HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW first review

Mistral75 · 06-26-2020, 02:10 AM - **4 Likes**

A first review of the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW:

[Test] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW | Pentax Klub in French

~~English translation (Google) (unfortunately without pictures)~~

Edit: [Test - en] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW in English with pictures (thank you @Franc !)

Last edited by Mistral75; 06-26-2020 at 09:54 AM.

**Serkevan** · 06-26-2020, 02:48 AM

Well, so the first one gets a score of 97/100... someone was impressed! And rightly so, the lens is a work (and tool...) of art.

Franc · 06-26-2020, 03:12 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Mistral75

A first review of the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW (in French):

[Test] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW | Pentax Klub

English translation (Google) (unfortunately without pictures)

[Test - en] Pentax D FA ?*85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW in English wiht photo's

BarneyL · 06-26-2020, 03:13 AM - **2 Likes**

Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open

sundown · 06-26-2020, 03:26 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by BarneyL

Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open

Also - designed, produced and licensed by Tokina

yucafrita · 06-26-2020, 03:36 AM - **1 Like**

It's impressive. I am glad I dont have the money at hand.

**Madaboutpix** · 06-26-2020, 04:30 AM - **1 Like**

Looks like a dream 85 (130-mil-equivalent FOV on APS-C), although I likely won't be able to afford one. Instead, I'll keep the DA70 Ltd. pancake on my wishlist. Super-compact, serious IQ, and less forbiddingly priced.

Last edited by Madaboutpix; 06-26-2020 at 04:35 AM.

**Mikesul** · 06-26-2020, 06:35 AM

Originally posted by Mistral75

A first review of the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW (in French):

[Test] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW | Pentax Klub

English translation (Google) (unfortunately without pictures)

Thanks! This is a fine, thorough review.

krazykat · 06-26-2020, 06:56 AM - **5 Likes**

Originally posted by BarneyL

Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open

They'll find something, don't worry. My money is on the font used on the lens lettering.

Wheatfield · 06-26-2020, 07:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Franc

[Test - en] Pentax D FA ?*85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW in English wiht photo's

Well that's very positive. He showed some concern regarding the lack of the use of Aerobright coatings at the beginning, which is legitimate, as why not use the latest and greatest that you have available, but found that the design is so good that it's poster child for flare control.
I'm glad Pentax went with flare control via physical design and used coatings to gently clean up the image rather than depending on coatings to control flare. It's one less thing to be concerned about when shooting, especially wide open. A lens that is depending on coatings for flare resistance will sometimes give very strange results at very inconvenient times. Good choice by Pentax to allow the use of a more traditional lens coating by using an exemplary lens formula.
Mine is supposed to arrive next week. It would be nice if Ricoh Canada found a way to under promise and over deliver and gave me a nice surprise today.

---------- Post added Jun 26th, 2020 at 08:40 AM ----------

Originally posted by krazykat

They'll find something, don't worry. My money is on the font used on the lens lettering.

We should start a lottery.

**robbiec** · 06-26-2020, 07:51 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by BarneyL

Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open

They'll sprain their limp wrists and cut their fingers on the focus grip.

That site is dead to me... I'll give Jeff a call and tell him to pull the plug

Ref the French review, pretty good analysis. Matches what I've seen so far.

**Serkevan** · 06-26-2020, 07:57 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by krazykat

They'll find something, don't worry. My money is on the font used on the lens lettering.

I'm thinking there will be some mention of the lens not focusing correctly. I will, in fact, double down and say they will claim that after not performing any kind of AF calibration.

ChristianRock · 06-26-2020, 08:28 AM

Originally posted by sundown

Also - designed, produced and licensed by Tokina

What? I heard nothing about that. Source?

gatorguy · 06-26-2020, 08:40 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by ChristianRock

What? I heard nothing about that. Source?

I believe he was joking.

ChristianRock · 06-26-2020, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by gatorguy

I believe he was joking.

I thought I'd check, otherwise it will be posted on numerous photo sites as "known information" linked back to this thread...

06-26-2020, 02:10 AM - 4 Likes	#1
Mistral75 Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Paris, France Posts: 7,527	HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW first review A first review of the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW: [Test] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW \| Pentax Klub in French ~~English translation (Google) (unfortunately without pictures)~~ Edit: [Test - en] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW in English with pictures (thank you @Franc !) Last edited by Mistral75; 06-26-2020 at 09:54 AM.

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06-26-2020, 02:48 AM	#2
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Well, so the first one gets a score of 97/100... someone was impressed! And rightly so, the lens is a work (and tool...) of art.

06-26-2020, 03:12 AM - 2 Likes	#3
Franc Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Hoevelaken Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,212	Originally posted by Mistral75 A first review of the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW (in French): [Test] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW \| Pentax Klub English translation (Google) (unfortunately without pictures) [Test - en] Pentax D FA ?*85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW in English wiht photo's

06-26-2020, 03:13 AM - 2 Likes	#4
BarneyL Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2017 Posts: 899	Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open

06-26-2020, 03:26 AM - 2 Likes	#5
sundown Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 588	Originally posted by BarneyL Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open Also - designed, produced and licensed by Tokina

06-26-2020, 03:36 AM - 1 Like	#6
yucafrita Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 459	It's impressive. I am glad I dont have the money at hand.

06-26-2020, 04:30 AM - 1 Like	#7
Madaboutpix Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North Rhine-Westphalia Posts: 1,440	Looks like a dream 85 (130-mil-equivalent FOV on APS-C), although I likely won't be able to afford one. Instead, I'll keep the DA70 Ltd. pancake on my wishlist. Super-compact, serious IQ, and less forbiddingly priced. Last edited by Madaboutpix; 06-26-2020 at 04:35 AM.

06-26-2020, 06:35 AM	#8
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Originally posted by Mistral75 A first review of the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW (in French): [Test] Pentax D FA ★ 85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW \| Pentax Klub English translation (Google) (unfortunately without pictures) Thanks! This is a fine, thorough review.

06-26-2020, 06:56 AM - 5 Likes	#9
krazykat Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 546	Originally posted by BarneyL Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open They'll find something, don't worry. My money is on the font used on the lens lettering.

06-26-2020, 07:39 AM - 1 Like	#10
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Originally posted by Franc [Test - en] Pentax D FA ?*85 f/1.4 HD ED SDM AW in English wiht photo's Well that's very positive. He showed some concern regarding the lack of the use of Aerobright coatings at the beginning, which is legitimate, as why not use the latest and greatest that you have available, but found that the design is so good that it's poster child for flare control. I'm glad Pentax went with flare control via physical design and used coatings to gently clean up the image rather than depending on coatings to control flare. It's one less thing to be concerned about when shooting, especially wide open. A lens that is depending on coatings for flare resistance will sometimes give very strange results at very inconvenient times. Good choice by Pentax to allow the use of a more traditional lens coating by using an exemplary lens formula. Mine is supposed to arrive next week. It would be nice if Ricoh Canada found a way to under promise and over deliver and gave me a nice surprise today. ---------- Post added Jun 26th, 2020 at 08:40 AM ---------- Originally posted by krazykat They'll find something, don't worry. My money is on the font used on the lens lettering. We should start a lottery.

06-26-2020, 07:51 AM - 1 Like	#11
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882	Originally posted by BarneyL Incoming DPR: 88/100 silver, sharp but has purple fringes in overblown highlights wide open They'll sprain their limp wrists and cut their fingers on the focus grip. That site is dead to me... I'll give Jeff a call and tell him to pull the plug Ref the French review, pretty good analysis. Matches what I've seen so far.

06-26-2020, 07:57 AM - 1 Like	#12
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by krazykat They'll find something, don't worry. My money is on the font used on the lens lettering. I'm thinking there will be some mention of the lens not focusing correctly. I will, in fact, double down and say they will claim that after not performing any kind of AF calibration.

06-26-2020, 08:28 AM	#13
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by sundown Also - designed, produced and licensed by Tokina What? I heard nothing about that. Source?

06-26-2020, 08:40 AM - 2 Likes	#14
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,092	Originally posted by ChristianRock What? I heard nothing about that. Source? I believe he was joking.

06-26-2020, 08:56 AM	#15
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by gatorguy I believe he was joking. I thought I'd check, otherwise it will be posted on numerous photo sites as "known information" linked back to this thread...