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06-28-2016, 10:44 AM   #1
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K-1 Portrait Lenses

I currently have a Sigma 85mm f1.4 HSM for use on my K-1, but thinking about changing it for something smaller/lighter as I don't tend to take it out and about, and it would save some weight in the bag against a more telephoto lens.

The output I have no issues with other than I rarely actually use f1.4 much at all. I've been taking some portraits for work and all of them are f3.5 and above. I want to go for a compact/lightweight kit as much as possible.

I have had the K85 f1.8, Voigtlander 58mm f1.4 Nokton and 90mm f3.5 APO, all three were lovely but I require AF. DA*55 is lovely but I want somthing a bit longer.

My thoughts:

FA77 - Obvious choice to mate with my FA43/D-FA28-105 combo

DA70 - Even smaller, if a tad slower

D-FA100 Macro - Slightly odball and would be dual use as I need a macro at some point

Any thoughts, or portraits on the K-1/FF with the 100mm f2.8 Macro, especially.

06-28-2016, 10:51 AM   #2
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FA 77mm all the way if you want to offload the 85mm, IMO.

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06-28-2016, 11:05 AM   #3
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Yup, the 77 for sure! It's so small and light that I take it everywhere. It has been my favorite lens on the K-1 so far. I shoot mostly at f2.8 or f4 and the results are amazing.
06-28-2016, 11:59 AM - 1 Like   #4
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If you dont mind manual focus, the Samyang 135mm is impossible to beat especially for the for price.

06-28-2016, 12:08 PM   #5
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I would think the answer depends on what you are trying to do with the background and how much out of focus you want it to be. If shooting outdoors a 135mm will compress your headshots and portraits a lot more. If you are using a single color or a textured backdrop in a studio it is hard to go wrong with the FA77mm for the obvious reasons (lightweight and sharp). Even outdoors it is easily sharp enough stopped down just a little. But do you want the background so out of focus it is hard to tell what is there? I do when shooting headshots outdoors but others don't care.

Last edited by quant2325; 06-29-2016 at 07:09 AM.
06-28-2016, 01:29 PM - 1 Like   #6
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I do not have a K-1. However I shot the A* 85 f/1.4 on film and digital. I found manual focus to be a drag. So I sold the minty copy I had and bought an FA 77 Limited. On crop I have loved it and I found out the arrangement of elements is very similar to the A* 85 so that's a happy thing. I have not shot the FA 77 on anything full frame however.

The FA* 85 is probably even better than the 77 Limited for portraits on Full Frame but it is rare as hens teeth and large. Lerolls on this forum recently acquired one and loves it more than his 77 limited on his crop K-3.

Sorry if this muddies the water without clearing anything up.
06-28-2016, 01:30 PM - 2 Likes   #7
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FA77 is the nutz.









06-28-2016, 04:37 PM   #8
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give the da 70 a try if you want something lovely and lightweight.
06-28-2016, 05:28 PM   #9
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The FA77 is so good at what it does it meant the end for what's apparently the better but bigger/pricier FA*85.

06-29-2016, 10:19 AM   #10
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you said DA70 is a bit slow.... then again you said you usually shoot at f3.5.... confused. lol.
06-29-2016, 11:13 AM - 1 Like   #11
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Wish I had kept all the original info and spec sheets, press releases etc, because the 77 Ltd was designed specifically for portrait work with color rendition, bokeh and contrast all "tuned" to render fantastic skin tones, wardrobe texture etc. Back in the film days it was very noticeably different than the FA* lenses (works quite nicely for intimate landscapes too). Not many lenses of any brand get the full "portrait treatment" regarding design, coatings etc. Based on the original "pitch material" from Pentax, and the significant budget spent to design the original Limited trio, I just can't imagine any other lens even coming close.
06-30-2016, 06:13 AM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
I shot the A* 85 f/1.4 on film and digital. I found manual focus to be a drag
Oh dear... an unloved “Sweetheart”.
06-30-2016, 06:55 AM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by Kerrowdown Quote
Oh dear... an unloved “Sweetheart”.
No not at all. She was yar, but my eyes started giving me too much trouble. I sold her to someone who enjoys her and has better vision. That funded my FA 77 purchase and my FA 31 purchase.
06-30-2016, 06:59 AM   #14
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QuoteOriginally posted by UncleVanya Quote
I sold her to someone who enjoys her and has better vision. That funded my FA 77 purchase and my FA 31 purchase.
Then that was exactly the right thing to do, as everyone wins.
06-30-2016, 08:47 AM   #15
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Rob - you know I own both the FA*85 and FA77. Gotta be the 77 Ltd if you're finding a 85mm f1.4 to be too large/heavy.
The '77 is still very good indeed.
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