Pentax Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm f/1.8

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Six-element portrait lens that replaced the earlier 85/1.9, with an eight-blade iris that keeps out-of-focus highlights round. Made for only a few years, so it is the scarce and expensive member of the set. Rendering is soft-edged and flattering at f/1.8 with a smooth transition into blur, which is why it shows up on so many interview and music video kits.

Key specs

Focal length

85 mm

Max aperture

f/1.8

Mount

M42 screw

Image circle

Full frame

Close focus

0.85 m

Filter thread

58 mm

Weight

341 g

Field of view by sensor

Full frame

23.9° horizontal · frames like 85 mm on full frame

Super 35

16.7° horizontal · frames like 122.9 mm on full frame

Micro Four Thirds

11.6° horizontal · frames like 176.9 mm on full frame

What it goes on

M42's 45.46mm flange means a cheap glassless ring puts it on EF and every mirrorless mount. A/M switch to M. Uses a 58mm front like the 24mm and 135/2.5, so plan step-ups if the rest of the kit is 49mm. Prices push many set builders to the K-mount 85/1.8, which is optically the same family.

• Canon EF camerasWith adapterALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 +14 more

  M42-EOS flanged ring. Cheap and common. Pick a flanged ring that presses the auto-aperture pin. On full-frame EF DSLRs a few lenses (Helios 44-2, some Takumars) can catch the mirror at infinity.

• Sony E camerasWith adapterRonin 4D-6K, Ronin 4D-8K, Alpha 1 II, Alpha 7 IV +13 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 27.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Canon RF camerasWith adapterEOS C400, EOS C50, EOS C70, EOS C80 +10 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 25.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• L-Mount camerasWith adapterCinema Camera 6K, PYXIS 12K, PYXIS 6K, Ronin 4D-6K +6 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 25.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Micro Four Thirds camerasWith adapterMicro Studio Camera 4K G2, Pocket Cinema Camera 4K, Lumix BGH1, Lumix GH6 +1 more

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 26.2 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Nikon Z camerasWith adapterKOMODO-X 6K S35, V-RAPTOR [X] 8K VV, V-RAPTOR XE

  Novoflex · K&F Concept · Fotodiox. 29.5 mm of room — a plain mechanical adapter. Manual focus and iris.

• Leica M camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, Ronin 4D-6K +1 more

  17.7 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

• LPL camerasWith adapter· by flange mathsALEXA 265, ALEXA 35, ALEXA Mini LF, URSA Cine 17K 65

  1.5 mm of room for a plain ring. Check rear-element and mirror clearance before buying.

See every camera this lens fits →

Sources: allphotolenses.com, allphotolenses.com