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

**mikesbike** · 12-11-2019, 07:56 PM

I should have said especially the DA 70mm HD LTD for portraits, the HD improved contrast and improved bokeh due to upgraded rounded blade design. The 70mm providing the same perspective as a favored 105mm for portrait use on 35mm film or FF.

For other uses too, with its very fine edge-to-edge performance right from open aperture.

**pres589** · 12-11-2019, 08:30 PM

Originally posted by hypermodern

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.

"Frog eye bokeh", and such, seems like it'd be an issue. Shoot the thing at f5.6 or smaller and I doubt anyone would care, but that's not really portrait lens territory.

Wasp · 12-12-2019, 01:19 AM

I would have been in the market for one last year. In the end I scratched that itch with a Rokinon 85mm f/1.4. For me, the 77mm was too expensive and the 70mm was too slow.

A budget priced 85mm f/1.8 with autofocus would get my attention. There must be a market for it. Canon seems to agree with me on this, as they make one. I don't see one from Pentax anytime in the near future, though.

Jonathan Mac · 12-12-2019, 05:26 AM

I wouldn't mind one at all, though I find the DA 70mm f/2.4 limited ideal for portraits (and many other things) on APS-C DSLRs. 85mm would be a bit long for that.

noelpolar · 12-12-2019, 05:46 AM

Just get k 85/1.8

MikeyBugs95 · 12-12-2019, 12:27 PM

Frankly, if you're going to make an 85mm 1.8, why not just make it full frame and allow both formats to utilize it to it's fullest potential? Why limit it to being most useful on only one format?

Wasp · 12-12-2019, 12:50 PM

Originally posted by noelpolar

Just get k 85/1.8

Wonderful piece of glass, but not east to find, not cheap and not auto focus.

**mlt** · 12-12-2019, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by Wasp

Wonderful piece of glass, but not east to find, not cheap and not auto focus.

Cheaper and easier to find, the M85mm f2.0 is compact but no autofocus and strictly green button or full manual.

house · 12-12-2019, 01:50 PM

I'm curious what the scenario for 85mm on apsc is.

**mlt** · 12-12-2019, 02:35 PM

85*1.5 = 127.5 focal length, close enough to the old 135mm focal length short telephoto that used to be the first additional lens sold to new slr owners before zooms took over.

**pres589** · 12-12-2019, 02:57 PM

The 77 is like a 116 on full frame, so, still not a lot of reason to develop this lens unless some 3rd party source were to do it instead of Pentax.

The M 85 f2 is a nice lens and I like the concept on a crop digital camera but that lens specifically could use a little help optically or it really isn't worth doing for 2020. But that's kind of what we got when the M 40 was brought back as the DA 40 Ltd with slightly improved optical quality all over.

Seems like a very niche product given the existence of the FA 77 and DFA 100 Macro. Available product engineering bandwidth would probably be better spent on some other areas in my opinion.

torashi · 12-12-2019, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by hypermodern

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.

A lens that checks most of the boxes is the DFA100WR Macro. It's an amazing lens. You should try one out and see that it's so versatile, not just for macro work (where it really shines, btw). Rent it, or get a copy at a reasonable price second hand. I got mine here on the marketplace and it's a keeper!

dcpropilot · 12-12-2019, 06:15 PM

The DA*55 1.4 on crop is really a great lens. So much that I purchased again after originally selling it to fund my DFA*50 .1.4. I really like the 55 FL on APSC. For my taste, I think an 85 for APS-C is little too long.

Jonathan Mac · 12-13-2019, 05:53 AM

Originally posted by MikeyBugs95

Frankly, if you're going to make an 85mm 1.8, why not just make it full frame and allow both formats to utilize it to it's fullest potential? Why limit it to being most useful on only one format?

By that logic all lenses should be FF compatible: twice the size, twice the weight and twice the price. APS-C is about being smaller and lighter and if it can be cheaper too then all the better.

bdery · 12-13-2019, 06:03 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by FozzFoster

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..

Some would say 77 is "better" than 85mm. Especially to fill a gap below 100mm.

Originally posted by mikesbike

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.

I don't see how a modern lens, matching modern expectations for performance and IQ, could be made cheaper than the 77mm, really. I think the forthcoming DFA85mm will be in the same league as the DFA*50mm. Not below the 77mm in terms of quality.

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12-11-2019, 07:56 PM	#16
mikesbike Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 4,549	I should have said especially the DA 70mm HD LTD for portraits, the HD improved contrast and improved bokeh due to upgraded rounded blade design. The 70mm providing the same perspective as a favored 105mm for portrait use on 35mm film or FF. For other uses too, with its very fine edge-to-edge performance right from open aperture.

12-11-2019, 08:30 PM	#17
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	Originally posted by hypermodern 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. "Frog eye bokeh", and such, seems like it'd be an issue. Shoot the thing at f5.6 or smaller and I doubt anyone would care, but that's not really portrait lens territory.

12-12-2019, 01:19 AM	#18
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	I would have been in the market for one last year. In the end I scratched that itch with a Rokinon 85mm f/1.4. For me, the 77mm was too expensive and the 70mm was too slow. A budget priced 85mm f/1.8 with autofocus would get my attention. There must be a market for it. Canon seems to agree with me on this, as they make one. I don't see one from Pentax anytime in the near future, though.

12-12-2019, 05:26 AM	#19
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	I wouldn't mind one at all, though I find the DA 70mm f/2.4 limited ideal for portraits (and many other things) on APS-C DSLRs. 85mm would be a bit long for that.

12-12-2019, 05:46 AM	#20
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Just get k 85/1.8

12-12-2019, 12:27 PM	#21
MikeyBugs95 Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,206	Frankly, if you're going to make an 85mm 1.8, why not just make it full frame and allow both formats to utilize it to it's fullest potential? Why limit it to being most useful on only one format?

12-12-2019, 12:50 PM	#22
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	Originally posted by noelpolar Just get k 85/1.8 Wonderful piece of glass, but not east to find, not cheap and not auto focus.

12-12-2019, 01:37 PM	#23
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	Originally posted by Wasp Wonderful piece of glass, but not east to find, not cheap and not auto focus. Cheaper and easier to find, the M85mm f2.0 is compact but no autofocus and strictly green button or full manual.

12-12-2019, 01:50 PM	#24
house Pentaxian Join Date: May 2015 Photos: Albums Posts: 3,306	I'm curious what the scenario for 85mm on apsc is.

12-12-2019, 02:35 PM	#25
mlt Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,159	85*1.5 = 127.5 focal length, close enough to the old 135mm focal length short telephoto that used to be the first additional lens sold to new slr owners before zooms took over.

12-12-2019, 02:57 PM	#26
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	The 77 is like a 116 on full frame, so, still not a lot of reason to develop this lens unless some 3rd party source were to do it instead of Pentax. The M 85 f2 is a nice lens and I like the concept on a crop digital camera but that lens specifically could use a little help optically or it really isn't worth doing for 2020. But that's kind of what we got when the M 40 was brought back as the DA 40 Ltd with slightly improved optical quality all over. Seems like a very niche product given the existence of the FA 77 and DFA 100 Macro. Available product engineering bandwidth would probably be better spent on some other areas in my opinion.

12-12-2019, 05:01 PM	#27
torashi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322	Originally posted by hypermodern 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. A lens that checks most of the boxes is the DFA100WR Macro. It's an amazing lens. You should try one out and see that it's so versatile, not just for macro work (where it really shines, btw). Rent it, or get a copy at a reasonable price second hand. I got mine here on the marketplace and it's a keeper!

12-12-2019, 06:15 PM	#28
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941	The DA55 1.4 on crop is really a great lens. So much that I purchased again after originally selling it to fund my DFA50 .1.4. I really like the 55 FL on APSC. For my taste, I think an 85 for APS-C is little too long.

12-13-2019, 05:53 AM	#29
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,897	Originally posted by MikeyBugs95 Frankly, if you're going to make an 85mm 1.8, why not just make it full frame and allow both formats to utilize it to it's fullest potential? Why limit it to being most useful on only one format? By that logic all lenses should be FF compatible: twice the size, twice the weight and twice the price. APS-C is about being smaller and lighter and if it can be cheaper too then all the better.

12-13-2019, 06:03 AM - 1 Like	#30
bdery Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Quebec city, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,357	Originally posted by FozzFoster 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.. Some would say 77 is "better" than 85mm. Especially to fill a gap below 100mm. Originally posted by mikesbike 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. I don't see how a modern lens, matching modern expectations for performance and IQ, could be made cheaper than the 77mm, really. I think the forthcoming DFA85mm will be in the same league as the DFA*50mm. Not below the 77mm in terms of quality.