Pentax SMCP-FA 85mm f/2.8 Soft

GLThorne · 04-17-2007, 09:55 PM

Anybody useing this for portrait work? If so, could you please post some shots as I'm thinking about this lens. Also, how does it do in outside shoots?

**jamesk8752** · 04-17-2007, 10:01 PM

Greg-
I bought this lens last year but haven't used it very much. Here are some test shots I posted on PBase: Pentax SMC-FA 85mm f2.8 Soft Focus Portrait Lens Photo Gallery by Jim King at pbase.com

Regards, Jim

FotoPete · 04-18-2007, 08:29 AM

Wow that's....really soft. LoL. I'm sure the ladies will appreciate the photos that much more haha.

Imagine walking into the dressing room.."Ladies, no more make up, lets go chop chop!" haha

GLThorne · 04-18-2007, 11:59 AM

Maybe softer than I thought. Thanks Jim!

slomojoe · 04-18-2007, 12:24 PM

Eh, I get the very same effect if I let my dog pant on my cold lens. Much cheaper, too.

bdavis · 04-18-2007, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by slomojoe

Eh, I get the very same effect if I let my dog pant on my cold lens. Much cheaper, too.

How do you deal with the inevitable nose prints, and drops of slobber?

slomojoe · 04-18-2007, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by bdavis

How do you deal with the inevitable nose prints, and drops of slobber?

I don't. They just add to the artsy look!

**tranq78** · 04-18-2007, 05:19 PM

I've got this lens. I find that I prefer to shoot at F6.7 for a portrait look that *I* like. F2.8 is just too soft for my taste, but your mileage will differ.

The style of image isn't for everyone. I usually take a portrait with a regular lens and then immediately take the same picture with the FA Soft. Then I decide on the one I like best.

While I have used this lens mostly on people, you can also make nice images of still life - flowers and colorful landscapes - and even pets and animals. More fun than a beer commercial!

If you go onto Stan's Pentax site, you will see some good comments on the qualitities of this lens.

borno · 04-18-2007, 05:29 PM

Thats the barbara stanwyck in the Big Valley effect

(am I dating myself?)

04-17-2007, 09:55 PM	#1
GLThorne Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA - South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 372	Pentax SMCP-FA 85mm f/2.8 Soft Anybody useing this for portrait work? If so, could you please post some shots as I'm thinking about this lens. Also, how does it do in outside shoots?

04-18-2007, 05:19 PM	#8
tranq78 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,005	I've got this lens. I find that I prefer to shoot at F6.7 for a portrait look that I like. F2.8 is just too soft for my taste, but your mileage will differ. The style of image isn't for everyone. I usually take a portrait with a regular lens and then immediately take the same picture with the FA Soft. Then I decide on the one I like best. While I have used this lens mostly on people, you can also make nice images of still life - flowers and colorful landscapes - and even pets and animals. More fun than a beer commercial! If you go onto Stan's Pentax site, you will see some good comments on the qualitities of this lens. Last edited by tranq78; 04-18-2007 at 05:21 PM. Reason: add text

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04-17-2007, 10:01 PM	#2
jamesk8752 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Suburban Detroit, MI, USA Posts: 238	Greg- I bought this lens last year but haven't used it very much. Here are some test shots I posted on PBase: Pentax SMC-FA 85mm f2.8 Soft Focus Portrait Lens Photo Gallery by Jim King at pbase.com Regards, Jim

04-18-2007, 08:29 AM	#3
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Wow that's....really soft. LoL. I'm sure the ladies will appreciate the photos that much more haha. Imagine walking into the dressing room.."Ladies, no more make up, lets go chop chop!" haha

04-18-2007, 11:59 AM	#4
GLThorne Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: USA - South Carolina Photos: Gallery Posts: 372 Original Poster	Maybe softer than I thought. Thanks Jim!

04-18-2007, 12:24 PM	#5
slomojoe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 788	Eh, I get the very same effect if I let my dog pant on my cold lens. Much cheaper, too.

04-18-2007, 02:43 PM	#6
bdavis Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: 'Burque, NM Posts: 309	Originally posted by slomojoe Eh, I get the very same effect if I let my dog pant on my cold lens. Much cheaper, too. How do you deal with the inevitable nose prints, and drops of slobber?

04-18-2007, 03:28 PM	#7
slomojoe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 788	Originally posted by bdavis How do you deal with the inevitable nose prints, and drops of slobber? I don't. They just add to the artsy look!

04-18-2007, 05:29 PM	#9
borno Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: md-usa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,580	Thats the barbara stanwyck in the Big Valley effect (am I dating myself?)