[aslyfox]

over the years, the color of the pouches issued with the Limited Series Lenses - FA and DA changed color as well as the color of the letters changed.

just curious as to when such changes occurred and what colors the pouches were over time.

and if anyone might know why ?



does anyone have photos ?

the photo attached was taken by gofour3 and is included with his permission

FA31: Burgundy with gold lettering "PENTAX 31/1:1.8"
FA43: Brown with embossed "PENTAX"
FA77: Dark green with gold lettering " PENTAX 77/1:1.8"

and this is what his knowledge is:

I don't have a ton of info on the original coloured pouches, other than they were available in the first few years of each lens release. The early FA Limited's were silver, but I believe some of the black lenses also came with the coloured pouches.

_____________________

I have the FA 43 and FA 77 black pouch gold lettering " Pentax "

I also have a set of the SMC DA Limiteds - 15, 21, 35, 40, and 70, all black pouch with black letters " Pentax " embossed

Attached Images

 

[UncleVanya]

All of mine came with black pouches.

[yucatanPentax]

My impression has always been that the very earliest Limiteds had color pouches, way long ago, likely only during film days. At some point they were changed to all black pouches. I don't have any specific reference for that, but just what I've seen written and come across from years of occasionally seeing old and new articles.

[aslyfox]

several questions

1 color of pouches

2 color of letters on pouch or embossed?

3 what is on the pouch

gofourthree has 3 examples

two gold letters with Pentax and additional info

one embossed black

my examples

SMC DA all embossed " Pentax " black

FA gold letters " Pentax "

[yucatanPentax]

This 77mm LTD is on sale on ebay right now with a Green pouch and gold lettering. It is serial number 0000284. I didn't see any other color pouches on sale to check the serial numbers. (will try to resize this image, sorry)

[yucatanPentax]

And a "mint in box all original" Silver 77mm with only gold "Pentax" on a black pouch. Serial number 31637. It appears that pouches were simpler with time.

[aslyfox]

This 77mm LTD is on sale on ebay right now with a Green pouch and gold lettering. It is serial number 0000284. I didn't see any other color pouches on sale to check the serial numbers. (will try to resize this image, sorry)

you can barely see that in additional to " Pentax " there is additional lettering on that pouch

if you check the serial numbers of the FA Limiteds posted here on the forum -

Lens: K-mount (Digital/35mm) - Pentax Serial Number Database - PentaxForums.com


some folks have indicated what is on the pouches but I didn't see any notation of the color of the pouch

[yucatanPentax]

I've now found several 77mm's with only gold "PENTAX" on black pouches. When the serial number is visible, it is in the five figures. All I've seen are above 25,000. The earliest definitely had the color pouches, as shown in your attached photo (OP) with both PENTAX and the lens specs (i.e., 77mm/f1.8). I'm not sure of the change-over point.

And, this isn't by any means a fool-proof method of investigation. For example, let's say replacement pouches were made in each size, but with only PENTAX, so how many of these have a new pouch versus what they came with.

I love this question. Aside from directly asking Pentax, I can't seem to find any info on the change from color leather.

[Kozlok]

AFAIK the colored ones you've shown and the black embossed ones are the only ones that exist. My FA43 is very low serial number, and it has the black bag. I think someone must have swapped it out in a previous life. My 77 came with no bag at all, so it's in a DA70 bag.

[Sandy Hancock]

This 77mm LTD is on sale on ebay right now with a Green pouch and gold lettering. It is serial number 0000284.

Oh myyyyy, that is beautiful!
As a result of the above post I got one click away from buying this, then sanity prevailed.

[aslyfox]

All of my SMC DA Limited pouches look like this

and here are the FA Limited Pouches I have

[monochrome]

This 77mm LTD is on sale on ebay right now with a Green pouch and gold lettering. It is serial number 0000284. I didn't see any other color pouches on sale to check the serial numbers. (will try to resize this image, sorry)

Oh myyyyy, that is beautiful!
As a result of the above post I got one click away from buying this, then sanity prevailed.

It’s mine now. I’ve always assumed insanity is keeping the higher serial copy.

I have always thought the first batch of each lens had the colored pouches and they standardized the pouches and caps later but sometimes my brain invents things to fit a narrative (I think only the early FA43’s had black painted letter caps).

[Sandy Hancock]

It’s mine now.

Thank you for removing the temptation!

[monochrome]

Thank you for removing the temptation!

A pleasure to be of service to a fellow member.

[aslyfox]

A pleasure to be of service to a fellow member.

if you choose to register it you will have the lowest number noted for the 77mm F1.8 Limited

SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Serial Numbers - Pentax Serial Number Database - PentaxForums.com

replacing Gofour3