Pentax 77mm limited

I doubt very much that anyone will be able to tell the difference. There may be slight batch variations, but it should be very slight with lenses of this quality.

Not sure if this would be a difference in where they were assembled, or in different version runs using slightly different parts.

I have both versions of the Pentax FA77, the first one being assembled in Japan was literally one of the first serial numbers issued - in the first one hundred made via serial number. The more recent one was purchased less than two months ago and was assembled in Vietnam.

They both appear identical optically, same aperture and all, almost identical specs, but... For some reason the Japan made version is heavier by a few grams than the 269 gram Vietnam version. There does appear visually to be a better build quality for the Japan version, feels better in actual use.

So it would appear as though it is only cosmetic, and perhaps a change of materials at some point between different versions

I haven't either, but when I bought my FA43 Ltd, I wanted a new lens (which was AIV) rather than a used one. It's a lens I've wanted since originally introduced and I wanted a pristine example that I knew the history of.

If you're looking at buying used, then condition of the lens is far more important than where it was made/assembled. If you particularly want an MIJ then nothing else will do, but I really doubt there will be any significant difference other than the usual, very slight, sample variation when the lens was new.

BJP stated this was one of the best full-frame portrait lenses available, at that time they would all be AIV.

John.