[Asahiflex]

Since this thread has gone on a tangent of FA* 85 f/1.4 relatives, where does the DA* 55 f/1.4 sit on this family tree? I remember reading that the same person who designed the FA77 also designed the DA*55 before he left Pentax, and they do remind me a little of each other image quality wise. Was the 55's design based on the old 85 f/1.4 designs as well?

Yes, sort of. The DA* 55/1.4 SDM was designed with the FA* in mind, with a smaller FOV for the APS-C sensor. This was also expressed by the external design of the DA*, especially the oversized hood which has the same shape as the one on the FA*.

As a matter of fact I'm also expecting a DA* 55 soon so I'll soon be able to compare them.

[farfisa]

Since this thread has gone on a tangent of FA* 85 f/1.4 relatives, where does the DA* 55 f/1.4 sit on this family tree? I remember reading that the same person who designed the FA77 also designed the DA*55 before he left Pentax, and they do remind me a little of each other image quality wise. Was the 55's design based on the old 85 f/1.4 designs as well?

True! Jun Hirakawa is responsible for all of these designs:
FA* 80-200 mm, 24 mm, 85 mm, 600 mm
FA Limited 43 mm, 77 mm
DA 14 mm, 50-200 mm, 10-17 mm
DA Limited 40 mm
..and now DA*55.

[photogerald]

I remember reading that the same person who designed the FA77 also designed the DA*55 before he left Pentax, and they do remind me a little of each other image quality wise.

Sorry for taking this even further off-topic, but does anyone know where he went?

[Asahiflex]

Sorry for taking this even further off-topic, but does anyone know where he went?

He simply retired.

[photogerald]

He simply retired.

Thanks for that info, and good for him (I mean that in a non-sarcastic way).

[Urkeldaedalus]

As a matter of fact I'm also expecting a DA* 55 soon so I'll soon be able to compare them.

Neat, I'm interested to see how the two lenses compare.

True! Jun Hirakawa is responsible for all of these designs:
FA* 80-200 mm, 24 mm, 85 mm, 600 mm
FA Limited 43 mm, 77 mm
DA 14 mm, 50-200 mm, 10-17 mm
DA Limited 40 mm
..and now DA*55.

Thanks for the info. I like it when I remember reading something and it turns out to be true

[mz-3]

The FA*85 now is really hard to find.

[Asahiflex]

The FA*85 now is really hard to find.

The process of finding one is half the fun!

[kiwao]

The FA*85 now is really hard to find.

If you are interested go here.

??????????????????????(??,??,??,??,??)?????????PENTAX

[SteveM]

If you are interested go here.

??????????????????????(??,??,??,??,??)?????????PENTAX

Can you translate for us?..how much is it listed for?

I can understand the attention for the 80s.....I have the 80/1.9 Tak, 80/1.8 Auto Tak, 80/1.8 SMC Tak, K80/1.8 and the 77ltd. I haven't jumped at the FA* or the A* mainly because of the price.

I find the my K7 spends most of it's time with the K85 on it. I simply love that lens, as it (and the SMC Tak) provides a quality to the pictures that I don't seem to get from other lenses. Sometimes I wish it was sharper, but that might take away from the look that I like.

Ignoring PF issues, is the A*85 that much sharper than the K and does it still have the 3d effect?

[summonbaka]

It says that it has some dust inside and some markings in the outside of the body. It's listed for ¥108000 or around $1100. As an easy norm for yen, cut the last two digits and round up to the lower two digits. (Two weeks warranty for this one)

I did a fast search and found this three:
The good:
??PENTAX-FA?85mm F1,4??IF???????????? - Yahoo!??????
The not that good but cheaper:
????????????????:?,??????????? - Yahoo!??????
the really ugly:
???????????FA?85mm F1.4 - Yahoo!??????

I know this is really bad for LBA... sorry for the tease.

[SteveM]

It's a good thing that site is in Japan!..and it doesn't list a A* ....

[photogerald]

If you are interested go here.

??????????????????????(??,??,??,??,??)?????????PENTAX

Wow, their prices on used lenses seem pretty good.

[Asahiflex]

I can understand the attention for the 80s.....I have the 80/1.9 Tak, 80/1.8 Auto Tak, 80/1.8 SMC Tak, K80/1.8 and the 77ltd. I haven't jumped at the FA* or the A* mainly because of the price.

I'm not sure why you are thinking that the Taks and the K are 80mm instead of 85mm. Maybe you don't even own them?

Like you, I was also holding off the A* and FA* because of the price. But I then realized that for instance the FA* at f/2 is sharper than the 85mm f/1.8 SMC Tak at f/2. And I really like the DOF control at f/1.4.

I find the my K7 spends most of it's time with the K85 on it. I simply love that lens, as it (and the SMC Tak) provides a quality to the pictures that I don't seem to get from other lenses. Sometimes I wish it was sharper, but that might take away from the look that I like.

Indeed; the 85mm f/1.8 SMC Tak is very good, but I found the Carl Zeiss Jena 80mm f/1.8 Pancolar even better, so that one is my favorite when I want uncompromised sharpness and contrast in a small M42 package.

Less sharp and not contrasty, but with lots of magic in its rendering, is the 83mm f/1.9 Asahi-Kogaku Takumar. As a dedicated portrait lens it's unsurpassed IMHO. Interestingly it has 7 elements in 4 groups (a Sonnar design), more than any of the later Takumars. Example: http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/spotmatic/akpor83-05-b.jpg.

Ignoring PF issues, is the A*85 that much sharper than the K and does it still have the 3d effect?

I've only had one on loan for testing for a few weeks, but it's indeed sharper and the 3D effect is definitely there. Example (maybe not so much for the 3D effect: http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/spotmatic/a85-02.jpg).

And why I got the FA*? Of course, LBA is the no. 1 reason for me. But I also feel that the FA* incorporates all of the good points of its predecessors, with the right mix of desirable features and rendering. Of course, compromises have been made so it's not very good at longer distances, although I personally have no complaints about that. You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers

[photogerald]

I've only had one on loan for testing for a few weeks, but it's indeed sharper and the 3D effect is definitely there. Example (maybe not so much for the 3D effect: http://i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo293/spotmatic/a85-02.jpg).

Your photo also illustrates the "contrasty" character of this lens, which helps to reinforce the sharpness. It's a trait that I've noticed in the A*135 as well.