With an odd focal length of 77mm and an unconventional f-stop value of 1.8 – in comparison to traditional values such as 55/50/80/85mm and 2.0 or 1.4 – we find ourselves in the company of the Pentax 77mm f/1.8 lens, the brainchild of Japanese lens designer Mr. Jun Hirakawa, a designer who clearly marches to the beat of his own drum.
Interestingly, the 77mm is a full-frame compatible lens launched long before Pentax introduced their first full-frame digital camera, the Pentax K1, to the market in April 2016.
The 77mm 1.8 lens has been my go to lens for more than ten years in combination with a Pentax K5. For a while it was my only lens and suited a diverse set of purposes, some of which it isn’t designed for – such as ‘pseudo’ macro photography of food and wine, which has worked fine in spite of its minimum focusing distance of 70 centimeter and for ambience photos in restaurant settings.
The Greatest Pentax Lens of All Time?
Some objects just feel right when you touch them for the first time, the 77mm 1.8 is such an object – and mounted on the camera it is as if it disappears to become a natural extension of your body, and, perhaps also, your mind’s conscious or subconscious intention.
Used 77mm 1.8s lenses can be found at reasonable prices. To my knowledge, all versions of the 77mm 1.8 have been produced in Japan.
A couple of months ago (in 2024), I came to a cross roads, side-grading from the Pentax K5 to a Nikon D3, but I’m sure I’ll find time to use the Pentax 77mm 1.8 now and again.
Shooting with a Pentax K10D & Pentax K1
In October 2024, I started using Pentax equipment again. Having wanted to experience and experiment with CCD sensors, I got a cheap Pentax K10D off of eBay.
Currently, I’m trying out different combinations with a newer Pentax K1 also. Latest acquisition is a Pentax SMCA 50mm f/1.2 lens, which should be Pentax’ fastest lens to date (and faster than the 77mm).
Specifications
Brand: Pentax
Designer: Jun Hirokawa
Current producer: Ricoh
Country of origin/production: Japan
Launch year: 1999
Aperture: 1.8
Filter diameter: 49mm
Max diameter: 64mm
Mount: Pentax KAF
Color: Black or silver
Auto focus: yes
Manual focus: yes
Number of groups: 6
Number of blades: 9
Weight: 270 grams
Full-frame coverage: yes
Weather-sealed construction: no
