Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

Adam · 10-28-2014, 03:54 AM

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves on; the loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results.

After this match, we'll be able to crown the best Pentax short telephoto lens. The contenders are the FA 77mm F1.8 Limited and the FA* 85mm F1.4.

Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account.
Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours.

Lens Info:

Adam
PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide | Site Help | My Photography)

PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

EarlVonTapia · 10-28-2014, 04:03 AM - **1 Like**

The FA 77 gets my vote to win the whole tournament.

garywakeling · 10-28-2014, 04:36 AM

I have both of these lenses and the pop in each photo from the 85mm is amazing, pixie dust on every photo, great bokeh as well as the choice of narrow depth of field makes this lens a winner

Sandy Hancock · 10-28-2014, 04:51 AM

It was always going to come down to this. I'm going with the FA77 for compactness, sheer beauty and the utter tactile joy of handling it.
To hell with the 1% either way in image quality!

**Rondec** · 10-28-2014, 07:10 AM

I chose the FA 77. For portraiture and sports, the FA 85 beats the FA 77, but as a general all purpose lens, I prefer the FA 77 (never mind build and size).

Drake Avenue · 10-28-2014, 07:11 AM

The FA* 85mm has no peer.

**crewl1** · 10-28-2014, 07:13 AM - **1 Like**

The 85 is more bigger so it must be gooder.

tscip22 · 10-28-2014, 08:53 AM

This is an interesting pairing, as are many of the previous ones. I feel that many of us cannot honestly say we have tested the FA 85. I recently purchased the 77, it is a wonderful lens, the best I have. Although the results will be interesting, eventually I would like to see competition on currently available lenses, rather than out of production lenses that have limited ownership.

Nonetheless, I love the knockouts.

garywakeling · 10-28-2014, 12:53 PM

A big thankyou to Adam for showing the better photo of the 85 with it's hood.......... out of production but still available and loved

**dadipentak** · 10-28-2014, 01:56 PM

I shouldn't vote because I've only heard that the 85 is good but I'm so in love with the 77, I just have to.

DSims · 10-28-2014, 03:40 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by tscip22

This is an interesting pairing, as are many of the previous ones. I feel that many of us cannot honestly say we have tested the FA 85. I recently purchased the 77, it is a wonderful lens, the best I have. Although the results will be interesting, eventually I would like to see competition on currently available lenses, rather than out of production lenses that have limited ownership.

You can do a pretty good comparison by viewing photos taken with them, although this is a case where it really helps to get your hands on them.

I sold my FA77 to get the FA*85, and I've never regretted it. The thought of going back has never crossed my mind. If I give up this lens I've given up photography. The FA*85 is faster and more flexible - useful in many shooting situations. Often it's the only lens that will do the job. The larger size has never been a problem for me - it's never caused me to leave my most capable lens home. As Rondec hinted, its AF speed makes it my best sports photography lens too. The only advantage the FA77 holds is its smaller size.

This is my favorite lens.

**luftfluss** · 10-28-2014, 03:46 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by crewl1

The 85 is more bigger so it must be gooder.

The L glass is this way -------------->

**robbiec** · 10-28-2014, 04:20 PM - **1 Like**

77 is a Limited, 85 is only a *

77 for portraiture, skin tones, field of view, sharpness and sheer gorgeousness. Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most beautiful lens of them all? It is and always will be the jewel in Pentax's line-up, FA77 f/1.8 Limited

**gofour3** · 10-28-2014, 07:24 PM - **1 Like**

The Fa77 gets my vote.

The FA*85 & hood could be one of the ugliest looking lenses that Pentax ever make.

It kind of looks like a lamp my mom had in the 1970’s!

Phil.

drypenn · 10-28-2014, 07:30 PM

I hope that the 77 or thw 15 wins this tournament, so I can convince myself that I already have the best glasses and I should stop coveting the 31!

View Poll Results: Which lens should advance to the next round?
FA 77mm F1.8 Limited	107	73.29%
FA* 85mm F1.4	39	26.71%
Voters: 146. You may not vote on this poll

10-28-2014, 03:54 AM	#1
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	*Lens Tournament: FA 77mm Limited vs FA 85mm (Best Short Tele Lens)** Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves on; the loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results. After this match, we'll be able to crown the best Pentax short telephoto lens. The contenders are the FA 77mm F1.8 Limited and the FA* 85mm F1.4. Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account. Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours. Lens Info: SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database SMC Pentax-FA* 85mm F1.4 [IF] Reviews - FA Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

10-28-2014, 03:40 PM - 1 Like	#11
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Originally posted by tscip22 This is an interesting pairing, as are many of the previous ones. I feel that many of us cannot honestly say we have tested the FA 85. I recently purchased the 77, it is a wonderful lens, the best I have. Although the results will be interesting, eventually I would like to see competition on currently available lenses, rather than out of production lenses that have limited ownership. You can do a pretty good comparison by viewing photos taken with them, although this is a case where it really helps to get your hands on them. I sold my FA77 to get the FA85, and I've never regretted it. The thought of going back has never crossed my mind. If I give up this lens I've given up photography. The FA85 is faster and more flexible - useful in many shooting situations. Often it's the only lens that will do the job. The larger size has never been a problem for me - it's never caused me to leave my most capable lens home. As Rondec hinted, its AF speed makes it my best sports photography lens too. The only advantage the FA77 holds is its smaller size. This is my favorite lens. Last edited by DSims; 10-28-2014 at 03:49 PM.

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10-28-2014, 04:03 AM - 1 Like	#2
EarlVonTapia Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,207	The FA 77 gets my vote to win the whole tournament.

10-28-2014, 04:36 AM	#3
garywakeling Moderator Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,774	I have both of these lenses and the pop in each photo from the 85mm is amazing, pixie dust on every photo, great bokeh as well as the choice of narrow depth of field makes this lens a winner

10-28-2014, 04:51 AM	#4
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	It was always going to come down to this. I'm going with the FA77 for compactness, sheer beauty and the utter tactile joy of handling it. To hell with the 1% either way in image quality!

10-28-2014, 07:10 AM	#5
Rondec Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Gladys, Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 27,666	I chose the FA 77. For portraiture and sports, the FA 85 beats the FA 77, but as a general all purpose lens, I prefer the FA 77 (never mind build and size).

10-28-2014, 07:11 AM	#6
Drake Avenue Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 140	The FA* 85mm has no peer.

10-28-2014, 07:13 AM - 1 Like	#7
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	The 85 is more bigger so it must be gooder.

10-28-2014, 08:53 AM	#8
tscip22 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 157	This is an interesting pairing, as are many of the previous ones. I feel that many of us cannot honestly say we have tested the FA 85. I recently purchased the 77, it is a wonderful lens, the best I have. Although the results will be interesting, eventually I would like to see competition on currently available lenses, rather than out of production lenses that have limited ownership. Nonetheless, I love the knockouts.

10-28-2014, 12:53 PM	#9
garywakeling Moderator Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,774	A big thankyou to Adam for showing the better photo of the 85 with it's hood.......... out of production but still available and loved

10-28-2014, 01:56 PM	#10
dadipentak Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,590	I shouldn't vote because I've only heard that the 85 is good but I'm so in love with the 77, I just have to.

10-28-2014, 03:46 PM - 1 Like	#12
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,628	Originally posted by crewl1 The 85 is more bigger so it must be gooder. The L glass is this way -------------->

10-28-2014, 04:20 PM - 1 Like	#13
robbiec Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cork Photos: Albums Posts: 1,882	77 is a Limited, 85 is only a * 77 for portraiture, skin tones, field of view, sharpness and sheer gorgeousness. Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the most beautiful lens of them all? It is and always will be the jewel in Pentax's line-up, FA77 f/1.8 Limited

10-28-2014, 07:24 PM - 1 Like	#14
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,093	The Fa77 gets my vote. The FA*85 & hood could be one of the ugliest looking lenses that Pentax ever make. It kind of looks like a lamp my mom had in the 1970’s! Phil.

10-28-2014, 07:30 PM	#15
drypenn Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 963	I hope that the 77 or thw 15 wins this tournament, so I can convince myself that I already have the best glasses and I should stop coveting the 31!

Lens Tournament: FA 77mm Limited vs FA* 85mm (Best Short Tele Lens)

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!