[acoufap]

Physical strength of people is very different - so one may be able to handle a 3.5 kg camera-lens-combo some time in front of the eye and others simply can't. I think it's more unusual that everybody can.

[gatorguy]

Just for giggles I spent a few minutes this morning taking shots using a K1/Sigma 70-200/Sigma 2X TC combo one-handed.

Bad light from a particularly rainy day made it a 50/50 proposition on focus and framing and had I not had that Spyder handstrap I expect it would have been a total fail. With good light I think it would have been entirely workable, but with that said why would I? I still have two good arms, it's a heavy combo, and I'm a little guy (under 155lbs)

Trying it just because I could, not because I would.

[monochrome]

Physical strength of people is very different - so one may be able to handle a 3.5 kg camera-lens-combo some time in front of the eye and others simply can't. I think it's more unusual that everybody can.

I’m older and my arm strength has declined. I just use graphite a monopod with a Manfrotto Swivel / Tilt Head and a Peak Designs Sling strap. With the strap cross-chest and the monopod collapsed the camera rides my left hip when I move around. I can still raise the camera for a single shot with the collapsed monopod but I can extend the monopod when I’m staying stationary for a longer time. This setup works really well for lenses with a tripod foot.

Not a perfect solution but better than not being able to use a K-1 and heavy ,long lens.

[acoufap]

I’m older and my arm strength has declined. I just use graphite a monopod with a Manfrotto Swivel / Tilt Head and a Peak Designs Sling strap. With the strap cross-chest and the monopod collapsed the camera rides my left hip when I move around. I can still raise the camera for a single shot with the collapsed monopod but I can extend the monopod when I’m staying stationary for a longer time. This setup works really well for lenses with a tripod foot.

Not a perfect solution but better than not being able to use a K-1 and heavy ,long lens.

Yep, sounds similar my solution. If I have to move with K-1 and attached DFA150-450 I sometimes use my Blackrapid R-Strap Sport and a Novoflex carbon monopod with small ball head as helpers. Works but also restricts somehow. K-1 with a 350g lens is much easier to use!

[mbukal]

we are talking about the weight of the lens as a coincidence and you are doing an indirect advertisement for DFA 70-210 / 4 on K1 for photographers "without physical fitness and time to build" before using a larger and more expensive set DFA*70-200/2,8 on K1 , an interesting propaganda solution stay tuned, more follows

[repaap]

Just for giggles I spent a few minutes this morning taking shots using a K1/Sigma 70-200/Sigma 2X TC combo one-handed.

Bad light from a particularly rainy day made it a 50/50 proposition on focus and framing and had I not had that Spyder handstrap I expect it would have been a total fail. With good light I think it would have been entirely workable, but with that said why would I? I still have two good arms, it's a heavy combo, and I'm a little guy (under 155lbs)

Trying it just because I could, not because I would.

I’m 80 KG(about the same?) I’v shot also with my K-1 + DFA*70-200 onehanded. I still do not want to even if I could, one thing is that it is quite risky.

Little story. I have Pentax super ME, my first Pentax. I bought huvittaa 70-210/3.5 for it. I was hanging it from strap around my neck, as usual. After that, back of the camera did not close anymore, or it could just pop open and film would be destroyed. I think that the weight did some how break the camera, perhaps even bend it. I really did like that camera. I bought digital pocket camera to replace it and Pentax *ist DS later when I could afford one’used’ from camera shop.

After that I have always used one hand on the lens and one on the camera and always held heavy lens in my hand instead of just holding camera. Don’t know if that was what happened but it made me very cautious.

[Zygonyx]

As far as i have tried, the new lens will imply a new firmware i.o. to have an efficient shutter synch with K-1 and (to a lesser extend) K-1II.
I had quite some trouble to shoot with PRIOLITE High Speed Synch device (up to 1/500s) : the shutter starts after having released the AF button

[teiki arii]

A 20 years old performer. Despite the fact that the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW must be a gem, you should understand why I can't abandon it..


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph @ 2.8. SR off.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph @ 2.8. Crop 100%.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph @ 2.8. Crop 100%.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph, Lens Hood out.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph, Lens Hood in.

[OoKU]

??-????
unboxing.

[beholder3]

??-????
unboxing.

For the unboxer the DFA* 85 seems to be in the category "cheap". The other lens/camera combo he compares it with is about $8000.
Poor guy.

[OoKU]

For the unboxer the DFA* 85 seems to be in the category "cheap". The other lens/camera combo he compares it with is about $8000.
Poor guy.

Otus 85/1.4 released price 4600$
Now about 3000$

[beholder3]

Otus 85/1.4 released price 4600$
Now about 3000$

Ok, I was wrong. Camera $2500 + lens $4600 = $7100. Assuming it is not the "R" version of the camera, which costs $1200 extra. Then it would be $8300.

[ffking]

A 20 years old performer.

Very impressive indeed.

[normhead]

A 20 years old performer. Despite the fact that the HD Pentax-D FA★ 85mm f/1.4 SDM AW must be a gem, you should understand why I can't abandon it..


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph @ 2.8. SR off.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph @ 2.8. Crop 100%.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph @ 2.8. Crop 100%.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph, Lens Hood out.


Pentax K-1 (II) & Leica Apo-Summicron-R 90/2 Asph, Lens Hood in.

The difference won't be in subject sharpness. It will be in out of focus areas and transitions.

I'm always critical of people who comment on a lens and post images, without a comparison image. Your lens did great. A lot of lenses do great. I am a little dubious of the out of focus areas, I suspect they could be better. But trying to do a comparison when you don't know how far away the background is etc. is pointless. The possibility is still open that you might look at comparison images and go for the DFA 85. We won't know for sure until you do an actual comparison, even for you. You can't evaluate what you don't have in your hands.

Even then, I own the DA* 55 1.4 and have no plans to by the DFA* 50 1.4. It's better, but that doesn't mean I'll buy it. There are a lot of considerations in going with an older lens that wok against buying a new lens. You seem to be saying it's because of the properties of the lens. But it's also, you already own a good lens. It costs you nothing to keep shooting with it. It'll cost you $2500 CDN to get a DFA*85. That's a lot of incentive for you stick with what you have, regardless of lens quailites, so your decision is likely not relevant to anyone else.

We've had many of these kinds of discussions over the years. What they often come down to is the person claiming their lens was better than the 31 or whatever, really didn't know what to look for.

[beholder3]

The difference won't be in subject sharpness.

Photos at F2.8 after some postprocessing relatively in the center of the image should come out nicely in sharpness for many, many - often cheap - vintage lenses.

F1.4 lenses need to be compared to F1.4 lenses at F1.4.