FA* 85mm f/1.4 vs. Limited 77mm f/1.8

Manwe · 02-06-2007, 09:10 PM

trang78: You don't happen to have 100% crops of the 85 and 77 lying around, do you?
*Yes I am a pixel-peeper*

Last edited by Manwe; 02-06-2007 at 09:19 PM.

fevbusch · 02-07-2007, 03:36 PM

I can tell you one thing. I saw photos from the 77mm lens in the photo gallery of one of the big contributors to this forum. I have never used an 85 or a 77 but I e-mailed the man and told him I thought the results of that 77 lens are just about the best photos I have seen anywhere. Some day when I can scrape the money together I'm definitely getting the 77MM, because it seems like a great, great lens. Regards, Freddy

Jonson PL · 02-08-2007, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by Manwe

I am in *need* of a moderate telephoto. Not saying that I will buy one now, but I need something to dream about.

I read you loud and clear

Most of my LBA is in the thought and theory, it’s fun but also cheaper.

The A* 85mm f/1.4 seems to be getting excellent user feedback. Remember the link by Jim King, to a place that have them home :

KevinCameras

In time, I’m thinking about getting both the 77 lmt. and the FA* 85, though the last one will require more patience. I manage to convince myself that I can use them for different purposes.

For now I’ll settle for the 100 macro.

Thanks to Roentarre for the background theory behind the 77 and 85.
What does GAS mean ?

Manwe if you’re still looking for diagrams, remember

Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Equipment Page

In => Technical Specifications
Under each lens, the Optical Formula exits
(like : http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/_optics/77f1.8.jpg )

Great forum, with very functional user interface.

fwcetus · 02-11-2007, 06:35 PM

Originally posted by roentarre

Most of my information came from Jonas, Godfrey and Fred. If you searched their threads in DPR, you would get plenty of them.

I can summarise a few things for you to the best of what I knew so far.

Fa 77 ltd shares similar optical design to A* 85 f1.4 (From DPR Fred's post)

Thank you for the credit.

**tranq78** · 02-11-2007, 07:29 PM

Originally posted by fwcetus

Thank you for the credit.

Fred, was it you that discovered that the FA*85 starts its DOF slightly in front? I couldn't remember where I read that on the 'net.

fwcetus · 02-11-2007, 07:40 PM

Originally posted by tranq78

Fred, was it you that discovered that the FA*85 starts its DOF slightly in front? I couldn't remember where I read that on the 'net.

No, not I.

Jonson PL · 02-20-2007, 07:50 AM

Hi Manwe,

I think you should go for the A* 85mm f/1.4. It is more discrete than the FA* 85, got a bit more reach than the 77, and can be combined with faster shutter times.

The A* 85 is easier to find than the FA* 85, and cheaper to get used.
For the K10, you can buy a magnifier viewfinder as optional accessory.

Here is Freds thread on the two 85, and the 77 :
Two Brothers and a Cousin - the A* 85/1.4, FA 77, and FA* 85/1.4: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Here is a another place that have the A* 85 home :

ABRO instrumentenhandel Zaandam
(courtesy Janneman, click on Kleinbeeld)

davek · 02-20-2007, 12:26 PM

Just wondering how the new DA70 limited compares with the 85/1.4 & 77/1.8?

I'm a dreamer too. Likelyhood of getting any of these in the not-too-distant future is extremely low. When/if I am able to get one, I expect the only thing available will be the DA70 limited.

FotoPete · 02-20-2007, 01:07 PM

HAha go on ebay and buy a Jupiter-9 85mm f2.0 from Russia. I heard great reviews about this lens! It can be had easily for under $100. Based on a zeiss design and gorgeous for portraits!

FotoPete · 02-20-2007, 01:17 PM

Hey check out this guy's website. The Retro Way : My Other Photography

(Canon I know) but He's done ALOT of indepth real world testing of alot of foriegn lenses. Scroll down to the M42 stuff. HE's bought and tested like all the Russian Zeiss derivatives! Haha makes you think twice about glancing over those cheap industars eh?

:P

RiceHigh · 02-21-2007, 01:02 AM

All the 85mm lenses from Pentax are killer glass, you can't be wrong to go with any of them. Of course, I like the FA*85 lens most and I would say it is a nearly perfect lens in every aspect, optically and for its built.

The 77mm Ltd is good for general purpose shooting, it's lighter and a good lens. But for seruous portrait shooting, I would still recommend the 85/1.4.

Forget about DA Limited primes, which I have not yet seen a lens which I would recommend anyone to acquire.

blende8 · 02-21-2007, 01:35 AM

Originally posted by RiceHigh

Forget about DA Limited primes, which I have not yet seen a lens which I would recommend anyone to acquire.

I have seen at least two:

DA 21/3.2
DA 70/2.4

Both top lenses. A joy to work with!
For example the autocus works much better in the DA 70 than in the FA 77.

RiceHigh · 02-21-2007, 03:09 AM

Originally posted by blende8

I have seen at least two:

DA 21/3.2
DA 70/2.4

Both top lenses. A joy to work with!
For example the autocus works much better in the DA 70 than in the FA 77.

As for the AF accuracy, this user find that his DA 21 back focusing whilst the FA 77 is accurate:-

K10D AF adjustment: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

For details of what these people are talking about in the thread and my subsequent explanations to the possible reasons on what people are wondering, see:-

RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: AF Accuracy's Dependency on Lenses and Yellow Light

As for the DA 70 Vs FA 77, the DA 70 has rougher bokeh, cool tone and CA which the original Limiteds never had.

FotoPete · 02-21-2007, 09:13 AM

Am I the only one that uses Manual Focus in here? (Yes I have AF lenses)

Jonas B · 02-21-2007, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by RiceHigh

-snip-
As for the DA 70 Vs FA 77, the DA 70 has rougher bokeh, cool tone and CA which the original Limiteds never had.

I agree abouth the bokeh (which of course never were perfect with the FA77 either) being marginally better for the FA77 compared to the DA70. Now bokeh is subjective but I think most agree about this when looking very close to pictures. In real life shooting the difference is small. The cool tone is a matter of taste and PP, I can't see that as a problem with either lens.

No CA with the original limiteds? Are you kidding?

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02-06-2007, 09:10 PM	#16
Manwe New Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 11 Original Poster	trang78: You don't happen to have 100% crops of the 85 and 77 lying around, do you? Yes I am a pixel-peeper Last edited by Manwe; 02-06-2007 at 09:19 PM.

02-07-2007, 03:36 PM	#17
fevbusch Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,064	I can tell you one thing. I saw photos from the 77mm lens in the photo gallery of one of the big contributors to this forum. I have never used an 85 or a 77 but I e-mailed the man and told him I thought the results of that 77 lens are just about the best photos I have seen anywhere. Some day when I can scrape the money together I'm definitely getting the 77MM, because it seems like a great, great lens. Regards, Freddy

02-08-2007, 03:06 PM	#18
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Originally posted by Manwe I am in need of a moderate telephoto. Not saying that I will buy one now, but I need something to dream about. I read you loud and clear Most of my LBA is in the thought and theory, it’s fun but also cheaper. The A* 85mm f/1.4 seems to be getting excellent user feedback. Remember the link by Jim King, to a place that have them home : KevinCameras In time, I’m thinking about getting both the 77 lmt. and the FA* 85, though the last one will require more patience. I manage to convince myself that I can use them for different purposes. For now I’ll settle for the 100 macro. Thanks to Roentarre for the background theory behind the 77 and 85. What does GAS mean ? Manwe if you’re still looking for diagrams, remember Bojidar Dimitrov's Pentax K-Mount Equipment Page In => Technical Specifications Under each lens, the Optical Formula exits (like : http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/_optics/77f1.8.jpg ) Great forum, with very functional user interface.

02-11-2007, 06:35 PM	#19
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by roentarre Most of my information came from Jonas, Godfrey and Fred. If you searched their threads in DPR, you would get plenty of them. I can summarise a few things for you to the best of what I knew so far. Fa 77 ltd shares similar optical design to A* 85 f1.4 (From DPR Fred's post) Thank you for the credit.

02-11-2007, 07:29 PM	#20
tranq78 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,006	Originally posted by fwcetus Thank you for the credit. Fred, was it you that discovered that the FA*85 starts its DOF slightly in front? I couldn't remember where I read that on the 'net.

02-11-2007, 07:40 PM	#21
fwcetus Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New England Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,286	Originally posted by tranq78 Fred, was it you that discovered that the FA*85 starts its DOF slightly in front? I couldn't remember where I read that on the 'net. No, not I.

02-20-2007, 07:50 AM	#22
Jonson PL Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,842	Hi Manwe, I think you should go for the A* 85mm f/1.4. It is more discrete than the FA* 85, got a bit more reach than the 77, and can be combined with faster shutter times. The A* 85 is easier to find than the FA* 85, and cheaper to get used. For the K10, you can buy a magnifier viewfinder as optional accessory. Here is Freds thread on the two 85, and the 77 : Two Brothers and a Cousin - the A* 85/1.4, FA 77, and FA* 85/1.4: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Here is a another place that have the A* 85 home : ABRO instrumentenhandel Zaandam (courtesy Janneman, click on Kleinbeeld)

02-20-2007, 12:26 PM	#23
davek Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Elmira, On, Canada Posts: 461	Just wondering how the new DA70 limited compares with the 85/1.4 & 77/1.8? I'm a dreamer too. Likelyhood of getting any of these in the not-too-distant future is extremely low. When/if I am able to get one, I expect the only thing available will be the DA70 limited.

02-20-2007, 01:07 PM	#24
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	HAha go on ebay and buy a Jupiter-9 85mm f2.0 from Russia. I heard great reviews about this lens! It can be had easily for under $100. Based on a zeiss design and gorgeous for portraits!

02-20-2007, 01:17 PM	#25
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Hey check out this guy's website. The Retro Way : My Other Photography (Canon I know) but He's done ALOT of indepth real world testing of alot of foriegn lenses. Scroll down to the M42 stuff. HE's bought and tested like all the Russian Zeiss derivatives! Haha makes you think twice about glancing over those cheap industars eh? :P

02-21-2007, 01:02 AM	#26
RiceHigh Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,934	All the 85mm lenses from Pentax are killer glass, you can't be wrong to go with any of them. Of course, I like the FA*85 lens most and I would say it is a nearly perfect lens in every aspect, optically and for its built. The 77mm Ltd is good for general purpose shooting, it's lighter and a good lens. But for seruous portrait shooting, I would still recommend the 85/1.4. Forget about DA Limited primes, which I have not yet seen a lens which I would recommend anyone to acquire.

02-21-2007, 01:35 AM	#27
blende8 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Bremen, Germany Photos: Albums Posts: 1,521	Originally posted by RiceHigh Forget about DA Limited primes, which I have not yet seen a lens which I would recommend anyone to acquire. I have seen at least two: DA 21/3.2 DA 70/2.4 Both top lenses. A joy to work with! For example the autocus works much better in the DA 70 than in the FA 77.

02-21-2007, 03:09 AM	#28
RiceHigh Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 1,934	Originally posted by blende8 I have seen at least two: DA 21/3.2 DA 70/2.4 Both top lenses. A joy to work with! For example the autocus works much better in the DA 70 than in the FA 77. As for the AF accuracy, this user find that his DA 21 back focusing whilst the FA 77 is accurate:- K10D AF adjustment: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review For details of what these people are talking about in the thread and my subsequent explanations to the possible reasons on what people are wondering, see:- RiceHigh's Pentax Blog: AF Accuracy's Dependency on Lenses and Yellow Light As for the DA 70 Vs FA 77, the DA 70 has rougher bokeh, cool tone and CA which the original Limiteds never had.

02-21-2007, 09:13 AM	#29
FotoPete Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,774	Am I the only one that uses Manual Focus in here? (Yes I have AF lenses)

02-21-2007, 11:03 AM	#30
Jonas B Inactive Account Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Göteborg, Sweden Posts: 810	Originally posted by RiceHigh -snip- As for the DA 70 Vs FA 77, the DA 70 has rougher bokeh, cool tone and CA which the original Limiteds never had. I agree abouth the bokeh (which of course never were perfect with the FA77 either) being marginally better for the FA77 compared to the DA70. Now bokeh is subjective but I think most agree about this when looking very close to pictures. In real life shooting the difference is small. The cool tone is a matter of taste and PP, I can't see that as a problem with either lens. No CA with the original limiteds? Are you kidding?