This is one of three pentax limited series. It is supposedly designed for protrait use and it is quite a sought after lens across the globe. This lens has attracted quite a substantial controversy over the years as it is often being compared to Pentax Fa* or A* 85mm f1.4 or Da 70mm f2.4 limited. Other competition brand fanboys often regard this lens as an enemy number one as popular photography magazine and other websites did rate this lens better than the rest of competition brands using various subjective testing and parametres.
Although this is a limited lens, there are certainly plenty of them around. Sure this is not as limited as it sounds in terms of quantity produced. Please offer your criticism and point out my mistakes without hesitance.
Appearance
There are two colour finish: silver and black
Black colour is often preferred rather than silver as its re-sell value is higher on ebay. Silver colour is often regarded as more resistant to "paint loss". I own a silver one and I love it. It does not look odd to me having a silver lens on a black k10d body.
Specifications:
Focal length 77mm
Max aperture f1.8
Filter size 49mm
Mounts Pentax K SMC-FA
Weight 270g
Dimensions 48mm x 64mm
Angle of view 32°
Min aperture f22
Focusing type AF
Minimum focus 70cm
Filter size 49mm
Stabilised No
Blades 9
Elements 7
Groups 6
Mounts Pentax K SMC-FA
Construction:
FREE (Fixed Rear Element Extension) design
All metal construction. Contrary to the common belief, polycarbonate is more thermally stable than metal so the metal consutrction is not really an advantage to Fa 77 ltd compared to other Fa plastic contruction. Its AF accuracy is superb in deed but it does hunt a little in low light. Manual focus ring is smooth and firm. A beautiful finish from top to bottom. Really classic. Sluggish AF speed though.
Image quality:
Definitely sharp wide open, little difference in resolution with increasing aperture. Sharpness extends to the edge equally even wide open. One of the fantastic thing about pentax limited is this edge sharpness superior to other brands. In fact, the sharpness is never the reason why I use pentax lenses. It is the colour, bokeh and overall impact that pentax lenses render on the final images printed out on papers that makes me do the switch.
My personal experience of owning this lens tells me that fa77 ltd suffers lack of details and softening of images in harsh lighting with colour temperature more than 5000K; Fa 77 ltd works the best in ambient lighting as it does enhance image colour so much more that it gives vividness and prosperity to the final images - I call it the touch of pentax baptism hehe
Bokeh
The common criticism of this lens is the bokeh CA, usually a problem with background highlights. Otherwise its bokeh is just impeccable against other lenes unless macro lenses are to be included in the comparison. (I want to own A* 85mm f1.4)
I have canon 85mm f1.2L and 135mm f2L. I prefer Fa 77 f1.8 because of its ease to use, compact size and light weight. Pentax limited lenses always keep its market value while canon lenses can only go down in values in 2nd hand market.
Semi-macro (1:4 roughly)
Used on floral shots, this lens is my favorite. Given there is a huge range of variety of Pentax macros available, this lens's floral shot might not be on the same par of these macros. Here are a few examples ...
Close up filters can be used to 1:2 macro. It is not a bad combination.
I love to use this lens to do art abstract with a playful intent. Always aperture wide open and use this lens to paint with light - hence photography.
With ambient lighting, this lens renders green colour very well. As long as no harsh lighting within the frame, the images will not dissapoint you.
Protraits
This is my weak area and I hope someone will post their outstanding shots to back up the beauty of this lens. The skin tone is always natural like Fuji Reala film skin colour rendition. I cannot capture people's subtle expressions well.
This lens is really sharp; my mum's protrait photo was full of wrinkles even with aperture wide open. Sometimes being too sharp might not be a good thing...
Handibility
The cap falls off all the time because I screw on a B & W filter on for protective purpose. The paint loss risk is high as a result of this.
Small and light weight. At work, I whack this lens on the k100d body, snapping away people's X rays as records. Very handy!
Conclusion
Great buy if you can get one.
Contrary to what everyone thinks, the price is not a weakness at all. To get a similar lens like this in other brands would cost at least twice as much plus depreciation of value over time.
The only thing I might dislike this lens is the minimum focusing distance of 0.7 metre. This limits the indoor use of this lens ... Pentax 31mm f1.8 Ltd would be more useful in that kind of situation in deed.
Call me biased but I love this lens!
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Contributor's Note
A quick user review
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