[mars76]

Hi All,

I recently bought a Pentax-M 85mm/1.2 and wondering what disadvantages it might have when compared to 85mm/1.8 or 85mm/1.9.

Is f2 comparable to 1.8f and 1.9f when it comes to quality.

Thanks

[Pablom]

All of the above mentioned have very good reputation and said to render differently, yours being the smallest in size and the 1.9 version only available in M42 mount IIRC. The difference in light gathering is minimal.

I'd love to try them all if I had the funds.

[gofour3]

The optics on the K85/1.8 will be better, of course at a higher price.

Lens Resolution Test Results Pentax telephoto Lenses

Phil.

[Pentaxor]

Hi All,

I recently bought a Pentax-M 85mm/1.2 and wondering what disadvantages it might have when compared to 85mm/1.8 or 85mm/1.9.

Is f2 comparable to 1.8f and 1.9f when it comes to quality.

Thanks

you meant f1:2 right? IQ are great. the f2 is compact and I love the creamy DOF rendering. great for B and W photography and very vivid and lively colors. very sharp.

the only weakness the f2 has is the color blooming and occasional fringing at wide apertures. the blooming could be annoying and sometimes pleasing depending on what you shoot. the blooming effect is great for Black and White. to avoid blooming in color, stop down to f5.6 or f8. using the M85 is like shooting an old uncorrected lens which is amazing for portraiture and abstract work.

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Last edited by Pentaxor; 10-03-2014 at 08:30 AM.

[tuco]

You mean 85/1.4 and 85/2 or 85/1.8 and 85/2

They have a different number of aperture blades and can't say if any are rounded or not. That feature can affect bokeh and/or star burst.

[vrrattko]

sadly I never had a chance to try M85/2.....many people say that its bad reputation is highly misleading and in terms of resolution it is as good as K85/1.8. I don't know since i only tried the later. In my experience K85 is equal to FA77 and DA70, so M85 might be as well a very good choice. Apparent difference would be bokeh, since M lens has only 6 blades while the other mentioned lenses have 8....

[zbrueningsen]

I owned the 85 f/2 and it is a little gem for sure. But the truth is, it isn't magic like the fa 77 or the 85 1.8. If you can wield its strengths, it is worth the 200 bucks. I couldn't and found the DA 70 was better for my using. But I am a much better photographer now.

[pinholecam]

I have all 3 lenses.

The M85/2 uniqueness is its size.
Its very small, about that of a 50/1.4.
That makes it very portable and I use it the most.
Sharpness is perhaps a bit lower than 85/1.9 or 85/1.8, but its certainly sharp (and sharp enough).
Its main weakness is CA and hazing in some situations.


The 85/1.9 is a nice lens, less CA issues and to me a gentler contrast lens (though still contrasty by most standards, perhaps because its pre SMC).


Can't go wrong with any of the Pentax 85mm imo.

[jbondo]

I have all 3 lenses. The M85/2 uniqueness is its size. Its very small, about that of a 50/1.4. That makes it very portable and I use it the most. Sharpness is perhaps a bit lower than 85/1.9 or 85/1.8, but its certainly sharp (and sharp enough). Its main weakness is CA and hazing in some situations. The 85/1.9 is a nice lens, less CA issues and to me a gentler contrast lens (though still contrasty by most standards, perhaps because its pre SMC). Can't go wrong with any of the Pentax 85mm imo.

I also have all 3 and agree. The single copy of the M85 I have is sharper at F4 than the others, but suffers from more CA and blue blooming wide open. the others perform better at F2. And yes the M85 is awesome for its size. Far smaller than the others. Id also like to add that the M85 has excellent bokeh when the subject is at minimum focus distance. I use the 85/1.8 most often when size is not an issue, followed by the M85/2 when I want something compact.