I have had them all: FA*85/f1.4, A*85/f1.4, K85/f1.8, M85/f2, FA77/f1.8.
This is what I think:
- The 1.4s are simply too big and heavy for everyday use, and too intimidating for portraits. Thus I sold them.
- The FA*85/f1.4 and the M85/f2 are specialists for portraits. Do not use them at open aperture for anything else. However, stopped down they are excellent in every respect. Yes, at f5.6-f11 they are very "sharp".
- The A*85/f1.4 seems to be optimized for high contrast at open aperture. It is good for available light photography but not so good for portraits or close-ups.
- The K85/f1.8 and the FA77/f1.8 seem to be the best all-purpose lenses with the 77 offering the higher resolution, and with the K85 offering the longer focal length.
- At the same aperture, the M85/f2 gives the smoothest background/biggest blur.
- However, the bokeh of the K85/f1.8 seems to be the most "natural".
Arnold
