Pentax SMC-FA 77mm F1.8

Pentax HD FA 77mm F1.8 Limited Review

The Pentax HD FA 77mm F1.8 Limited lens packages bright, background-blurring optics into a palm-sized package with a metal finish and broad compatibility. Pentax is updating a trio of its longest-running and most-renowned lenses, the FA Limited family. The HD FA 77mm F1.8 Limited ($799.95) is the replacement for the SMC FA 77mm. It's a perfect doppelgänger because the biggest upgrades are invisible: its HD and SP optical coatings improve flare resistance and longevity, respectively, while its aperture now features rounded blades. The updated 77mm is a worthy successor to the now two-decades-old SMC 77mm, and a good pick for photographers who value its 20th-century character and handling.A Small Gem With a Clever Retracting Hood The original version of the FA 77mm Limited first went on sale back in 1999, a time when digital cameras were on the horizon, but not anywhere near mainstream. It's a mainstay in the Pentax catalog and has gained the same cultish devotion as its contemporaries, the FA 31mm and FA 43mm Limited, since its launch. The FA 77mm is the longest of the bunch in the upgraded lineup; its short telephoto angle and w...