Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
12-05-2011, 08:52 AM   #1
Veteran Member
Sol Invictus's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 392
Samyang/Rokinon/Vivitar 85mm f/1.4

I'm in the market for a budget 85mm f/1.4 lens. I've narrowed it down to the Samyang/Rokinon/Vivitar lenses.

However, despite being the same lens rebranded, the prices at B&H differ.

The Bower version is $329 while the Rokinon and Vivitar versions are &269. So why the price premium for the Bower version?

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/614839-REG/Bower_SLY85P_85mm_f_1_4_Manual_Focus.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/769398-REG/Rokinon_85M_P_85mm_f_1_4_Aspherical_Lens.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/600854-REG/Vivitar_85MMP_85mm_f_1_4_Series_1.html

Any ideas?


Last edited by Sol Invictus; 12-05-2011 at 10:12 AM.
12-05-2011, 09:21 AM - 1 Like   #2
Pentaxian




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,497
All same I guess, just a different marketing strategy may be.
12-05-2011, 09:26 AM - 1 Like   #3
Veteran Member
liukaitc's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: New York
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,008
weird..last time I checked Vivitar is 329 whereas others are 269....
the vivtar should has better build quality because it is heavier

u can also check 8mm fisheye..they have same optical with different price
vivitar is 289, Rokinon is 279 and Bower is 249 now at b&h...very interesting....
12-05-2011, 09:30 AM - 1 Like   #4
Veteran Member
eddie1960's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 13,666
this is normal, you see them all at lower prices at one point or another. Search them on eBay and you may see the bower as the lowest.

12-05-2011, 09:36 AM - 1 Like   #5
Veteran Member




Join Date: Mar 2011
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 303
My opinion: get the cheapest one, and make sure you have a split focus screen.
Let me repeat that. My experience is that I got easily frustrated since I didn't have a fast focus screen. Great optics, but nailing focus is super critical, since it's pretty prone to bokeh fringing.
12-05-2011, 09:51 AM - 1 Like   #6
Veteran Member
Docrwm's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,285
Look VERY Carefully at them. Some have an A setting (Rokinon / Samyang / Bower 85mm 1.4 Aspherical Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database), and some.......well......

12-05-2011, 10:10 AM - 1 Like   #7
Veteran Member




Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,054
Isn't the f/22 setting meant to be the "a"setting on that one? Isn't that why it's red?


Last edited by DogLover; 12-05-2011 at 10:25 AM.
12-05-2011, 10:26 AM - 1 Like   #8
Veteran Member
aurele's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Paris, France
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,217
that's the Nikon version with the red 22
12-05-2011, 10:40 AM   #9
Veteran Member
Sol Invictus's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 392
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Docrwm Quote
Look VERY Carefully at them. Some have an A setting , and some.......well......
Good point. The cheapter Vivitar has the 'A' setting as well.
12-05-2011, 10:41 AM   #10
Veteran Member
Docrwm's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,285
QuoteOriginally posted by aurele Quote
that's the Nikon version with the red 22
It's used as an example. Look for yourself among the reviews here and the threads devoted to this lens.......
12-05-2011, 10:41 AM   #11
Veteran Member
Sol Invictus's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 392
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by icywindow Quote
My opinion: get the cheapest one, and make sure you have a split focus screen.
Let me repeat that. My experience is that I got easily frustrated since I didn't have a fast focus screen. Great optics, but nailing focus is super critical, since it's pretty prone to bokeh fringing.
That's the first thing I'll pick up after getting the lens.
12-05-2011, 10:48 AM   #12
Pentaxian




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,497
QuoteOriginally posted by Docrwm Quote
Look VERY Carefully at them. Some have an A setting
I think all Pentax version are 'A', those pics from different mount. I never heard of anyone came across non 'A' version.
12-05-2011, 10:49 AM   #13
Veteran Member
Docrwm's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Somewhere in the Southern US
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 12,285
The link to the B&H photo clearly shows an A in red in addition to the 22 being in red.






If there is no A on the aperture ring there's no A setting in my experience. Oh and the label says "For Pentax" and I can't see the mount so I'm guessing its for a ......Pentax


Last edited by Docrwm; 12-05-2011 at 10:55 AM.
12-05-2011, 10:50 AM   #14
Veteran Member
eddie1960's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 13,666
QuoteOriginally posted by Sol Invictus Quote
That's the first thing I'll pick up after getting the lens.
Given the speed of the lens look for one optimized for fast lenses like the Canon EE
I have a Nikon split prism and I struggle with my 1.4 lenses to nail the focus (live view is more reliable for me at 1.4)
12-05-2011, 10:59 AM   #15
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Lowell Goudge's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Toronto
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 17,868
When I looked at getting one about 3 years ago, there were both K and KA mount varieties on the market. Bought what I sweat the time at B&H. The Vivitar version. It is made by samyang but cosmetically different outside to the rest, which a all identical except for the name printed on the gold name tag.

Note that you can get super tak 85 mm lenses for less, and also the M85/2 but probably not the K85/1.8.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
bower, f/1.4, k-mount, lens, pentax lens, slr lens, version
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Jupiter-9 vs. Samyang/Vivitar/Rokinon/etc 85mm deadwolfbones Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 3 10-23-2009 05:47 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:53 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top