Opteka 85mm f/1.8 ? MF lens

digital029art · 05-14-2013, 11:55 AM

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This is NOT the Samyang 85/1.4 - looks like a Chinese copy of another design. Strangely it seems to be only available for EF mount ? doesn't make much sense, but the price is right for ~ $150.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190813651654?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Anyone tried this one?

Docrwm · 05-14-2013, 12:08 PM

My experience with Opteka lenses is that they are poorly made using marginal optics. This one has no A setting and appears to be available only in Canon mount.

causey · 05-14-2013, 12:12 PM - **1 Like**

Newegg.com - Opteka 85mm F/1.8 Manual Focus Aspherical Medium Telephoto Lens

Quote:

Pros: cheap.

Cons: really cheap.

I was sort of hoping 2013 China could make a lens as good as 1966 Japan. Dream on.

wide open this lens is total mush with ghosting. you need to stop down about 2 stops before the blur gets even remotely OK.

ugly bokeh. one of the reasons for a fast portait lens is to achieve shallow depth of field.

the focus is far rougher than my 1960s pentax thread-on M42 lenses. the iris only has whole stops, and not even ones, f/ 1.8, 2.5, 3.2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 22. the iris is rough to turn too. the exterior finish of the metal is pebbly rather than satin. the lens hood is an integral part of the lens, the lenscap fits on the hood not the lens. I'm not sure you can use a filter with this.

there is a fair amount of purple ghosts on contrasty edges off center... this is chromatic abberation, far more than I'd expect on an APS-C camera with a 85mm lens.

Other Thoughts: I got this lens to do wide field astrophotography, and still lifes. I haven't tried it yet on the night sky, the full moon had too much glare last night

lytrytyr · 05-14-2013, 12:18 PM

That's downright unfair to Opteka, trying to compare them with Pentax!

kenafein · 05-14-2013, 12:43 PM

The Samyang is such a bargain. I say it's worth the extra money.

**boriscleto** · 05-14-2013, 01:12 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by lytrytyr

That's downright unfair to Opteka, trying to compare them with Pentax!

It's probably just as unfair to try to compare them to the Russian lenses...

Docrwm · 05-14-2013, 01:56 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

It's probably just as unfair to try to compare them to the Russian lenses...

reeftool · 05-14-2013, 08:40 PM

Originally posted by digital029art

This is NOT the Samyang 85/1.4 - looks like a Chinese copy of another design. Strangely it seems to be only available for EF mount ? doesn't make much sense, but the price is right for ~ $150.

Opteka 85mm F 1 8 Manual Focus Aspherical Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS | eBay

Anyone tried this one?

I've seen the ads for this lens. I don't want to just dismiss this lens because of the name. Do you have a Canon body and are volunteering to be the guinea pig?

topace · 05-15-2013, 06:33 AM

It's interesting because it's small and cheap, but the only review I could find of it (Newegg.com - Opteka 85mm F/1.8 Manual Focus Aspherical Medium Telephoto Lens) claims that it's soft open, has bad bokeh and chromatic abberation.

I'd say go for the Samyang 85 f/1.4 instead.

Docrwm · 05-15-2013, 06:53 AM

The Samyang 85/1.4 can be found for not too much and is an excellent lens.

kenafein · 05-15-2013, 06:59 AM

The Jupiter 9 is similarly small and can be found for less.

Simen1 · 10-15-2016, 01:10 AM

Sorry for bumping an old thread. I just came across an Opteka 85mm f/1,8 and was fascinated by the very compact size, weight and price. I wondered if it existed in K mount and could be a poor mans FA77, but I'm glad you talked me out of it. I am greatly thankful for the collective knowledge of this forum.

05-14-2013, 11:55 AM	#1
digital029art Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 440	Opteka 85mm f/1.8 ? MF lens Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. This is NOT the Samyang 85/1.4 - looks like a Chinese copy of another design. Strangely it seems to be only available for EF mount ? doesn't make much sense, but the price is right for ~ $150. http://www.ebay.com/itm/190813651654?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Anyone tried this one?

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05-14-2013, 12:08 PM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	My experience with Opteka lenses is that they are poorly made using marginal optics. This one has no A setting and appears to be available only in Canon mount.

05-14-2013, 12:12 PM - 1 Like	#3
causey Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington, VA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,757	Newegg.com - Opteka 85mm F/1.8 Manual Focus Aspherical Medium Telephoto Lens Quote: Pros: cheap. Cons: really cheap. I was sort of hoping 2013 China could make a lens as good as 1966 Japan. Dream on. wide open this lens is total mush with ghosting. you need to stop down about 2 stops before the blur gets even remotely OK. ugly bokeh. one of the reasons for a fast portait lens is to achieve shallow depth of field. the focus is far rougher than my 1960s pentax thread-on M42 lenses. the iris only has whole stops, and not even ones, f/ 1.8, 2.5, 3.2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 22. the iris is rough to turn too. the exterior finish of the metal is pebbly rather than satin. the lens hood is an integral part of the lens, the lenscap fits on the hood not the lens. I'm not sure you can use a filter with this. there is a fair amount of purple ghosts on contrasty edges off center... this is chromatic abberation, far more than I'd expect on an APS-C camera with a 85mm lens. Other Thoughts: I got this lens to do wide field astrophotography, and still lifes. I haven't tried it yet on the night sky, the full moon had too much glare last night

05-14-2013, 12:18 PM	#4
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	That's downright unfair to Opteka, trying to compare them with Pentax!

05-14-2013, 12:43 PM	#5
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	The Samyang is such a bargain. I say it's worth the extra money.

05-14-2013, 01:12 PM - 1 Like	#6
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by lytrytyr That's downright unfair to Opteka, trying to compare them with Pentax! It's probably just as unfair to try to compare them to the Russian lenses...

05-14-2013, 01:56 PM	#7
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by boriscleto It's probably just as unfair to try to compare them to the Russian lenses...

05-14-2013, 08:40 PM	#8
reeftool Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Upstate New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,554	Originally posted by digital029art This is NOT the Samyang 85/1.4 - looks like a Chinese copy of another design. Strangely it seems to be only available for EF mount ? doesn't make much sense, but the price is right for ~ $150. Opteka 85mm F 1 8 Manual Focus Aspherical Medium Telephoto Lens for Canon EOS \| eBay Anyone tried this one? I've seen the ads for this lens. I don't want to just dismiss this lens because of the name. Do you have a Canon body and are volunteering to be the guinea pig?

05-15-2013, 06:33 AM	#9
topace Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Stockholm Posts: 198	It's interesting because it's small and cheap, but the only review I could find of it (Newegg.com - Opteka 85mm F/1.8 Manual Focus Aspherical Medium Telephoto Lens) claims that it's soft open, has bad bokeh and chromatic abberation. I'd say go for the Samyang 85 f/1.4 instead.

05-15-2013, 06:53 AM	#10
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	The Samyang 85/1.4 can be found for not too much and is an excellent lens.

05-15-2013, 06:59 AM	#11
kenafein Veteran Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Southern California Photos: Albums Posts: 4,082	The Jupiter 9 is similarly small and can be found for less.

10-15-2016, 01:10 AM	#12
Simen1 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tromsø, Norway Photos: Albums Posts: 1,031	Sorry for bumping an old thread. I just came across an Opteka 85mm f/1,8 and was fascinated by the very compact size, weight and price. I wondered if it existed in K mount and could be a poor mans FA77, but I'm glad you talked me out of it. I am greatly thankful for the collective knowledge of this forum.