[kristoffon]

I have a whole bunch here if you care to look:

SMC FA 77mm 1.8 Limited - a set on Flickr

Will post just one (click for full size 2000px version)

[kristoffon]

FWIW, the Photozone MTF numbers for the FA77 wide open are nothing to write home about, but of course, wide open for the FA77 is close to a stop faster than it is for the DA70. By the time you stop the FA77 down to f/2.4, it's probably similar to the DA70, at least in the center. The DA70 still wins in the corners, according to the numbers.

Perhaps Photozone got a bad copy to test? My 77 is "completely" sharp wide open to me. By "completely" I mean that I do not notice any additional sharpness by
stopping it down. That is also the case with my 31. Maybe it becomes sharper but if you have to measure it with a program it's a difference too small to bother IMHP. My FA 50 on the other hand only becomes "completely" sharp from 2.8 up.

[legacyb4]

DA 70mm, show wide open and nearly wide open.

[maxwell1295]

So far, I don't think it's been fair--one guy with a 70 who shoots professional hotties vs. a couple of gray haired men with the 77.

Based on this, I would have chosen the 70 too!


But since you've already made your choice, I think you should just enjoy it

Well, I already had the 70. For a minute, I thought I may want to grab the 77. Just some LBA I had to beat back with a stick. lol

[farfisa]

Yeah, walk away, man!

Frank had a great set of pics of his dad from the 77 and the FA*85, but doesn't look like they're online anymore. Probably for the best!

[Votesh]

That thread convinced me to buy the FA* 85mm, and I'm glad it did.

Yeah, walk away, man!

Frank had a great set of pics of his dad from the 77 and the FA*85, but doesn't look like they're online anymore. Probably for the best!

[Digitalis]

So far, I don't think it's been fair--one guy with a 70 who shoots professional hotties vs. a couple of gray haired men with the 77.

Based on this, I would have chosen the 70 too!


But since you've already made your choice, I think you should just enjoy it

I think that says a lot about the FA77's character because an image isn't all about the resolution it's about the overall "look" the image has when produced by a certain lens. and to my eye, the DA70's bokeh quality comes second to the FA77.

I'll point out that resolution at the corners isn't something that is absolutely necessary with portraits, though that depends on your particular style, it may be important.

[farfisa]

Well, I already had the 70. For a minute, I thought I may want to grab the 77. Just some LBA I had to beat back with a stick. lol

Well, who knows if these'll help either way

Don't have too many wide open, but here are some animals at 1.8, followed by my youngest at f/2.5 (as close to the max aperture of the DA 70 as I could get--I think it's still valid to compare at this aperture )

f/1.8




f/2.5

[Urkeldaedalus]

No no no, Maxwell.
Don't close this thread yet. I'm sure there is still more people want to see this comparison. I'm one of them
Art2D2's photos really show the DA*70's strength for portrait.
I'm waiting to see someone post a model shoot series with 77Ltd. ..please?

Send me some models Herman, and I'll do my best to oblige you

[jk333]

I'm very interested in this comparison as well... The way a I see it the strengths of the 77mm are, longer focal length, 116mm (vs 105), better bokeh, greater photo resolution @ f4 to f8 and more light (f 1.8).

The 70mm strengths are the quickshift to manual focus, slightly faster autofocus, size of the lens allowing for portability and slower shutter speed, possibly slightly sharper at f/2.4, you literally gain almost nothing by stopping down which is nice, and the price.

For me, honestly, the quality of both lens seems pretty similar. The 77mm has slightly higher performance at ideal aperatures but with the 70mm you aren't worried about the aperature you are at (they are all similar). The bokeh is better on the 77mm, this is pretty clear. The focusing (both quick shift and auto) is better on the 70mm, this is clear.

Basically, the high image quality and bokeh of the 77mm vs the portability, focusing and price of the 70mm.

I may pick the 70mm, i'm leaning towards it. They are SOOO close. And yet the 70mm can be had for ~425 dollars but the 77mm costs 600. See, the 31mm is even more expensive than the 77mm but i may splurge for it one day because the image quality is SOOOO high. The IQ on the 77mm just doesn't seem QUITE as high, and portability of the 70 is nice as well. 31mm and 70mm is it for me i think.

Please add if you have more to say that I may be missing.

[hinman]

Not great samples but I do use the FA 77mm f/1.8 for indoor shooting. I don't think you can go wrong in choosing either DA 70mm f/2.4 or FA 77mm f/1.8. Personally, I picked the FA 77mm f/1.8 based on speed as I count on fast lens for usage for indoor and night time shooting when needed

Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 --
Insanely Good is my Word

#1
1/160 sec, f/1.8. 77mm, iso 400, 0 Ev, K20D




#2
1/80 sec, f/1.8. 77mm, iso 800, 0 Ev, K20D




#3
1/80 sec, f/1.8. 77mm, iso 400, 0 Ev, K20D

Thanks,
Hin

[farfisa]

Basically, the high image quality and bokeh of the 77mm vs the portability, focusing and price of the 70mm.

You're very right about portability. The 70 is really really light--barely heavier than the miniscule 40, and without its hood it's tiny as well.

Focusing--I love quick shift, but I do find the pancakes a little small for manual focus. I found the 77 to be more enjoyable to use overall, especially from a handling standpoint when focusing manually, and eventually I sold my 70. Bought another and sold it again. I think I'm over the 70.

Loved the images, but didn't want to use the lens as much.

I shoot in AV mode, so I don't usually let the aperture go wide open if I don't have to. I love the 77 at f/2.8, as it's very sharp and you still get the beautiful bokeh.

Sometimes I force myself to use it at 2.2 or something, just because I could never do that with the 70

[farfisa]

Hey Hin--haven't seen that fish pic before! Great stuff!

I use 1.8 indoors too--find a lot of lenses slow over the (long) winter.

Okay, but summer is something else--this is f/2.8 on the 77. Ignore the fact that I missed focus and look at the bokeh... my kids are just foregrounds for bokeh most of the time anyway.

[stevebrot]

Well, I already had the 70. For a minute, I thought I may want to grab the 77. Just some LBA I had to beat back with a stick. lol

Ok, you guys...All this talk here along with the Limited Club thread has me in total submission. I took a walk past the eBay door of Prodigital and did not hesitate. I went right in. And there, in the garish glare of their tasteless product descriptions, I was unfaithful to my homely, but dependable Jupiter-9. I made the man an offer and to my eternal shame, he took my money...woe is me, I am totally undone...

The 77/1.8 Limited should be making its leisurely way to my door in the general manner of all Prodigital purchases.

Steve

(I never thought that they would accept a low-ball offer of $525 USD...should have offered $500...$475?)

[HermanLee]

#3
1/80 sec, f/1.8. 77mm, iso 400, 0 Ev, K20D


[/center]

Thanks,
Hin

Nice color, Hin.

Reminds me of my FA43Ltd.