[5shot]

With the new D FA* 85 out, the prices of FA* 85s are way down, and with the new HD FA 77 out, SMC FA 77s are priced quite reasonable right now. I've been wanting one of these three to go with my K3 iii, and have been looking for a reason to chose one over the other. I can get a Near Mint FA* 85 for under $700, and probably a new HD FA 77 for close to that if I wait for a sale, A Mint MIJ FA 77 can be found for under $500.

Is there enough improvement in the HD 77 to forget about the SMC version? There really isn't enough of a difference in price to compare on that alone (for any of the 3). I'm also not terribly worried about the size of the 85, as I have some big glass now.

Based on opinions about sharpness and bokeh from old threads I read, it should be the 85 all the way, but opinions are just that.

So...order up an 85 or a 77?

[UncleVanya]

I haven’t used any of these except the SMC FA 77. HOWEVER … I have been paying attention to threads about the FA* 85. The lens is good but appears fragile. Several people have done diy repairs of a gear in the autofocus system which tends to crack and this does appear to be the main failure.

That said, for some users the lens is quite different from the FA 77. Chris Rankin (LeRolls) indicated to me that the FA* 85 gave him the results he wanted with far less post processing than the FA 77.

Personally, I think the size and cost of the FA 77 makes it very attractive but as I said I have not directly compared these. I did own the A* 85 but that has an optical formula closer to the FA 77 than the FA* 85.

HD vs SMC? I own the HD DA 70 and the SMC FA 77. I just don’t notice the coatings enough to worry over this.

[5shot]

Thanks, I was not aware of the issue you mentioned about the 85. Saving a few hundred would certainly be a positive. I'm not a professional, so I doubt I would notice the HD coating either.

[Digitalis]

As an owner of the FA*85mm f/1.4* I wanted a portrait lens that was more compact and less imposing on the subject. I bought my copy of the SMCP-FA77mm f/1.8 Limited in 2008 and I have been using it so long the aperture ring and focus ring are brassing - which is a rather fetching look.

I'll also mention I own the FA*85mm f/1.4 and the DFA*85mm f/1.4.


Historically speaking short telephoto lenses tend to be good performers so the FA*85 and the FA77mm f/1.8 are no exception to this rule. Mechanically I have had only one instance with an AF gear cracking with the FA77, but that was quickly replaced. The built in hood on the FA77 is at times a little too short to keep non-image forming light from affecting image quality, and speaking of image quality: Both the FA77 and FA*85 suffer from softer corners at wide apertures and there can be distinct LoCa as well as purple fringing - but all these issues aside: the FA*85 performs well and in particular the FA77 which is a lovely little lens to work with.



Pentax K-1 SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited @ f/1.8



The FA77 operates perfectly fine with manual aperture rings, and due to its optimization at close focusing distances it operates as an excellent close up lens.

Pentax K-1 SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited @ f/2.8


Pentax K-1 SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited @ f/1.8

* I consider the A*85mm f/1.4 to have better build quality and a slightly more neutral image rendering than the FA*85mm f/1.4 - which tends to be warmer. The DFA*85mm f/1.4 strikes a balance somewhere between the two, optically speaking the DFA*85mm f/1.4 is vastly superior to the older FA*85 and FA77 lenses - but at f/8 (the great equalizer) all three lenses are very similar in their rendering.

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Last edited by Digitalis; 07-10-2022 at 07:23 AM.

[Michail_P]

What a lens, that smc77. Great rendering.

[zapp]

I prefer new glass, all FA85 will be old and it will be hard to find one in great shape.
77 is a very nice focal length on FF. My non HD draws wonderful images and fits any bag. AF is loud, it is not weather sealed. Love it.
DFA85 is sharp, has silent AF and draws nicely. The lens is big, so big that I often prefer to carry the 77.
On K3 or apsc all these lenses crop the image. The DFA50 on apsc has parameters similar to the 77 on ff. It makes for a great combo with K3.
The DA55 never cut it for me - af performance with K5/olderK3 was no fun.
If you really want 77/85 focal length on apsc, any 77 will be great. Used 77/fa85 are easy to sell without loss.

[Sandy Hancock]

I have the SMC FA 77/1.8, the FA* 85/1.4 and the DFA* 85/1.4

The only one I'm certain I will always keep is the FA77. It may not be quite as amazing as the weighty eighties, but it's easily good enough for my humble needs - while offering compactness, beauty, and joy

The FA*85 is distinctly soft wide open, but pretty good from f/2.0. It does fringe a fair bit though (as does the FA77). 67mm filters are not a game changer. Its AF and is no better than the FA77, but the MF clutch makes up a little for the lack of quick shift.

The DFA*85 is stupidly good, weather proof, silent focussing and has quick shift, but it's also very large and expensive. Go for it if you are shooting weddings or professional portraits, but that's not me.

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Last edited by Sandy Hancock; 07-10-2022 at 01:13 AM.

[tjstimbo]

Now I have the new DFA 21, I think I will pair this and my SMC 77 on my K3 III and see how I get on. Also in my bag I'll have the DA*300 and 1.4 convertor. A nice fairly light set to wander around.

Tim

[aslyfox]

A Mint MIJ FA 77 can be found for under $500

that for sure has my vote

[AfterPentax Mark II]

A Mint MIJ FA 77 can be found for under $500

Don't forget about the SMC AIV version: I bought one of these new at a reduced price to make room on the shelves for the HD version. One of the first pictures I took with it can be found here: Lovely Portraits :) - PentaxForums.com. No post-processing, SOOC!

So...order up an 85 or a 77? 77!


PS: AIV stands for Assembled In Vietnam

[acoufap]

What about DFA*1.4/50 and DA TC1.4x combo? This Pentax teleconverter also works surprisingly good with the DFA21Ltd - even in FF mode, no joke!

[Pål Jensen]

The 77 Limited is a better lens than the FA* 85. I have had both....

[StigVidar]

DA 70/2.4 is also a good option. Less CA than on FA77/1.8

[angerdan]

Based on opinions about sharpness and bokeh from old threads I read, it should be the 85 all the way, but opinions are just that.
So...order up an 85 or a 77?

The FA 77 also ofers good sharpness. What i love is the integrated lens hood.
The FA* 85 would bring better corner resolution, higher weight and the much bulkier looking hood.

[gatorguy]

I haven’t used any of these except the SMC FA 77. HOWEVER … I have been paying attention to threads about the FA* 85. The lens is good but appears fragile. Several people have done diy repairs of a gear in the autofocus system which tends to crack and this does appear to be the main failure.

That said, for some users the lens is quite different from the FA 77. Chris Rankin (LeRolls) indicated to me that the FA* 85 gave him the results he wanted with far less post processing than the FA 77.

Personally, I think the size and cost of the FA 77 makes it very attractive but as I said I have not directly compared these. I did own the A* 85 but that has an optical formula closer to the FA 77 than the FA* 85.

HD vs SMC? I own the HD DA 70 and the SMC FA 77. I just don’t notice the coatings enough to worry over this.

It was tough to part with the FA*85 even after buying the HD version. It wasn't really heavy or huge IMHO, even if it looked a bit beastly next to my FA77. Half the size is in the hood, and using it for indoor stuff or shooting in low light/shadow I wouldn't use the hood anyway. But the results were quite different from the 77 which I never quite made a connection with. The FA85 on the other hand was my all-time favorite lens, at least until the DFA85. TBH I kinda regret selling the older 85, but as you alluded to, I always feared the gears would fail, and really it was far too fine a lens to just have it go unused when other Pentax owners would love having one. It now has a happy home with a local Pentax photographer.

I'd personally rank the new DFA*85 the best performing of the three for people work, with the FA*85 very close behind. At full open both produce a sharp, yet soft glow image, a beautiful render that more often than not needs very little to no PP. Had it not been for a perhaps overblown fear of something failing in the old lens I would have been perfectly content with it, no real advantage to be had from the DFA*85 especially considering the price difference. As for the FA77 it's a fine lens that punches way above its size, but after being spoiled by the 85's it never impressed me in the way it does for others. I've now sold that one too.