnification
0.15x
Min. Focus Distance
0.45m

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GearScore™ — Suitability by Genre

Base score — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. Camera Match adjusts it for your skill level and priorities.

Portrait
6.7
Street
5.6
Travel
5.5
Wedding & Events
4.5
Filmmaking
4.2
Documentary
4.1
Landscape
4.8
Casual
5.8
Food
4.5
Architecture
4.4
Underwater
4.2
✅ Great For
🧑
Portrait 6.7 Strong on focal length.
⚠️ Not Ideal For
🎥
Documentary 4.1 Held back by video handling and focal length.
🎬
Filmmaking 4.2 Held back by video handling and optical stabilisation.
🤿
Underwater 4.2 Held back by focal length and close focusing.
📝 How suitability scores are calculated GearScore™ genre scores are calculated from this camera's verified specifications — autofocus, sensor, weight, weather sealing and more — weighted by what matters for each type of photography. Where a spec sheet misses something (e.g. a manual-focus rangefinder for street), we apply a documented editorial adjustment. Scores are not based on customer reviews. See our full methodology →
Price History — smc DA 50mm f/1.8