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Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax
The Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Lens is a special effort in the independent lens manufacturer world, being a popular focal length for serious portraiture combined with an extra large f/1.4 maximum aperture. Most independent manufacturer lenses are either zooms or very short or long focal length fixed lenses. This lens is appropriate for Pentax "full frame" film cameras in addition to their current 15 x 22mm "APS-C" style digital SLR cameras, and presents no limitations to the camera operation beyond the manual focusing-it is for all practical purposes a "KA" style mount, and communicates the lens' aperture to the camera body. This lens is precision manufactured in South Korea.
With a 35mm equivalent focal length of ~127mm and that f/1.4 aperture, this Bower 85mm lens opens up photographic opportunities you'll never get with your zoom. Capture close portraits of singers on dark stages with only spotlights on their faces, and those background lights will be soft cascades of low-contrast coloring. With the big f/1.4 opening, you'll have enough light to stop subject motion. Or try it in brighter conditions at fast shutter speeds and low ISOs to make great shots of people in front of blooming trees, with background flowers almost looking like paintings. It isn't easy nailing manual focus at f/1.4-2.0 (nor for that matter is it easy for an AF system), but you'll get better with practice, and soon be making many snaps that stand out in a crowd.
This lens was truly created with large-aperture shooting in mind. Though a fine performer with plenty of contrast and resolution at f/5.6-f/11 apertures, it is at its best shooting between f/1.4-2.8, where it presents a high-peak-resolution focus point surrounded by lower resolution/contrast out-of-focus areas. Rather than just sharpness all around, for many pictures it is this stark drop off in resolution and contrast that effectively draws a viewer's eye towards a subject.
- Bright f/1.4 aperture
- Aspherical lens element provides high quality images
- Fully multicoated optics
- Ideal portrait lens
- Low weight relative to many 85mm f/1.4 lenses
- Smooth helicoid manual focus action
- Internal focusing means that lens length remains constant during focusing (lens front also does not rotate)
- Made in South Korea
Go To
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Focal Length | 85 mm |
| Aperture |
Maximum: f/1.4 Minimum: f/22 |
| Camera Mount Type | Pentax K |
| Format Compatibility |
35mm Film / Full-Frame Digital Sensor Pentax Digital (APS-C) |
| Angle of View |
28.3° APS-C Picture Angle: 19.1° |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 3.28' (1 m) |
| Magnification | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Maximum Reproduction Ratio | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Groups/Elements | 7/9 |
| Diaphragm Blades | Not Specified By Manufacturer |
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Image Stabilization | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Tripod Collar | No |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Filter Thread | 72 mm |
| Dimensions (DxL) | Approx. 3.0 x 3.75" (76.20 x 95.25 mm) |
| Weight | 1.15 lb (0.52 kg) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 5 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
100%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
- Was this a gift?:
- No (3)
Reviewed by 5 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-5
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax:
This lens is increadible for the price. You can pay twice, even three times the amount for a 70-80mm portrait lens. I was apprehensive at first to buy a brand of lens that I had never really heard of but if you google the lens model it seems to be quite a hidden gem.
Taking pictures wide open there is a tiny bit of edge distortion and as stated by someone else, due to the lens being fully manual, the depth of field, when wide open, is very shallow. You have to use a tripod to get a focused shot. I found that my breathing altered the focusing when wide open!!
The best selling point of this lens (excluding price) is the quality of bokeh, for the price you will not get bokeh so smooth.
What a revelation!!!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Nice Bokeh
- Strong Construction
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Video
Comments about Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax:
After switching to a digital I got used to the auto focus very quickly. For fast moving Grand kids this lens is a bit tougher to work with. It takes a very good picture, however, and I am glad I bought it. The resolution is excellent and once I got up to speed on the exposure settings I am getting good pictures.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attractive design
- Durable
- Nice Bokeh
- Rugged
- Strong Construction
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors/Low Light
- Landscape/Scenery
- Macro Photography
- Night Photography
- Star fields with tripod
Comments about Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax:
Smooth focusing, bright lens, edge-to-edge sharpness
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Features
- price
- Quality
Cons
- My poor skill
Best Uses
- Indoor poor light
Comments about Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax:
This lens has a solid feel; I'm glad I found it. I have occasion to shoot indoor candids, such as church suppers, seminars, and programs. The f/1.4 on this lens lets me get decent shots in poor lighting without flash. The 85mm focal length lets me stand away from the subject a bit, so I'm not intruding. The one thing to remember is that this is manual focus and at 1.4, you've got a shallow depth of field. My skill here is "emerging" and I get a number of shots that don't work. But hey, that's why I have a 4Gb card -- shoot 100, keep 10.
Comments about Bower 85mm f/1.4 Manual Focus Telephoto Lens for Pentax:
Good resolution, smooth bokeh, contrast and color representation is great, excelent price
Displaying reviews 1-5
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What's in the Box
- Front & Rear Lens Caps
- Lens Hood
- Lens Pouch
- 1-Year Warranty
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