| Author: | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2007 Location: North West UK Posts: 382 | | Lens Review Date: October 8, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $800.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Build, Size, High quality glass. AF, Fast enough at F1.8. Sharp even wide open | | Cons: | A little CA/PF wide open, expensive (but worth it) third party are faster and cheaper. | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K-1
| |
Sometimes a lens appears in the market that has a "legend" moniker put against it. Leica, Zeiss and the Pentax Limiteds. To be honest they are deserved.
The 77mm is one of those lenses.
Personally, I have wanted one of the 77mm Limiteds for at least 10 years, but for various reasons, I never got to the point of owning one, until now.
I am very glad I waited. It was not like "never meet your heroes", more of a case of "I have known you for years, and you are exceeding my expectations".
From the point of opening the box, I just knew it was special. It is a tactile delight, metal body, smooth as silk focus ring and precise aperture ring. It harks back to those wonderful SMC-K and M lenses, and indeed Takumars, in operation. It is that feeling of something more than just a lens.
In operation? There is a lack of AF override but when it comes to the K-1 and 33 AF points, does that matter?
AF noise with the Screw focus is not really an issue.
Wide open it is just superb, sharpness and contrast is what you get, and the lack of "dreaminess" you get with the FA50 at F1.4 to F2. Well worth using wide open.
Stopped down it just gets better all the way to F8-F11. So as a studio lens it is perfect.
Now CA/PF. Yes it has some, but in CameraRaw the processing of it as so small, you need not worry.
Cost? Well that is subjective. It is NOT a cheap lens. and from a pure price point against rivals (Samyang 85mm F1.4 or CaNikon 85mm F1.8 models) it could be considered expensive, but that is not the whole story. What you get is images that, from a personal point of view, better rendition, colour, "3D" and more natural than the latest digital designed optics that are far more clinical in their look, and lack an almost "emotional" level.
It is deserving of the legend status that has been given to it. Think of it as a small emotional, rather than a large clinical lens.
Finally, yes it is expensive, but against say any Leica and Zeiss lens it is very cheap, and it should be comparable to them. Against the mainstream brands, it is a "cut Above" even though rivals can be faster.
Small, fast, well made, special. What more do you want?
[IMG] Howarth Steam Punk Weekend 2019 by Iain, on Flickr[/IMG]
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2019 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 18, 2019 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $450.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Nearly perfect. | | Cons: | AF some time "refff refff" (mij version) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K70
| |
Let the images speak for themselve. By k70.
    
Buy it. Canon and nikon users will be amazed by how it looks like (silver version). Even noob photographer like me can snap good shots.
Some images on film:
By the way, its screw driver af system performs better on k70 than k3ii.
  | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 688
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: July 6, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $780.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Small, fast, sharp | | Cons: | Lens cap, not WR | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 8
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: KP, K-30, PZ-1p
| |
This lens is near to perfect, very sharp from wide open. The lens cap can fall down sometimes and it has some CA, more than what I would like, but it can be handled easily in postprocess. It has a 49mm filter thread wich makes easy to share filters with DA15, FA43, DFA100 macro, and DA50, DA35.
Here are some examples:
 IMG180414_0014 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG180422_0018 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG171008_0010 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG170923_0235 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG180505_0005 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG180428_0254 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG180428_0090 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
 IMG180505_0041 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
And a Brenizer effect:
 IMG180505_0047 by Benjámin Czétényi, on Flickr
| | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2018 Location: Paris Posts: 8
3 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: January 26, 2018 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Even better with k1 | | Cons: | Price can be forgotten the quality stays | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K1 k5
| |
After years using it on my k5, I can say this rocks with K1. Finding it easier to use it and catch the focus at F.1.8 with much better IQ. Was using it often at 2,8 or above with k5 .
Fov/Dov different with K1 of course but learning is quick (took me months with k5 to tame this beast...)
36Mp does not afraid it at all
PROS
IQ
COLOR RENDERING 3D pop
Blue tones lovely
I can say the picture took with it among 100 others pics.
CONS
Take time to learn it
You must check the micro setting AF adjustment within your camera ( thanks Vietnam QC  : this is a sharp lens at all apertures including at PO although you don’t have to be drunk to achieve the right focus.
This is a smile lens : when you watch it, you take it In your hands, you shoot with it, and when you watch the pics
I own others good gems (k135 2.5, lester a dine macro 105 2.8, FA 50 1,7, F*300 4.5, czj Sonnar 135 3.5, and some others goodies...) but this one is my babe! A unique mix of IQ, contrast and color rendering and build./size.
A must in Pentax land if you can afford it
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: December, 2013 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: December 21, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $580.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | IQ, looks great, light sucker | | Cons: | No Quick Shift. No WR | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: k30
| |
Bought this in anticipation of moving to FF soon. Just fired off a few test shots on my k30. FL feels long on APSC, but not as limiting as the my other recent pre FF purchase, the DFA100. I feel that both lenses will be more useful on the k1.
Very punchy. The transition from in focus to out of focus is very unobtrusive, giving a fantastically natural sense of 3D depth. This might be the 'pixie dust' people talk of. What I immediately noticed was that you can see the plain of focus very clearly when shooting wide apertures, which means the wide aperture sharpness is awesome. If it's not sharp its more likely the focus than the optics!
The bokeh is smooth but not bland. It has some texture to it but it seems sympathetic. The colours are quite warm.
The weather has been very grey here recently. I haven't seen much CA yet, but conditions haven't been too challenging. Will prob do an update later.
I love the way the thing looks like a light hoover, with it's large rear element. It's definitely good for low light shooting, as it positively encourages you to open it up.
They say that equipment doesn't make you a better photographer, but even after a few shots with a lens like this, you start to think differently. The more you see those transitions, the more you want to really use and encourage that depth. I can't see how I could go back. If you look at the prices of Zeiss, or the Canikon 85mm portrait lenses etc which by all accounts can offer this level of creative palette, for the Ł476 I paid, so far it looks an absolute bargain.
To compare it with the DFA100WR, I would say both are super sharp, especially the 100mm which seems to have incredible resolution. Both have 3D pop in abundance. The 100 has a smoother bokeh, although not necessarily more beautiful. I think the 100 has the clarity of a modern lens, but with really lovely rendering. The 77mm on the other hand is better in low light, has a touch of warm vintage character to it, and that extra sense of depth which when you nail your composition and focus, can look magical.
| | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2015 Posts: 1
1 user found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: November 1, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $499.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, Image Quality, Quality Built | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-50
| |
Incredible. I marvel at the images that are produced by this lens. I was one of those that did not believe in the pixie dust association but, now I am a believer. Highly recommend if you can get your hands on this lens.
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 386 | | Lens Review Date: May 30, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $550.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | high keeper rate, sharp enough wide open, smooth bokeh, pixie dust | | Cons: | none that I've discovered for my shooting | | Sharpness: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: Pentax K5 iis
| |
I have been looking for a portrait lens for aps-c for some time and tried a number of different approaches - Pentax DFA 50mm 1.8, Porst 55mm 1.2, Tokina atx 90mm macro, Helios 77m, but nothing comes close to what I'm getting out of this lens. There is just a certain extra bit of life that comes out of each picture. My keeper rate is higher than my skill level, which is how I can tell a great lens. The following shots look best opened in flickr with something equivalent to an ipad screen resolution but you sort of get the idea. All were done with natural light, no reflectors, and ISO 200
1.8
 IMGP4767.jpg by David Miley, on Flickr
2.2
 IMGP4737.jpg by David Miley, on Flickr
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Texas Posts: 32 | | Lens Review Date: April 28, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $740.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Image Quality, Built Quality | | Cons: | No Quickshift, Balsam separation after ~15 years | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: Pentax K10D, K30, K70
| |
This is one of the best, if not THE best Pentax lens!
I.Q. is outstanding:
- Center and Corners: Very Good - Good at 1.8, Excellent - Very good at 2.8+
- Excellent bookeh, colors
- Very little vignetting, flare, distortion.
Excellent built quality, very practical telescopic hood.
The minor minuses are the absence of Quickshift, and a little bit of Purple Fringing at full aperture in front of a light source.
What killed me is that, after 15-20 years, despite a perfect overall condition, two elements became slightly separated, creating a haze and killing the I.Q. I had to sale for a song my beloved lens, and buy a new one!
| | | | | Site Supporter Registered: December, 2013 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,717
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: April 23, 2017 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $700.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Resolution, colors, bokeh | | Cons: | AF can be touchy, fringes like crazy, built-in hood is useless | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 7
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-1
| |
While I've owned this lens longer than anything currently in my kit (I buy and sell a lot of lenses), it's really gotten almost all its usage on the K-1. My review will concern its performance there, as I found the focal length not useful on a crop body.
Sharpness and Resolution: 10
Mythical, exceeded only by the DA*55. Looking for something that will make the most of that 36MP sensor? Look no further than here. This lens resolves the tinniest of details, stuff that I can't see with my 20/15 vision until I get back into the editing room. Colors...superlative. They are accurate, punchy, deep, gorgeous. My buddies remark how pleasing the color of my photographs is and this lens is a major part of that.
More than anything, this lens has a very natural way of rendering textures. It's very smooth and natural. My style of photography is often described as "cute" and "feminine" and the bokeh of this lens has been a major reason for that reputation. It's not overly sharp and harsh but rather soft with a gorgeous midtone contrast gradient. This lens can just make images that will make your heart flutter with the right subject.
Aberrations: 7
Barrel and pincushion distortion don't exist, of course, but man...this lens fringes like crazy. Holy cow. It's often obvious at screen size. It is correctable, for the most part, but wow, it's really really obvious in high contrast situations. Put the a strongly backlit sky behind your model and you can expect her hair to have a purple halo around it. Yikes.
Bokeh: 10
This lens just has a beauty to its images, a smooth and calming effect. The bokeh is never harsh. There's tremendous pop in the images, with a sharp focal plane and immediate descent that mimics perfect flash work in natural light. I primarily shoot this lens at f/2.8 and f/3.2 and it's nothing but round highlights in the back even at those apertures.
Autofocus: 8
For the most part, it's quite good. But there are certain lighting situations where the camera futzes back and forth. I don't quite get it but when you get into a fight with this lens, it really puts up a fight, winding back and forth with a hideous screw drive racket. For this, I had to knock it two points even though it's one of the most reliable focusers I've ever used. And when it misses, it does so very subtlety so you can't see the issue in the viewfinder.
It's worth noting that I have these issues mostly when I'm doing full body shots from far away. If I'm doing a headshot or filling the frame with my subject, I never have a problem. It locks on quickly then and connects with incredible sharpness.
Handling: 10
The built-in hood is useless. I don't even know why it's there. I have a rubber hood for this lens and that works well. Aside from that, this lens is light and compact and really a treat to have on the camera.
Value: 10
Is this lens as good as the $1500 85mm lenses from Canon and Nikon? Probably not. But it's damn close. I suppose we'll get the answer when the DFA*85 comes out later this year or next year. I do intend to upgrade but unlike the FA31, which I will thank for its service and part ways, moving beyond the FA77 will be much harder given what it can do.
Conclusions:
If you're a portrait or model shooter with a K-1, this lens is the alpha, the omega, and everything between. It's dreamy, beautiful, sharp, yet soft. It doesn't have "power" in its rendering like 85mm offerings usually do but has a characteristic look that will make any girl you shoot look the epitome of feminine grace and beauty.
My only regret is that there isn't a 50mm clone of the lens. It's not always possible to get back far enough to use 77mm, a problem which will get worse with the DFA*85. This is unfortunate as I'd love to be able to take every shot with this lens instead of the 40% it usually carries for me.
Sample images:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/madmathmind/DjJ5pH | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2014 Posts: 2 | | Lens Review Date: September 12, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $1,000.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness | | Cons: | autofocus can be difficult in low light conditions | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: k5 ii
| |
my fav lens in my quiver, very sharp, very little aberrations, great bokeh,
use it a lot for concerts
| | | | | Pentaxian Registered: January, 2012 Location: Tokyo Posts: 1,654
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: May 6, 2016 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $600.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharpness, bokeh, design | | Cons: | Purple fringing at max aperture, AF can hunt | | New or Used: Used
Camera Used: K-5 IIs, K-01
| |
I bought this for its field of view on APS-C and all my experience is on APS-C cameras. It works well for me as a compact short telephoto prime. I do use it for portraits, but I also find it generally useful for landscape and architecture in some cases. For what it’s worth, mine is a “Made in Japan” version with a low serial number, bought second hand two years ago.
Good things start to happen when I get this lens out. I often hear that buying gear won’t make you a better photographer, but somehow pictures that I know would look dull with my other lenses look special with this lens. I think it is partly that the field of view is quite restrictive so it makes me think harder about what I’m doing. Also, the sharpness of the in-focus areas and the beautiful nature of the bokeh in front and behind that give the images a special look. The lens itself is very nicely made, and I particularly like the built-in hood that slides out.
One thing to be careful of is purple fringing, which can be quite prominent, but it improves if stopped down just a little, where the bokeh is still nice. The other issue is the autofocus, which seems to be OK with the CDAF on my K-01, but hunts a lot on my K-5 IIs. There are some other modern conveniences that are lacking from this lens, like quick shift, silent focusing and the latest coatings. But I feel like the whole ethos of the limited line is to make beautiful lenses the way they used to be made, so I don’t object to these characteristics too much, and just love the lens for what it excels at.
A year later and my opinion of this lens is unchanged. Here is one more photo.
 | | | | | New Member Registered: April, 2012 Location: jakarta, Indonesia Posts: 13 | | | | | Pentaxian Registered: September, 2013 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 979
2 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: June 14, 2015 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $850.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Sharp, fast, well built, beautiful rendering and bokeh | | Cons: | Expensive, purple fringing in high contrast situations | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 9
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K30
| |
I've always wanted this lens but have either never had the money to buy it or couldn't justify the price. When traveling, I found a store that allowed me to try it out on my K30 I had with me. I first took a photo of my wife with a DA 70mm 2.4, and thought it looked great. Then I mounted this FA 77mm 1.8 and took the same picture and from the very first click I could see the "pixie dust" that everyone refers to. I ended up buying it right there on the spot, and somehow got the wife's somewhat approval to do so 
There is just something to this lens that makes photos look so pleasant. It is as if the lens is super sharp, yet never in a harsh way. The colors are beautiful and accurate. It is perfect for portraits, and was obviously was designed this way. It is also perfect for flowers and nature, and is so sharp that if you have a high megapixel camera you can easily crop for macro shots. The bokeh is amazing, and the way the subject is isolated from the background is unique and what makes this lens so phenomenal.
Where this lens shows its age in design (circa 1999) is in high contrast situations since it was designed for a film camera and not for digital. Purple fringing will show up, and does often. I can correct it somewhat easily with photoshop but it does take extra time. The autofocus isn't faster than the competition, but when comparing it to other wide aperture primes around the same focal length it isn't any worse either. My lens will focus accurately on my K30, and any out of focus shots can usually be contributed to me not holding still enough to nail the razor thin depth of field. If the lens had quick shift focus override (it doesn't), I still don't think I could be much better than my camera is in terms of accuracy.
The build quality of this lens is a marvel, and you would think you were using vintage glass. Even the cap is finely machined aluminum and I find the built in hood a welcome addition. The most surprising thing about this lens is how small it is; it is only a little bigger than my DA 50mm 1.8. Yes, it is pricey, and it does have a few limitations but if you compare it to Leica and Zeiss pricing it is a good value. If Pentax ever does update this lens with modern coatings to reduce the purple fringing, it would be perfect as long as it didn't change the character of the lens.
Here's a bunch of samples:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/34287650146/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/18625803189/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/16999808477/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17207363771/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17000514087/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17317637930/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/16587750743/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17216607642/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adudenamedjosh/17206660691/in/dateposted-public/ | | | | | Veteran Member Registered: July, 2014 Location: Paris Posts: 1,892
6 users found this helpful
| | Lens Review Date: November 21, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: N/A
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bright, great color | | Cons: | not WR | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 10
New or Used: New
| |
I borrow this lens for a month from a dealer, firstly because it's a legend and I'm a curious guy, I really want to "test the legend", secondly it's the winner of the Pentax Lens Tournament
Update : I love the lens so much I bought it  never look back, it outperforms any other lens in my collection So, what it delivers ? a very high class lens, sharp wide open, I usually shoot wide open at every possible situation (unless I want a lot of background), color is great, very bright.
Autofocus rarely hunt. Manual focus is SOOOOOOOO SMOOOOOOOOTH, I love the MF of this lens !!!Some example :
 | | | | | New Member Registered: September, 2014 Posts: 1 | | Lens Review Date: October 1, 2014 | I can recommend this lens: Yes |
Price: $700.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | sharpness, bokeh, colour rendition, bouild quality | | Cons: | some CA | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 10
Autofocus: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 6
New or Used: New
Camera Used: K10D
| |
Great bokeh, very good sharpness, beautiful lens. Slow AF, some CA.
| | |
;)
;)
;)
