SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited

Conclusion

As we mentioned earlier, the FA 77mm F1.8 Limited lens has been voted the best lens ever made by Pentax. Granted, this contest was organized a few years ago, and some new offerings, like the D FA* 70-200mm F2.8, might challenge it. Nonetheless, the 77mm bears a legendary reputation amongst Pentax users.

Launched two years after the FA 43mm and two years before the FA 31mm, the 77mm follows the same design language. Older copies can be found in silver or black, the latter being the only color available new nowadays. Fully made of metal, with a built-in sliding hood, beautiful engraving and a small body, the lens is as enjoyable as its siblings. All Limited lenses are assembled by hand, with tight tolerances and more stringent production tolerances than less exclusive lenses. To put it simply, it shows.

Like all FA lenses, the 77mm is compatible with every K-mount camera ever made thanks to its aperture ring. The lens uses the older screw-drive AF system. Taking advantage of its small size and weight, the AF system produces a low level of noise. AF speed is impressive at higher light levels, and remains usable at very low levels of light.

77mm is a unique focal length, almost never seen on the market. It is close enough to the more common 85mm as to be interchangeable. Using this focal length let the designers optimize their lens differently, contributing to its unique rendering. This range is ideal for portraits, the obvious intended use for this lens. It is not limited to this application, of course, and can serve as a short tele for a variety of scenarios. On APS-C, the field of view becomes narrower but essentially serves the main purposes as on full frame.

For a portrait lens, corner sharpness is less crucial. In this case it's a good thing because, wide open, the 77mm does not particularly impress regarding corner resolution. It becomes very good as the aperture closes. This was an expected limitation of the design since it allows for some field curvature.

In the center, however, sharpness is on par with the best we have tested, even wide open. At medium apertures, it is hard to imagine being much sharper.

There is no distortion to speak of, and the bokeh wide open matches that of newer lenses with circular apertures. The attention given to color alignment produces a superb subject isolation and gradual transitions between sharp and blurred. The frequently praised "3D rendering" of the FA Limited is obvious on test images.  Vignetting is also obvious at aperture settings wider than F2.8.

Subjectively, the lens's rendering is one of its main qualities. The subject isolation, rich colors, sharp center area and bokeh all contribute to create pictures that shine, in the studio or outside. It is easy to understand why the FA 77mm Limited carries such a reputation.

Pros

  • Excellent build quality, compact for its focal length
  • built-in hood
  • Class-leading center sharpness at all apertures
  • Beautiful bokeh
  • Devoid of distortion
  • Beautiful rendering with rich colors
  • Fast AF, especially in good light
  • Well-controlled flare and ghosting
  • Superb rendering

Cons

  • Strong vignetting on full frame
  • CA and purple fringing present at wider apertures
  • Soft corners at wider apertures

Pricing

The FA 77mm F1.8 Limited sells for $796.65 in the US as of April, 2018.

Rating

Build Quality 
 9
Sharpness 
 9
Bokeh 
 9
Aberrations 
 8
Distortions 
 10
Handling 
 9
Autofocus 
 8
Value 
 8
Overall 
 8.8 (Very Good)

Who is it For

The FA 77mm is the quintessential portrait lens for Pentax shooters. Its build quality, small size and more importantly rendering makes it an obvious choice for this application. It is also dependable as a fast aperture, short tele.

The Bottom Line

After spending time with the FA 77mm F1.8 Limited, it is obvious that its reputation as one of the best (if not THE best) Pentax lenses available today. While not without flaws, its qualities set it apart from the masses. Results from this lens are sure to please. While by no means an affordable lens, its price is on par with the competition, and the images it produces are a reward upon themselves.

Be sure to check the user reviews or post your own if you already own this lens.

Comments

 

 


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