Kenko 85mm F/2.5 Soft MC

Short telephoto prime lens • Film era • Discontinued

  • Announced:
  • · 1987
  • Production status:
  • ● Discontinued
  • Country of design:
  • · Japan
  • Original name:
  • · Kenko MC SOFT 1:2.5 85mm
  • Class:
  • · Fast full-frame short telephoto prime lens
  • · Soft Focus lens

Abbreviations

SOFT The lens features soft focus effect control.
MC Multi-layer anti-reflection coating is applied to the surfaces of lens elements. This anti-reflection coating increases light transmission, eliminates flare and ghosting, and maintains color consistence among all lens models.

Specification

Optical design:
35mm full frame
85mm
F/2.5
3 elements in 3 groups (Cooke triplet)
Interchangeable mount (T)
28.5° (35mm full frame)
Diaphragm mechanism:
Diaphragm type:
Manual
Aperture control:
Aperture ring
13 (thirteen)
Focusing:
0.80m
<No data>
Focusing modes:
Manual focus only
Manual focus control:
Focusing ring
Physical characteristics:
340g
⌀67×76mm
Accessories:
Screw-type 52mm
Not required
<No data>

Source of data

  • Manufacturer's technical data.

From the editor

Rare Japanese soft focus lens, part of the triad of 35/4, 45/4.5 and 85/2.5. Optically, this is a Triplet "overclocked" to a speed of F/2.5. Unlike the 35mm and 45mm Kenko lenses, it has not 10, but 13 aperture blades. The aperture can be set in 1/4 stop increments between F/2.5 and F/4. The disadvantage of the lens is that it does not have a focusing distance scale.

The lens does not just soften the image - it actively doubles the contours, perfectly blurs the background and ultimately creates an amazing picture that will appeal primarily to women. Delicate, airy, glowing skin - isn't this the dream of girls of all ages?

The lens does its job so well that it requires almost no further adjustments in Photoshop. Sure, you can do a little magic with the exposure, but overall, the glass will make the work of both a wedding and portrait photographer much easier.

Please note that the T-mount on this lens is non-standard M42x1 instead of M42x0.75.

Since the entire optical system is recessed into the lens barrel, this lens does not require a lens hood.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Soft Focus effect and what are its benefits?

Spherical aberration has been purposely introduced into this lens to produce photographic images that are sharp yet which have an alluring softness.

Because of the ethereal glow that can be achieved by using Soft Focus, the lens is ideal for creating scenes with a dreamy feel. It is also good for masking blemishes in portrait photography, leaving the model's skin looking flawless.

The effect of Soft Focus is a complex phenomenon that depends on focusing distance, distance to background, relative aperture etc. It is not the same as an out-of-focus image, and cannot be achieved simply by defocusing a common lens.

The effect can be approximated in post-processing but it is not as trivial as just applying a blur filter over the image.

Lenses with similar focal length

■Interchangeable mount (5)
Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm F/1.4 [Unidapter]P7 - 51.00m⌀67 1965 ●
Soligor 85mm F/1.5 (s/n 3xxxxxx) [T]P7 - 50.90m⌀62 1966 ●
Soligor 85mm F/1.8 (s/n 3xxxxxx) [T]P? - ?0.90m⌀58 1966 ●
Spiratone Telephoto 85mm F/1.7 [YS]A? - ?0.90m⌀55 ●
Vivitar Tele 85mm F/1.8 [T]P6 - 41.50m⌀55 ●
■M42 mount (26)
Asahi Auto-Takumar 85mm F/1.8 [342, 43420]S5 - 40.85m⌀55 1960 ●
Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F/1.8 [43832]A6 - 60.85m⌀58 1972 ●
Asahi Super-Takumar 85mm F/1.9 [364, 43640]A5 - 40.85m⌀58 1962 ●
Asahi Takumar 83mm F/1.9 [322]P7 - 41.10m⌀49 1957 ●
Asahi Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 85mm F/1.9 [43461]A5 - 40.85m⌀58 1971 ●
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
Enna Munchen Ennalyt 95mm F/2.8M3 - 31.00m⌀52 ●
Enna Munchen Ennalyt 85mm F/1.5M6 - 51.00m⌀62 ●
Enna Munchen Lithagon SII 85mm F/1.5 C
akaEnna Munchen Ennalyt 85mm F/1.5 C
akaEnna Munchen Ennaston 85mm F/1.5 C		P6 - 51.20m⌀58 1956 ●
Enna Munchen Tele-Ennalyt 90mm F/2.8M4 - 40.70m⌀52 ●
Mamiya/Sekor SX Auto 85mm F/1.7A6 - 40.90m⌀58 ●
Mamiya/Sekor SX Auto 85mm F/2.8A4 - 40.85m⌀52 1974 ●
Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Primoplan 75mm F/1.9 VP5 - 41.00mS.VII 1952 ●
Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm F/1.4P7 - 51.00m⌀67 ●
Helios-40-2 85mm F/1.5
akaГЕЛИОС-40-2 85mm F/1.5		P6 - 40.80m⌀67 1969 ●
Jupiter-9 85mm F/2 [MC]
akaЮПИТЕР-9 85mm F/2 [МС]		P7 - 30.80m⌀49 ●
Helios-40-2 85mm F/1.5P6 - 40.80m⌀67 2012 ●
Steinheil Munchen Culminar 85mm F/2.8 VLM4 - 31.00m⌀40.5 ●
TTArtisan 75mm F/1.5M6 - 40.75m⌀58 2024 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar [HFT] 85mm F/2.8
akaOpton Oberkochen So HFT 85mm F/2.8
akaRollei-HFT Sonnar 85mm F/2.8
akaVoigtlander Color-Dynarex 85mm F/2.8		A4 - 41.00mE49 1970 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Pancolar 75mm F/1.4A7 - 70.65m 1966 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biotar 75mm F/1.5 [T] Type 3P6 - 40.80mE58 1953 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Pancolar 80mm F/1.8 auto / electric MCA6 - 50.83mE58 1977 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biometar 80mm F/2.8 [T] Type 1P5 - 40.80mE49 ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 80mm F/2.8 TP4 - 31.00mS.VII ●
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Biotar 75mm F/1.5 [T] Type 2M6 - 41.00mE55 1949 ●
■Canon FD mount (6)
Canon FD 85mm F/1.2 S.S.C. AsphericalA8 - 61.00m⌀72 1976 ●
Canon FD 85mm F/1.8 S.S.C.A6 - 40.90m⌀55 1974 ●
Canon FDn 85mm F/1.2LA8 - 60.90m⌀72 1980 ●
Canon FDn 85mm F/1.8A6 - 40.85m⌀52 1979 ●
Canon FDn 85mm F/2.8 Soft FocusA6 - 40.80m⌀58 1983 ●
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
■Contax/Yashica mount (6)
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
Kinoshita Kistar 85mm F/1.4M6 - 50.80m⌀67 2017 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.2 "CONTAX 60 Years" [MM]A8 - 71.00mE77 1992 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 [AE, MM]A6 - 51.00mE67 1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 85mm F/2.8 [AE, MM]A5 - 41.00mE55 1974 ●
Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F/1.2 "CONTAX 50 Years" [AE] (1000 units)A8 - 71.00mE77 1982 ●
■Minolta SR mount (9)
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 85mm F/1.7A6 - 51.00m⌀55 1970 ●
Minolta MD Rokkor 85mm F/2A6 - 50.85m⌀49 1979 ●
Minolta MD Varisoft Rokkor 85mm F/2.8A6 - 50.80m⌀55 1978 ●
Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 85mm F/1.7 Gen. XA6 - 51.00m⌀55 1973 ●
Minolta MD Rokkor 85mm F/1.7A6 - 51.00m⌀55 1978 ●
Minolta MD 85mm F/2A6 - 50.85m⌀49 1981 ●
Minolta MD Varisoft 85mm F/2.8A6 - 50.80m⌀55 1984 ●
Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm F/1.4P7 - 51.00m⌀67 ●
■Nikon F mount (19)
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
Cosina Voigtlander APO-Skopar 90mm F/2.8 SL II SA7 - 70.90m⌀52 2021 ●
KamLan 85mm F/1.4M8 - 61.00m⌀67 2018 ●
Nikon AI-S Nikkor 85mm F/2A5 - 50.85m⌀52 1981 ●
Nikon AI-S Nikkor 85mm F/1.4A7 - 50.85m⌀72 1981 ●
Nippon Kogaku / Nikon Nikkor-H[·C] Auto 85mm F/1.8A6 - 41.00m⌀52 1964 ●
Nikon Nikkor 85mm F/1.8A6 - 40.85m⌀52 1975 ●
Nikon AI Nikkor 85mm F/2A5 - 50.85m⌀52 1977 ●
Sankyo Kohki Komura 85mm F/1.4P7 - 51.00m⌀67 ●
Helios-40-2 85mm F/1.5P6 - 40.80m⌀67 2012 ●
Zenitar 85mm F/1.4 MCM7 - 50.85m⌀72 2015 ●
Kelda 85mm F/1.8
akaJintu 85mm F/1.8
akaLightdow 85mm F/1.8
akaNeewer 85mm F/1.8		M6 - 60.85m⌀55 ●
Dulens 85mm F/2 APO DMCM7 - 60.90m⌀55 2020 ●
Carl Zeiss Classic Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 ZE / ZF / ZF.2 / ZKA6 - 51.00mE72 2006 ●
ZEISS Otus Apo Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 ZE / ZF.2A11 - 90.80mE86 2014 ●
ZEISS Milvus Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 ZE / ZF.2A11 - 90.80mE77 2015 ●
Zhongyi Mitakon Creator 85mm F/2 SLRM6 - 60.85m⌀55 2013 ●
Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 85mm F/1.2 SLRM9 - 61.00m⌀77 2015 ●
Zhongyi Mitakon 85mm F/2 MC SLR
akaSyzygx 85mm F/2 MC		M6 - 60.85m⌀52 2010 ●
■Olympus OM mount (3)
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
Olympus OM F.Zuiko Auto-T 85mm F/2 [MC]A6 - 40.85m⌀49 1972 ●
Olympus OM Zuiko Auto-T 85mm F/2 [MC]A5 - 40.85m⌀49 1979 ●
■Pentax K mount (9)
Cosina Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75mm F/2.5 SLA6 - 50.70m⌀49 2001 ●
smc Pentax-A* 85mm F/1.4A7 - 60.85m⌀67 1984 ●
smc Pentax-M 85mm F/2A5 - 40.85m⌀49 1977 ●
smc Pentax 85mm F/1.8A6 - 60.85m⌀52 1975 ●
smc Pentax 85mm F/2.2 SoftM2 - 10.57m⌀49 1985 ●
Carl Zeiss Classic Planar T* 85mm F/1.4 ZE / ZF / ZF.2 / ZKA6 - 51.00mE72 2006 ●
Zhongyi Mitakon Creator 85mm F/2 SLRM6 - 60.85m⌀55 2013 ●
Zhongyi Mitakon Speedmaster 85mm F/1.2 SLRM9 - 61.00m⌀77 2015 ●
Zhongyi Mitakon 85mm F/2 MC SLR
akaSyzygx 85mm F/2 MC		M6 - 60.85m⌀52 2010 ●
■Konica AR mount (2)
Konica Hexanon AR 85mm F/1.8 Type 2A6 - 51.00m⌀55 1967 ●
Konica Hexanon 85mm F/1.8 Type 1A6 - 51.00m⌀58 1965 ●
■Praktica B mount (1)
Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Prakticar 80mm F/1.8 MC (4740 units)A6 - 50.65mE52 1979 ●

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