Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
  
FA* 85/1.4 for 700€ good deal?
Posted By: wullemaha, 04-02-2014, 04:54 AM

This shop...

NISSHIN CAMERA - Shop: Pentax gear

is on my way to/from work.
Every day I see the nice used stuff in the window.

And there is this item that I can't get out of my head...
Pentax FA* 85/1.4

If I paid that with my European credit card, it would be 700€ ... damn that sweet exchange rate.

What's your opinion, guys and girls?
One-of-a-kind deal?
Or something I can get any other time again?

The shop is really nice, I bought other stuff there, they give 6 months warranty on second hand articles.

BR René
Views: 2,755
04-04-2014, 01:18 AM   #16
Marketplace Reseller
vjacesslav's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Košice, Czechoslovakia, Europe Union
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 366
Really in november? I think this is sooner, than I´ll visit Tokyo I will stay in touch than and will contact YOU in september/october

04-04-2014, 01:23 AM - 1 Like   #17
Veteran Member
wullemaha's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 503
Original Poster
Anytime :-)
04-07-2014, 04:20 AM   #18
Senior Member
Lauke_101's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 160
Congrats on the score, that lens is to die for!

The prices in general on that website shock me, they're even below second hand prices here! Anyone know if Nisshin by chance will ship to Europe?
04-07-2014, 05:09 AM   #19
Veteran Member
wullemaha's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 503
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by Lauke_101 Quote
Congrats on the score, that lens is to die for!

The prices in general on that website shock me, they're even below second hand prices here! Anyone know if Nisshin by chance will ship to Europe?
I can only find shipping information for Japan... I guess they won't go into that trouble, since their English is quite limited, from what I know from my many visits there ;-) But I can ask the next time I am there.

04-13-2014, 03:44 AM - 1 Like   #20
Veteran Member
wullemaha's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 503
Original Poster
Update: I love this lens!
Wish I had more time using it so far.
But situations will hopefully come up.

Some recent shots...








04-13-2014, 03:28 PM   #21
Junior Member




Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 46
How much color adjustment did you do? Or do they come out like this?
04-13-2014, 04:17 PM   #22
Veteran Member
VisualDarkness's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Uppsala, Sweden
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,438
There must be a reason why Pentax use this discontinued lens for test shots and displays for new camera models.

04-13-2014, 05:18 PM   #23
Veteran Member
wullemaha's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 503
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by mrbrightside Quote
How much color adjustment did you do? Or do they come out like this?
They did come out like this!
I normally I don't do any color tweaking (mostly because I don't know how to, and because I normally don't see the need).

I use Lightroom only for:
- cropping (if the shot needs it)
- white balance
- mabye a little sharpening or contrast (if the shot needs it)
- black and white conversion (if the shot needs it)
- "specials" like this color/b&w mix : Tokyo Tower by night
04-13-2014, 10:04 PM   #24
Junior Member




Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 46
That's very nice color rendering; thanks for sharing. I'll be on the look out for this lens to see if there are good deals out there. I heard the A* version of this is also very good ...
04-14-2014, 06:15 AM   #25
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Somewhere near the middle...
Posts: 325
QuoteOriginally posted by mrbrightside Quote
That's very nice color rendering; thanks for sharing. I'll be on the look out for this lens to see if there are good deals out there. I heard the A* version of this is also very good ...
I just found a couple on Amazon if you want to pull the trigger. I am not selling mine.....
04-14-2014, 06:22 AM   #26
Veteran Member
wullemaha's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 503
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by subidoc Quote
I am not selling mine.....
mine's gonna stay with me as well ;-)
04-14-2014, 08:09 AM   #27
Pentaxian




Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,497
QuoteOriginally posted by wullemaha Quote
Hm.
Hard to compare the focal lengths though, no?
I have the FA 50/1.4, and I really like it so far.
I think the upgrade to a DA* 50/1.4 would not be worth the money right now.

But thanks for the input.
I don't really want to spend the money anyhow, I am just wondering... ;-)
I am trying to save your money Pentax DA55 and FA50 - a comparison

"when we look at the price of Pentax classic FA 1.4/50 everything becomes clear. It is optically worse than DA* 1.4/55 but only marginally. In reality, it will be difficult to notice any remarkable differences."
04-14-2014, 08:45 AM   #28
Veteran Member




Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Nebraska
Photos: Albums
Posts: 902
Sorry Yusuf,

I read that article too, and I believed it until I shot with the DA*55. The FA 50 is lighter, focuses faster, but is nowhere near the optical quality and rendering that the DA* 55 is. I truly don't think they are comparable lenses in the sense of optical quality. And I say that knowing that the FA 50 1.4 is fantastic. I've not known anybody yet that has had both and said they are similar enough.
This article is off base - the FA 50 is soft, and really soft below 2.0 - which is its sweet spot for rendering. The DA* 55 is sharp at 1.4. Any indoor baby shoots I do with the DA*55 I shoot at 1.4 or 1.6 otherwise it is just too sharp. Sharpness, maybe similar at 2.8 and above, but not even in the same league at 2.0 and below. Contrast is something that is complained about with the FA 50, but you won't hear any owner that has a properly functioning DA*55 say anything about the contrast or sharpness being poor.

---------- Post added 04-14-14 at 10:47 AM ----------

I would say the the DA*55 is like extending the unique rendering of the SIgma 30, eliminating the distortion, and having sharper (but not super sharp) corners.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
article, autofocus, contrast, da*, da*55, fa, fa*, focus, lenses, love, pentax, pentax deals, post, price, quality, rokinon, sharpness, shop, stuff, tax
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale - Sold: Pentax FA* 85 1.4; FA 31 Ltd Silver; FA 43 Ltd Silver; CZ T* 50 1.4 ZK and more... Immortal.Eternal Sold Items 13 08-06-2013 07:44 PM
FA 50/1.4 open box - One time good deal? Piscator Pentax Price Watch 4 07-27-2013 10:33 PM
why the Pentax smc A* 85/1.4 is more expensive than pentax FA 85/1.4 avirut Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 10 03-20-2013 05:28 PM
Samyang 85/1.4 vs FA 50mm 1.4 knightzerox Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 9 06-04-2012 04:45 PM
Is it a good deal? USD 700 for a DA* 50-135 nuaabill Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 4 08-18-2009 10:50 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:33 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top