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05-17-2019, 04:41 AM   #1
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Looking for an 85mm lens for my K5

Does anybody know if you can get an 85mm lens for the K5? I have noticed on the Pentax website there is a 70mm lens - would this be comparable to an 85mm? I am into kid/portrait photography and looking for a lens where I can capture more Nat/playing shots without being right in their face. Any other suggestions/recommendations on other lenses for this also greatly appreciated.

Thanks

05-17-2019, 05:18 AM - 1 Like   #2
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QuoteOriginally posted by Tez26 Quote
Does anybody know if you can get an 85mm lens for the K5? I have noticed on the Pentax website there is a 70mm lens - would this be comparable to an 85mm? I am into kid/portrait photography and looking for a lens where I can capture more Nat/playing shots without being right in their face. Any other suggestions/recommendations on other lenses for this also greatly appreciated.

Thanks
The DA 70mm 2.4 is an excellent lens which I used on aps-c for a number of years. You won't notice much of a difference between 70 and 85 especially on aps-c.

The other options from Pentax are the 77mm 1.8 LTD (expensive) or second hand copies of the FA* 85mm 1.4 (also expensive). Pentax are going to release a new 85mm 1.4 at some time , but this will be very expensive. If you dont mind manual focus and manual exposure the old M series 85mm f2.0 is also a compact nice lens that can be had for a reasonable-ish price. I will let others answer for other brands of lens, but I would suggest the DA 70mm 2.4 will do all you need it for. Try for a second hand copy.

What lenses do you have at the moment ?
05-17-2019, 05:19 AM - 1 Like   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Tez26 Quote
Does anybody know if you can get an 85mm lens for the K5? I have noticed on the Pentax website there is a 70mm lens - would this be comparable to an 85mm? I am into kid/portrait photography and looking for a lens where I can capture more Nat/playing shots without being right in their face. Any other suggestions/recommendations on other lenses for this also greatly appreciated.

Thanks


Good morning, Tez

Since there's no selling/buying in the regular forums, please place a 'Wanted' post in this forum:

Wanted Items - PentaxForums.com


suggestions, comparisons, opinions, experience on lenses is awesome, but keep the offers, etc.. in the appropriate forums....

Last edited by pepperberry farm; 05-17-2019 at 05:24 AM.
05-17-2019, 05:53 AM - 1 Like   #4
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Although 85mm is the classic portrait focal length on FF, it isn't on APS-C. Not that it can't work, but is a bit long for the job. What you want is something between 50 and 70. For Pentax, the obvious choices are DA* 55 1.4, DA 70 2.4 and FA 77 1.8. On a budget, the DA 50mm 1.8 also works great for portraits.

05-17-2019, 06:31 AM - 1 Like   #5
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The DA 70 Limited is a very nice lens. Anything around that focal length would probably suit you. I guess from the fact you don't mention zooms at all that you want something fairly fast for indoor work. Otherwise, there are a number of zooms that would be worth considering too (e.g., DA 18-135 f/3.5-5.6, DA 16-85 f/3.5-5.6, or the faster and more expensive DA* 50-135 f/2.8).
05-17-2019, 06:47 AM - 1 Like   #6
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I use a Rokinon 85mm f1.4 on K50, K3 and K1. Manual focus but I'm happy with it.
05-17-2019, 06:54 AM - 1 Like   #7
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The DA*55 is the closest equivalent to a classic fast portrait lens for a crop camera - with a similar angle of view to 85mm on full frame. There are numerous old 55-58mm primes which could also do the job if you're willing to sacrifice autofocus and weather sealing.

The DA70 is roughly equivalent to a 105mm angle of view on full frame - also popular for portraiture but perhaps less versatile unless you have a fair bit of working space.

05-17-2019, 10:39 AM - 1 Like   #8
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I have an old 50mm 1.4 F series lens that I like for portraits.
05-17-2019, 12:31 PM - 1 Like   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Roadboat24 Quote
I use a Rokinon 85mm f1.4 on K50, K3 and K1. Manual focus but I'm happy with it.
I have one as well. Absolutely wonderful, I can't recommend it highly enough. Just bear in mind that manual focus using ye olde optical viewfinder is a challenge. If you were glasses, two words of advice on the OVF: forget it. Live view, preferably with magnification, is the way to go.

QuoteOriginally posted by pentaxus Quote
I have an old 50mm 1.4 F series lens that I like for portraits.
Good advice. I have an M 50/1.4 that also works well.. For AF this is a lot cheaper than the 85/1.4. MF is slightly easier than the 85/1.4.

From what I have read, the AF technology inside a DSLR have the same challenges with large apertures that humans eyes have. The AF 50/1.4 and the AF 85/1.4 are both known for slow(ish) focusing.
05-17-2019, 02:50 PM - 1 Like   #10
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You stated you were looking for an 85mm prime. Might I suggest you take a look at the DA* 50-135. The optics on this lens are fantastic and it can be purchased used for around $500. A lot of people use it for portraits and weddings.
05-17-2019, 03:49 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by pschlute Quote
The DA 70mm 2.4 is an excellent lens which I used on aps-c for a number of years. You won't notice much of a difference between 70 and 85 especially on aps-c.

The other options from Pentax are the 77mm 1.8 LTD (expensive) or second hand copies of the FA* 85mm 1.4 (also expensive). Pentax are going to release a new 85mm 1.4 at some time , but this will be very expensive. If you dont mind manual focus and manual exposure the old M series 85mm f2.0 is also a compact nice lens that can be had for a reasonable-ish price. I will let others answer for other brands of lens, but I would suggest the DA 70mm 2.4 will do all you need it for. Try for a second hand copy.

What lenses do you have at the moment ?
Hi, thanks for your response. The 70mm 2.4 looks like a good one. I currently have a 17-70 Sigma DC lens and the Pentax 50mm 1.8.

---------- Post added 05-17-19 at 03:52 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by pepperberry farm Quote
Good morning, Tez

Since there's no selling/buying in the regular forums, please place a 'Wanted' post in this forum:

Wanted Items - PentaxForums.com


suggestions, comparisons, opinions, experience on lenses is awesome, but keep the offers, etc.. in the appropriate forums....
Hi, wasn't looking at buying one from this forum, I just wanted information regarding the 85mm lens and if Pentax had one or if anybody knew of comparable lenses for the K5.

Thanks for the link on where to post though when I am ready at looking at getting a new lens.

---------- Post added 05-17-19 at 03:56 PM ----------

Thanks everyone - this has been great information.
05-17-2019, 04:00 PM - 1 Like   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by Tez26 Quote
Hi, thanks for your response. The 70mm 2.4 looks like a good one. I currently have a 17-70 Sigma DC lens and the Pentax 50mm 1.8.

---------- Post added 05-17-19 at 03:52 PM ----------



Hi, wasn't looking at buying one from this forum, I just wanted information regarding the 85mm lens and if Pentax had one or if anybody knew of comparable lenses for the K5.

Thanks for the link on where to post though when I am ready at looking at getting a new lens.

---------- Post added 05-17-19 at 03:56 PM ----------

Thanks everyone - this has been great information.

understood - my remarks were for the other members' (whose posts were removed by another moderator)...

I have an outstanding copy of the Rokinon 85mm f1.4 that is amazingly sharp, plus the 70 Limited - either would probably serve well as a portrait lens...
05-17-2019, 04:22 PM - 1 Like   #13
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The FA 77/1.8 Limited would be my choice if you want a longer portrait prime, but I would second the suggestion of the DA* 50-135/2.8 if you really want 85mm on a crop camera. It's a great portrait lens.

As for 85mm primes - there are no modern ones from Pentax (yet!). I have the FA* 85/1.4, which is fabulous but big, heavy, relatively rare, and expensive, and the even older F 85/2.8 Soft. I haven't yet given it a good workout. There are several others going back into in the A, M and K series, and at least five M42 mount Takumars.
05-17-2019, 04:32 PM - 1 Like   #14
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The old Tamron 28-75 f2.8 zoom might be very useful here. Still available new. DA 50-135 or some options on the used market like the Sigma 50-150 might be worth considering as well.

This is another area where Pentax is kind of lacking; there's either the FA 77 or the D-FA 100 Macro available today. I think I'd go with the DA 70 if you really prefer a prime.
05-17-2019, 10:34 PM - 2 Likes   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by Tez26 Quote
Hi, thanks for your response. The 70mm 2.4 looks like a good one. I currently have a 17-70 Sigma DC lens and the Pentax 50mm 1.8
OK so you have a 50mm prime and 70mm covered by the Sigma zoom.

When you use the Sigma at 70mm for the kind of portraits you do are you finding you want a longer focal length ? If so then i would suggest that the 50-135 zoom that has been suggested would be the answer.
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