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04-27-2014, 11:48 PM   #16
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QuoteOriginally posted by rbefly Quote
Hi bsamcash,
My vote goes to the M 85mm f/2.0. Rendering, sharpness and oh...yes. The Bokeh! Those soft highlights and glowing orbs.
JMO, I know you can get a new 85mm for about the same $$, but that's not the point.
Ron
+1. The M85/2 took me some time to get used to.

Seb

04-28-2014, 12:35 AM   #17
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Remember the OP is using a FF Super Program film camera..

Aren't the 50mm f1.4 and 55mm f1.8 a bit short for Portraits on that? i.e - he will get the 'rounder' 'big nose' perspective effect? (Unless walks back and crops..)

Great lenses both and make fine Portrait Lenses - on APC-S 1.5x
04-28-2014, 03:29 AM   #18
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I particularly love the Voigtlander Nokton 58mm f1.4 SL. It renders skin tones so beautifully.
04-28-2014, 05:15 AM   #19
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QuoteOriginally posted by cahudson42 Quote
Remember the OP is using a FF Super Program film camera..

Aren't the 50mm f1.4 and 55mm f1.8 a bit short for Portraits on that? i.e - he will get the 'rounder' 'big nose' perspective effect? (Unless walks back and crops..)

Great lenses both and make fine Portrait Lenses - on APC-S 1.5x
Glad you reminded me of that fact. I'll make one change to my suggestion. I would still use the A35-105 but would drop the Tak 55 1.8 in favor of my SMC Takumar 135 3.5.And. to answer bsamcash I can't give you an answer yet as I've only had the DA 50 1.8 for a little while now. I do like the colors and bokeh so on digital it would work.

04-28-2014, 07:52 AM   #20
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I made a reply with samples here :
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/258251-reco...ml#post2785649

Portability included, all the 85mm f2-f1.8 are nice lenses.
There isn't even a 'best' to me most of the time.
Its just a matter of taking one out with me and using it to its strength (and avoid its weaknesses)
04-28-2014, 08:13 AM   #21
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QuoteOriginally posted by pinholecam Quote
I made a reply with samples here :
https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/10-pentax-slr-lens-discussion/258251-reco...ml#post2785649

Portability included, all the 85mm f2-f1.8 are nice lenses.
There isn't even a 'best' to me most of the time.
Its just a matter of taking one out with me and using it to its strength (and avoid its weaknesses)
I love love love love love the swirly bokeh of the K 85! I see that in some fast, classic lenses, what causes it?

Also, what is the J9? A Jupiter? I really like the sharpness and dimensionality of that one.
04-28-2014, 08:25 AM   #22
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My favorite is a S-M-C Takumar 85/1.8. It's sharp and fast which makes for great portraits and smooth out of focus backgrounds, but sometimes it is a challenge to nail the focus. It was hard to use with my K20D and K-5, but now that I have focus-peaking on my K-3, I'm really enjoying this beauty.

I recently sent it to dcshooter to be CLA'd and refinished in silver!


Last edited by klh; 04-29-2014 at 05:26 AM.
04-28-2014, 08:45 AM   #23
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For me it is Pentax 85/1.8.......in my own opinion it overwhelmed both FA77 and DA70 with superior bokeh and colours, while sharpness is moreless the same....
04-28-2014, 10:17 AM - 1 Like   #24
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Here's a resource from about 15 years ago from the Pentax Discuss Mailing List. in the 'Best Lenses' dialog on the upper left, scroll down to 'Best Portraits?' and click. Lots of good stuff

Last edited by monochrome; 04-28-2014 at 10:29 AM.
04-28-2014, 11:21 AM   #25
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Lately it's my K55/2 (at f/2), but I've had really good results from my M 50 1.7 as well (usually stopped down to f/2 which I prefer - seems like a really sweet spot for those old Pentax manual lenses).
04-28-2014, 04:49 PM   #26
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QuoteOriginally posted by ChristianRock Quote
Lately it's my K55/2 (at f/2), but I've had really good results from my M 50 1.7 as well (usually stopped down to f/2 which I prefer - seems like a really sweet spot for those old Pentax manual lenses).
The OP is looking for a manual focus Portrait lens for a film camera, so that would be in the 77mm - 135mm range. For a standard/normal lens on film yes the K55/2 & M50/1.7 are great lenses.

Phil.
04-28-2014, 06:30 PM   #27
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You are right, Phil. I kept reading the responses and forgot for a second about the film requirement.

I don't have experience with the 77, 85s or 90s lenses. But I do like the A 135mm f/2.8, both on film and digital (if you have the room to use it, it's good wide open and separates the subject really well). For a while it was my most used lens… gotta start using it again!
04-28-2014, 09:41 PM   #28
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QuoteOriginally posted by ChristianRock Quote
But I do like the A 135mm f/2.8, both on film and digital
Yep that's the telephoto/portrait focal length I started with on film decades ago.

Phil.
04-29-2014, 12:30 AM   #29
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The A100/2.8 (or the M version is you prefer) is absolutely superb on digital and I assume it would be equally as good on film. If you can find one at a decent price I wouldn't hesitate to get it

The M85/2 has my favourite lens on film (25+ years ago), but I've not been impressed on digital.
04-29-2014, 04:18 AM   #30
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QuoteOriginally posted by LennyBloke Quote
The A100/2.8 (or the M version is you prefer) is absolutely superb on digital and I assume it would be equally as good on film. If you can find one at a decent price I wouldn't hesitate to get it

The M85/2 has my favourite lens on film (25+ years ago), but I've not been impressed on digital.
A second thumbs up for the M or A 100/2.8. On film, it is in my opinion, the perfect focal length for portraits. Not bad on digital either if a little longish.
Another advantage its small size doesn't intimdate the subject as my DA* 16~50/2.8 often seems to.

Tom G
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