kosmoskatten wrote:
BTW I had the opportunity to compare the size and weight of the 85/1.4 Planar vs the Summilux R80/1.4 when I picked up the latter. I haven't got the specs in front of me but they are quite similar in heft and build.
Contax versions are smaller than ZEs. Contax: 595g/diameter 58mm. The ZE is in comparison 700g and 78mm. The Leitz is in the Z* league, not the Contax.
I haven't had my a7 for very long, but the Rokinon 85mm f1.4 that I purchased with it is definitely a keeper. It's manual focus only, but the focusing ring end aperture are super smooth and feel nice in use. Results are fantastic, every bit as good as my Nikkor 85mm f1.4 but without the dodgy AF performance. It's a steal for $299.
I always LOVED the Nikon 85/1.4 AIS, fantastic lens with a great look, plenty of personality, and awesome handling.
The OLD 85/1.8H (non-AI, AI'd) is big and heavy, but has fun, swirly, dreamy bokeh.
I found the 85/2 AIS nice. Small, light, affordable, but honestly kinda boring.
Oh.. forgot the Pentax FA77ltd too.
Small lens about the size of a 50/1.4.
Nice all metal build with a convenient built in hood.
Very sharp from wide open.
It gets lots of use for me because its so handy.
Pentax K 85 1.8 is a great lens imo. I like it even better than the previous Pentax A* 85 1.4 I owned as the 1.8 is extremely nice wide open but the 1.4 suffers some notable aberration issues until stopped down.
The Olympus 90/2 Macro looks really nice and has been on my radar for a while. It's a fairly pricey lens it seems.
carstenw wrote:
Interesting lens... could you write a mini-review of it on the A7/A7r?
Bullet points really, I'm a bit thick to write reviews.
It's small and light;
It's sharp, even wide open;
It's smooth focusing;
It's fairly fast, f/1.8, bokeh to die for;
It's a Pentax FA Limited - which means quality control issues, this particularly haunts the 31mm Limited more so;
It's construction is first class however, is all metal and feels like real (Leica'ish) quality;
Prone to slight PF and LoCA, seems to be copy dependent, my 77mm is perfect, my 31mm is terrible (off to the menders this week as focus is now sticking, never been a great lens, hopefully they can sort it out, these 31mm Ltd's are supposed to come with pixie dust);
The 77mm Limited costs around £800 . . . which is a lot of money but I feel worth it. The 31mm around £1200, which isn't worth it in my opinion, if you get one get it from a place you can keep returning it until you get a good copy;
Looks great on the A7/r, also works a peach on the K-3 as screw-drive AF is now really quick;
In short, it's probably my favorite lens out of the 30 I have.
Here's the Pentax 77mm Limited on the Pentax K-5IIs . . .
kosmoskatten wrote:
Bluffer: A very interesting lens. Thank you for the write up!
To me, it renders a bit like the Summarit M75 with an advantage to the 77 for having f1.8. I definitely like it.
I wouldn't consider a Leica 75/2 over this Pentax. It is genuinely a lens of legend. It's as good as they say it is. Pentax glass seems to work very well on the A7/r. Even the 31mm Limited . . . if you have a good copy.
I'm hesitant to buy Leica M for this camera. It's a lot of money, I only really want the 35 FLE and that doesn't seem to work very well on the A7r.
Johnny B Goode wrote:
Dare I suggest a helios. Always wanted to try one. You'll need to be, ok with manual focus.
That lens has loads of character allright but it ain't a very practical lens to lug around.
For low light I always use the Canon FDn 85/1.2 although I find the bokeh at short distances (portraits) a bit boring, to smooth.
I like the 85 C/Y Planar as well.
Another lens not mentioned here I like very much is the Konica Hexanon 85/1.8
Bluffer wrote:
I wouldn't consider a Leica 75/2 over this Pentax. It is genuinely a lens of legend. It's as good as they say it is. Pentax glass seems to work very well on the A7/r. Even the 31mm Limited . . . if you have a good copy.
I'm hesitant to buy Leica M for this camera. It's a lot of money, I only really want the 35 FLE and that doesn't seem to work very well on the A7r.
Yes, I was referring to the 75/2.5 Summarit, not the APO Summicron. I would also choose the 77/1.8 over the APO 75/2 based on cost vs practical use for my own part.
Michiel: that Helios-40 shot! I can't look at it for more than four-five seconds, it is the kind of bokeh that gives me a head ache to look at... ...maybe it it exacerbates my inherent astigmatism.
kosmoskatten wrote:
Yes, I was referring to the 75/2.5 Summarit, not the APO Summicron. I would also choose the 77/1.8 over the APO 75/2 based on cost vs practical use for my own part.
You can find them used sometimes. But rarely. No one with one likes to part with them. I'd be eating out of the bins long before I ever sold mine.
The 31mm can be a real dog, but get a good copy and it smokes most other lenses.
The 43mm Limited I don't have, mixed reviews out there, sometimes it gives that Leica sort of classic rendering.
I am very pleased Pentax full frame glass works quite so well on the A7r. Mr. Pinholecamera (FM member) is the master of this A7/Pentax art mind you.
kosmoskatten wrote:
Michiel: that Helios-40 shot! I can't look at it for more than four-five seconds, it is the kind of bokeh that gives me a head ache to look at... ...maybe it it exacerbates my inherent astigmatism.
It is not for everybody, but it is special allright. You need a special taste for it
If it's that big it must be great 
. Please post up some samples when you have the chance. 
