On 8/20/2021 11:21 AM, Gonz wrote:
Going on a trip up to Maine in a couple of weeks. Been lusting over the 77 for years, maybe decades. I've had the 31 for a few years and love it. Figured I could take both as a lightish weight kit on my trip. Apparently they're making a new 77 now, "HD". Anyone have any experience with these newer models? Any comparisons with the older limiteds?
No personal experience, but they've updated the coatings and I believe they have rounded the aperture blades somewhat.
I expect it's purple fringing when wide open is about the same as the original model, I don't think that is something that can be cured with a coatings update.
The 77 is still a much loved lens and gives very good image quality most of the time, though it has now been much superseded by the D FA* 85/1.4 in several categories, image quality, size and price are the ones that come to mind.
Expect the new version to be similar in most regards, and perhaps somewhat better in a few metrics, those being the ones where rounded aperture blades are better than straight ones.
I'm not sure if this is true, but my understanding is that the coating update had as much to do with economics as anything else. By updating the lens to HD coatings, they are standardizing on a more modern coating strategy for all their lenses, not because the HD coatings are night and day better than the older SMC process, which is already excellent.
The SMC 77 that I have handles flare better than just about any lens I have used. It is quite difficult to ruin a shot with flare with the 77, so if the HD coatings are in improvement, it's going to be incremental, and making what is very good indeed a tiny bit better.
I expect if you dig around on Pentax Forums a bit, you will probably find a few direct comparisons between the two. There are a number of people there who spend quite a bit of effort making the type of comparisons you will find helpful.
I'm keeping my 77 for when I get too frail to carry the 85/1.4. I hope the mechanics of it haven't frozen by then, as my intent is to not become that frail for half a dozen decades.
bill -- %(real_name)s Pentax-Discuss Mail List To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
