[wizofoz]

I think that there's no way out... after reading all replies in this thread... it's clear you need DA55, DA70, FA77 and FA85. And additionally DA 50-135 just for cases when zoom versatility might be needed. And a new camera bag: let's call it portrait bag :-)

+1 good advice!

[LeRolls]

I own both the 70 and the 77. Definitely prefer the 77. The 70 is a fine lens but I haven't touched it since snagging a great MIJ copy of the 77 from a fellow forum member.

Here are a few samples from the 77.

[zzeitg]

+1 good advice!

LBA advice, I know.


But meant quite seriously, though. If you think about these 4 primes, they can't be considered as redundant. Each one is different and each can play a little different role.
All what you need is enough space in your cabinet and bottomless wallet .

[drypenn]

LBA advice, I know.


But meant quite seriously, though. If you think about these 4 primes, they can't be considered as redundant. Each one is different and each can play a little different role.
All what you need is enough space in your cabinet and bottomless wallet .

Quite true.

But, hey, if one really wants the ultimate clinical sharpness and long reach in portrait, the DFA 100mm WR for the win. (And it also moonlights as a macro lens!)

PS: Don't look at Rondec's shots of 55. I was $636 poorer after I did.

[Rondec]

Quite true.

But, hey, if one really wants the ultimate clinical sharpness and long reach in portrait, the DFA 100mm WR for the win. (And it also moonlights as a macro lens!)

PS: Don't look at Rondec's shots of 55. I was $636 poorer after I did.

Sorry about that.

The DA *55 doesn't seem to get as much love as the FA limiteds, but it feels to me like the perfect focal length to sit between the FA 31 and FA 77.

[drypenn]

Sorry about that.

The DA *55 doesn't seem to get as much love as the FA limiteds, but it feels to me like the perfect focal length to sit between the FA 31 and FA 77.

Hahahaha!

Pentax' glasses are my favorite mistakes.

[normhead]

Chris is right about lengths and tradition. He is also on the mark about how much room you have to work with - 55 means you'll be able to be closer to your subject and 77 means a good bit further away. The big advantage to 70-105mm lenses is that the compress and flatten the subject while allowing greater isolation from the background than shorter lenses. Those are good things for portraits IMHO. I find 50mm, even on APS-C, to be too short for portraiture but others use them.

+1^- my favourite portrait lens on APS-c is my Sigma 70. I'd go 77 before I'd go 55. My portrait lens also needed to do macro, so I ended up with the Sigma 70 macro, but for portraits, I'd want the 55 for couples and the 77 for singles. For me it's more about reducing the angle of the Field of View compressing the background and reducing the effect of big noses etc. I want to be at the limits of comfort in terms of how far away I am from the subject. I don't want to be yelling, or in the next room. Those are my limits. Unless we're talking environmental portraits, that has always been what portrait artists have striven to achieve.

I'd buy the 77 first, and the 55 1.4 when I got around to it, as long as I had something in the 50mm range to use, until I got what i wanted.

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Last edited by normhead; 01-29-2015 at 09:45 AM.

[jeverettfine]

Thank you all.
I was just about to pull the trigger on the 77 when Adorama suggested I put the DA* 55 in my cart.
Oy to the vey.
Now, my wallet is screaming buy the 55 but my heart is saying WAIT, ask the forum!

So, now I am asking for you guys to help me choose between the 77 & the 55.
I cannot afford both~

---------- Post added 01-28-15 at 02:37 PM ----------



That would be an absolute joy lol, if only my wallet would agree....
Now, I am fixated on the DA* 55 because that flare with the 77 is
not happy making.................WWAD?

I suspect you would be hard pressed to find a better portrait lens than the 55. I tried one out briefly and found it has Bokeh to die for. I just ordered a DA 70 and can't wait to use it. The 77 is just a bit too pricey, but I am keeping my eye out for an exceptional deal. Two lenses I currently use on my K-3 for portraits (people and flowers) are my old SMC-A 50 1.4 and 50 2.8 macro. Again, looking forward to getting the 70.

[CeciProAm]

I think that there's no way out... after reading all replies in this thread... it's clear you need DA55, DA70, FA77 and FA85. And additionally DA 50-135 just for cases when zoom versatility might be needed. And a new camera bag: let's call it portrait bag :-)

You nailed it, lol.
I am now more confused than ever~
but, the feedback was glorious & I
will one day have all 4!

[normhead]

You nailed it, lol.
I am now more confused than ever~
but, the feedback was glorious & I
will one day have all 4!

That's the trouble with these threads.... they never talk you out of wanting any lens, they just make you want them all.

It would seem there are compelling reasons, for wanting every lens ever made.

[drypenn]

It would seem there are compelling reasons, for wanting every lens ever made.

There isn't?

[Docrwm]

There isn't?

Well, some of those with fungus are probably unuseable.......

[normhead]

There isn't?

Some poor rookie comes on here asking for advice, because he's having trouble isolating the lens he should buy next and we collectively recommend 5 to 10 other lenses he should consider, half of them that he never even knew existed and are only available on eBay auctions or in the market place..... you have to ask.... "How does that help?".

You want to know about a nice 70 mm lens? We'll teach you about 70mm lenses and in the end the consensus will be he should buy an 85 ƒ1.4 that is $400 over his budget.

Seriously, there must be a way to get this under control... some of the threads are comical....

We need a forum checklist where people can type in their criteria and it just spits out a lens... one lens, not 10, one. I think Adorama has something like that, we just need to steal it and adapt it for the forum. Only ours could have every Pentax (and third party) lens in the data base, not just what Adorama has for sale.

Or do what I do, just tell everyone to buy the 18-135. But really, all that does is buy you time to figure out what you really want.

[drypenn]

We need a forum checklist where people can type in their criteria and it just spits out a lens... one lens, not 10, one.

Where's the fun in that?

Or do what I do, just tell everyone to buy the 18-135...

My first Pentax lens is an 18-135, that came with a kit with my K30. Look at what I have now, and I'm still looking for an A*85. My biggest problem nowadays is choosing what lens to cram in my bag

[monochrome]

They're both wonderful lenses. You can't go wrong either way, so do what feels right to you and don't look back.

FWIW I got the 77.