I would think the Minolta MD 85 f/2 would suit your purposes much better. The Minolta is 120g lighter (280 vs. 400 grams), it has a shorter MFD (.85m vs. 1m) and it is smaller in dimensions as well. For a legacy lens it is also quite sharp. I think it suits your desires quite well even if slightly more expensive than you would like.
The Zeiss 2.8/90 is even punchier with it's very high contrast but of course sower.
One lens which hasn't been mentioned is the Canon FD 2/100 which is not only very sharp from f/2 but it als has very nice bokeh. It isn't that easy to find but usually sells for around $300.
FD 85/1.8 for sure. It is small, nice handling, and a nice look. Can easily be found for $250 or less.
I think KEH has/had one for $175. I almost bought it the other day.
The Rokinon is much larger and a bit heavier.
Nikon 85/2 AIS is a nice small lens and solid performer, but I found it a little boring. Nikon 85/1.8H has loads of character, but is quite heavy and has a looong focus throw, if that is a consideration.
TheEmrys wrote:
Your budget of $250 is going to make it tough. You need to go either with a Canon 85/1.8, old Minolta MD 85/2 (huge stretch), the Nikon H, or the Samyang. Its just a bit low in budget. The best option may be the Sony 85/2.8, but it doesn't meet your desire for f/2 or faster. But it is a great lens.
Here's a second recommendation on the A-mount Sony 85 f2.8. it sells new for 299. usd from BHPhoto. Many used copies between 200 and 300. The body of this lens is nearly identical in size with my FE 55 f1.8. Which means i can carry the A7rII with the FE 28, 55, and the SAM 85 f2.8 in a small pack. With the small LAEA3 adapter, it works in AF mode in center-focus, wide focus (which tracks when in Continuous mode), and flexible spot mode, S, M, L focus boxes. Sharp lens, nice bokeh - i'm very happy with it. With its small size, it likely means very few elements and high light transmission. It focuses well even with relatively low light. The focus motor is a bit louder than the FE lenses of today, but not unacceptable to me. There's also a MF/AF switch on the lens body.
The Sony SAM 2.8/85 is a Sonnar type with a total of only five lens elements in four groups (5/4). It's got modern Sony coatings instead of Zeiss T* coatings. With the LA-EA3 (glassless) adapter this one is hard to beat among alt or semi-alt lenses for Sony A7x, since you get AF, full auto aperture and full EXIF.
The total weight is 334 grams for Sony SAM 2.8/85 + LA-EA3 + lens hood + filter + front and rear caps
$250 is a hard pricepoint for an 85/2 or faster. These tend to be very desirable lenses even in the less popular mounts and many of the better options go for $350+.
Your best bet at that pricepoint is going to be either the Samyang (if you want wide aperture performance) or giving up the stop and getting the A mount 85/2.8 (which is one of the sharpest 85's available for 3-digit prices in the mid aperture range, and is also unusually close focusing with its 0.6m MFD).
Most of them cost more than $250. The Olympus 85/2 OM is one of the few that you can find in [E] or [E+] condition, for about $230. You might have enough left over for an adapter.
There's a Sigma 70/2.8 Macro if you're willing to vary that much on focal length. Very sharp, way cheap, and focuses down to 1:0.91. I have to pump up the saturation in ACR more than with my Leica R's that cost literally 10-20x as much, but, hey, that's a hell of a trade-off. I got mine for $220.
BTW: Talking about Samyang. I was never able to get a good copy of their 14/2.8 but decided to play in the lottery last week and I won!
I got the E-mount version and it's perfectly centered. I better not drop this one. I will mainly use it for astro to complement the Loxia 21/2.8.
Nice! I had a good one in Canon mount which I stupidly replaced with an E mount version that is awful. Mass of halation wide open!
I was going to get another ticket in the lottery but think I might wait to see if these new Irix lenses (Samyang with fancy build quality according to some) are good, they have a 15 2.4 which if good would be nice for Astro...
goranilic wrote:
Hi,
I am needing a 85mm f2 or better lens for my A7 Before I save for a new Batis I am looking for sharpest option on "legacy" market. Would like to hear what you got and how do you like it.
My budget would be around $250.
Best...
$250 barely gets you into the 85mm market, most of the good ones are in the $400+ range, with the truly awesome being over $1000, the nFD 85/1.2L sits around $900+- and is a very good lens for the price.
The Konica 85/1.8 and the SMC K Pentax 85/1.8 are both quite good, I'm hunting for one of each myself.
If you don't mind correcting CA, the FD 85/1.8 will do.
The SMC M Pentax 85/2 can be found close to your budget. https://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/pentaxm852
If you are shooting sony or something which can take RF glass, get a Nikkor 8.5cm f/2 from the 50's and one of the $20 Contax or Nikon S to FE adapters.
This lens established Nikon's reputation with a single snap in 1950. It has been ignored for years because nothing would really take it except a nikon RF. But the Sonys love it
arduluth wrote:
I have a Minolta MD 85mm f/2 I might be will into part with for $250... Nice lens, balances well on the A7. Compared to the Minolta 85mm f/1.7, it's said to be sharper but with weaker bokeh. A classic trade-off.
I ended up getting a Pentax 77mm f /1.8 Limited, which replaces the MD 85mm f/2 for me.
My next pick would be a Contax G 90mm f/2.8. Lovely, super sharp lens.
I would take this offer if I was the OP (they are a little difficult to find at this price). the MD 85/2 is no bigger than the Sony 85/2.8 and very sharp with just right focus throw for portrait and landscape work. bokeh is not the best at certain distance but pretty good at normal portrait distances. my biggest complaint about it is hexagonal bokeh stopped down and that it's not as characterful as the contarex 85/2 or Leica 90/2 cron. I'll post some pics when I get home.
Most of them cost more than $250. The Olympus 85/2 OM is one of the few that you can find in [E] or [E+] condition, for about $230. You might have enough left over for an adapter.
There's an M645 80/1.9 and an 80/1.9 N [E] / [E+] in the database, both showing from under $250, a bit more for more "minty" conditions.
Not sure if Jim (or others) have direct experience with this one, but might be worth a thought if my M645 80/4 macro is any indication.
arduluth wrote:
I have a Minolta MD 85mm f/2 I might be will into part with for $250... Nice lens, balances well on the A7. Compared to the Minolta 85mm f/1.7, it's said to be sharper but with weaker bokeh. A classic trade-off.
I ended up getting a Pentax 77mm f /1.8 Limited, which replaces the MD 85mm f/2 for me.
My next pick would be a Contax G 90mm f/2.8. Lovely, super sharp lens.
I recently compared a Pentax FA 77 Limited and a C/Y 85/2.8 on my A7II, and the Contax won on all the important scores--sharpness, detail, micro contrast. The Pentax was good, but just not as good. The C/Y is almost the same lens as the Contax G 90, but I prefer it for its built-in MF ring. A true classic, highly recommended.
RustyBug wrote:
There's an M645 80/1.9 and an 80/1.9 N [E] / [E+] in the database, both showing from under $250, a bit more for more "minty" conditions.
Not sure if Jim (or others) have direct experience with this one, but might be worth a thought if my M645 80/4 macro is any indication.
Yes, I owned the earlier version of the C 85/1.9. It's a very nice lens, with good sharpness, but the bokeh was not so nice for specular highlights. I didn't mention this lens because the adapter for using it on an A7-series camera is 45mm long, which almost doubles the size of this lens.
I will mainly use it for astro to complement the Loxia 21/2.8.
