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View Poll Results: Which lens should advance to the next round?
FA 77mm F1.8 Limited 13994.56%
M 85mm F2 85.44%
Voters: 147. You may not vote on this poll

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10-20-2014, 08:02 PM   #1
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Lens Tournament: FA 77mm F1.8 Limited vs M 85mm F2

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the knockout round of the Greatest Pentax Lens Tournament! The rules are simple: Two lenses enter. You must choose one. The winner moves to Knockout Round Two. The loser is gone. Check out the bracket here, which is based on the user nomination results.

In this short telephoto knockout match, the SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F2.8 Limited faces the SMC Pentax-M 85mm F2.

Make your choice by voting in the poll above. You will need to log in or register if you don't yet have a forum account.
Feel free to argue, persuade, and generally carry on after that. Voting will be open for exactly 24 hours.

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10-21-2014, 12:15 AM   #2
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The FA77 is one of the unique lenses. I go for the 77 due to A-setting, a bit brighter, newer coating, and newer design. It is also more available.
10-21-2014, 03:25 AM   #3
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FA77ltd, even though I have both.
Sharper, less CA issues, AF, A setting.

Size wise both are on par.
One has better MF damping, the other has AF.
Price wise, M85/2 wins.
10-21-2014, 04:31 AM   #4
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The 85 isn't even close optically, which is a shame, because it is one of the most beautiful lenses that Pentax made. I would love a manual 77 version with a better focus ring.

10-21-2014, 06:36 AM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by zbrueningsen Quote
The 85 isn't even close optically, which is a shame, because it is one of the most beautiful lenses that Pentax made. I would love a manual 77 version with a better focus ring.
That said the 77 focus ring is quite nice for an AF lens, I manual focus regularly with it.

77 blows me away +1
10-21-2014, 08:01 AM   #6
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Yes, Jeff, I am in total agreement - it is the best MF experience I have had with an AF lens (better than my DA55 by a little bit). The 77 is just amazing - no ifs, ands, or buts.
Looking at your lens line up - which lens is your most impressive?
10-21-2014, 09:33 AM   #7
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The only thing that could finally make me sell the FA77/1.8 was the FA*85/1.4, which was a good trade. But the FA77 beats everything else.

The FA77 is still an amazing combination of size, weight, build quality, AF, and IQ.

10-21-2014, 09:57 AM   #8
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FA 77 of course. I have nominated it. This vote is easy for me.
10-21-2014, 10:27 AM   #9
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Are you kidding? No contest.
10-21-2014, 11:13 AM - 1 Like   #10
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Silly question really.
10-21-2014, 11:29 AM - 4 Likes   #11
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IMO, the FA77 is the best Pentax lens ever made. It is truly a pleasure to use, for all subject matter, and renders so beautifully.
I have used the FA*85 and I like it as a portrait lens, but the 77 just absolutely outshines it.
I ignore the fact that my FA77 spontaneously fell apart once when I was standing at the edge of a cliff, and had to be repaired. I'm gonna call that a fluke and move on, lol. I cannot think of a more pleasing piece of glass to put on my camera.
[can anyone tell how I voted?]

Last edited by mikeSF; 10-21-2014 at 05:00 PM.
10-21-2014, 03:15 PM   #12
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No doubt-FA 77- clearly the best in this class. Great size, sharp- love it.
10-21-2014, 03:25 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by mikeSF Quote
I have used the FA*85 and I like it as a portrait lens, but the 77 just absolutely outshines it.
I sold my FA77 shortly before I started taking action photos, so unfortunately I can't give a comparison of the AF speed (where the FA*85 shines), and I can't seem to find anyone else using the FA77 for action. But nothing about the FA*85 has ever made me want to go back to the FA77. The FA*85 and F*300 are my two favorite lenses. Giving them up would be like giving up photography.

Nevertheless, the FA77 is still very impressive, as I've posted above.


I always thought I'd be a Ltd lens type of guy, and I've owned the three amigos (all excellent), but in the end my "essential six" consists of five star lenses plus the D FA 100 WR macro. But the FA77 is still the second best lens in its class, and not far behind the FA*85.

Last edited by DSims; 10-21-2014 at 03:38 PM.
10-21-2014, 03:38 PM   #14
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Srsly?
10-21-2014, 04:18 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by mikeSF Quote
IMO, the FA77 is the best Pentax lens ever made. It is truly a please to use, for all subject matter, and renders so beautifully.
I have used the FA*85 and I like it as a portrait lens, but the 77 just absolutely outshines it.
I also had both. I sold the FA* 86/1.4. The Limited is much better at longer focusing distances with it's FREE rear element group.
The 77 Limited is a terrific lens and a classic. But it is not the best. That title goes to the FA* 200/4 Macro...
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