https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/50305-stop-trying-make-

Asahiflex · 12-23-2008, 04:02 AM

Without words. Shot with K20D + FA77 Limited (the last one was shot wide open).

Alfisti · 12-23-2008, 07:55 AM

Originally posted by roentarre

1. Bokeh Ca (still happening on k20d sensor)

2. Hunting autofocus at f1.8 (better than having no autofocus at all )

4. It tends to white out images completely with low contrast subjects/scenes

and in that order too. The purple CA's are easy to remove, the Cyan however ... jeeeeeebus. It's like a cancer in the image and lines pretty much every contrasty edge, it's just awful.

AF is abysmal, no other word for it.

And yes, on low contrast images be prepared to pp to pull in the histogram.

However, when it nails an image it's just unbeleivable.

kuau · 12-23-2008, 08:58 AM

Thanks for all the input. I already own the 50-135 DA* lens and I know we are not comparing apples to apples yet if I set my 50-135 at 77mm 2,8 for portraits and compared it to the 77mm limited at 2.8 would the 77mm limited still "be nicer" I would be buying the 77mm for portraits, people stuff and shoot wide open 1.8 all of the time.

jeffrey r · 12-23-2008, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by kuau

Thanks for all the input. I already own the 50-135 DA* lens and I know we are not comparing apples to apples yet if I set my 50-135 at 77mm 2,8 for portraits and compared it to the 77mm limited at 2.8 would the 77mm limited still "be nicer" I would be buying the 77mm for portraits, people stuff and shoot wide open 1.8 all of the time.

Well, lots of people have described the 50-135 as being the equivalent of a whole bunch of prime lenses at different focal lengths, with the convenience of a zoom. You won't lose much going from one to the other, so you'd basically be buying the FA 77mm for the obvious reasons--it is a prime lens, it is smaller and lighter, and it may give that little extra something that the Pentax limited primes can often bring to the table. Would you absolutely need it though since you already have the 50-135--not likely, but that doesn't stop most of us from LBA anyway.

Alfisti · 12-23-2008, 10:03 AM

That's a portability issue, the 77 can simply go anywhere, it's a great street shooter (once you remove the fringing).

nostatic · 12-23-2008, 10:09 AM

Originally posted by kuau

Thanks for all the input. I already own the 50-135 DA* lens and I know we are not comparing apples to apples yet if I set my 50-135 at 77mm 2,8 for portraits and compared it to the 77mm limited at 2.8 would the 77mm limited still "be nicer" I would be buying the 77mm for portraits, people stuff and shoot wide open 1.8 all of the time.

I have both the 50-135* and the 77. The 50-135* is an amazing lens, and I've gotten some great shots with it (many of these are 50-135: http://nostatic.com/yos08). But it isn't the 77. They are just plain different. I frankly don't have the issues that others have, but I try not to pixel peep and when I print large (20x30) it usually is b&w. The AF doesn't suck that much more than the other lenses (and is better than my 43).

In my hand the 77 is a "magic" portrait lens. It has a different look than the 50-135* set at 77. I don't care about spec sheets or test shots. I just care about whether or not I like the final product. ymmv.

Alfisti · 12-23-2008, 10:12 AM

Look at the last photo of the first post .....

Another series of FA77 photos (5 shots): Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

creampuff · 12-23-2008, 10:43 AM

Originally posted by Alfisti

AF is abysmal, no other word for it.

Funny this is one lens I have not encountered problems focusing in AF,
even in candlelit scenes with the K20D.

kuau · 12-24-2008, 11:57 AM

thanks for all the great responses. I am sure this comparison is done all the time yet is there any "clear" winner when compared to the "newer" DA 70mm 2.4 limited lens? Once again I only will be shooting wide open for portraits

hinman · 12-24-2008, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by nostatic

One of the best combination that exist in the history of mankind.

Well maybe that is a bit much, but with the K20d the 77 is my favorite lens.

I will share the same comment. I love the 77mm on my K20D. Though I see PF but I would not classify it as severe. And I don't recall severe focus hunting with my 77mm. It may be confusing as I am going make a contradictory opinion. The 77mm hunts less in the dark for me along with K20D when I used it in a aquarium visit and a year end party. More field test will be needed to confirm my may-be biased opinion.

Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8

1/80sec, f/1.8, 77mm, iso 400, 0Ev, K20D, hand-held

jeffrey r · 12-24-2008, 12:48 PM

Originally posted by kuau

thanks for all the great responses. I am sure this comparison is done all the time yet is there any "clear" winner when compared to the "newer" DA 70mm 2.4 limited lens? Once again I only will be shooting wide open for portraits

Yeah, talk about a tough decision... I will say this--when I decided I would be buying one of the two recently, I read a lot of posts regarding each of the lenses on this and other forums, and I came away with the general impression that the DA 70mm would be very close to the performance of the FA 77mm, but cheaper, smalller/lighter, with faster autofocus. Conversely, the FA 77mm could give me the little extra "special something" that people always seem to talk about the FA 31/43/77 having, while not being that much more expensive or bigger than the DA 70mm.

In the end, I decided on the DA 70mm, but could have just as easily settled on the FA 77mm. I have been extremely pleased with the DA 70mm, and you will very rarely read a bad thing about the DA. This is one where you really cannot go wrong, just like deciding between the FA 31mm, FA 35mm and DA 35mm.

nostatic · 12-24-2008, 01:50 PM

The FA is more old school, so if you like that vibe, I'd go 77 over 70. From all accounts the 70 is a great lens and some prefer it over the 77. But I think the 77 is just plain magic. And I love the build quality and feel of it. The DA ltds are good, but the FA ltds are still a notch higher is design and build.

The only downside is lack of quick-shift focus (advantage to the DA), but I'm going manual more and in that case the FA feels better running manual. Also, the FA is designed for FF if/when that ever happens.

**mtngal** · 12-24-2008, 05:52 PM

I'm another person who has both the DA*50-135 and the 77. I'm finding that I'm leaving the 50-135 at home more due to the extra weight. The comparison shots I took with the K20 were close, but the 77 has better contrast. My particular 50-135 backfocuses a bit with the K20, but not enough to be a problem most of the time and not enough to start adjusting the focus (whenever I shoot charts it appears to be within specs, its only real-world shooting when I notice it.

I notice a certain amount of purple fringing, but not as much as some other lenses I have. I don't notice a problem with the 77 hunting for focus any more than the 50-135 does.

I'm not about to sell the 50-135 any time soon, it does things the 77 can't (zoom, for instance). And I don't really "need" the 77 at all (it was my LBA/work bonus indulgence). But there's something intangible about the 77 that makes it a stand-out. I can't put my finger on it, but it's there. I'm very happy I bought it.

Alfisti · 12-24-2008, 09:15 PM

The 70 has FAR LESS abberations but it is really a 68mm lens so it's nudging 10mm shy of the 77 and it's that stop slower. Combine the two an dit just doesn't POP gthe way the 77 does.

Let me put it this way, if the 70 was a little larger and 77mm and f/1.8 i'd get it over the FA77 in a heart beat.

ll_coffee_lP · 12-25-2008, 04:44 AM

77 is an awesome lens.

Yes, it PF's.
No, AF is fine.
Yes, it's images are pure magic.

A must own lens, if you can afford, and if it provides what you are looking for.

c[_]

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12-23-2008, 04:02 AM	#121
Asahiflex Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Netherlands Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,795	Without words. Shot with K20D + FA77 Limited (the last one was shot wide open).

12-23-2008, 07:55 AM	#122
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Originally posted by roentarre 1. Bokeh Ca (still happening on k20d sensor) 2. Hunting autofocus at f1.8 (better than having no autofocus at all ) 4. It tends to white out images completely with low contrast subjects/scenes and in that order too. The purple CA's are easy to remove, the Cyan however ... jeeeeeebus. It's like a cancer in the image and lines pretty much every contrasty edge, it's just awful. AF is abysmal, no other word for it. And yes, on low contrast images be prepared to pp to pull in the histogram. However, when it nails an image it's just unbeleivable.

12-23-2008, 08:58 AM	#123
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208	Thanks for all the input. I already own the 50-135 DA* lens and I know we are not comparing apples to apples yet if I set my 50-135 at 77mm 2,8 for portraits and compared it to the 77mm limited at 2.8 would the 77mm limited still "be nicer" I would be buying the 77mm for portraits, people stuff and shoot wide open 1.8 all of the time.

12-23-2008, 09:22 AM	#124
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	Originally posted by kuau Thanks for all the input. I already own the 50-135 DA* lens and I know we are not comparing apples to apples yet if I set my 50-135 at 77mm 2,8 for portraits and compared it to the 77mm limited at 2.8 would the 77mm limited still "be nicer" I would be buying the 77mm for portraits, people stuff and shoot wide open 1.8 all of the time. Well, lots of people have described the 50-135 as being the equivalent of a whole bunch of prime lenses at different focal lengths, with the convenience of a zoom. You won't lose much going from one to the other, so you'd basically be buying the FA 77mm for the obvious reasons--it is a prime lens, it is smaller and lighter, and it may give that little extra something that the Pentax limited primes can often bring to the table. Would you absolutely need it though since you already have the 50-135--not likely, but that doesn't stop most of us from LBA anyway.

12-23-2008, 10:03 AM	#125
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	That's a portability issue, the 77 can simply go anywhere, it's a great street shooter (once you remove the fringing).

12-23-2008, 10:09 AM	#126
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	Originally posted by kuau Thanks for all the input. I already own the 50-135 DA* lens and I know we are not comparing apples to apples yet if I set my 50-135 at 77mm 2,8 for portraits and compared it to the 77mm limited at 2.8 would the 77mm limited still "be nicer" I would be buying the 77mm for portraits, people stuff and shoot wide open 1.8 all of the time. I have both the 50-135* and the 77. The 50-135* is an amazing lens, and I've gotten some great shots with it (many of these are 50-135: http://nostatic.com/yos08). But it isn't the 77. They are just plain different. I frankly don't have the issues that others have, but I try not to pixel peep and when I print large (20x30) it usually is b&w. The AF doesn't suck that much more than the other lenses (and is better than my 43). In my hand the 77 is a "magic" portrait lens. It has a different look than the 50-135* set at 77. I don't care about spec sheets or test shots. I just care about whether or not I like the final product. ymmv.

12-23-2008, 10:12 AM	#127
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Look at the last photo of the first post ..... Another series of FA77 photos (5 shots): Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

12-23-2008, 10:43 AM	#128
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Originally posted by Alfisti AF is abysmal, no other word for it. Funny this is one lens I have not encountered problems focusing in AF, even in candlelit scenes with the K20D.

12-24-2008, 11:57 AM	#129
kuau Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Park City, Utah Posts: 208	thanks for all the great responses. I am sure this comparison is done all the time yet is there any "clear" winner when compared to the "newer" DA 70mm 2.4 limited lens? Once again I only will be shooting wide open for portraits

12-24-2008, 12:25 PM	#130
hinman Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fremont, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,473	Originally posted by nostatic One of the best combination that exist in the history of mankind. Well maybe that is a bit much, but with the K20d the 77 is my favorite lens. I will share the same comment. I love the 77mm on my K20D. Though I see PF but I would not classify it as severe. And I don't recall severe focus hunting with my 77mm. It may be confusing as I am going make a contradictory opinion. The 77mm hunts less in the dark for me along with K20D when I used it in a aquarium visit and a year end party. More field test will be needed to confirm my may-be biased opinion. Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 1/80sec, f/1.8, 77mm, iso 400, 0Ev, K20D, hand-held

12-24-2008, 12:48 PM	#131
jeffrey r Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: New Jersey, USA Posts: 337	Originally posted by kuau thanks for all the great responses. I am sure this comparison is done all the time yet is there any "clear" winner when compared to the "newer" DA 70mm 2.4 limited lens? Once again I only will be shooting wide open for portraits Yeah, talk about a tough decision... I will say this--when I decided I would be buying one of the two recently, I read a lot of posts regarding each of the lenses on this and other forums, and I came away with the general impression that the DA 70mm would be very close to the performance of the FA 77mm, but cheaper, smalller/lighter, with faster autofocus. Conversely, the FA 77mm could give me the little extra "special something" that people always seem to talk about the FA 31/43/77 having, while not being that much more expensive or bigger than the DA 70mm. In the end, I decided on the DA 70mm, but could have just as easily settled on the FA 77mm. I have been extremely pleased with the DA 70mm, and you will very rarely read a bad thing about the DA. This is one where you really cannot go wrong, just like deciding between the FA 31mm, FA 35mm and DA 35mm.

12-24-2008, 01:50 PM	#132
nostatic Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: socal Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,575	The FA is more old school, so if you like that vibe, I'd go 77 over 70. From all accounts the 70 is a great lens and some prefer it over the 77. But I think the 77 is just plain magic. And I love the build quality and feel of it. The DA ltds are good, but the FA ltds are still a notch higher is design and build. The only downside is lack of quick-shift focus (advantage to the DA), but I'm going manual more and in that case the FA feels better running manual. Also, the FA is designed for FF if/when that ever happens.

12-24-2008, 05:52 PM	#133
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	I'm another person who has both the DA*50-135 and the 77. I'm finding that I'm leaving the 50-135 at home more due to the extra weight. The comparison shots I took with the K20 were close, but the 77 has better contrast. My particular 50-135 backfocuses a bit with the K20, but not enough to be a problem most of the time and not enough to start adjusting the focus (whenever I shoot charts it appears to be within specs, its only real-world shooting when I notice it. I notice a certain amount of purple fringing, but not as much as some other lenses I have. I don't notice a problem with the 77 hunting for focus any more than the 50-135 does. I'm not about to sell the 50-135 any time soon, it does things the 77 can't (zoom, for instance). And I don't really "need" the 77 at all (it was my LBA/work bonus indulgence). But there's something intangible about the 77 that makes it a stand-out. I can't put my finger on it, but it's there. I'm very happy I bought it.

12-24-2008, 09:15 PM	#134
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	The 70 has FAR LESS abberations but it is really a 68mm lens so it's nudging 10mm shy of the 77 and it's that stop slower. Combine the two an dit just doesn't POP gthe way the 77 does. Let me put it this way, if the 70 was a little larger and 77mm and f/1.8 i'd get it over the FA77 in a heart beat.

12-25-2008, 04:44 AM	#135
ll_coffee_lP Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,972	77 is an awesome lens. Yes, it PF's. No, AF is fine. Yes, it's images are pure magic. A must own lens, if you can afford, and if it provides what you are looking for. c[_]