> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Monday, January 22, 2001 9:36 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Short telephoto lense recommendations - And where to buy a
> (new) LX
>
> I think that both the 85mm and 135mm focal lengths (as well as
> many others)
> can be useful for portraits, depending on the situation.
>
> I personally like 85mm a lot for head and shoulder portraits of adults,
> especially if they're more-or-less posed (i.e., more-or-less
> formal), and/or
> if getting in fairly close to the subject is not a problem. I
> also like 85mm
> a lot for head-and-upper-torso shots from a little further away, or for
> portraits of a couple. However, for less obtrusive, more candid shots, I
> find a longer focal length such as 135mm to be more useful. However, one
> needs a bit of working space for a 135mm lens, so (if indoors)
> the room has
> to be a bit larger than is needed for a shorter lens. It all depends...
>
> For 85mm lenses, I have found each of the Pentax lenses I've tried to be
> entirely adequate. The A* 85/1.4, the FA* 85/1.4, the K 85/1.8,
> and the SMCT
> 85/1.8 are all superb (although the two f/1.4's are different
> from each other
> and also different from the pair of f/1.8's). Two samples of the M 85/2
> (despite a few negative comments expressed here on the PDML)
> seemed pretty
> decent, and the ST 85/1.9 also seemed pretty good (although the sample I
> tried was just a bit soft for my own tastes).
>
> For 135mm lenses, I have found the A* 135/1.8 and the K (SMCP) 135/2.5 to
> both be very good (and I have often recommended the K 135/2.5 as
> being "the
> poor man's 135/1.8"). [However, do not confuse the very strong K
> 135/2.5 (no
> built-in hood, with 58mm filter threads) with the ubiquitous but mediocre
> "Takumar Bayonette" 135/2.5 (built-in hood, with 52mm threads,
> which makes it
> probably only an f/2.8 lens anyway).] Also, I have recently had
> a chance to
> try both the K and the M 135/3.5's, and my first impression is that the K
> might be the better 135/3.5.
>
Cant decide between 85mm ( too short ) and 135mm ( too long )?
Go for the 120mm F2.8 !!! Pentax made it in both SMCT screwmount
( quite rare ) and K &/or M ( I forget ) bayonet. I have both and
they are quite impressive optically and fast enuff to allow easy
focus. These and the 105mm F2.8 ( both SMC screw and K ) fit the
bill when the 85 and 135 are too extreme for the shot. If I recall
correctly, they ( the 105's & 120's) are identical optical formula, and what
a good
formula it is. ( 5 element?)
JCO
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