>>2720092Always the A
M is older and more likely to have shit in the lens of some form or another.
A is (iirc) identical optical formula, and conceivably has better, or *some* primary element coatings.
Plus of course A series is easily used in manual mode on the aperture dial anyway.
If you asked me what lens to buy I would say none of them, none of the ones in my test... I'd say get a SMC Penatx-FA 50mm/2.8 macro
It's easily my favourite 50mm prime.
http://oh-hi.info/tech/50mm_compare/These aren't the ideal tests as the lenses vary a little in clarity etc, and I should have focussed and aligned the images more accurately.. but you can see that there isnt a lot between them. My f/1.4's seem to be a little shit compared to the others, so I'm not sure if that's the lenses I own or that lens in general.
