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

[Michaelina2]

Personally, with all being equal and as a current FA 85/1.4 owner, I'd go for the DA*55/1.4 at half the price.


Cheers... M

[wullemaha]

I'd go for the DA*55/1.4 at half the price

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... ;-)

[zbrueningsen]

The DA*55's rendering is far superior to the FA 50 1.4 It's contrast, sharpness, color, and bokeh are all better. The only thing that it does not excel in is focus speed. It isn't near as fast in autofocus compared to the FA 50. I would love a FA 85 1.4 though! The added length on the APS-C sensor makes it wonderful. Here is the deal - you can get a DA*55 and a Rokinon 85 1.4 for the price of the FA 85. The Rokinon is almost as good, it just is manual focus.

[vjacesslav]

FA* 85 F1.4 is one of the best lenses in every aspect... For 700€ it is really cheap. What about postage and COLL or TAX?

[wullemaha]

What about postage and COLL or TAX?

Postage? Tax? COLL (whatever that is)?
All those words mean nothing to me ;-) This shop is 2 minutes walk from my office!
I walk by there every day.
That's what's torturing me... I could hold those lenses in my hand in 5 minutes...
I really hate working in Akihabara ^^

Here is the deal - you can get a DA*55 and a Rokinon 85 1.4 for the price of the FA 85. The Rokinon is almost as good, it just is manual focus

While I do love my manual focus lenses that I have, if I go into that price range, I will want a lens with autofocus.

---------- Post added 04-03-14 at 10:48 AM ----------

The DA*55's rendering is far superior to the FA 50 1.4 It's contrast, sharpness, color, and bokeh are all better. The only thing that it does not excel in is focus speed. It isn't near as fast in autofocus compared to the FA 50.

That might all be true, but the "problem" is that I already like my FA50 ... I am pretty sure I would love the DA*55, but I already have a M50/1.4 and now the FA50/1.4, and I can hardly find reasons to add another fifty to my setup ;-)

---------- Post added 04-03-14 at 10:50 AM ----------

Oh, and another stupid plus ... the FA*85 would fit on my film SLRs ... and a Pentax FF DSLR if there ever is going to be one.

(And NO, I am totally not trying to talk myself into buying it, shut up, conscience...)

[wullemaha]

So, I just went to the shop in my lunch break and tried the FA*85 on my K-5II.s
Wow, what a beautiful lens.
Just took a few shots indoors, and of strangers walking by in the rain through the dirty glass door of the shop ... focus locked immediately, fast and accurate.

Can anybody please talk me out of this?
I am not married and my bank account is mine alone, so I have nobody to prevent me from giving in to LBA... you need to do that for me!
I am sure there must be a good reason to neither buy the FA*85 nor the DA*55 ...

Anybody?

[vjacesslav]

I have just read interesting article about this lens
Here it is, there is only one sentence, but it definitely say something about this beauty:
sm-02-05-02

[zbrueningsen]

Honestly if I had no financial restriction I would own the fa 85 or the 77 limited. I can promise you the AF is much faster on it than the DA 55. But if you had the DA 55 you could have shot out in the rain :-)

[vjacesslav]

All three lenses are very special and unique
FA77mm for dreamy bokeh?
FA85 as absolutorium as best lens, similar to FA 200 F4 macro... That could be the lens Pentax brings together with fullframe Some minor changes (WR, Quickshift, black colour)
DA55 has unique bokeh, and on APS-C is really nice portrait lens...

[wullemaha]

Dear all.

You are horrible people for not talking me out of this purchase.

On the other hand, I love you all so much for not talking me out of this purchase.
On my way home, I got the lens, and took it to a Pub with me, and I think that I am deeply in love!

It's 1am, I am tired, so no pixel peeping, no real post processing, just some simple raw conversion for you...
edit: all of those shots were done with high ISO! Still awesome!

To sum up the lens (WARNING: drunk lens review coming in):
Why would I ever want to mount any other lens to my camera, unless the focal length really, really, really (really!) demands it?!




... beer, always a win, especially with Bokeh...


... light! You need light, especially if it is that crystal clear, to see your beer...


...sometimes you need to spice it up - then Tabasco is your friend! ...


... you might even get so drunk you hand your DSLR to your friends fiance, who has no idea how to handle the Pentax DSLR set up for the focus to be on the AF button instead on the half-pressed-shutter button... still, somehow she managed to get me into focus (kind of... yeah, that's me)


... shy models can get enhanced by signs of even more beer!

[zbrueningsen]

A fine lens. People across the brands have said this may be the most beautiful portrait lens ever. Ironically, the FA 77 1.8 gets similar praise. Good to keep it in the house, I am sure that is a stunner on film or a full frame. Thanks for the funny story!

[noelpolar]

nobody really wants to be in focus at that time on night after drinking all evening anyway......

[vjacesslav]

I wish i will have a chance to shoot with FA* 85mm 1.4

[wullemaha]

I wish i will have a chance to shoot with FA* 85mm 1.4

If you visit Tokyo in the next few months, feel free to pop in and try it out ;-)
If not, I'll be back in Europe in November... ^^