[sinus007]

Hi,
I wonder if anyone used both DFA 50/1.4 and FA 77/1.8 lenses?
I'm thinking about getting one of those.
I'll be using it for portraiture, candids, etc on K-1.
Currently I have 24-70. Not bad. But sometimes not enough light and bokeh.
Any suggestions for either one will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[Ben-G]

Hi Sinus 007,

sincerely both marvellous...
with " the same taste".
In my opinion there is only a different angle of view and a magnification that give you, in the case of 77mm, more distance from the subject.
Exclusively for portraiture? The FA 77mm...it's magic!

Best regards from Italy

Ben

[Docrwm]

77mm on FF is a more traditional portrait length lens. More flattering with slightly more flattened images. My preference for portraits is 85mm but 77 is a wonderful alternative. Remember back in the old days portrait lenses were 85-115mm typically.

[mikesbike]

I have both and have used them many times. I bought my first Pentax model, the ME Super new many years ago, with 3 lenses, one being the "M" 50mm f/1.4, then many years later with my first Pentax AF model, the SF-1n came an "F" 50mm f/1.7, then many years later, after the DSLR models came along, for a time the 50mm Pentax lenses were going for dirt cheap prices, so I bought a new FA 50mm f/1.4 for I believe around $150. I still have these lenses.

I bought subsequent film bodies before digital came along. While still shooting film, I took advantage of a Pentax $100 rebate offer and acquired FA 77mm and FA 43mm Limiteds. My very first shot with my FA 77mm Limited, on film, was a portrait of a young friend while out hiking in a wooded dune area along Lake Michigan. I took just one shot. He has said that to be the best portrait ever taken of him, even including professional photos for his graduation book. It did come out very well.

For portraits and much more, you would love the FA 77mm Limited. Much better for this use than any 50mm lens in my experience. I first started with a Vivitar outfit, all-manual 35mm SLR body and a 50mm f/1.8 only, which was it for 6 years. Later I seldom used a 50mm lens after acquiring my Pentax FA 35mm f/2 lens. I now find my 50mm lenses to be more useful on APS-C these days, but the FA 77mm LTD is in a different class.

One thing about candids, it is great for this because of its being so small. It does not attract as much attention to itself.

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Last edited by mikesbike; 12-13-2018 at 02:27 PM.

[hcc]

The FA77mm is THE portrait lens. Although I use APS-C (K-3, K-7, K-01), the colour rendering of the FA7mm is simply outstanding. You cannot go wrong.

My 5 cents.

[pschlute]

Currently I have 24-70. Not bad. But sometimes not enough light and bokeh.

Well the difference between 2.8 and 1.8 is 1 + 1/3 of a stop. The high ISO ability of the K1 makes that difference irrelevant in most situations.Also for portraits you will want to be using greater that 2.8 in most cases. I do dog portraits and tend to use f8-f11

Bokeh is subjective of course. But there is nothing wrong with the DFA 24-70 bokeh.

Having said that I would grab the 77mm Ltd for portraits over the 24-70 in most instances

[clackers]

The fifty can do it all as a focal length with a posed subject. Head to toe, shoulders up, whatever.

The 77 you're a little far back to get full body, but for candids is better, because you have to get in closer with the fifty.

As far as sharpness and other measures of image quality go, that DFA*50 would be the clear winner. The charts and sample pics show it's one of the best lenses money can buy, across any brand.

[Billk]

For head and shoulders and full length portraits, you want the 77 on FF.

50mm on FF is going to be great for environmental portraits but way too wide for head and shoulders.

[clackers]

For head and shoulders and full length portraits, you want the 77 on FF.

50mm on FF is going to be great for environmental portraits but way too wide for head and shoulders.

?

[bdery]

Hi,
I wonder if anyone used both DFA 50/1.4 and FA 77/1.8 lenses?
I'm thinking about getting one of those.
I'll be using it for portraiture, candids, etc on K-1.
Currently I have 24-70. Not bad. But sometimes not enough light and bokeh.
Any suggestions for either one will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

If you have enough room to step back, the FA77 is by far the best lens I've tested for portraits. It's magical. The DA50 is a fine lens, no problems and many good elements, but it cannot compare with the 77 for rendering.

[Wasp]

Back in the film days, 50mm was considered to be too wide for closeup portraits. It was said that the subject's would appear to be overly large, not very flattering. So the conventional wisdom says you should get the 77mm.

[mikesbike]

For portraiture, it's a matter of perspective of features, especially at angles such a 3/4 turn, and the necessary distance to subject to get the framing. 50mm is especially good, however, on APS-C. The classic ideal recommendation for FF use is a FL between 70-120mm. Pro-style 70-200mm f/2.8 FF zoom lenses are even used very effectively, even at 200mm for candids, which is still good but less than ideal- a bit too much flattening. (unless the subject has a big nose!)

[clackers]

Back in the film days, 50mm was considered to be too wide for closeup portraits. It was said that the subject's would appear to be overly large, not very flattering.

Again, see Post 9.

[TwoUptons]

Again, see Post 9.

So those are all the same person, and the last one was shot with the 50mm? 🙂

Those are excellent shots, and I think they help demonstrate that the conventional wisdom doesn’t always apply...

I think in this case, there really isn’t a wrong choice...

-Eric

[pres589]

Could always shoot the difference and get a DA 70...