It is impressive how quickly lenses come from Japan via FEDEX, $35 shipping, delivery in three days.
The 85mm 1.4 239XXX, my third bought, second kept, is really like new. Well almost. The lens main elements have not been touched but the lens helicoid has been lubricated and the rear CRC lens ( a single element) had a light grease smudge.
Well, I am expert now in taking this lens housing apart from the lens unit proper, so I took it apart and cleaned the inside of that rear element. Everything else was perfect.
This 239XXX lens has improved coatings over the 188XXX and noticeable better performance. The 188xxx is an excellent lens, but this newer one is one notch higher.
I will keep both 85mm 1.4, one as a user, the other as a new lens. My poor man 58mm 1.2.
I am impressed how little sharpness and contrast improves when you close it down, it is excellent fully open. The deep red bougainvillea is not in critical focus with the rest of the image due to its color with the lens fully open.
It is impressive how quickly lenses come from Japan via FEDEX, $35 shipping, delivery in three days.
The 85mm 1.4 239XXX, my third bought, second kept, is really like new. Well almost. The lens main elements have not been touched but the lens helicoid has been lubricated and the rear CRC lens ( a single element) had a light grease smudge.
Well, I am expert now in taking this lens housing apart from the lens unit proper, so I took it apart and cleaned the inside of that rear element. Everything else was perfect.
This 239XXX lens has improved coatings over the 188XXX and noticeable better performance. The 188xxx is an excellent lens, but this newer one is one notch higher.
I will keep both 85mm 1.4, one as a user, the other as a new lens. My poor man 58mm 1.2.
I am impressed how little sharpness and contrast improves when you close it down, it is excellent fully open.
