[giselag]

I have a Pentax K3 and planning to go full frame soon.
In the meantime I would like to buy a lens that I can use on K3 for portraits and then use on K1.
Which would you recommend and why? I'm trying to decide between the FA 77 f1.8 limited
and the 24-70 mm f2.8 D FA lens. Please advise.

[surfar]

Only my opinion,buy the 28-105mm DFA first.Those other 2 are good(but i have no practical experience,so can't say "how"good).

The vario zoom is BANG for $$$.00.It produces excellent images.

Then get the 70-200mm *****,its a beast but only a little more pricey than the 24-70mm.Star quality it IS!

Compare the reviews and ratings between the 28-105 and 24-70....then compare the price.

Then, find a 20 or 24mm prime, FF ofcourse.....

Something like this will please most(???) on the K-1,covers "wide enough(IMO)" to long and "fast enough".

[alamo5000]

If it's going to be a one trick pony then I would say the 77mm.

I always see these threads asking similar things and it's much more important to get the whole lighting and photography part down first before you start worrying about lenses.

That said between those two the 77 is obviously a winner.

That also being said the 24-70 is not bad AT ALL and is going to be a more useful all around lens.

We've established that you are going to be taking portraits, but what ELSE are you going to be doing? If that list consists of nothing then go 77mm. If that list consists of many other things then go with the 24-70.

[hcc]

You are comparing Apple and Orange.

The FA77mm Ltd is the best AF prime lens that one can buy: sm-02-05-02 - Luminous Landscape, across all brands. It is also the best PF lens according to Pentax Forum users. This says a lot IMHO.

The FA24-70mm will give you conveniency. Fully agreed.

I have the FA77mm and its portrait colour rendering is outstanding. The best lens for portrait among all my prime lenses, including my Zeiss, Voigtlander and Pentax lenses. Full stop.

Hope that the comment may help.

[Kozlok]

A used 77 is under or around $600. You can resell it for around 600. Buy one, try it, sell it if you don't like it. Like a free lens rental.

I've not used the 24-70, but it is quite possible the 77 is the best lens ever made.

[RoccoStiglitz]

24-70.

[redcat]

If you are talking about portrait then 77 is the King ! check my review (and others) on the 77 and see if you like it as we do

[robr7]

Have both, to state the obvious is that the 24-70 is versatile and that just may be important enough when making the move over to full frame to win over the 77, it was the first lense I bought specifically for my K-1.... but, the 77 is quite possibly the best lense I have. Tough choice.

[RAART]

I wanted also one portrait lens as well at some point and couldn't decide what I should get FA77 or Sigma 85mm... I like both of them and each one has strengths but in the end I did not buy any of them and will wait for Pentax to get new 85mm out to see how it will goes in direct comparison with the other two. I had also thread running for this and still inconclusive... I also phased out to get K-1 until next year as I had other priorities and still shoot with K-3 which does deliver really good results but K-1 soon should be here as it looks like that I will move into real estate photography as my part time job (also half body shots for business cards and flyers for real estate agents). Soon they will include me into their database to be used as second shooter to one they already working with.

I tend to say that I am more inclined to get 77mm instead to work with zoom as I always wanted that ultimate that 77mm gives, also I am more prime shooter than a zoom. If i was about to move into wedding photography than I will be dealing with zooms as they way more convenient than primes but still I will use primes for some shots. It is more depending on what you will use those lenses for or plan to do.

If you want to have lens just for portraits then 77mm or 85mm is a must. Look also into 105 to 135mm range as they are very useful for portraits, even Pentax 200mm.

[repaap]

I have a Pentax K3 and planning to go full frame soon.
In the meantime I would like to buy a lens that I can use on K3 for portraits and then use on K1.
Which would you recommend and why? I'm trying to decide between the FA 77 f1.8 limited
and the 24-70 mm f2.8 D FA lens. Please advise.

I suppose that you have looked at this thread:
HD Pentax-D FA 24-70mm F2.8 Club - PentaxForums.com

There are numerous examples from that zoom, as you could think too from the title. You can also see couple portraits made with that zoom, and that Rondec guy had K-3 by the time he started that thread and went to FF...it could be really informative for you.

that said, as portrait lens FA 77 is great, it is even more versatile than that, when mounted on FF. It is great on K-3 too. Now, as just for tight portraits, 85 mm might be giving more punch(look at photos taken by Le Rolls(K-1 thread) and FA 85 lens examples. If blurred background is more important. FA 77 tends to show Background and enviroment more, but some might like that better.

just couple thoughts from me.

[Billk]

My 77 is in the repair shop at the moment and I'm seriously missing it. I currently use it with the K3ii but have the K1 on order.


It is the bomb for the beauty end of portrait photography at any F stop and is also a great all rounder.

[Hattifnatt]

I have been using both lenses for quite some time (FA 77 on K5IIs and K-1 and DFA 24-70 on the K-1). I think FA 77 is an outstanding portrait lens, so if portrait photography is your top priority I guess you should go for it. There is some color fringing in some cases but so far it was easy to correct in post-processing. The DFA 24-70 is much bigger and heavier. While certainly not on par with FA 77 regarding portraiture, it gives you a lot more flexibility being a zoom. I took decent portrait shots with it but I certainly prefer the FA 77.

Let's put it like this. When I go photographing stuff like low light events, bars, portrait session with friends I almost always take the FA 77 and not the DFA zoom, for several reasons. It has a significant low light advantage, it's small and easy to carry but most important I have a specific type of photography in mind and I don't expect to change lenses so often.

When I go hiking in the mountains for 2-3 days, I always take the DFA 24-70 and almost never the FA 77. This is the reason for buying it. It's a lot more flexible, I can do landscapes and occasionally snap a portrait if needed. Most important I don't have to change lenses all the time. Sometimes I get bad weather and the 24-70 is WR.

So it all depends on what you plan to do. If you plan to shoot mostly portraits in a controlled, predictable environment, you should go for the FA 77. If you want more flexibility, weather resistance and you expect to shoot in unpredictable conditions, you can go for the DFA zoom.

Below there are some portraits with both lenses.

FA77 on crop sensor (K5IIs):





FA77 on full-frame (K-1):









DFA 24-70 on full-frame (K-1):

[robgski]

The FA77mm Ltd is the best AF prime lens that one can buy

it is quite possible the 77 is the best lens ever made.

the 77 is quite possibly the best lense I have

I agree, While I own the FA-77mm and use it on my K-5, I have rented a K-1 and this is where you really see just how great a combination it is. Additonally, I think that the wider aperture options of a prime are what you'd prefer if portraiture is your intended use. Last, I think a prime makes a photographer move to compose the shot, rather than zoom in or out from one point, and I think that results in better pictures. That's my style anyway.
FA-77mm on K-1
[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
FA-77mm on K-5 works for wider views too
[IMG][/IMG]

[Rondec]

It depends on the type of photography you are planning to do.

That said, if you are looking at full frame, you need a standard lens. The only two that Pentax offers are the DFA 24-70 and DFA 28-105. I got the 24-70 because it goes to f2.8. I like it a lot. It would be my standard walk around lens and works well on APS-C too.

The FA 77 is really nice too -- faster and sharper wide open, but it is more of a specialty lens, something I would add to whatever you choose as your walk around lens. Basically, if it was me, I would start with the 24-70 and add other lenses to it down the road if/when I had the funds.

[surfar]

the DFA 24-70 and DFA 28-105

Some who have these 2 have stated theres not a lot of difference,i own the cheaper version and its GOOD.At around half the cost or better i think what i saved will go towards the DFA 85mm f1.4,its worth waiting 4.That 1.4!