Originally posted by LFLee I believe "he" is a "she".
Noo.... no... certainly He.
TS, the Pentax legacy primes are certainly one of the best choices out there for the A7 (I can't be too sure about the A7r though due to pixel density differences).
Well built, usually smaller and feels right sized on an A7, generally warm colors, contrasty look. (wrt similar lineage SLR options)
Legacy wides 24mm and lower, I do think more modern options would be better (but pricier of course except the Samyang 14mm)
The 'picky best lenses' option is a mix and match from various brands.
There is just no one brand that can give a full sweep of good lenses at all focal lengths (esp when you add in the realities of cost, size, weight, build, look, etc)
That is at the price of adapter juggling and added adapter size/weigth.
So I tend towards either one brand per outing or at most 2 brands.
I'm really a poor judge of lenses (which is why I seldom sell any of them).
I tend to like to see the character of each lens rather than emphasize their flaws (all have them).
For the Pentax lenses.
Wides -
FA20/2.8 smaller than most and real nice punchy o/p (beats Canon FD20/2.8 and a $900 Voigtlander 21/1.8 for this aspect); but field curvature (focus using the side and f9-f11 to work around this); last 1/10 of frame not that good imo.
K24/2.8 - Works fine on A7. O/P often has good contrast and 'bite'. A bit weaker off center because of field curvature but at 24mp pixel density, its still ok. OSV used it on the A7r and did not like it though. So take note.
(The K24/3.5 has the same characteristic from what I tried)
M28/2.8 seems to work fine if stopped down, but I don't have the lens, only seen samples of stopped down performance.
FA*24/2 - not good off center at f8 (perhaps field curvature but did not check); Good as a shallow DOF wide, not that good as a landscape lens to me (big; costly - so I rather just use the K24/2.8)
Kiron 28/2 - Ugly bokeh but crazy sharp from f4 onwards.
FA35/2 - very good, no issues at all. Still my fav 35mm.
Tak 35/3.5 - I don't really like 35mm slower than f2 actually. Good performer and really small. But FA35 is the better (in fact Frank compared lots of the legacy 35mm except FA31ltd and FA35 is certainly one of the top if not the top)
I also had the FE35, nice contrasty look typical of Zeiss. AF just felt too 'typical CDAF' to me in poorer light and I like the option of more subject isolation via DOF so 35mm @f2.8 is just not a fav. for me since I have other options.
Then there is strong vignette for a 35mm f2.8 which is corrected via PP, and that played with my mind (ended pixel peeping too much on the edges and corners to see if the file broke up under PP )
So sold it. (mixed feelings about it though.. at times, it was real nice)
Pentax 50mm ( I have all of them ) - All good.
IMHO, the FE55/1.8 may be sharper (esp. off center wide open) but the Pentax (as with most other 50s) are often good enough and have their own character. I dislike the optical vignette (at its price) for the FE55 in some situations.
But all 50mm imo will have their weak areas when it comes to bokeh in some bkgnd types/situations.
Special mention to the K50/1.2 - really one of the best f1.2 50mm's out there.
IMHO (and pref), better 'reliable' bokeh in more situations than even Rokkor 58/1.2 and FD55/1.2 (and Revuenon 55/1.2).
Smaller too.
If you look for other characteristics for the bokeh, then the others could be your best choice, so really subjective... as said its MHO.
FA ltd - safest bet.
Well built, very sharp, very nice drawing style.
FA77ltd tops the 3 imo.
Pentax 85mm (I have almost all the lens designs short of the Tak 83) - All good. K85/1.8 (or the SMC Tak85/1.8 ) is the best of the bunch for sharpness, CA resistance.
But then the M85/2 warts and all (poor CA and veiling flare) is so portable and such a joy to bring around 'just in case'.
FA*85 - Legendary; as good as any 85mm f1.4 out there (or even f1.2); But often too big for my pref (more of a speciallist lens imo like if going out for an assignment rather than for a tour)
F/FA100/2.8 macro - seldom can go wrong with a macro lens.
K135/2.5 - good contrast, drawing style and colors. Much better working distance on FF than on aps-c imo. Just get this one if on a budget and considering only on 135mm.
A135/1.8 (not mine) - very nice, but really rare and imho, its at collector's price nowadays esp if comparing to 135/2 options out there for Canikon.
FA135/2.8 - sharp, small, built in hood (real convenient and nice), good colors and good contrast. Too bad its also very good for CA
and focus throw is too short and loosey because its a fast AF lens.
Tak 135/3.5 - surprisingly very nice on FF (did not like it much on aps-c); one of the most reliable 135mm f3.5 out there (others give good bokeh at the cost of flare resistance; lower contrast; sharpness, etc .. so as said, the Tak is good old reliable )
I'd take any of the listed lenses out for the day w/o a qualm (sold the FA*24/2 btw, one of the only FA* I have sold ).
None are perfect (no lens is), but the generally are 'up there', imho.