I have access to it actually.
Different beasts.
FA*85 is designed more as a portrait lens.
Better close focus rendition.
Most ppl complain that its not as sharp as the A*85 at infinity, which is one of the reasons why the A*85 ends up being pass on in hearsay as being better.
But in actual use, its certainly sharp at infinity for those sort of f8 landscape type applications (the A*85 is just a bit sharper).
A bit pointless imo, that firstly this lens was not designed to be as strong in this usage type (its better for portraits).
Secondly, such a fast lens is often for the shallow DOF at close to portrait distances, at largish apertures.
Usually for all rounder 85mm, like on a tour, I'd rather the portability of a 85mm f1.8;1.9;2 than a big and specialized 85mm f1.4 of any type/brand.
The A*85 is certainly a great lens though (as compared by Lenstip)
Just different thing (sharper, but MF, better as a generalist 85mm than a portrait 85mm, though no slouch at it of course)
so far i used to da15 da35ltd and da70.
