I keep seeing these "No name brand" 85mm manual focus portrait lenses on the net for less tan $150.00 can they possibly be any good? Anybody have any insight about them?
I haven't seen any like that. Post a site where you've seen them.
Royce Moss wrote:
I keep seeing these "No name brand" 85mm manual focus portrait lenses on the net for less tan $150.00 can they possibly be any good? Anybody have any insight about them?
Do you mean non-brand name? I have only seen the Opteka 85 f/1.8 for less than $150. The 85 f/1.4 Zeiss Otus gets better reviews.
A good manual 85mm lens for $150?! Does such a lens exist?
I'll stick to my Canon EF 85 f/1.2L, it may be almost as slow as a manual lens but it makes pretty good images.
I purchased a Mitakon Zhongyi 85mm f/2 (Sony A Mount) from Adorama for $129.00. I use it on a Sony Alpha 65, crop sensor. I believe the other mount iterations are $179 to $199 from Adorama and BH. I used to shoot full manual back in the day (OM2 Olympus and for a while Nikkormat with 105 and 100mm lenses). I use focus peaking for focusing and focus wide open, then step down for correct aperture and exposure. The lens becomes a 127.5mm and has really nice Bokeh at F/2 -F/5.6; very sharp(thank G-D for Sony in-camera anti-shake).
Now, the interesting parts: this lens is a tank, heavy and seemingly all metal, it operates smoothly and there are click stops at indicated aperures, the numbers on the lens barrel are engraved (or hot stamped), there is some flare when shooting with the sun in front of lens or to the sides in front(removing the UV filter AND using a rubber adjustable lens hood extinquishes the flare), it took about sixty shots to become facile with this beast, but I enjoy the manual aspects of shooting, makes me think and lastly, after reading numerous reviews, I believe it is a very good value at any price point below $200.00.
I was going to purchase an used Samyang 85mm but I glad I bought the Mitakon. If you are shooting a camera body with anti-shake in body, you will really see the value of these manual focus lenses, not just the two mentioned, there are others.
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