[eddie1960]

True. The Sigma 70/2.8 bests both Pentax lenses. It also focuses closer and costs less.

and makes a mediocre portrait lens but an excellent macro. like the DA 70 i'm not a massive fan of sigma's colour rendition (I have a couple of sigmas) I can adjust for that in post of course but if i can avoid post it's nice

[jsherman999]

This is true if your subject never wanders from the center of the frame. This is not the case in most of my images.

Yes, if you're shooting in those situations, certain types of street shooting for example where you need the f/2.8 lens speed but still would like it to be evenly sharp across the frame, the 70 would be a better choice perhaps.

True. The Sigma 70/2.8 bests both Pentax lenses. It also focuses closer and costs less.

The Sigma 70 is an exceptional lens. Extremely sharp, pretty nice bokeh. A lot larger, though, and can be slow to focus if it needs to hunt for contrast.

But I loved my copy, and optically it is equal or better in several (but not all) ways.

[builttospill]

I would definitely shade the FA 77 box green on the specs page for having an aperture ring. I'm guessing I'm not alone in this thinking.

[jsherman999]

(By the way, Adam, thanks for this comparison/review!)

.

[civiletti]

I would definitely shade the FA 77 box green on the specs page for having an aperture ring. I'm guessing I'm not alone in this thinking.

Agreed. At least the DA70, unlike the DA40, has a depth of field scale.

[mikeSF]

I would definitely shade the FA 77 box green on the specs page for having an aperture ring. I'm guessing I'm not alone in this thinking.

+1, add an extension tube to the FA77 and you have a very nice macro lens with its own aperture ring. I actually did this with my DA70 but had to rig a rubber band to hold the aperture lever more or less in place(not good).

[hoanpham]

Thanks for the comparison.
I just love the bokeh of 77 better.
I dont use f1.8 with this lens, only daylight.
The aperture ring is a must. I use this lens on film, digital, and sony nex with tilt.

[Nuff]

I did not find my copy of 77mm soft. It's quiet sharp wide open with edges. The only issues I had with my copy was calibrating focus spot on, it took ages to do it. And also the focusing mechanism got jammed and I had to send in my lens for repairs. I've a MIV copy if it makes any difference, I've heard of few other people with jammed 77mm lenses as well.

I will add few of my photos, click on the photos for larger files which can be a bit easier to pixelpeep.

Quiet rare busy background at f2.8:


And smooth background at the same aperture.


Shot into the sun at f8, with a bit of lens flare (I've to redo the PP on this one, since I'm not 100% happy with it):

[twitch]

I never liked my FA77 much when I first got it, far preferring my DA70. However a couple of events has made me reassess this.

First my FA77 took on a new lease of life since I got a MZ-S film camera. On film it is just superb, focal length is perfect for portraits and for whatever reason my MZ-S nails focus more consistently than my K-5 with it.

Second I got an aftermarket focus screen for my K-5. I could immediately tell my previous AF focus calibration was off for this lens. Now I’ve dialled AF in a bit better, but more importantly, now I can see when AF misses and correct for it. Shooting wide open no longer presents a huge challenge in nailing focus like it use to. Wide open, correctly focused, my FA77 is astonishingly sharp in the centre (as is the FA31).

Add the third factor; the recent DA70 price increase, and I think the FA77 is a now a no brainer over the DA70.

[jsherman999]

Second I got an aftermarket focus screen for my K-5. I could immediately tell my previous AF focus calibration was off for this lens. Now I’ve dialled AF in a bit better, but more importantly, now I can see when AF misses and correct for it. Shooting wide open no longer presents a huge challenge in nailing focus like it use to. Wide open, correctly focused, my FA77 is astonishingly sharp in the centre (as is the FA31).

.

I wonder how many bad lens reps are attributable to something like that. Good to hear you got that taken care of, the lens is superb when working well with the camera!

Here's mine wide-open:


Crop:

[TOUGEFC]

odd that they both got a '10'

It would have caused to much of a stir in the forum if the FA77 was given its true score

[chesebert]

It would have caused to much of a stir in the forum if the FA77 was given its true score

And that score would be??

[TOUGEFC]

And that score would be??

A score higher than the DA70

[mecrox]

The only answer is to buy the one you prefer and can afford. Either will get you a super lens. My 70mm is more than sharp enough at all apertures and usually delivers a very fine bokeh (but not always and in that case it is up to me to alter my position or settings). Its downside is a fairly long minimum focus distance. Where I live the choice might be a little easier since the 77mm is 50 per cent more costly than the 70mm and is slated to rise even higher. FWIW I've never been convinced by the rep heaped on the FA Limiteds - good yes, but really that good and at those prices, I'm not sure at all - and were I doing this over again I'd also look at the Sigma 85mm.

[timh]

I would definitely shade the FA 77 box green on the specs page for having an aperture ring. I'm guessing I'm not alone in this thinking.

I agree with this too.