Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
07-14-2015, 12:12 PM   #1
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 440
What are your thoughts on acquiring FA 31/43/77?

What are your thoughts on acquiring FA 31/43/77?

Given the FF is on its way.....

I guess one things for sure is any improved/new/competing lens would not have aperture ring, but there's likely to be more considerations to it than just that

07-14-2015, 12:19 PM - 2 Likes   #2
Veteran Member




Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Sydney
Photos: Albums
Posts: 844
Do it. They're all fantastic lenses.
07-14-2015, 12:27 PM   #3
Inactive Account




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Universe
Posts: 1,119
My thoughts: 77mm is too short on fullframe for a portrait lens, and the 43mm is according to some reviews not really a good lens (make what you want from that).
07-14-2015, 12:37 PM   #4
Veteran Member
JibbaJab's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Southern California
Posts: 362
Do it. They're fantastic lenses and a joy to use if you're a prime shooter. The Pentax lens roadmap shows only zooms in the near future.

07-14-2015, 12:50 PM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Stavri's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: at a Bean & Leaf
Photos: Albums
Posts: 1,832
The next new modern primes should make an appearance sometime in the 2016, till then there's plenty of choices on existing ones...
07-14-2015, 12:57 PM   #6
Pentaxian




Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,962
My thoughts are "what are you messing around waiting for?"

If your budget allows then go for it.

You can do a whole lot worse but not a lot better. Full frame or not the lenses are great.
07-14-2015, 12:58 PM   #7
Pentaxian
bassek's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 706
QuoteOriginally posted by starbase218 Quote
My thoughts: 77mm is too short on fullframe for a portrait lens, and the 43mm is according to some reviews not really a good lens (make what you want from that).
The 43 is good enough for me...

Seb

07-14-2015, 01:03 PM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 440
Original Poster
Currently 3 conflicting thoughts in my head:

20-40mm solves my 20-30mm gap and is WR - would like some WR below 50, dont have any atm - think I've ruled out the 21

FA 77 just seen a good deal, though I've already got 31, 50-135,55,100... 31 is outstanding though, so 77 seems a clear LBA option, probably need to sell some stuff

K-3II built in astrotracer=awesome... it looks like a great landscape and night camera
07-14-2015, 01:21 PM   #9
Veteran Member
cali92rs's Avatar

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 3,354
QuoteOriginally posted by starbase218 Quote
My thoughts: 77mm is too short on fullframe for a portrait lens, and the 43mm is according to some reviews not really a good lens (make what you want from that).
You realize that 85mm is THE standard focal length used for portraits and has been for half a century?
So are you saying that 77mm is enough shorter from 85mm that it should be discarded for portraits?

I think the 77mm is a no brainer.

31mm and 43mm are close enough in focal length that I personally would not get them both.
07-14-2015, 01:23 PM   #10
Site Supporter




Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Philadelphia, Pa
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 764
The FA limiteds are great when you want the best IQ available. Not as convenient as the zooms but they are kind of a different game for me. I enjoy the FA's when I have the time to compose the shot and nobody is in a hurry. As a plus, they give me the best IQ of any lenses I have. I like the zooms too but tend to use them more when I do not know what focal length I might need. I sold my 50-135 when I bought the 77 but I now have both. I think there is a use for each.
07-14-2015, 01:24 PM   #11
Senior Member




Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: In the middle of Bavaria - Germany
Posts: 282
QuoteOriginally posted by starbase218 Quote
My thoughts: 77mm is too short on fullframe for a portrait lens, and the 43mm is according to some reviews not really a good lens (make what you want from that).
Where did you get your expertise from? The FA77 was designed as a portrait lens for FF...
And: The FA43 is a fantastic lens. My favorite Pentax lens. Have a look at the lens club here: Pentax FA 43mm / F1.9 Limited - Lens Club* • Pentaxians
07-14-2015, 01:25 PM   #12
Veteran Member




Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Cambridge, MA
Posts: 935
They're great lenses for APS-C. Think you'd use them now? Like them more than the equivalent APS-C-only lenses? Go for it.
07-14-2015, 01:29 PM   #13
Inactive Account




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Universe
Posts: 1,119
QuoteOriginally posted by cali92rs Quote
You realize that 85mm is THE standard focal length used for portraits and has been for half a century?
Do you realize that my personal opinion can be different from what "the standard" is?

QuoteOriginally posted by cali92rs Quote
So are you saying that 77mm is enough shorter from 85mm that it should be discarded for portraits?
No. I have the DA 70/2.4 and find that to be an excellent focal length on APS-C for portraits though. I have also shot some portraits with my 17-70 fully zoomed in.
07-14-2015, 01:30 PM   #14
Pentaxian




Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,611
QuoteOriginally posted by Conqueror Quote
What are your thoughts on acquiring FA 31/43/77?

Given the FF is on its way.....

I guess one things for sure is any improved/new/competing lens would not have aperture ring, but there's likely to be more considerations to it than just that
I have all the three amigos. Initially used them with K5IIs and now with my K3. Oddly enough 43 ended up being my most used lens. They are all super sharp... even wide open. The only gripe I have with all three is the serious CA (purple fringing) issue when the lens is wide open. For photos, the CA is an easy fix with PS or LR but I am not sure how the video guys deal with the issue.

The lack of WR has come into play for me in a few instances. I had to risk using the lenses in very light rainy conditions. I was contemplating the 20-40 for its WR and more practical zoom capability. I am on spending freeze pending the intro of the new FF body and to also see how the wide-to-mid-range FF zoom void is addressed.
07-14-2015, 01:31 PM   #15
Inactive Account




Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy, Universe
Posts: 1,119
QuoteOriginally posted by zeitlos Quote
Where did you get your expertise from? The FA77 was designed as a portrait lens for FF...
And: The FA43 is a fantastic lens. My favorite Pentax lens. Have a look at the lens club here: Pentax FA 43mm / F1.9 Limited - Lens Club* • Pentaxians
First of all, I don't claim to have any expertise. Secondly, I have no doubt people shoot some great portraits with the 77. It just happens that I personally don't think it's a very good focal length for that on fullframe.

Why do I seemingly have to explain myself, while all I post are my thoughts?

Incidentally, that's precisely what topicstarter is asking for. So you are offtopic too.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
31, 43, 77, amigos, coatings, desire, f/1.8g, fa, fa lenses, fa43, fas, ff, hd, k-mount, length, lens, lenses, ltd, nikon, pentax, pentax lens, pm, post, sigma, slr lens, tamron, wr
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
FA 31, 43 & 77 future upgrades ? BarryE Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 20 05-02-2015 01:18 AM
D-FA WR 31, 43, 77 ltds yorik Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 23 02-09-2015 10:13 AM
For Sale - Sold: FA 31, FA 43, FA 77 all MIJ, 16-45, Lens Turbo farfisa Sold Items 8 08-01-2013 11:14 AM
Wanted - Acquired: 3 Amigos! FA 31, 43 and 77 L33tGreg Sold Items 7 07-18-2012 10:38 AM
For Sale - Sold: FA limited trilogy: 31, 43, 77 button Sold Items 16 07-03-2008 03:05 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:51 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top