[Vejas]

Hello,

Now i have dilemma in my head need to choose between 70mm f2.4limited or samyang 85mm f1.4. what would you do ?
70mm is well built, good colours, but f2.4. Is 70mm f2.4 autofocus accurate even in different shooting ranges ? using other pentax lenses i realized that in different shooting distances focus mistakes is different. And now im good at using manual focus lenses. but samyang 85mm f1.4 at f1.4 is very narrow focus area, so i'm not sure how it works with manual focus .

First thing what i want is good colours, nice bokeh - to get nice pictures.
Second thing is to get accurate focus.
I''m using k-5II

So im confused little bit, what can you suggest ?

[Kozlok]

They are very different styles of rendering. The only proper way for you to decide is to look at samples from each. When you see pictures that make you go "wow!", count those, pick the one that gives you a bigger wow for the kinds of shots you do.

[mrNewt]

Since you ask, personally I would go for the Samyang 85mm f1.4.

But, instead of asking... as Kozlok is recommending, look at samples (other's work) and see what you like best. Even better, if you could get them both and test them out.
Remember... you will have to live with it .

[Na Horuk]

They are very different styles of rendering.

Well said.
Sample photo search is here, but I don't think it includes the Samyang 85mm (since Samyang lenses don't have a lens ID)
Individual review pages are here:
SMC Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
HD Pentax-DA 70mm F2.4 Limited Reviews - DA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database
Samyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF Lens Reviews - Samyang Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

But hopefully someone who has experience with both lenses will post here, too

[blackcloudbrew]

Not to further confuse you but after having owned the DA 70, Vivitar 85 f1.4, and the DA*55 f1.4, my favorite lens for portraiture is the DA*55. I just find the 70 and 85 too long for me. YMMV

[Vejas]

They are very different styles of rendering. The only proper way for you to decide is to look at samples from each. When you see pictures that make you go "wow!", count those, pick the one that gives you a bigger wow for the kinds of shots you do.

i know that, but still it's confusing. looked samples many times. Samyang is better for portraits. Pentax looks for some portraits fine, but better for landscapes and smaller.
Next thing will be realize how easy is samyang to use at F1.4

---------- Post added 03-18-14 at 11:57 AM ----------

Not to further confuse you but after having owned the DA 70, Vivitar 85 f1.4, and the DA*55 f1.4, my favorite lens for portraiture is the DA*55. I just find the 70 and 85 too long for me. YMMV

not getting confused
was DA 70 autofocus accurate in all distances ?

was it easy to use Vivitar 85 f1.4 at F1.4 and focus manually ?

[MSL]

Vejas - a somewhat off the path answer for you. I have a SMC Tak 50/1.4 lens. Every once in a while I try to use it to take pictures of my kids, even though they won't sit still. The narrow DOF at 1.4 or even f2 means that 99% of my shots are not in focus, or focused on the wrong part of the body. BUT, when I do get lucky, I get a very special portrait. Whether this would still be true at f2.4 is something I should try. For any focal length, the larger the aperture the harder it will be to nail the focus, and the narrow the in focus region. It then becomes a question of whether this is a capability you want to have.

[formercanuck]

I have the Rokinon version of the Samyang 85mm f/1.4.
Its a nice/heavy/smooth focusing lens (built for FF!), and is quite sharp.

Only downsides to this lens:

1. Manual focus at f/1.4 can be a chore, as DoF = very small. I have issues with this on anything (including myself) not being in a fixed position.
2. Min focus is 1m/3' (not an issue for portraits).

[Vejas]

Vejas - a somewhat off the path answer for you. I have a SMC Tak 50/1.4 lens. Every once in a while I try to use it to take pictures of my kids, even though they won't sit still. The narrow DOF at 1.4 or even f2 means that 99% of my shots are not in focus, or focused on the wrong part of the body. BUT, when I do get lucky, I get a very special portrait. Whether this would still be true at f2.4 is something I should try. For any focal length, the larger the aperture the harder it will be to nail the focus, and the narrow the in focus region. It then becomes a question of whether this is a capability you want to have.

even with catch-in-focus function ?

---------- Post added 03-18-14 at 12:12 PM ----------

Only downsides to this lens:

1. Manual focus at f/1.4 can be a chore, as DoF = very small. I have issues with this on anything (including myself) not being in a fixed position.
.

even with catch-in-focus function ?

[starjedi]

Vejas - a somewhat off the path answer for you. I have a SMC Tak 50/1.4 lens. Every once in a while I try to use it to take pictures of my kids, even though they won't sit still. The narrow DOF at 1.4 or even f2 means that 99% of my shots are not in focus, or focused on the wrong part of the body. BUT, when I do get lucky, I get a very special portrait. Whether this would still be true at f2.4 is something I should try. For any focal length, the larger the aperture the harder it will be to nail the focus, and the narrow the in focus region. It then becomes a question of whether this is a capability you want to have.

Under the aperture 1.4, typically if the distance is too short, the DOF can be only less than 1cm. That's the reason it is very hard to focus. One has to deliberately use this aperture. However, large aperture is versatile as you can step down to F2.4 or F2.8 easily. Espeically under the low light situations, there is a trade off between motion blur and DOF blur :-).

I vote for Samyang 85 1.4. If you can wait, ultimately Samyang will have autofocus version (35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2 and 85mm 1.4 should be their top priority) .

[carrrlangas]

Regarding Max aperture, is the lens for thin DoF purposes or extreme low light without flash? is focusing speed a priority? Portability, as in Size and weight are of importance to you? because I think those are the main differences.

Also, I think the pentax sports much better build, but the Samyang is purely mechanical so I am not sure which is better there. Flare resistence is probably better in the Pentax lens

[Vejas]

Under the aperture 1.4, typically if the distance is too short, the DOF can be only less than 1cm. That's the reason it is very hard to focus. One has to deliberately use this aperture. However, large aperture is versatile as you can step down to F2.4 or F2.8 easily. Espeically under the low light situations, there is a trade off between motion blur and DOF blur :-).

I vote for Samyang 85 1.4. If you can wait, ultimately Samyang will have autofocus version (35mm 1.4, 50mm 1.2 and 85mm 1.4 should be their top priority) .

When samyang will do that or this is just rumors ? and question how accurate their autofocus will be
have you tried use samyang with catch-in-focus function ?

[lmd91343]

If you are taking portraits indoors both of those lenses will be too long. You probably will need to be 15-20' away from the subject to do a head and shoulders portrait with the 70mm. A 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 would be better suited for indoor portraits.

[mikeSF]

assuming head and shoulders portraits, is the FA77 a possibility for you? way better portrait rendering than the DA70.
Samyang? what's a Samyang?

[Vejas]

If you are taking portraits indoors both of those lenses will be too long. You probably will need to be 15-20' away from the subject to do a head and shoulders portrait with the 70mm. A 50/1.4 or 50/1.8 would be better suited for indoor portraits.

Yes, i know that. For indoor portraits i have not so long lenses i have 50/1.8 or 35mm for that use

---------- Post added 03-18-14 at 12:39 PM ----------

assuming head and shoulders portraits, is the FA77 a possibility for you? way better portrait rendering than the DA70.
Samyang? what's a Samyang?

I agree with you. FA77 would be great, but it's too expensive for me