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Smeggypants · 11-01-2011, 10:00 PM

Originally posted by Adam

Get the 85mm.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 HSM - Review

What Adam says.

I no longer have LBA, but the ONE lens I really want is the Sigma 85mm/1.4

The pictures I have seen taken with it are stunning

Wheatfield · 11-01-2011, 10:14 PM

FWIW, while I don't have the Stigma 85, I do have an A*85/1.4. As lovely a lens as it is, I find it to be on the long side for portraiture.
Both the DA 70mm LTD and FA77mm LTD are better portrait lengths on the APS-C format, with the 70 being almost perfect and the 77 still a little longish, though very good for head and shoulder portraits. Any time I want to do half length or full length I am reaching for the 70. My shooting room gives me almost 30 feet of backing ability, which is more than you will want shooting school pictures anyway.

**Schraubstock** · 11-01-2011, 10:36 PM

Originally posted by Smeggypants

I no longer have LBA

What cured you, I need to know!

Greetings

Falke · 11-02-2011, 08:54 PM

For portraits I got myself the Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1. Although it is more of a macro lens, it is way cheaper than the Sigma 85mm, it is a sharp lens also for portraits and therefore kills two birds with one stone.

vonBaloney · 11-02-2011, 09:11 PM

Are these three all the same lens being mentioned? (Samyang)

Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax SLY85P
Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens for Pentax 85M-P B&H Photo
Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 Series 1 Manual Focus Lens for Pentax 85MMP

If so, Rokinon-branded is over 50 cheaper than the others...

adpo · 11-02-2011, 09:16 PM

yup, same lens. Rokinon is the official distributor for the US, so i think that might have something to do with its prices

Smeggypants · 11-02-2011, 10:28 PM

Originally posted by Schraubstock

What cured you, I need to know!

Greetings

Realising that I have enough decent lenses to cover all bases.

- the only slight exception is a longer focal length wide prime. I'd love a 135mm or 200mm F/1.4, but realise that realistically an 85/1.4 is the closest I'll get

Nuff · 11-02-2011, 11:03 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

FWIW, while I don't have the Stigma 85, I do have an A*85/1.4. As lovely a lens as it is, I find it to be on the long side for portraiture.
Both the DA 70mm LTD and FA77mm LTD are better portrait lengths on the APS-C format, with the 70 being almost perfect and the 77 still a little longish, though very good for head and shoulder portraits. Any time I want to do half length or full length I am reaching for the 70. My shooting room gives me almost 30 feet of backing ability, which is more than you will want shooting school pictures anyway.

85mm is too long on APS-C to be a portrait lens. I agree you should look into 77mm limited (120mm FF equivalent) if cost is no object or 70mm (I was told it's actually closer to 65mm, which would make it FF 101.4mm equivalent). 85mm would end up being 132mm which is bit longish for portrait on APS-C.

RioRico · 11-03-2011, 04:01 AM

Originally posted by Nuff

85mm is too long on APS-C to be a portrait lens.

Define 'portrait' please.

**fs999** · 11-03-2011, 06:45 AM

For all my portraits I use the DA* 50-135 ! It's clearness is fabulous !
And most of my macros also. With a Hoya Close Up N°3...

Wheatfield · 11-03-2011, 08:08 AM

Originally posted by RioRico

Define 'portrait' please.

DO we really have to go down this road of stupidy again?

RioRico · 11-03-2011, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

DO we really have to go down this road of stupidy again?

Some variously think 'portrait' means headshots, or candids, or formal studio sittings, or group shots, or whatever. We can shoot portraits with almost anything at various speeds and distances. So we can't recommend a 'portrait' lens unless we know just what the questioner has in mind. 55-75-90-105-135mm are all 'portrait' lenses. So are 25-35-45-150-180mm, and beyond, depending on circumstances and desires.

The question is not stupid. It is vital. It's like asking about a 'racing' car. That could include anything from go-karts to LSR (land speed record) jetmobiles. If we don't know what kind of racing (or portraits) are involved, our answers won't mean much.

joe.penn · 11-03-2011, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

55-75-90-105-135mm are all 'portrait' lenses. So are 35-45-150-180mm, and beyond

My 70~210 beats the hell out of most so called portrait lenses...

---

**TER-OR** · 11-03-2011, 01:06 PM

I've rented from Camera Lens Rentals numerous times. I've got a 35mm Macro ltd coming next week.
Camera Lens Rentals - Rent Canon, Nikon and Pentax.

rtpguy · 11-03-2011, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by joe.penn

My 70~210 beats the hell out of most so called portrait lenses...

---

Same here with my SMC-A 70-210 f/4 - but most of those portrait shots are outdoors, and between 'foot zoom' and the lens zoom, it's really great.
Inside in limited space or in a small studio, a 28-75 or 50-150 might be wonderful.
I think Rico's right here - definition of portrait and location, as well as desired amount of bokeh can make a pretty big difference in the ideal range of focal lengths.

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11-01-2011, 10:00 PM	#16
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Originally posted by Adam Get the 85mm. Sigma 85mm F1.4 HSM - Review What Adam says. I no longer have LBA, but the ONE lens I really want is the Sigma 85mm/1.4 The pictures I have seen taken with it are stunning

11-01-2011, 10:14 PM	#17
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	FWIW, while I don't have the Stigma 85, I do have an A*85/1.4. As lovely a lens as it is, I find it to be on the long side for portraiture. Both the DA 70mm LTD and FA77mm LTD are better portrait lengths on the APS-C format, with the 70 being almost perfect and the 77 still a little longish, though very good for head and shoulder portraits. Any time I want to do half length or full length I am reaching for the 70. My shooting room gives me almost 30 feet of backing ability, which is more than you will want shooting school pictures anyway.

11-01-2011, 10:36 PM	#18
Schraubstock Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,386	Originally posted by Smeggypants I no longer have LBA What cured you, I need to know! Greetings

11-02-2011, 08:54 PM	#19
Falke Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern NSW Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 186	For portraits I got myself the Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1. Although it is more of a macro lens, it is way cheaper than the Sigma 85mm, it is a sharp lens also for portraits and therefore kills two birds with one stone.

11-02-2011, 09:11 PM	#20
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Are these three all the same lens being mentioned? (Samyang) Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax SLY85P Rokinon 85mm f/1.4 Aspherical Lens for Pentax 85M-P B&H Photo Vivitar 85mm f/1.4 Series 1 Manual Focus Lens for Pentax 85MMP If so, Rokinon-branded is over 50 cheaper than the others...

11-02-2011, 09:16 PM	#21
adpo Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery Posts: 888	yup, same lens. Rokinon is the official distributor for the US, so i think that might have something to do with its prices

11-02-2011, 10:28 PM	#22
Smeggypants Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,536	Originally posted by Schraubstock What cured you, I need to know! Greetings Realising that I have enough decent lenses to cover all bases. - the only slight exception is a longer focal length wide prime. I'd love a 135mm or 200mm F/1.4, but realise that realistically an 85/1.4 is the closest I'll get

11-02-2011, 11:03 PM	#23
Nuff Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sydney Posts: 671	Originally posted by Wheatfield FWIW, while I don't have the Stigma 85, I do have an A*85/1.4. As lovely a lens as it is, I find it to be on the long side for portraiture. Both the DA 70mm LTD and FA77mm LTD are better portrait lengths on the APS-C format, with the 70 being almost perfect and the 77 still a little longish, though very good for head and shoulder portraits. Any time I want to do half length or full length I am reaching for the 70. My shooting room gives me almost 30 feet of backing ability, which is more than you will want shooting school pictures anyway. 85mm is too long on APS-C to be a portrait lens. I agree you should look into 77mm limited (120mm FF equivalent) if cost is no object or 70mm (I was told it's actually closer to 65mm, which would make it FF 101.4mm equivalent). 85mm would end up being 132mm which is bit longish for portrait on APS-C.

11-03-2011, 04:01 AM	#24
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Nuff 85mm is too long on APS-C to be a portrait lens. Define 'portrait' please.

11-03-2011, 06:45 AM	#25
fs999 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Luxembourg Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,650	For all my portraits I use the DA* 50-135 ! It's clearness is fabulous ! And most of my macros also. With a Hoya Close Up N°3...

11-03-2011, 08:08 AM	#26
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,991	Originally posted by RioRico Define 'portrait' please. DO we really have to go down this road of stupidy again?

11-03-2011, 12:32 PM	#27
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Wheatfield DO we really have to go down this road of stupidy again? Some variously think 'portrait' means headshots, or candids, or formal studio sittings, or group shots, or whatever. We can shoot portraits with almost anything at various speeds and distances. So we can't recommend a 'portrait' lens unless we know just what the questioner has in mind. 55-75-90-105-135mm are all 'portrait' lenses. So are 25-35-45-150-180mm, and beyond, depending on circumstances and desires. The question is not stupid. It is vital. It's like asking about a 'racing' car. That could include anything from go-karts to LSR (land speed record) jetmobiles. If we don't know what kind of racing (or portraits) are involved, our answers won't mean much.

11-03-2011, 12:34 PM	#28
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Originally posted by RioRico 55-75-90-105-135mm are all 'portrait' lenses. So are 35-45-150-180mm, and beyond My 70~210 beats the hell out of most so called portrait lenses... ---

11-03-2011, 01:06 PM	#29
TER-OR Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dundee, IL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,699	I've rented from Camera Lens Rentals numerous times. I've got a 35mm Macro ltd coming next week. Camera Lens Rentals - Rent Canon, Nikon and Pentax.

11-03-2011, 01:14 PM	#30
rtpguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: NC Posts: 206	Originally posted by joe.penn My 70~210 beats the hell out of most so called portrait lenses... --- Same here with my SMC-A 70-210 f/4 - but most of those portrait shots are outdoors, and between 'foot zoom' and the lens zoom, it's really great. Inside in limited space or in a small studio, a 28-75 or 50-150 might be wonderful. I think Rico's right here - definition of portrait and location, as well as desired amount of bokeh can make a pretty big difference in the ideal range of focal lengths.

Odd lens battle

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