Would anyone else like a lightweight 85mm f1.8 for APS-C?

hypermodern · 12-11-2019, 12:33 PM

Exactly what it says on the tin. I’m thinking a similar size to the DA* 55mm f1.4, weather sealed, quiet autofocus, modern coatings. I like the 135mm FF look, but don’t want a FF lens.

**FozzFoster** · 12-11-2019, 12:45 PM - **1 Like**

there is definitely a hole in my prime kit from 50mm and 100mm.. I sort of convinced myself that the 77mm Ltd. would fill that hole one day which would be 'close enough' to 85mm for me..

**pres589** · 12-11-2019, 12:50 PM

It's hard to know how much physical size and weight would be saved vs. making this a full-frame lens. Without an example lens in-hand it's hard to say what this would be like. The current Tamron 85 f1.8 seems like a really great lens and I've wondered how the Pentax community would take to it.

It would be worth considering... either this or a 100mm f2.0.

**pepperberry farm** · 12-11-2019, 01:09 PM - **1 Like**

Rokinon 85/1.4 is an awesome lens....

hypermodern · 12-11-2019, 01:13 PM

Originally posted by pres589

It's hard to know how much physical size and weight would be saved vs. making this a full-frame lens. Without an example lens in-hand it's hard to say what this would be like.

Well, the Samyang 85mm f1.8 for APS-C only weighs 350g compared with 510g for a FF 85mm f1.4 and 740g for the same specs (new design) in Nikon Z mount, so a weight saving of 30-50%. A lot lighter than to 50-135 which is covering this range at the moment.

house · 12-11-2019, 01:18 PM - **1 Like**

The 70mm ltd isn't near enough? To slow and short?

**pepperberry farm** · 12-11-2019, 02:13 PM

Originally posted by house

The 70mm ltd isn't near enough? To slow and short?

or the 77Limited?

johnha · 12-11-2019, 02:17 PM

The FA77 is less than 300g for an FF lens, you gain very little weight saving limiting it to APS-C. Screwdrive makes sense on a small lightweight prime, is reliable and hardly slow. It's not cheap but then neither would a new 85mm.

Or you could put the DA1.4x teleconver on the DA*55...

**pres589** · 12-11-2019, 03:10 PM

I'd like to see some portrait work and OoF rendering of the DA*55 with a teleconverter behind it.

hypermodern · 12-11-2019, 04:15 PM

Originally posted by pres589

I'd like to see some portrait work and OoF rendering of the DA*55 with a teleconverter behind it.

That’s not the craziest idea In the world. It would be effective f2, stopped down to f2.2 to cut down the CA but would be an interesting experiment.

---------- Post added 12-11-19 at 04:26 PM ----------

Originally posted by johnha

The FA77 is less than 300g for an FF lens, you gain very little weight saving limiting it to APS-C. Screwdrive makes sense on a small lightweight prime, is reliable and hardly slow. It's not cheap but then neither would a new 85mm.

Pentax presumably looked at their line-up and came to the same conclusion. I’ve never tried the FA77, sounds like I should.

**mlt** · 12-11-2019, 05:04 PM

Or just resurrect the smc m 85mm f2 with modern hd coating and the small dc motor and aperture controls used in the 20-40 zoom. Keep the lens small and unique.

tokyoscape · 12-11-2019, 05:10 PM

Originally posted by pepperberry farm

or the 77Limited?

I am thinking the same. And its time to add WR to FA limited.

Make fast wr limited please.

**mikesbike** · 12-11-2019, 06:33 PM

A DFA 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 makes sense because traditionally this FL was meant for portrait work on a 35mm film body. Such a lens of f/1.8 would be longer and could be less expensive than the FA 77mm LTD.

But for APS-C, this need is filled by the DA* 55mm lens very well. I like my FA 77mm LTD very much for either film as it was designed for, or for APS-C use. The DA 70mm LTD is a wonderful portrait lens, as well as for many other uses.

**Mikesul** · 12-11-2019, 07:01 PM

We really need the DFA 85 1.4. The DA*55 1.4 makes a nice close to 85 equivalent on APS-C.

The Squirrel Mafia · 12-11-2019, 07:02 PM

I wouldn't mind having one.

12-11-2019, 12:33 PM	#1
hypermodern Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 131	Would anyone else like a lightweight 85mm f1.8 for APS-C? Exactly what it says on the tin. I’m thinking a similar size to the DA* 55mm f1.4, weather sealed, quiet autofocus, modern coatings. I like the 135mm FF look, but don’t want a FF lens.

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12-11-2019, 12:45 PM - 1 Like	#2
FozzFoster Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Alberta Photos: Albums Posts: 6,808	there is definitely a hole in my prime kit from 50mm and 100mm.. I sort of convinced myself that the 77mm Ltd. would fill that hole one day which would be 'close enough' to 85mm for me..

12-11-2019, 12:50 PM	#3
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	It's hard to know how much physical size and weight would be saved vs. making this a full-frame lens. Without an example lens in-hand it's hard to say what this would be like. The current Tamron 85 f1.8 seems like a really great lens and I've wondered how the Pentax community would take to it. It would be worth considering... either this or a 100mm f2.0.

12-11-2019, 01:09 PM - 1 Like	#4
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,751	Rokinon 85/1.4 is an awesome lens....

12-11-2019, 01:13 PM	#5
hypermodern Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 131 Original Poster	Originally posted by pres589 It's hard to know how much physical size and weight would be saved vs. making this a full-frame lens. Without an example lens in-hand it's hard to say what this would be like. Well, the Samyang 85mm f1.8 for APS-C only weighs 350g compared with 510g for a FF 85mm f1.4 and 740g for the same specs (new design) in Nikon Z mount, so a weight saving of 30-50%. A lot lighter than to 50-135 which is covering this range at the moment.

12-11-2019, 01:18 PM - 1 Like	#6
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	The 70mm ltd isn't near enough? To slow and short?

12-11-2019, 02:13 PM	#7
pepperberry farm amateur dirt farmer Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: probably out in a field somewhere... Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 41,751	Originally posted by house The 70mm ltd isn't near enough? To slow and short? or the 77Limited?

12-11-2019, 02:17 PM	#8
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	The FA77 is less than 300g for an FF lens, you gain very little weight saving limiting it to APS-C. Screwdrive makes sense on a small lightweight prime, is reliable and hardly slow. It's not cheap but then neither would a new 85mm. Or you could put the DA1.4x teleconver on the DA*55...

12-11-2019, 03:10 PM	#9
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,533	I'd like to see some portrait work and OoF rendering of the DA*55 with a teleconverter behind it.

12-11-2019, 04:15 PM	#10
hypermodern Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 131 Original Poster	Originally posted by pres589 I'd like to see some portrait work and OoF rendering of the DA*55 with a teleconverter behind it. That’s not the craziest idea In the world. It would be effective f2, stopped down to f2.2 to cut down the CA but would be an interesting experiment. ---------- Post added 12-11-19 at 04:26 PM ---------- Originally posted by johnha The FA77 is less than 300g for an FF lens, you gain very little weight saving limiting it to APS-C. Screwdrive makes sense on a small lightweight prime, is reliable and hardly slow. It's not cheap but then neither would a new 85mm. Pentax presumably looked at their line-up and came to the same conclusion. I’ve never tried the FA77, sounds like I should.

12-11-2019, 05:04 PM	#11
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	Or just resurrect the smc m 85mm f2 with modern hd coating and the small dc motor and aperture controls used in the 20-40 zoom. Keep the lens small and unique.

12-11-2019, 05:10 PM	#12
tokyoscape Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Tokyo Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,256	Originally posted by pepperberry farm or the 77Limited? I am thinking the same. And its time to add WR to FA limited. Make fast wr limited please.

12-11-2019, 06:33 PM	#13
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,558	A DFA 85mm f/1.4 or f/1.8 makes sense because traditionally this FL was meant for portrait work on a 35mm film body. Such a lens of f/1.8 would be longer and could be less expensive than the FA 77mm LTD. But for APS-C, this need is filled by the DA* 55mm lens very well. I like my FA 77mm LTD very much for either film as it was designed for, or for APS-C use. The DA 70mm LTD is a wonderful portrait lens, as well as for many other uses.

12-11-2019, 07:01 PM	#14
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	We really need the DFA 85 1.4. The DA*55 1.4 makes a nice close to 85 equivalent on APS-C.

12-11-2019, 07:02 PM	#15
The Squirrel Mafia Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 3,056	I wouldn't mind having one.