Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
12-22-2015, 10:04 AM - 1 Like   #1
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Dewman's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Idaho
Posts: 5,492
A missing focal length in my Pentax-M collection!

I have this "thing" for the older Pentax-M prime lenses. Being an old-time photographer who began taking pictures when auto focus was still a few decades in the future, I have no problem still using manual focus lenses although my eyesight does somewhat hinder my efforts. But, through "bracketing" my shots, focus-wise, I've learned how to overcome this limitation..... MOST of the time!


My Pentax-M collection to date (all SMC) consists of two 28mm's.... a f:2.8 & a f:3.5; a 35mm f:2.0; a 50mm f:1.4, f:1.7 & f:2.0; a 100mm f:2.8; a 135mm f:3.5; a 200mm f:4; a 400mm f:5.6 and a 500mm (M42) f:4.5. (Of these, I would have to say, the 50mm f:1.7 and the 100mm f:2.8 are the sharpest of the lot.)


One slot that is missing that I'd like to fill next is the one between 50mm and 100mm. That would be the 85mm f:2. According to the reviews, it is a wonderful performer and rates extremely high in all categories. A mite spendy and certainly not one comes up for sale very often.... but my mission in 2016 is to save my shekels and snag one when the time is right.


Any comments and/or opinions on this lens would be greatly appreciated.

12-22-2015, 10:13 AM   #2
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
MJSfoto1956's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Boston
Posts: 1,305
KEH has the 85mm 1.8 K for $561US:

https://www.keh.com/242049/pentax-85mm-f-1-8-smc-k-mount-manual-focus-lens-52

Michael
12-22-2015, 10:17 AM   #3
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Dewman's Avatar

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Idaho
Posts: 5,492
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by MJSfoto1956 Quote

Yikes! I'll have to eat a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners for a while before I can afford to spend THAT much!
12-22-2015, 10:18 AM   #4
Veteran Member
bertwert's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Golden, BC
Posts: 15,173
QuoteOriginally posted by Dewman Quote
Yikes! I'll have to eat a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners for a while before I can afford to spend THAT much!
If lunch cost you $5 a day, you'd only need to skip it for 100 days...

12-22-2015, 10:49 AM   #5
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
monochrome's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Working From Home
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 26,276
I have the K85/1.8. I considered the M85/2 but opted to stay within my preferred K-series lineup. AFAIK the M85/2 is very nicely rated and highly desirable. Frankly, there are very few dogs among the K, M and A primes.
12-22-2015, 10:57 AM   #6
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
boriscleto's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: North Syracuse, NY
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,464
QuoteOriginally posted by monochrome Quote
Frankly, there are very few dogs among the K, M and A primes.
That includes the A 135/2.8, which got very poor reviews for many years...

Who knows how it will perform on a FF DSLR, but it is a great lens on an APS-C DSLR. Sadly there is no A 85/2. And I would die of a heart attack from eating too much Ramen to ever afford the A* 85...
12-22-2015, 11:07 AM   #7
Pentaxian
bdery's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Quebec city, Canada
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 9,352
You're also missing the wonder 120mm f2.8 and 150mm f3.5, both miniature lenses with stellar optics.

And a faster 135mm.

Among others

I'd love to be rich and start collecting lenses too.

12-22-2015, 11:32 AM   #8
Veteran Member
blende8's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bremen, Germany
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,521
Nice lenses:
Attached Images
View Picture EXIF
PENTAX K-5 II s  Photo 

Last edited by blende8; 12-22-2015 at 11:48 AM.
12-22-2015, 11:45 AM   #9
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
K-Three's Avatar

Join Date: May 2014
Location: Pugetopolis, WA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 935
you are missing the Macros too,
The 100 & the 50,
I have the 100, it was my standard lens on my LX & MX,
A bit slow but sharp and versatile, does a lot, very well besides macro,
12-22-2015, 11:47 AM   #10
Veteran Member
blende8's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Bremen, Germany
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,521
Regarding the M85, it has a quite unique blue fringing:
Attached Images
 
12-22-2015, 11:50 AM   #11
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Crooski's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Rozenburg , Zuid-Holland
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,664
1 for sale in Holland I send the page: Pentax K cameras and lenses AF and MF | secondhandcamera.nl

Look in de middle of the page M85mm f2.0 with hood

They ship items all over the world, see the general information page.

greetings Crooski
12-22-2015, 09:31 PM   #12
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2012
Location: Adelaide
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,364
As you can see from my signature tag, I'm rather aligned with your thinking.


M85/2 is one sharp lens and quite neutral in colours to my eyes (a good thing for a portrait lens). Goes a bit wild with colour fringing wide open but away from F2 is really quite nice. F2.8 tames fringing quite a bit and the fringing is close to gone by F4. From F2.8 the fringing can be managed in Lightroom ok. F2 fringing is more significant (and unusually blue for fringing) and harder to deal with in post processing. I would treat F2 as only suitable for low contrast settings, eg low light indoor images. Very compact for its focal length, good for street photography at a polite distance from the unexpecting subject.


One of the better lenses in my M series collection.

---------- Post added 23rd Dec 2015 at 02:07 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by bdery Quote

And a faster 135mm.


There was only the 135/3.5 in the M series. You need to go to the earlier K's for the 2.5 (good lens) or to the A for the 2.8 (so so from reviews here).


Or go down to the M 120/2.8.

---------- Post added 23rd Dec 2015 at 02:10 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by dcshooter Quote


Don't they just look stunning!
12-23-2015, 06:28 AM   #13
Pentaxian
bdery's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Quebec city, Canada
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 9,352
QuoteOriginally posted by southlander Quote
There was only the 135/3.5 in the M series.
Sorry, my bad.

There was a faster 135 too, the A* F1.8
12-23-2015, 06:56 AM   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter




Join Date: May 2012
Location: Adelaide
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 1,364
QuoteOriginally posted by bdery Quote
Sorry, my bad.

There was a faster 135 too, the A* F1.8
Indeed you are correct. I tend not to think about that lens too often due to its scary price!
12-23-2015, 09:16 AM   #15
Pentaxian
jcdoss's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 6,687
For what it's worth, here's my online M85/2 photo album: https://flic.kr/s/aHskpVsLq8

QuoteOriginally posted by dcshooter Quote
I've got one for sale in silver and chrome....
What?? I don't have the only silvered M85 anymore? Woe is me... :-)
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
100mm, 50mm, bit, dec, f2, f2.8, f:2.0, f:2.8, f:3.5, focus, k-mount, lens, lenses, pentax lens, pentax-m, pm, post, series, slr lens, time
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
What focal length should be my macro? elad Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 12 06-22-2015 12:35 PM
input focal length in q7 Q7streetshooter Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 2 03-08-2015 10:09 AM
Having established that I'm missing a wide angle in my line up... gilsouthwood Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 20 05-07-2012 06:30 PM
Which focal length for a deep DOF in miniatures? Knopfloch Photographic Technique 17 09-18-2009 11:21 AM
Focal length is missing pentagor Pentax DSLR Discussion 15 04-04-2008 02:51 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 03:08 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top