A comparison between DFA 85, FA 85 and A 85

kinkindoll · 07-14-2020, 03:38 AM - **7 Likes**

Hi all,

Just find a post from Taiwan compared captioned 85 focal lengths legend, of course it is not hard to guess the result.

HD Pentax DFA?85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW ????-PFC-Pentax Fans Club -

Sandy Hancock · 07-14-2020, 04:19 AM

Nice comparison, with encouraging results for the new kid on the block.

Next week I hope....

gatorguy · 07-14-2020, 04:53 AM - **1 Like**

A nicely done comparison, and a lot more photo examples than I'd seen elsewhere. The differences are fairly subtle in some of them IMO but they are there. In my own personal view and based solely on the link I'd put the A* second to the DFA, with the FA in third, but honestly they're all so close and in different venues A* and FA* might trade spots. That DFA is picking up some detail, especially in the shadows, that I don't know the other two can quite match.

So my big question I'm left pondering:

Where the heck did they find new A* and FA*85's, new boxes and all.

stevebrot · 07-14-2020, 07:11 AM

Originally posted by gatorguy

In my own personal view and based solely on the link I'd put the A* second to the DFA and the FA in third, but honestly they're all so close and in different venues A*and FA* might trade spots. That DFA is picking up some detail, especially in the shadows, that I don't know the other two can quite match.

My thoughts have been that the historic lenses may be the stiffest competition to the new kid in regards to existing Pentax shooters.

Steve

(...not even close to my league price-wise, but fun to dream...)

beholder3 · 07-14-2020, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by kinkindoll

Hi all,

Just find a post from Taiwan compared captioned 85 focal lengths legend, of course it is not hard to guess the result.

HD Pentax DFA?85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW ????-PFC-Pentax Fans Club -

Excellent comparison.

I like the street artist photos and the wonderfully soft background bokeh.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-14-2020, 08:20 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by gatorguy

Where the heck did they find new A* and FA*85's, new boxes and all.

Well it's not mine... my Sweetheart Pentax-A*85mm F1.4 is still here in the Harem and her outer wrappings are in still the wardrobe.

**Kerrowdown** · 07-14-2020, 08:28 AM

Casting aside any preferences, favouritism or biasedness (i.e. Sweetheart).

The imagery from all three lens offerings... looks pretty damned good to me, folk should happy enough to own any of them IMHO.

stevebrot · 07-14-2020, 09:08 AM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

The imagery from all three lens offerings... looks pretty damned good to me, folk should happy enough to own any of them IMHO.

Agreed, though saying so does not help sales of the new lens nor the prices of the older versions to come down.

Steve

**Kerrowdown** · 07-14-2020, 09:12 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

Agreed, though saying so does not help sales of the new lens nor the prices of the older versions to come down.

Steve

My apologies and there was I thinking it was all about the final image.

normhead · 07-14-2020, 09:23 AM

Given the price of the DFA, the FA which I've been stalling on for ages looks really good. Same as my DA*55 vs DFA 50 comparison. The difference when you care are there, but for an amateur, less than compelling. If I was shooting in studio, the 85 was an every day lens, the differences would be enough to push me to the DFA. But I don't get paid, and I can't see the extra IQ meaning much to me.

What an excellent post. With great images.

awscreo · 07-14-2020, 09:25 AM

must... resist... don't... shoot... enough... portraits...

normhead · 07-14-2020, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by awscreo

must... resist... don't... shoot... enough... portraits...

My wife uses her Tamron 90 as a walk around lens, I've started using my 100 macro as a walk around lens.). The images posted (and my wife's behaviour) would suggest this is much more than a portrait lens. We love the macros for their sharpness, and portability. This lens has the sharpness and smoother bokeh, and silent AF but it loses for portability and cost, for a total +1.

I don't think it will be widely adopted, but those who do buy it will love it. For younger guys than me, it could easily still be paying for itself 20 years from now.

stevebrot · 07-14-2020, 09:38 AM

Originally posted by normhead

I don't think it will be widely adopted, but those who do buy it will love it. For younger guys than me, it could easily still be paying for itself 20 years from now.

Yep!

Steve

stevebrot · 07-14-2020, 09:39 AM

Originally posted by Kerrowdown

My apologies and there was I thinking it was all about the final image.

I just added a smiley...

Steve

(...would love to have any of the three...)

awscreo · 07-14-2020, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by normhead

My wife uses her Tamron 90 as a walk around lens, I've started using my 100 macro as a walk around lens.). The images posted (and my wife's behaviour) would suggest this is much more than a portrait lens. We love the macros for their sharpness, and portability. This lens has the sharpness and smoother bokeh, and silent AF but it loses for portability and cost, for a total +1.

I don't think it will be widely adopted, but those who do buy it will love it. For younger guys than me, it could easily still be paying for itself 20 years from now.

You're not helping Norm!

I'm trying to resist a 2k purchase that my wife will not appreciate lol.

I got my Tamron 90 macro, and Tamron 70-200 that doesn't see much use because I don't shoot a lot of portraits and it's too heavy to carry on hikes.

Getting a third "portrait" lens, especially of that grade, seems like a unwise (but very tempting) proposition.

07-14-2020, 03:38 AM - 7 Likes	#1
kinkindoll Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sydney Posts: 173	A comparison between DFA 85, FA 85 and A 85 Hi all, Just find a post from Taiwan compared captioned 85 focal lengths legend, of course it is not hard to guess the result. HD Pentax DFA?85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW ????-PFC-Pentax Fans Club -

07-14-2020, 04:53 AM - 1 Like	#3
gatorguy Moderator Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,089	A nicely done comparison, and a lot more photo examples than I'd seen elsewhere. The differences are fairly subtle in some of them IMO but they are there. In my own personal view and based solely on the link I'd put the A* second to the DFA, with the FA in third, but honestly they're all so close and in different venues A* and FA* might trade spots. That DFA is picking up some detail, especially in the shadows, that I don't know the other two can quite match. So my big question I'm left pondering: Where the heck did they find new A* and FA85's, new boxes and all. Last edited by gatorguy; 07-14-2020 at 08:23 AM.*

07-14-2020, 09:08 AM	#8
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Kerrowdown The imagery from all three lens offerings... looks pretty damned good to me, folk should happy enough to own any of them IMHO. Agreed, though saying so does not help sales of the new lens nor the prices of the older versions to come down. Steve Last edited by stevebrot; 07-14-2020 at 09:39 AM.

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07-14-2020, 04:19 AM	#2
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,267	Nice comparison, with encouraging results for the new kid on the block. Next week I hope....

07-14-2020, 07:11 AM	#4
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by gatorguy In my own personal view and based solely on the link I'd put the A* second to the DFA and the FA in third, but honestly they're all so close and in different venues Aand FA might trade spots. That DFA is picking up some detail, especially in the shadows, that I don't know the other two can quite match. My thoughts have been that the historic lenses may be the stiffest competition to the new kid in regards to existing Pentax shooters. Steve (...not even close to my league price-wise, but fun to dream...)

07-14-2020, 08:17 AM	#5
beholder3 Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 3,112	Originally posted by kinkindoll Hi all, Just find a post from Taiwan compared captioned 85 focal lengths legend, of course it is not hard to guess the result. HD Pentax DFA?85mm f/1.4 ED SDM AW ????-PFC-Pentax Fans Club - Excellent comparison. I like the street artist photos and the wonderfully soft background bokeh.

07-14-2020, 08:20 AM - 1 Like	#6
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,805	Originally posted by gatorguy Where the heck did they find new A* and FA85's, new boxes and all. Well it's not mine... my Sweetheart Pentax-A85mm F1.4 is still here in the Harem and her outer wrappings are in still the wardrobe.

07-14-2020, 08:28 AM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,805	Casting aside any preferences, favouritism or biasedness (i.e. Sweetheart). The imagery from all three lens offerings... looks pretty damned good to me, folk should happy enough to own any of them IMHO.

07-14-2020, 09:12 AM	#9
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,805	Originally posted by stevebrot Agreed, though saying so does not help sales of the new lens nor the prices of the older versions to come down. Steve My apologies and there was I thinking it was all about the final image.

07-14-2020, 09:23 AM	#10
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,450	Given the price of the DFA, the FA which I've been stalling on for ages looks really good. Same as my DA*55 vs DFA 50 comparison. The difference when you care are there, but for an amateur, less than compelling. If I was shooting in studio, the 85 was an every day lens, the differences would be enough to push me to the DFA. But I don't get paid, and I can't see the extra IQ meaning much to me. What an excellent post. With great images.

07-14-2020, 09:25 AM	#11
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	must... resist... don't... shoot... enough... portraits...

07-14-2020, 09:30 AM	#12
normhead Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Near Algonquin Park Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 40,450	Originally posted by awscreo must... resist... don't... shoot... enough... portraits... My wife uses her Tamron 90 as a walk around lens, I've started using my 100 macro as a walk around lens.). The images posted (and my wife's behaviour) would suggest this is much more than a portrait lens. We love the macros for their sharpness, and portability. This lens has the sharpness and smoother bokeh, and silent AF but it loses for portability and cost, for a total +1. I don't think it will be widely adopted, but those who do buy it will love it. For younger guys than me, it could easily still be paying for itself 20 years from now.

07-14-2020, 09:38 AM	#13
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by normhead I don't think it will be widely adopted, but those who do buy it will love it. For younger guys than me, it could easily still be paying for itself 20 years from now. Yep! Steve

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07-14-2020, 09:39 AM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Kerrowdown My apologies and there was I thinking it was all about the final image. I just added a smiley... Steve (...would love to have any of the three...)

07-14-2020, 09:40 AM	#15
awscreo Veteran Member Join Date: May 2016 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,722	Originally posted by normhead My wife uses her Tamron 90 as a walk around lens, I've started using my 100 macro as a walk around lens.). The images posted (and my wife's behaviour) would suggest this is much more than a portrait lens. We love the macros for their sharpness, and portability. This lens has the sharpness and smoother bokeh, and silent AF but it loses for portability and cost, for a total +1. I don't think it will be widely adopted, but those who do buy it will love it. For younger guys than me, it could easily still be paying for itself 20 years from now. You're not helping Norm! I'm trying to resist a 2k purchase that my wife will not appreciate lol. I got my Tamron 90 macro, and Tamron 70-200 that doesn't see much use because I don't shoot a lot of portraits and it's too heavy to carry on hikes. Getting a third "portrait" lens, especially of that grade, seems like a unwise (but very tempting) proposition.