SMC Pentax-FA 77mm F1.8 Limited

Construction and Handling

The SMC Pentax FA 77mm F1.8 Limited is a short telephoto prime of a relatively small size. More compact than even a kit lens, it is still too long to be considered a pancake. It is, by a fair margin, the smallest and lightest short tele available for K-mount full frame cameras.

This section will give you a complete tour of the lens, from every angle. You will also see the lens alongside other comparable lenses and mounted on various camera bodies.

Front Element

The front of the lens is all glass. There are no marks or indications at the front.

Optical elements use Pentax’s well-regarded SMC “Ghostless” coatings. Being a film-era design, it does not take advantage of the newer HD coatings or the Super Protect.

The lens uses the common and small 49mm filter thread.

The lens cap is a very elegant metal push-on cap. The inside is covered with smooth felt. Many Limited lenses use a variation of this design.

Interestingly, it is the exact same cap as the one on the FA 43mm Limited. Removing the cap tends to pull on the lens hood, extending it. This is actually a good thing: the lens is ready to go whenever the cap is removed.

Lens Body

The body of the lens is made entirely of metal. The 77mm is as well made as the other FA Limited, outstanding in a subtle, subdued way. The build quality leaves nothing to be desired. Labels are engraved instead of printed, the assembly tolerances are tight and there are no loose or moving parts. The lens oozes quality. There are a few color accents, especially on the lettering.

Starting from the base (at the lens mount) and going up, we first encounter the aperture ring. This rings features ribs that are a constant of high-end Pentax primes such as the DA Limited and D FA 100mm F2.8 macro. The 77mm can thus be used with older film bodies.

Right above is the depth of field scale. This one bears 4 aperture values, as well as an IR focus position mark. This scale is more than just cosmetic : it offers enough information to actually be usable.

To the right of the scale is a green dot helping to align the lens for mounting.

Above this is the focus distance window, with markings in meters and feet. The text is yellow for meters and light blue for feet (black and deep blue would be used for the silver version). The light text on a black background makes it easy to read. Right above is the focus ring, again using the ribbed texture mentioned earlier.

The last item is the lens hood. It bears the engraved lens name, which goes around the barrel. The "Limited. label is accented in red, the rest is white. The serial number and "Made in Japan" (when applicable) are also displayed here. Since the hood can rotate, any part of the lettering can face up.

The lens extends slightly when focusing at close distances.

Aperture

The Pentax 77mm uses 9 slightly curved aperture blades. As can be seen on the picture, they do not create a perfectly round aperture at smaller values.

Lens Mount

The lens mount is metal. Anything else (namely, plastic) would be surprising at this price point. There are no protections against water ingress.

Lens Hood

The lens incorporates a permanent, sliding lens hood. It is cylindrical in shape. When not in use, the hood disappears almost completely inside. It slides easily and stays in place, whether extended or pushed back in. The amount of friction is tuned just right. It is possible to use filters with the hood in place.

Compared to Other Lenses

Here is the FA 77mm Limited next to its two siblings, the FA 31mm Limited and FA 77mm Limited. The 77mm is larger than the 43mm and smaller than the 31mm.

Mounted on Camera

Below are images of the 77mm mounted on a Pentax K-1 (full frame) and a Pentax K-3 (APS-C). The lens looks perfectly at home on the either bodies.

Verdict

We have nothing but praise for the FA 77mm Limited's ergonomics. The lens is small and unobtrusive, but easy to operate. It offers a superb level of craftsmanship and build quality. The diminutive metal body, with its elegant engraving and built-in hood, is sure to please even the most demanding users.