[Lainey]

I've just got the 50mm DFA 2.8 macro, used it in the studio for the first time last weekend, and am very impressed with it. Can't get over how fast it focusses!!

Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

[Pentaxor]

Whats about the fine F/FA135?


Rainer

if you can find one.

[Goslett]

I've just got the 50mm DFA 2.8 macro, used it in the studio for the first time last weekend, and am very impressed with it. Can't get over how fast it focusses!!

Wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

Post pics?

[Eagle_Friends]

i hear lots of people swear by the FA 77 or the DA 70

imho, i would say the FA 85.

[twitch]

Until the OP'er does a bit of research and figures out what focal length or range of focal lengths they need this thread might as well be a laundry list of every lens ever produced by Pentax from 30mm to 200mm.

[stevebrot]

I love my Helios 44M, but am not sure that I would use it for portraits over my Pentax-A or M 50/1.7 lenses. The issue is not the bokeh, it is the general clumsiness of shooting with a fully manual aperture on an adapted M42 lens. This is particularly true considering that stiff controls are a virtual hallmark of most FSU lenses.

So for bottom-feeding in the fast 50 category for portraits, I would recommend the Pentax-M 50/1.7 as the value leader.


Steve


(Try as I might, I don't get the weird bokeh with my Helios. Perhaps I should try busier backgrounds?)

If you are still interested in purchase of a Helios 44 series lens, I would suggest browsing the Helios 44 group on Flickr. That should give you an idea of the full range of what this lens can do.

Flickr: The Helios 44 Pool


Steve

[Ash]

All the excellent FA lenses mentioned above are not for the budget-minded, except the FA 50/1.4 which hasn't been mentioned enough here.

It was my first portrait lens, and served me well until only very recently until I gave it up reluctantly to get the FA 43 ltd. I appreciate that FA 50 a lot - some excellent f/2 and f/2.8 results come from that lens...

[Marc Sabatella]

I'm sure there's already a thread like this but I can't find it.

When looking at the list of threads in a forum, look the the top right, and you'll see a link that says "Search This Forum". Enter "portrait lens", and click the box to search titles only. When you hit Enter, you'll see that indeed, there have been very many threads on this topic already to peruse.

[Nick Siebers]

My favorite portrait lens is a M42 mount Mamiya Sekor 58mm f/1.7.

[ilya80]

I`ll support what other have already said here.

If you lack funds for FA77 / DA70 you should try F or A 50mm 1.4 or 1.7

Oh and the Helios 44 is an outstanding lens for its value. They were mass-produced here in Russia and went as kit lens for our only brand during Soviet era, so there are lots of those around.

[henryjing]

No doubt, FA* 85/1.4 or A* 85/1.4
some says, A* 85/1.4 is even better.

[RioRico]

Until the OP'er does a bit of research and figures out what focal length or range of focal lengths they need this thread might as well be a laundry list of every lens ever produced by Pentax from 30mm to 200mm.

Why limit the list to Pentax? Let's see, besides the cheap Helios 58/2 and the not-so-cheap FA50/1.4, I can recommend:

* Mir-1 37/2.8 (M42)
* Yashinon-DX 50/1.7 (M42)
* Meyer Oreston 50/1.8 (M42)
* Argus-Chinon 55/1.7 (M42)
* Nikkor 85/2 (NI modded)
* Jupiter-9 85/2 (M39)
* Vivitar-Komine 90/2.8 macro (M42)
* Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8 (M42)
* Focal and Sears 135/2.8 (KA)
* Jupiter-11 135/4 (M39)
* Jupiter-21M 200/4 (M42)

But that J-21M is a bit heavy at 950g.

OK everybody, whip out your laundry lists. Be sure to mention if you want starch.

[Pentaxor]

Why limit the list to Pentax? Let's see, besides the cheap Helios 58/2 and the not-so-cheap FA50/1.4, I can recommend:

* Mir-1 37/2.8 (M42)
* Yashinon-DX 50/1.7 (M42)
* Meyer Oreston 50/1.8 (M42)
* Argus-Chinon 55/1.7 (M42)
* Nikkor 85/2 (NI modded)
* Jupiter-9 85/2 (M39)
* Vivitar-Komine 90/2.8 macro (M42)
* Meyer Trioplan 100/2.8 (M42)
* Focal and Sears 135/2.8 (KA)
* Jupiter-11 135/4 (M39)
* Jupiter-21M 200/4 (M42)

But that J-21M is a bit heavy at 950g.

OK everybody, whip out your laundry lists. Be sure to mention if you want starch.

Yeah, I'll put my side of the mix myself.

Sigma 70/2.8
Vivitar S1/Tokina ATX 90/2.5
Tamron 90/2.8 II
Pentacon 135/2.8

[Wheatfield]

No doubt, FA* 85/1.4 or A* 85/1.4
some says, A* 85/1.4 is even better.

It is, but it is on the long side for portraiture on a DSLR. As long as the studio of deep enough, it's a fine lens.
Portraits is what I do, and in the recent past I've used various 50s (a bit short), the *55/1.4 (excellent, but a bit short), the Nokton 58/1.4 (excellent but a bit short, and not as good as the 55/1.40, both the DA70 and FA77 (excellent and for me just about exactly the right focal length, giving a slight nod to the 70), and the A*85/1.4, which is as I mentioned, on the long side, but is an excellent lens.
If I had to choose just one out of the mix, it would be the 70/2.4, and it is even readily available. The Pentax 85/1.4s are pie in the sky lenses for the most part.

[ChrisPlatt]

Remember, for portraits the sharpest lens isn't always the best choice.
If shooting digital any 50mm lens will do.

Chris