 Micro Four Thirds User Forum |
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smc Pentax-FA 1:1.8 77mm Limited
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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1
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1590
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Fri June 17, 2011
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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None indicated
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None indicated
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Description:
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mount: KA
optics: 7 elements in 6 groups
aperture blades: 9
aperture range: f/1.2 to f/16
filter thread: 49mm
minimum focus: 70cm
length: 48mm
weight: 270g
comes with: pop-on felt-lined cap
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Keywords:
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Pentax Limited K-mount |
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Mu-43 Veteran
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Posts: 279
Registered: June 2011
Location: Limerick, Ireland
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Author
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rparmar
Mu-43 Veteran
Registered: June 2011
Location: Limerick, Ireland
Posts: 279
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Review Date: Fri June 17, 2011
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
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Pros:
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magical rendering, petite design
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Cons:
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purple fringing in high contrast
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Pentax is a well-respected lens manufacturer who have hardly put a foot wrong in their history of optical design. But the FA Limited series of three lenses are generally considered (certainly by myself) to be the pinnacle of their achievements. Covering the full frame, complete with aperture ring and auto-focus, they are as happy on a film camera as they are on the latest digital body. A nice aesthetic touch is their availability in black or silver. The choice of 31mm, 43mm and 77mm is certainly a quirky one, but there is some logic behind the esoteric numerology.
The FA 77 Limited was designed to be in the optimal portrait range of 70-80mm, the precise number signifying both luck (in Japanese) and "delight" (in Chinese). For a long time made in Japan, these are now produced off-shore in Vietnam. This doesn't bother me, as I am sure the manufacturing is identical, but I will mention that my copy is Japanese for those who are concerned.
This lens has the usual unsurpassed Pentax multi-coating and a built in telescoping hood. This is a bit short for a lens of this focal length; I should really get a longer one some day. Sometimes I see some reduction in contrast from off-angle light, though flare is not an issue. However the convenience of the hood is wonderful, particularly as this fits the character of this lens as a compact beauty one is inclined to "forget" is on the camera.
At only 270g and 48mm in length one might expect some compromises in this lens, but it is in fact based directly on the optics of the A* 85mm f/1.4. Somehow Pentax managed to improve on the performance of that lens, shrink the size and lose only the last half stop of light. In doing so they used a new "ghostless coating" on internal elements and implemented a fixed rear-element extension (FREE) design.
There is little I can say about the rendering of the lens except that I have not seen better anywhere. This is a drop-dead gorgeous portrait lens, but I also use it as a general walk-around on my Pentax DSLRs since my shooting style is often about finding overlooked details. I have never found anything it wouldn't shoot within the limits of my ability. I can attach a macro converter and take outstandingly detailed macros. Landscapes kick butt -- so much detail! Architecture, still lives, whatever. It is sharp when it needs to be and creates a lovely transition to out-of-focus regions. Distortion and chromatic aberrations are not noticeable.
If I was to search for a down-side to this lens I could mention is not a true APO design and so has longitudinal chromatic aberrations. But this is the same as the vast majority of lenses ever made -- including most that call themselves APO. More pertinent is the fact that at wide apertures it has a tendency to purple fringing in high contrast scenes.
On my E-P1 this becomes FOV/DOF equivalent to 154mm f/3.6 which makes it quite a strong telephoto. I still find it nails portraits and have done some architecture work I am very happy with. I will include some examples here.
Along with the FA 43mm Limited, this is my favourite lens. In fact no-one but Pentax makes a lens of this quality in this form factor with autofocus -- not for any price. Taking all this into account, what you pay for the FA 77 Limited starts to look like a real bargain. (Though of course the auto-focus hardly matters when mounted for MFT.)
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