Home | Reviews | Lenses | 35mm Primes | Pentax

Pentax SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited 35mm Primes

5/5 (10 Reviews)

Write a review



  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length77mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/1.8
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    MountPentax
    Closest Focusing Distance27.6 in
    Picture Angle31.5 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size49 mm
    Groups / Elements7 Elements in 6 Groups
    Diameter2.5 in
    Length1.9 in
    Weight9.5 oz
    MPN27970
    Product ID20724804

Product Description



Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Reviews 1 - 5 (10 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by danag42 a Professional

Date Reviewed: January 24, 2006

Strengths:    Sharper wide open than most lenses, which counts for a lot in a portrait lens. Getting the leading eye in focus doesn't mean the rest of the image is soft, just not as well focused! Exactly the effect we want.

Small and light, and amazingly well built. They just don't make 'em like this any more, it is as solid as my A 50 1.4. But overall a better lens, if that's possible!

I got one in black, better to match my cameras. It is not intimidating to the subject, be it man or beast. Autofocus is spot on, never needed to touch it up.

Weaknesses:    Price. But it's worth it. Just try it!!!

Bottom Line:   
This is one impressive lens. First off, the build quality tells you it's meant to be around for a long time. All metal construction feels like the old days (one craveat: polycarbonate is more thermally stable than metal, but polycarbonate doesn't give that "jewel like" feel, so metal it is).

Manual focus is smooth and well damped, unusual in an AF lens. And the autofofocus seems to be dead-on. although that may have more to do with the camera than the lens.

Sharp as a tack, even wide open! And the sharpness stays sharp out to the edges, which showed me some embarresing stains on a supposedly blank wall in a test image! Be careful what you wish for, and all that!!

Out of focus areas have a realy creamy smooth look to them. I suppose this is whatpeople mean by "bokeh". If so, bokeh is fantastic! And I see now what people mean by a "three demensional feel" to the image.

Well worth the high price!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $670.00

Purchased At:   B&H

Similar Products Used:   Pentax lenses, 20mm to 200mm primes, some zooms, canon lenses, Nikon lenses (I had several brands of camera. I started in the 1960's, when Pentax was THE brand, and having tried a few other brands I am one of a small number of professionals that have stuck with Pentax for the optics. They are still THE lens maker, along with Zeiss. I stil have the A 50 1.4, perhaps the best 50 out there, and the 31mm Limited for my digital to use as a normal. It's also an astounding lens.

Type of photography:   Other

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by ido a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: June 17, 2005

Strengths:    sharpness
weight
filter size

Weaknesses:    none

Bottom Line:   
this lens is my favorite. A great sharpness in my opinion the best in short telephoto. very small and light

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $690.00

Purchased At:   B&H

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Lance a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: February 6, 2005

Strengths:    Beautiful construction and manual focus feel.
Superb image quality including, super sharp images with plenty of contrast and beautiful bokeh.
Small size which is in keeping with the *ist D

Weaknesses:    None.

Bottom Line:   
Well, all I can say is that this is one of the best lenses ever made! Brilliant tack sharp images and very contrasty. Bokeh is creamy smooth and gives a 3D look.
The all metal construction is a beautiful to use and hold with that lovely manual focus feel. It is quite a small lens and when mounted on the *ist D the whole package is quite diminutive and unassuming. Great for taking portraits as it doesn't intimidate your subject.
What more could you ask for?

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   21+ years

Price Paid:    $600.00

Purchased At:   internet

Type of photography:   Outdoor

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:4
Submitted by derbyc a Expert

Date Reviewed: July 19, 2004

Strengths:    Beautiful portraits. Small compact size. Luxurious feel.

Weaknesses:    Slow AF. Hard to find matching (silver) filters. The slip on cap isn't really practical with a filter on.

Bottom Line:   
Gorgeous to hold. Much handier than the FA85/1.4 (which I haven't really used since I got the 77mm). But the prize is the creamy bokeh and sharpness without being harsh. Little too small on the PZ1, but perfect on the MZ5. Doesn't scare the sitter

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   6-10 years

Price Paid:    $690.00

Purchased At:   Adorama

Similar Products Used:   FA*85/f1.4, FA100 macro (good for portraits too).

Type of photography:   People

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Winston a Intermediate

Date Reviewed: December 2, 2003

Strengths:    Superb Optic
Small 49mm filter (for f/1.8!)
Superb Build Quality
Excellent manual focusing
Excellent color rendition
Built in hood (increases ruggedness)
All metal construction
Very reasonable price

Weaknesses:    Slow AF, rotating front lens
Too beautifully finished, I'm so afraid to scratch it

Bottom Line:   
An extremely sharp lens! A must have for Pentax users. I use this lens mostly from f/1.8 & f/2.8 (for portrait) or f/8 for landscape. While stopping down to f/8 increases the sharpness, it has 3D look already from f/1.8!!!

Expand full review >>

Duration Product Used:   6-10 years

Price Paid:    $720.00

Purchased At:   Indonesia

Similar Products Used:   Nikkor 85/1.8, Nikkor 105s, Pentax 70-200/4-5.6, Nikkor 80-200

Type of photography:   Outdoor


Reviews 1 - 5 (10 Reviews Total) | Next 15

Review Options:  Sorted by Latest Review | Sort by Best Rating

Write a Review >>

  • Camera Format35 mm SLR
    Lens TypeFixed Focal Length Lens
    Focal Length77mm
    Lens Max Aperturef/1.8
    Min Aperturef/22
    Focus TypeAutofocus
    Macro LensWithout Macro Lens
    MountPentax
    Closest Focusing Distance27.6 in
    Picture Angle31.5 degrees
    Attachment / Filter Size49 mm
    Groups / Elements7 Elements in 6 Groups
    Diameter2.5 in
    Length1.9 in
    Weight9.5 oz
    MPN27970
    Product ID20724804
    Other Features<li>Aperture range: f/1.8-22 <li>Min focus: 2.3 ft. (0.7m)


 

PhotographyReview Videos



 

PhotographyReview on Facebook