Which is lighter, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft?

The Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft weighs 305 g, 445 g less than the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens (750 g).

Which focuses closer, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft?

The Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens focuses down to 0.1 m, against 0.5 m for the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft.

Is the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft better for macro photography?

For macro photography, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.1 m.

Is the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens or the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft better for portrait photography?

For portrait photography, the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft has the edge: it is 445 g lighter to carry.

§ 03 Head to head

Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens vs Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft

Mitakon 85mm f/2.8 focuses 40 cm closer. Pentax 85mm f/2.8 is 445 g lighter.

The Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens is an 85mm f/2.8 prime, and the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft is an 85mm f/2.8 prime. On paper the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft comes out ahead, 3 advantages to 2, but which one suits you depends on what you shoot.

Add a third lens →

Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens

f/2.8 · 85mm · 750 g

Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft

f/2.8 · 85mm · 305 g

Key differences

From manufacturer specifications

Why is the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens better than the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft?

Focuses 40 cm closer (0.1 m vs 0.5 m)
Newer design (2019 vs 1996)

Why is the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft better than the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens?

445 g lighter (305 g vs 750 g)
62 mm shorter (60 mm vs 122 mm long)
Smaller filter thread (52 mm vs 58 mm)

Which should you buy?

By use

macro For macro photography, the Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens has the edge: it focuses closer, down to 0.1 m.
portrait For portrait photography, the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft has the edge: it is 445 g lighter to carry.

Specification

16 rows · better value flagged ◆

Specification	Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens	Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft
Focal length	85mm	85mm
Maximum aperture	f/2.8	f/2.8
Minimum aperture	f/32	f/32
Lens type	Prime lens	Prime lens
Format	Full frame	Full frame
Weight	750 g (26.46 oz)	305 g (10.76 oz) ◆
Dimensions	67 x 122 mm	66 x 60 mm
Minimum focusing distance	0.10 m (3.94 inches) ◆	0.50 m (19.69 inches)
Image stabilization	No	—
Weather sealing	—	No
Aperture ring	—	Yes
Aperture blades	9	9
Optical construction	12 elements / 8 groups	5 elements in 4 groups
Filter size	58 mm	52 mm ◆
Lens mount	Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony A, Pentax K, Sony E, Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X, Canon EF-M	Pentax K
Released	2019	1996

Size

Drawn to relative scale

A · Mitakon
B · Pentax

122 × 67 mm
60 × 66 mm

The Mitakon 85 mm f/2.8 1-5X Super Macro Lens is 62 mm longer and 445 g heavier than the Pentax smc FA 85 mm f/2.8 Soft.

Sample frames

Shot on each lens