On 24.06.06, at 18:50 , Bruce Dayton wrote: > I don't think the A* and FA* 85/1.4 are the same optical formula. The > A* is a little more general purpose like the 77 limited. The FA* is > really designed for portrait work. It's sharpness in the longer focus > ranges is not as good as the A* or limited unless stopped down to at > least f8. But it does great portraits.
Hi Bruce, I know they have different optical formula. A* has FREE but on the other side FA* has two extraordinary dispersion elements (this is not extra low dispersion glass - ED) marked with red colour in Japanese lens catalogue. I haven't an occasion to compare A* and FA* version, but all I know is that FA* is usable for portraits at f1.4 and it is getting sharp at f2.0 (it is sharper at f2.0 than 77 Ltd) and it is very sharp at f2.8. Here are DXO tests from Chasseur d'Images as scans in Polish forum and second is DXO test on French site if someone wants to read in French ;-) http://manufactura.home.pl/p-pl/viewtopic.php?t=191 http://www.pictchallenge-archives.net/TESTNUM/BxuREV7.html But not even speaking of sharpness - FA* produces a kind of bokeh that I've never seen in pictures from any other lens that I used. I think for portratis it is actually better lens than 77 Ltd., althought in my tests at infinity it was just good on digital. Here is small sample - my sister right before here take off from Okecie Airport to her home in Germany: http://nasdwoje.e9.pl/pictures/IMGP2004.jpg I guess Bruce you'd just love FA* 85/1.4 for portraits, because you're good wedding photographer! :-) Cheers, Sylwek -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
