Originally posted by blackcloudbrew I have had the DA 70 and a Vivitar 85 f1.4 which I believe is the equivalent of the Samyang lens. To me these are different lenses and I liked both of them (I traded the DA70 several years ago for a DA 12-24 that I needed more. Clearly there are size differences and I've always found the 85mm fine for film but too long for APS-C sensors. It's hard to focus wide open but it does give lovely bokeh. I liked the DA 70 for portraits but I've replaced it with the DA*55 and Voigtlander Nokton 58 f1.4 the length of both of those I find better for portraits but that's just me. To me the DA70 is too long for street work and I'd go with the DA40limited. I know too many suggestions...
I've worked with both the DA70 and 85 in studio settings and I really preferred the 70mm length as I had to work too far back from the subject with the 85. I have no memory of the bokeh of the DA70 but I do like the 85mm bokeh. Happy choosing.
Your input is much appreciated.
I have the DA 40mm, but I've found myself in situations in which the DA 70mm would have been nice--recently, in a traditional marketplace in Romania... The DA 70 is as unobtrusive as the DA 40, and yet it's a tele-prime.
I've learned to use A lenses with the catch-in-focus feature, which, as far as I'm concerned, erases much of the AF advantage.