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SMC Pentax-FA 85mm F2.8 Soft | | | | Sharpness | | | Aberrations | | | Bokeh | | | Autofocus | | | Handling | | | Value | |
| | Reviews | Views | Date of last review | | 4 | 50,195 | Wed March 10, 2021 | |  | | Recommended By | Average Price | Average User Rating | | 100% of reviewers | $275.33 | 9.50 | | | | 
supersize
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| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: January, 2008 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 729
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 6, 2009 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Great optic, dreamy soft focus, lightweight. | | Cons: | Very difficult to control the soft focus. Loud AF. | |
This is one of the Pentax rarest prime lens.
It's superb optically for portrait work. It gives dreamy look to the result.
Some people said that they can achieve it with software but believe me, it's not that simple.
This lens is very lightweight and joy to use in wedding and big halls but not in a small room.
To be able to use this lens well, ones need to practice with it a lot to be able to control the lighting.
It's not an easy lens to shoot with and it could be frustrating sometimes.
But once you know how to handle it, it will help you to take some of your memorable shots.
The softness is greatly affected with the amount of light on and around the subject.
I read from other site and already tried to couple this lens with my Tamron 1.4x TC. This combo will make a 119mm Macro lens. It's not 1:1 but more to 1:2.5
The AF makes loud noise, I don't know why. But it's pretty loud.
It also has a very close focusing distance, probably around 12-14 inch. That's very close for a tele lens like this. Maybe that's why it can be used for macro as well. When combined with Tamron 1.4x TC, it focuses even closer.
I don't have this lens anymore and now I am kind of regret of selling it.
If you're into portrait photography, get this lens ... if you can find one :ugh:
| | | | | | | Forum Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Norfolk Posts: 85
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 13, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $225.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | creative and effective | | Cons: | slow-handling - take your time | | Autofocus: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
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Dreamy is the word. The subject retains a considerable degree of sharpness but this is muted and masked by a soft 'haze', which is adjustable. It's a creative tool for producing moody and thought-provoking images, and great fun. No good for snapshooting because each shot needs care and time to set up. Although autofocus, you have to treat this as a manual aperture-priority lens (it has no 'A' lock). Set the mode dial to Manual. Set the aperture on the ring according the the degree of softness you want (between f2.8 and f5.6). Then press the 'green button' to set your shutter speed. If there are significant areas of white or other light tones in the picture, you may have to back off a tad on exposure. Some experimentation is necessary but that's half the fun. From f6.3 onwards it performs like a normal lens and is bitingly sharp.
At 305g the lens feels solid and well built. The deeply recessed front element makes protective filter and hood unnecessary. Autofocus on my copy is quiet enough. On digital it's effectively a 125mm that focuses down to 12 inches. After reading what HermanLee says above, I shall rummage in the attic for my old 2x converter and try it with that - a 255mm close-focusing 'soft', wow!
Cannot be rated on the usual measures, but for what is does and the way it does it I give it 9.5.
Rare, and a fascinating challenge if you find one. I paid Ģ225 a year ago for mine in mint condition.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: March, 2010 Location: Svealand Posts: 172 | | Review Date: November 6, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $326.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | the dreamy soft focus, sharp, excellent build quality | | Cons: | no quick shift | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K-5
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This is an outstanding piece of glass. Of course very dreamy when using f2.8 to f5.6 but itīs also SHARP. This is a portrait machine and it will make wonders if your subject has a rough complexion. For portraits I find f4 - f5.6 to be perfect. Wider than that gives to much soft effect.
It's an unusual lens so grab one if you can find it!
It gives the photos a special glow. I used f/4.5 taking this photo.
 IMGP4142 by siamthai3, on Flickr
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: California Posts: 103 | | Review Date: March 10, 2021 | Recommended | Price: $275.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Aberration control, Underlying sharpness throught the focal range, compact size, Bokeh. | | Cons: | overexposure of highlights can be challenging at times. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
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This lens is apparently one of the rarer ones made by Pentax, that being said I could definitely see it being a collector's item for some. On my copy the aperture ring is very very touchy.
IMO this lens is perfect for portrait photographers, it can really give a unique look to any photograph. Unfortunately I am pretty shy when it comes to my photography so portraits are not my style, nevertheless I still enjoyed using this lens a bunch!
As the lens doesn't have the A setting, I cannot recall the aperture setting I had for each photo.
Here are the pictures, these were RAW converted straight to JPG without any PP applied except the last three:
Here it is cropped at 100% near the center.
I think this lens does especially awesome with B&W and really gives a nice glow to the highlights. I really think this lens could be perfect for those "Paramount Portraits".
All in all I enjoy this lens because it is so unique, but I don't quite think it is applicapable for an everyday or every-use lens. It is just fun and different!
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