[AndKM]

Hello!
I am looking for a great portrait lens around 85mm for a Pentax K-3 II. I am looking at the Pentax SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 & the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM, but I am open to any suggestions that would give me a clean portrait with great bokeh in the background.

Thanks!

[pres589]

Samyang (and sold under other brand names) 85 1.4 if you're okay with manual focus; Vivitar 85mm F1.4 Review - Review | PentaxForums.com Reviews

[blackcloudbrew]

Personally, my very favorite is the DA*55 f1.4 or the Voigtlander 58mm f1.4, however, I've also had very good results with the DA 70 Limited f2.4.

[sarge]

I have the Samyang 85mm 1.4 the DA HD 70 2.4 Limited and the DA 50 1.8.
Between those three my portrait needs are easily met.

[UncleVanya]

Portraits can be taken with just about any lens. Things that impact your decision would be distance to the subject preferred and what you consider as a portrait. Is this a traditional head and shoulders shot made from a reasonably short distance? If so the FA 77 Limited is a great choice. If you like tighter shots and/or more working distance even the DA* 200 works well.

I have used all of these for portraits:
DA 15 Ltd
FA 31 Ltd
DA 40 Ltd
F 50 (f1.7)
DA 70 Ltd
FA 77 Ltd
A* 85 f/1.4
DFA 100 Macro WR
F 100 Macro
DA* 200
Sigma AF 400 f/5.6

DA 18-135
DA 20-40
DA* 50-135
DA* 60-250
DA 18-55
DA 50-200
FA 80-320

I'm sure I left a few off. Of all of these the A* 85, the FA 77 Ltd, and the DA* 50-135 are my favorites. I sold the A* 85 and picked up the FA 77 since it has the same lineage and a similar look. If in doubt the DA* 50-135 is a flexible zoom with outstanding IQ. If you need more shallow depth of field then the FA 77 or one of the 85mm or longer primes.

[pepperberry farm]

ditto for the DA70 Limited - that lens is nothing but smoooooooth.......

[cali92rs]

Hello!
I am looking for a great portrait lens around 85mm for a Pentax K-3 II. I am looking at the Pentax SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 & the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG HSM, but I am open to any suggestions that would give me a clean portrait with great bokeh in the background.

Thanks!

No need to look any further...pull the trigger on the 77mm and don't look back
If you want to spend less, look at the DA 70mm.
If you want to spend more, look for a FA* 85mm.

[pres589]

Wondered about the Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro.

Fun effects with the Helios 44 (58mm) and 40 (85mm). Not sure if I'd mess with the 40 when the Sy 85mm exists.

[pepperberry farm]

Wondered about the Tamron 90mm 2.8 Macro.

Fun effects with the Helios 44 (58mm) and 40 (85mm). Not sure if I'd mess with the 40 when the Sy 85mm exists.

I have a Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro - you'll have people say 'no' because it's a macro lens, but the Tamron 90 has very smooth bokeh.....

[pres589]

No, I've seen examples of the out of focus rendering with the Tammy 90 and I think it would work great, and I think the field of view on crop would be better than the DFA100's for this purpose.

[jab2980]

I'll speak of ones that I personally use (on K1 and K5II):

Budget (< $50-$100 used)
DA 35 - great for kids, events, and full body shots. Great contrast like the other DA lenses listed here. Very fast focus, small and light.
K 55 1.8 - Beautiful 3d look, nice smooth long focus throw, some of the nicest bokeh of any K mount lens
DA 50 1.8 - Very sharp with bold colors and nice contrast. Small and light.

Medium priced ( < $200-$300 used):
DA 70 2.4 - very sharp wide open, fast focus, great contrast, bold colors, small and light.
M 85 2.0 - very nice compact 85mm... maybe not as nice of a lens as the K 85 or FA, but its well worth the money

High end ($400-$600 used)
FA 77 - I finally understood the term pixie dust after using this lens. This lens is as incredible as claimed, and I use it as frequently as possible.
DA 55 1.4 - Great utility portrait lens (fast and WR). It doesn't have the same boldness as the other DA's listed here and that is usually a positive quality for the type of work that I do.
Sigma 50-150 2.8 - silent focus, beautiful rendering, nice bokeh, quick focus... optically very similar to the da 50-135, which is putting it in very high regard. The trade-off is quicker and more reliable AF vs WR and much greater availability.

[TwoUptons]

I'll throw a vote in for the Samyang/Rokinon/Bower 85mm f1.4

I've used it mostly on full frame, and the depth of field wide open is as absurdly thin as you'd expect, but it's sharp, with a nice transition to out-of-focus, and even when a little out of focus can still look good for portraits.

-Eric

[mholford]

My $0.02...

Initially my go-to portrait lens was the DA70ltd. Lately my DA*50-135 is getting a lot of use for portraits - obviously tons heavier but more flexible... both have great IQ

But... I've still got my eyes open for a FA 77 ltd... if I see one in my price range I'll likely pick one up to see what all the pixie-dust is about...

Another fun choice for portraits - K50mm f1.2 bokeh is amazing... getting the right focus is still a work in progress - so be prepared for a low keeper rate...

[grispie]

M 85 2.0 - very nice compact 85mm... maybe not as nice of a lens as the K 85 or FA, but its well worth the money

agreed. if you're on a tight budget and can live with manual focus this is a very nice lens. delivers very nice bokeh..

[rrstuff]

No, I've seen examples of the out of focus rendering with the Tammy 90 and I think it would work great, and I think the field of view on crop would be better than the DFA100's for this purpose.

I agree, I have one of these and the bokeh on tamron 90 is very good.