FA77mm?,Should I keep it?

Electric Eye · 06-10-2009, 08:49 PM

...Just bought this lens a couple months past and it works great and all,I just find I leave it in my camera case as I tend to do wider angle photography the most.Am I crazy to even think of trading or selling to get a DA 12-24MM or something similar?.Will I regret selling in the future when my tastes change to portraits or something?.I have seriously taken about 100 shots with it but I use my 18-55mm kit lens all the time as its wider.Everything people say about the 77mm is true but I just cannot get enough in the frame.So frazzled over this!

wlachan · 06-10-2009, 08:54 PM

There is no right answer to this. I seldom use tele but I keep the nice ones anyway cos I just appreciate well made stuffs. As long as I am not starving, I just let them sit in my room.

Electric Eye · 06-10-2009, 09:10 PM

...If I had a super wide already I would not even think of trading/selling,but it is such a nice lens,hard to give up,maybe I should just save up fer a wide angle and be happy!

Damn Brit · 06-10-2009, 09:12 PM

It's not going to get any cheaper so if you can afford to keep it, maybe you should.

**Ash** · 06-10-2009, 09:20 PM

If you don't use it, you won't miss it.
Though when you come to doing some portraits you may look for it and it's not there...
Tough choice, but like others, I'll say if you can afford to keep it, keep it.
There would be an endless number of people just on this forum who would love to take it from you!

jsherman999 · 06-10-2009, 09:27 PM

Originally posted by Electric Eye

...Just bought this lens a couple months past and it works great and all,I just find I leave it in my camera case as I tend to do wider angle photography the most.Am I crazy to even think of trading or selling to get a DA 12-24MM or something similar?.Will I regret selling in the future when my tastes change to portraits or something?.I have seriously taken about 100 shots with it but I use my 18-55mm kit lens all the time as its wider.Everything people say about the 77mm is true but I just cannot get enough in the frame.So frazzled over this!

Here's what I would do: put your 18-55 away for a full week, and force yourself to use the 77ltd. Go on walkabouts with it, start 'seeing' at 77mm. Shoot some portraits, some flora.

Pretty soon you'll start seeing the effect this lens can have on your photography, and it will become indispensable. But to get to that point you have to put away your kit lens for at least one week.

.

nulla · 06-10-2009, 11:52 PM

I agree with Jay

**RobA_Oz** · 06-11-2009, 02:09 AM

I have to say that I agree with Jay, too.

It's an interesting exercise that I find useful to keep the "usual" more interesting. The last time I did this was in the lead-up to the appearance of the Nifty-50, when I made myself walk around with an older 50mm SMC Takumar on my camera, just to get myself back in the way of seeing things with a particular fixed focal-length lens.

I've got both the 31 and 77 limited lenses, and I find that the 31 gets used more, simply because it's closer to the "natural" field of view, and perhaps easier to use from that perspective. Forcing oneself to see in a narrower field of view can be a little daunting at first, but I think I'd agree that your pictures get better, the longer you stick with the one lens policy.

There probably are practical limits to the focal length that you could usefully do this with, though.

Electric Eye · 06-11-2009, 04:26 AM

...Thanks folks!
I will give that a try,I will see life from a 77mm perspective for a week or so and re-evaluate the situation from there.I was just going crazy with using the kit lens when I know that 77mm is in the cam case and I didn't want to use it!.Appreciate everyones input!

davef · 06-11-2009, 06:38 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

Here's what I would do: put your 18-55 away for a full week, and force yourself to use the 77ltd. Go on walkabouts with it, start 'seeing' at 77mm. Shoot some portraits, some flora.

Pretty soon you'll start seeing the effect this lens can have on your photography, and it will become indispensable. But to get to that point you have to put away your kit lens for at least one week.

.

I also agree with Jay. This is an exercise I put myself through any time I get a new lens. As others have noted, it should allow you to "understand" the lens -- what it does well, what it struggles with and, with some lenses like the 77, what it blows you away with. In its element, this is a phenomenal lens and I suspect that if you take the time to learn it you will be loathe to part with it. Indeed, as I have discovered, this can be an expensive exercise -- good as the kit lens is, it can't hold a candle to the 77 and you may find yourself looking at the 15,21,31,40,43, Limiteds as well as the * lenses.

Dave

Alfisti · 06-11-2009, 06:45 PM

Gee I am the opposite, I adore the focal length, it's just perfect for me, but would kill for a MKII to improve contrast wide open, CA's and the sluggish AF.

stevebrot · 06-11-2009, 07:16 PM

I am in a similar quandary. On impulse, I bought a FA 77 a couple of weeks ago. It is a beautiful lens and is capable of truly beautiful images. The only problem is that I too tend to favor the wider focal lengths. To complicate matters, the 77 shares space in the bag with the very interesting Jupiter-9 85/2. While the J-9 is not good for every situation, it provides some very real competition when it comes to portraits and still-life/floral photos.

So, after having read this thread, I pledge to put all the other lenses away for a couple of weeks and use the FA 77mm exclusively.

Steve

Electric Eye · 06-11-2009, 07:21 PM

...United we stand brutha's!.I hope this exercise puts me in a better frame of mind!...lol!

lc_toronto · 06-15-2009, 07:34 AM

Keep it ! Keep it ! Keep it !

At least for a year. If by that time you are sure you will not regret parting with it you will get your money's worth back and more.

A couple of weeks after I bought my copy I used it exclusivly at a 20+ people Birthday party for my very old aunt. I used it all evening without flash in rooms lit by daylight and rooms lit by regular lightbulbs, some dim, some brighter. I took many candid and non-candid portraits and group portraits, people of all ages. Every photo is beautiful. Even in such somewhat more cramped quarters I loved using it. The rendering of this lens is outstanding and of a flavor all its own. I've also tried to use it at noon on very sunny days and it performed amazingly.

I say part with this lens only the day you part with your last pentax (D)SLR.

**Lowell Goudge** · 06-15-2009, 08:01 AM

I think your usage will go in cycles and also upon taking trips etc.

if you are budget limited and you don't mind manual focus you could consider either a jupiter - 9 or the samyang 85 F1.4, and use the left ovver money for a 12-24 or sigma 10-20

06-10-2009, 08:49 PM	#1
Electric Eye Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 238	FA77mm?,Should I keep it? ...Just bought this lens a couple months past and it works great and all,I just find I leave it in my camera case as I tend to do wider angle photography the most.Am I crazy to even think of trading or selling to get a DA 12-24MM or something similar?.Will I regret selling in the future when my tastes change to portraits or something?.I have seriously taken about 100 shots with it but I use my 18-55mm kit lens all the time as its wider.Everything people say about the 77mm is true but I just cannot get enough in the frame.So frazzled over this!

06-10-2009, 09:10 PM	#3
Electric Eye Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 238 Original Poster	77mm ...If I had a super wide already I would not even think of trading/selling,but it is such a nice lens,hard to give up,maybe I should just save up fer a wide angle and be happy!

06-11-2009, 04:26 AM	#9
Electric Eye Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 238 Original Poster	77mm ...Thanks folks! I will give that a try,I will see life from a 77mm perspective for a week or so and re-evaluate the situation from there.I was just going crazy with using the kit lens when I know that 77mm is in the cam case and I didn't want to use it!.Appreciate everyones input!

06-11-2009, 07:21 PM	#13
Electric Eye Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 238 Original Poster	77mm ...United we stand brutha's!.I hope this exercise puts me in a better frame of mind!...lol!

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06-10-2009, 08:54 PM	#2
wlachan Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada Photos: Albums Posts: 2,625	There is no right answer to this. I seldom use tele but I keep the nice ones anyway cos I just appreciate well made stuffs. As long as I am not starving, I just let them sit in my room.

06-10-2009, 09:12 PM	#4
Damn Brit Guest	It's not going to get any cheaper so if you can afford to keep it, maybe you should.

06-10-2009, 09:20 PM	#5
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	If you don't use it, you won't miss it. Though when you come to doing some portraits you may look for it and it's not there... Tough choice, but like others, I'll say if you can afford to keep it, keep it. There would be an endless number of people just on this forum who would love to take it from you!

06-10-2009, 09:27 PM	#6
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Electric Eye ...Just bought this lens a couple months past and it works great and all,I just find I leave it in my camera case as I tend to do wider angle photography the most.Am I crazy to even think of trading or selling to get a DA 12-24MM or something similar?.Will I regret selling in the future when my tastes change to portraits or something?.I have seriously taken about 100 shots with it but I use my 18-55mm kit lens all the time as its wider.Everything people say about the 77mm is true but I just cannot get enough in the frame.So frazzled over this! Here's what I would do: put your 18-55 away for a full week, and force yourself to use the 77ltd. Go on walkabouts with it, start 'seeing' at 77mm. Shoot some portraits, some flora. Pretty soon you'll start seeing the effect this lens can have on your photography, and it will become indispensable. But to get to that point you have to put away your kit lens for at least one week. .

06-10-2009, 11:52 PM	#7
nulla Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 1,560	I agree with Jay

06-11-2009, 02:09 AM	#8
RobA_Oz Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tasmania, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,197	I have to say that I agree with Jay, too. It's an interesting exercise that I find useful to keep the "usual" more interesting. The last time I did this was in the lead-up to the appearance of the Nifty-50, when I made myself walk around with an older 50mm SMC Takumar on my camera, just to get myself back in the way of seeing things with a particular fixed focal-length lens. I've got both the 31 and 77 limited lenses, and I find that the 31 gets used more, simply because it's closer to the "natural" field of view, and perhaps easier to use from that perspective. Forcing oneself to see in a narrower field of view can be a little daunting at first, but I think I'd agree that your pictures get better, the longer you stick with the one lens policy. There probably are practical limits to the focal length that you could usefully do this with, though.

06-11-2009, 06:38 PM	#10
davef Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 433	Originally posted by jsherman999 Here's what I would do: put your 18-55 away for a full week, and force yourself to use the 77ltd. Go on walkabouts with it, start 'seeing' at 77mm. Shoot some portraits, some flora. Pretty soon you'll start seeing the effect this lens can have on your photography, and it will become indispensable. But to get to that point you have to put away your kit lens for at least one week. . I also agree with Jay. This is an exercise I put myself through any time I get a new lens. As others have noted, it should allow you to "understand" the lens -- what it does well, what it struggles with and, with some lenses like the 77, what it blows you away with. In its element, this is a phenomenal lens and I suspect that if you take the time to learn it you will be loathe to part with it. Indeed, as I have discovered, this can be an expensive exercise -- good as the kit lens is, it can't hold a candle to the 77 and you may find yourself looking at the 15,21,31,40,43, Limiteds as well as the * lenses. Dave

06-11-2009, 06:45 PM	#11
Alfisti Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toronto (for now) Posts: 1,748	Gee I am the opposite, I adore the focal length, it's just perfect for me, but would kill for a MKII to improve contrast wide open, CA's and the sluggish AF.

06-11-2009, 07:16 PM	#12
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	I am in a similar quandary. On impulse, I bought a FA 77 a couple of weeks ago. It is a beautiful lens and is capable of truly beautiful images. The only problem is that I too tend to favor the wider focal lengths. To complicate matters, the 77 shares space in the bag with the very interesting Jupiter-9 85/2. While the J-9 is not good for every situation, it provides some very real competition when it comes to portraits and still-life/floral photos. So, after having read this thread, I pledge to put all the other lenses away for a couple of weeks and use the FA 77mm exclusively. Steve

06-15-2009, 07:34 AM	#14
lc_toronto Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Toronto Posts: 89	Keep it ! Keep it ! Keep it ! At least for a year. If by that time you are sure you will not regret parting with it you will get your money's worth back and more. A couple of weeks after I bought my copy I used it exclusivly at a 20+ people Birthday party for my very old aunt. I used it all evening without flash in rooms lit by daylight and rooms lit by regular lightbulbs, some dim, some brighter. I took many candid and non-candid portraits and group portraits, people of all ages. Every photo is beautiful. Even in such somewhat more cramped quarters I loved using it. The rendering of this lens is outstanding and of a flavor all its own. I've also tried to use it at noon on very sunny days and it performed amazingly. I say part with this lens only the day you part with your last pentax (D)SLR.

06-15-2009, 08:01 AM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	I think your usage will go in cycles and also upon taking trips etc. if you are budget limited and you don't mind manual focus you could consider either a jupiter - 9 or the samyang 85 F1.4, and use the left ovver money for a 12-24 or sigma 10-20