[loco]

I agree with Chex. I'm going to have to try the diagonal method overlay, too. I had read it was there, but never tried it. Thanks, Mike!

[Frogfish]

Almost bought the 77 today. Almost. Had in my hands (silver, MIJ, new, $840) and cash was being counted before I became aware they didn't have the box etc. (brought in from Japan in someone's pocket - they admitted - 1 yr shop guarantee) and took my cash back.

Sorry Simon

[Chex]

You didn't simply offer them $600 and $240 for the box when they get it? If not you could have grabbed the SN off it and checked online if it was stolen.. There are a few good sites around like http://www.ifoundyourcamera.net/ and www.camerafound.com

[tabl10s]

which do you prefer on your LTD's?

[TOUGEFC]

Almost bought the 77 today. Almost. Had in my hands (silver, MIJ, new, $840) and cash was being counted before I became aware they didn't have the box etc. (brought in from Japan in someone's pocket - they admitted - 1 yr shop guarantee) and took my cash back.

Sorry Simon

Im sure you'll get one sooner or later

which do you prefer on your LTD's?

Neither.

[elpolodiablo]

Almost bought the 77 today. Almost. Had in my hands (silver, MIJ, new, $840) and cash was being counted before I became aware they didn't have the box etc. (brought in from Japan in someone's pocket - they admitted - 1 yr shop guarantee) and took my cash back.

Sorry Simon

Haha, so in the end you were going for the 77 instead of the Sigma 85 then?

[Frogfish]

You didn't simply offer them $600 and $240 for the box when they get it? If not you could have grabbed the SN off it and checked online if it was stolen.. There are a few good sites around like ifoundyourcamera.net | Found Cameras and Orphan Pictures and CameraFound.com - The ORIGINAL Camera Lost and Found

They offered me a RMB100 discount ($15 !) because I am a regular customer. I really doubt it was stolen, this is a retail outlet that specialises in used lenses but brings in new lenses from Japan whenever possible (lower cost to the punter, higher profits for the shop). They have huge stocks of Leica, Zeiss and Hasselblad lenses, plus everything else you can imagine. And this is China, there is nowhere to report stolen property that will actually bother to follow up and do something, Police Stations don't care (we've reported SMS scams before and they just say .."ignore them") !

---

Last edited by Frogfish; 12-22-2011 at 02:16 AM.

[Freak]

A recent FA77 shot:

[Frogfish]

Haha, so in the end you were going for the 77 instead of the Sigma 85 then?

I'm now swaying towards the 77, though the impressive AF speed of the Sigma is lightening fast ... I really don't need that for my photography. During my shop testing the PF is bad on both lenses under difficult circumstances so it's a no-win to either lens there. The Sigma may be (is) sharper but how sharp do you need (especially for a 'portrait' lens) ? Bokeh is glorious on both lenses. The Sigma seems to be twice the size if not twice the weight so advantage 77. Sigma is decidedly faster (1.4 to 1.8) and has a distinct advantage for low DoF shots. But I do love small, silver, lenses

I still have my superb, heavy, Zeiss 85/1.4 and would love to do a head-to-head (CIF is almost as fast as AF - but not as accurate) so it's not like I'm desperate for a quality lens in that FL but the 77 has a siren call .....

[elpolodiablo]

I'm now swaying towards the 77, though the impressive AF speed of the Sigma is lightening fast ... I really don't need that for my photography. During my shop testing the PF is bad on both lenses under difficult circumstances so it's a no-win to either lens there. The Sigma may be (is) sharper but how sharp do you need (especially for a 'portrait' lens) ? Bokeh is glorious on both lenses. The Sigma seems to be twice the size if not twice the weight so advantage 77. Sigma is decidedly faster (1.4 to 1.8) and has a distinct advantage for low DoF shots. But I do love small, silver, lenses

I still have my superb, heavy, Zeiss 85/1.4 and would love to do a head-to-head (CIF is almost as fast as AF - but not as accurate) so it's not like I'm desperate for a quality lens in that FL but the 77 has a siren call .....

Ah I see, word of warning though, I have both the 43 and 77, and I have to constantly remind myself my DA 35 Macro serves me better and move away from that Order button for FA 31 to complete the trio Other than that, I am dead happy with my 2 of the 3 princess

[Frogfish]

Ah I see, word of warning though, I have both the 43 and 77, and I have to constantly remind myself my DA 35 Macro serves me better and move away from that Order button for FA 31 to complete the trio Other than that, I am dead happy with my 2 of the 3 princess

As TougeFC said above .... I think it won't be long before the 77 is in the bag and then I can run some tests against the Zeiss 85 to determine which one I keep.

31 : not for me for the reasons I mentioned here : https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/1747752-post3297.html

[Urkeldaedalus]

Portrait of my sister. FA77

[TOUGEFC]

Portrait of my sister. FA77

Fantastic portrait!!

[jsherman999]

Portrait of my sister. FA77

That's a 77 background. Central subject awash with detail, acuity, contrast... Superb display by that optic, model, and photog.

.

[Mike Cash]

Mr. Cash, interesting reading...I made my conclusions on it
Anyway, how come you are using 43ltd? It wasn't so long ago when Takumars were doing the job? What swayed you to AF ltd lens?

The short answer is that I changed cameras since doing the event last year.

This was to be the first year I did the event with the K-5. Due to scheduling problems the event this year came after a cultural festival performance in a neighboring town instead of before, as is normal for us. At the cultural festival and under very similar lighting I was absolutely unable to get focus with Takumars on the K-5. That despite using a Katz-Eye, checking the focus confirmation hexagon, and extensive daily shooting with Takumars. It was very puzzling and frustrating. I had to figure it must be down to some quirk of the K-5 under such lighting. My Tamrons worked fine, though. I couldn't take a gamble on the same problem coming up again so I decided to lay my hands on an FA43 for the event, as past experience shooting it with 35mm and 55mm lenses indicated that it was a perfect compromise between the two. Despite this being the home country of Pentax, it is damned near impossible to find any Pentax lenses available for rent here. There were no FA43 lenses available for rent no matter how many places I checked. So I bought one, figuring I might sell it afterwards. My rational mind tells me I still ought to sell it, especially as it turned out the Takumars worked fine in the venue with the K-5 and I have no real use for it until next year. I've never paid a hell of a lot of attention to my rational mind, though.

Pentax K-5
FA43/1.9 Limited