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Abbazz · 02-23-2015, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by AtitG

I know they are not FF compatible, but they make a great, "relatively light", 2 lens combo for travel in an aps-c system. This combo is good enough for 90% of my photographic needs.

Sure. I love the 55-300 on my crop format cameras and I think it's a shame it doesn't cover full-frame

. For full-frame, I have rediscovered my old FA 80-320, which is very good from 80 to 200mm and can be used in a pinch at 320mm as long as you stop down to F/11.

Cheers!

Abbazz

northcoastgreg · 02-23-2015, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by Abbazz

the Pentax FA 85/2.8 Soft Focus (much better on full frame than on crop sensor; soft wide open but very sharp closed down with superb colors; I suspect this lens to have the famed "ghostless coatings"),

Interesting theory. The first lens to use ghostless coatings is the FA 43, introduced in 1997. The FA 85 soft was introduced a year earlier. Would Pentax have used ghostless coatings on this lens without telling anybody? Possibly. But I have the F version of this lens, which also features superb colors, and that lens, introduced in 1989, certainly does not benefit from the ghostless coating technology. I suspect the more likely explanation for the excellent color reproduction of the F and FA 85 soft focus lenses (both of which use the same optical formula) is that they feature less glass than most lenses (five elements in four groups), which improves light transmission and therefore color.

I own several full frame lenses which, supposedly (from reports I've heard from others, not first-hand experience) should do well on FF:

FA 20-35
K 28 f3.5
K 35 f3.5
K 50 f1.2
F 85 f2.8 soft

mika. · 02-28-2015, 11:13 PM

Leica Elmarit-R 35/2.8
Voigtlander Ultron 40/2
Voigtlander Nokton 58/1.4
Leica Elmarit-R 60/2.8
Pentax-M 75-150/4

Special mention:
** Pentax-FA 28-105/3.2
** Not a sharp lens (needs to be stopped to at least F6.7), but the ghostless coating make for very good color rendering.

*** Pentax-A 50/2.0
*** Another good lens with very good color rendering.

**Kerrowdown** · 03-01-2015, 01:47 AM

Originally posted by AtitG

Top 5 lens pick for a Pentax APSC and FF shooter

Strangely enough it's the lenses I already own.

All I've got to do to comply with this thread... is to pick five from eight.

“Mistress" (SMC Pentax-A 15mm F3.5)
"Good Lady” (SMC Pentax-A 20mm F2.8)
"Special Lady” (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2)
“Femme Fatale” (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2.8 Macro)
“Sweetheart” (SMC Pentax-A* 85mm F1.4)
"Lady Luck” (SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8)
“Gorgeous Lady” (SMC SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F2.8)
“Duchess” (SMC SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F4.0)

Abbazz · 03-01-2015, 11:04 PM

Originally posted by northcoastgreg

F 85 f2.8 soft

This lens is much more useful on full-frame, as the soft-focus effect tends to be a little over the top on crop-format. On my Sony A7, I love this lens at F/6.3, where it is almost like a "normal" 85mm lens, with incredible colors and only a hint of glow in the highlights...

Cheers!

Abbazz

vrolok · 03-02-2015, 11:52 AM

My choice, in no preferred order:

FA 20-35
FA 31
FA 43
FA 77
A* 200 macro

Stavri · 03-02-2015, 12:20 PM

my selection

Sigma EX 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 Ver. II HSM
Pentax FA 31 f1.8 Ltd
Pentax -A 50mm f1.2
Tokina At-X 90mm f2.5 Macro
Pentax-F/Fa 135mm f2.8

02-28-2015, 11:13 PM	#33
mika. Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 161	Leica Elmarit-R 35/2.8 Voigtlander Ultron 40/2 Voigtlander Nokton 58/1.4 Leica Elmarit-R 60/2.8 Pentax-M 75-150/4 Special mention: Pentax-FA 28-105/3.2 Not a sharp lens (needs to be stopped to at least F6.7), but the ghostless coating make for very good color rendering. * Pentax-A 50/2.0 * Another good lens with very good color rendering. Last edited by mika.; 03-01-2015 at 10:54 AM. Reason: Addition

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02-23-2015, 10:50 AM	#31
Abbazz Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667	Originally posted by AtitG I know they are not FF compatible, but they make a great, "relatively light", 2 lens combo for travel in an aps-c system. This combo is good enough for 90% of my photographic needs. Sure. I love the 55-300 on my crop format cameras and I think it's a shame it doesn't cover full-frame . For full-frame, I have rediscovered my old FA 80-320, which is very good from 80 to 200mm and can be used in a pinch at 320mm as long as you stop down to F/11. Cheers! Abbazz

02-23-2015, 03:44 PM	#32
northcoastgreg Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern Michigan Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,176	Originally posted by Abbazz the Pentax FA 85/2.8 Soft Focus (much better on full frame than on crop sensor; soft wide open but very sharp closed down with superb colors; I suspect this lens to have the famed "ghostless coatings"), Interesting theory. The first lens to use ghostless coatings is the FA 43, introduced in 1997. The FA 85 soft was introduced a year earlier. Would Pentax have used ghostless coatings on this lens without telling anybody? Possibly. But I have the F version of this lens, which also features superb colors, and that lens, introduced in 1989, certainly does not benefit from the ghostless coating technology. I suspect the more likely explanation for the excellent color reproduction of the F and FA 85 soft focus lenses (both of which use the same optical formula) is that they feature less glass than most lenses (five elements in four groups), which improves light transmission and therefore color. I own several full frame lenses which, supposedly (from reports I've heard from others, not first-hand experience) should do well on FF: FA 20-35 K 28 f3.5 K 35 f3.5 K 50 f1.2 F 85 f2.8 soft

03-01-2015, 01:47 AM	#34
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by AtitG Top 5 lens pick for a Pentax APSC and FF shooter Strangely enough it's the lenses I already own. All I've got to do to comply with this thread... is to pick five from eight. “Mistress" (SMC Pentax-A 15mm F3.5) "Good Lady” (SMC Pentax-A 20mm F2.8) "Special Lady” (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2) “Femme Fatale” (SMC Pentax-A 50mm F2.8 Macro) “Sweetheart” (SMC Pentax-A* 85mm F1.4) "Lady Luck” (SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8) “Gorgeous Lady” (SMC SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F2.8) “Duchess” (SMC SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F4.0)

03-01-2015, 11:04 PM	#35
Abbazz Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Jakarta Posts: 667	Originally posted by northcoastgreg F 85 f2.8 soft This lens is much more useful on full-frame, as the soft-focus effect tends to be a little over the top on crop-format. On my Sony A7, I love this lens at F/6.3, where it is almost like a "normal" 85mm lens, with incredible colors and only a hint of glow in the highlights... Cheers! Abbazz

03-02-2015, 11:52 AM	#36
vrolok Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Caesaraugusta Posts: 104	My choice, in no preferred order: FA 20-35 FA 31 FA 43 FA 77 A* 200 macro

03-02-2015, 12:20 PM	#37
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832	my selection Sigma EX 12-24mm f4.5-5.6 Ver. II HSM Pentax FA 31 f1.8 Ltd Pentax -A 50mm f1.2 Tokina At-X 90mm f2.5 Macro Pentax-F/Fa 135mm f2.8