[revinhood]

Here I leave with you my personal test on these two magnificent lenses.
this in Spanish.
Pentafoto: Comparativas

[k100d]

i ran it through the the google translator and it did a pretty good job
Translated version of http://pentafoto.blogspot.com/search/label/Comparativas

thanks for all the hard work and testing. well thought up review
the conclusion that you've come up with is the same for everyone who have compared these lenses, decide for yourself

here is a link to another comparison Digital SLR and Lens Review: By popular demand: Pentax DA 70mm Limited compared to FA 77mm
with the discussion here DA 70mm Ltd / FA 77mm Ltd Bokeh Images: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
and another good discussion Should I get 77mm or 70mm? - Photo.net Pentax Forum

[revinhood]

I have sold in 70mm and I was with 77mm, for the greater sharpness and the f / 1,8

[k100d]

did you notice better corner sharpness from the DA70 when it was at 2.4 compared to the FA77?

[revinhood]

in the K10D (APS) the corners of 77mm were good, the 70mm as well. I imagine that the corners of 77mm in FF be more gentle

[wlachan]

Have FA77/1.8 & FA100/2.8 macro for a # of years and I actually prefer FA100 for portrait because it has better sharpness & bokeh. Yeah I know they are very different.

[Marc Sabatella]

Have FA77/1.8 & FA100/2.8 macro for a # of years and I actually prefer FA100 for portrait because it has better sharpness & bokeh. Yeah I know they are very different.

FWIW, as of today either of these lenses (70 or 77) just moved much further down my list of priorities. That's because I just did my first bit of shooting in a jazz club with the M100/2.8, and realized, I really wouldn't find the focal length of the 70 or 77 as useful as I thought. The 100 really nails the usage I thought it might be still just a bit too long for. So between the A50/1.7 and the M100/2.8, I've got things pretty covered for this application. The 70 or 77 would be pretty much for portraits only - and only portraits for which 50 was too short or 100 was too long. And frankly, for my purposes, the DA 50-200 (!) does just fine in this focal length range. I just don't do enough portrait shooting to really feel a strong need for a higher quality / faster lens in this range.

Which, of course, isn't to say I won't get one of these at some point. But the 77 is less and less looking worth the extra money, and a DA21 is seeming like it would get more use.

[revinhood]

the pentax fa 100mm is f/2,8, the pentax 77mm is f/1,8. jejejeje

[augustmoon]

FWIW, as of today either of these lenses (70 or 77) just moved much further down my list of priorities. That's because I just did my first bit of shooting in a jazz club with the M100/2.8, and realized, I really wouldn't find the focal length of the 70 or 77 as useful as I thought. The 100 really nails the usage I thought it might be still just a bit too long for. So between the A50/1.7 and the M100/2.8, I've got things pretty covered for this application. The 70 or 77 would be pretty much for portraits only - and only portraits for which 50 was too short or 100 was too long. And frankly, for my purposes, the DA 50-200 (!) does just fine in this focal length range. I just don't do enough portrait shooting to really feel a strong need for a higher quality / faster lens in this range.

Which, of course, isn't to say I won't get one of these at some point. But the 77 is less and less looking worth the extra money, and a DA21 is seeming like it would get more use.

I think you are correct. I find a lot of use for my FA77, mostly because I like the lens and enjoy using it. I only "need" it vs. the M100 2.8 in times where I need one or more of the following, extra sharpness (but I never need that extra sharpness for portrait/people work) extra speed (but again I don't need more than 2.8 for portrait or people work) and autofocus, (but I rarely use AF for portraits or people shots)

The M-100 2.8 has been my favorite lens on film bodies since I bought it in 1981. It's on my K20D today, and still one of my favorites (for portraits along with the FA77 and FA43, those are my favorite lenses for portraits of themselves, and they space out nicely in Focal Length between them) On film I used this lens for about everything, it was on the body more than anything else. On digital/crop, I use it whenever I need a tighter composition such as headshots, and for general portrait and even full body, whenever I need, or can work in that extra working distance.

An excellent choice for your jazz club shots, it's small, doesn't freak people out, has a nice reach, and has fabulous "classic pentax" color, contrast and is very sharp lens. Glad you are enjoying this one.

[m8o]

i ran it through the the google translator and it did a pretty good job
Translated version of http://pentafoto.blogspot.com/search/label/Comparativas

It did, and thank you. This made me really laugh however at its implications... "In this case the AF of 70mm is fast and accurate, also has the quick-shift system that we can lay a cable occasionally."

[Alfisti]

I found the same thing.

Essentially that little bit more length (some say it's 10mm not 7mm difference) and the larger apeture really do make a difference to the background. The 77 just throws it out a little nicer IMHO.

Like Mark I also use a 100mm (macro DFA) but it's way bigger than the 77.

[David]

Hi, all. I just had to send a 77mm Ltd away for warranty repair. The focussing ring had decoupled from the lens barrel. Wondering if anyone else has had the problem?

Take Care

David

[k100d]

nope. sounds like bad luck

[Frank Fletcher]

** Frantically runs to check on his FA77 **

Nope! I'm good! *phew!*

[pspentax]

Hi,

Put some pictures of the problem.

Regards