DA* 16-50mm, FA 77mm Ltd, or FA 43mm Ltd.

nah · 04-28-2009, 03:43 PM

I've been wanting the DA* 16-50 for a while. I was going to sell my Tamron 17-50 to fund the DA*, but I've been reading about the 77 and 43 Ltd recently. I'm now intrigued, are those 2 lenses some of the best glass made by Pentax?

Will I notice a big difference from the Tamron to the DA*?

What would you guys pick if you were in my shoes (taking into account the gear I have) and had a choice of the 3?

Digitalis · 04-28-2009, 04:31 PM

the FA77 is unrivalled in terms of image quality and Bokeh rendition. the 43 LTD has Bokeh that really doesn't agree with me, that shouldn't suggest it is a substandard lens..it's just different...VERY different. The 31mm f/1.8 has more in common with the FA77 as far as bokeh is concerned but in some situations the FA31 beats the FA77 for smoothness.

at f/4 the 43 LTD can give the other two FA limiteds a good run for the money resolution wise but at apetures wider than that, it easily loses against the other two, especially in the corners.

and if you compared any of the FA limiteds to the Tamron you would have to be blind not to notice the difference.

*nulla* · 04-28-2009, 05:25 PM

I agree with everything said about the Limiteds, but wonder why you are considering the FA 77 as a replacement for the DA 16-50.

So for me if I were you I would be looking at either the FA 31 of FA 43 ltd's if you prefer the primes instead of zooms.

DA 16-50 is my favourite zoom, great throughout its whole focal range and is weather sealed

pschlute · 04-28-2009, 05:53 PM

I don't own the 16-45 that you already have, but from what I hear it is a super lens. I dont see the 16-50 adding to your kit if you intend to keep this lens.

The 43mm Ltd is a great lens which stays on my camera almost permanently. Sharp as you like, and a joy to use auto or manual focus. But you already have the 50mm and it is very close in focal length.

So go for the 77mm Ltd. As others have said it is a classy lens whose attributes have been well documented.

*tybeck* · 04-28-2009, 06:23 PM

Keep the Tamron, buy the 77mm. I have the FA 31mm, FA 77mm, and DA 40mm Limited as well as the DA 16-45. All are great lenses, but the 31mm and 77mm Limited have that something extra under the right conditions.

nah · 04-28-2009, 06:28 PM

Great comments.

The lenses I've choosen are definitely opposite to what their uses are. My intention is actually to get a really stellar lens and it looks like the FA 77 Ltd may be that lens.

I love the fact that 16-50 is weather sealed and I wouldn't have to worry when it does rain, just like my 50-135.

The 77 Ltd with the crop factor would come in at around 123mm. I'm not sure if it would be a little redundant when I have my 50-135 already. My concern is that Pentax will one day cancel production of this lens and the price will sky rocket.

So it's definitely down to the 16-50mm vs the 77 ltd. Sell the Tamron 17-50 + $300 for the 16-50 vs keeping the 17-50 and adding the 77 Ltd to my collection...tough choice...

EricT · 04-28-2009, 08:59 PM

Does the size and weight of the 50-135 bother you? If not, I'm not sure you'll gain that much by going with the 77.

*nulla* · 04-28-2009, 11:53 PM

I'm not sure if it would be a little redundant when I have my 50-135 already. My concern is that Pentax will one day cancel production of this lens and the price will sky rocket.

What makes you feel the FA 77ltd is different in this respect to the FA 31 and 43 limiteds being taken out of production which are both in the focal range of the zoom?

I am not sure why you are considering either the FA 77 or the DA 16-50 for to me they do not clash but compliment each other

Neil

**roentarre** · 04-29-2009, 12:49 AM

Again, lens choice is guided by the intended application of the individual photographer.

The lenses you mentioned are all very capable. There are always strengths and weakness with each one of the lenses.

If you are a prime person regardless of the photography style you adopt, Fa 77 and 43 would be amazing choices regardless.

Fa 77mm ltd gallery

Fa 43mm ltd gallery

On the other hand, Da* 16-50mm is a lens I have given away to an old friend. Capable lens with stunning colour and contrast but lacking the necessary clinical sharpness. However, the sharpening could be applied with various style of sharpening techniques.

A capable zoom with the weatherproof capability for sure. Pentax Da* 16-50 f2.8 gallery

If you do a search for Fa 77 and Fa 43, you would see plenty of discussion for pros and cons regarding these two most of talked about lenses.

pschlute · 04-29-2009, 03:14 AM

Nah

I detect a case of LBA developing

*pcarfan* · 04-29-2009, 05:46 AM

You will miss the wide end. I have the DA21, FA43 and FA77. The DA21 is nice, colr is amazing. The FA43 and FA77 are both out of this world. However the FA43 is my favorite. I will always be a Penatxian because of this lens, I cannot let it go...I can see myself possibly selling the FA77, but never the FA43 (focal length preference).

The DA21 and FA43 are small that they are ideal to be used indoors...I can easily keep one in thbe pocket.

quickiekuchen · 04-29-2009, 07:04 AM

What about DA 40? It has perfect image quality and a really sharp open-aperture. A nice Bokeh, too. My favorite! On AL-situations, I take Auto-Chinon 50/1,7 (sharp, but crappy Bokeh).

legacyb4 · 04-29-2009, 07:37 AM

If you want primes and the cost of the FA 77mm is making you hesitate, do consider the DA 70mm.

Likewise for the DA 40mm (instead of the FA 43mm) based on what people have said (I haven't used the 40).

*farfisa* · 04-29-2009, 07:54 AM

You're talking about three of my favourites, and actually the three lenses I took on my last vacation. Not entirely sure I could live without any of them (ok, an exaggeration) but if one of them could way, I'd say it's upgrading the Tamron to the DA*16-50.

I do love the colour of the DA*16-50 and it's fantastic by f/5.6, but I've heard (never used the Tamron, by the way) that the Tamron is a bit sharper wide open. I haven't had the greatest luck with the DA* wide open, but other zooms (like the Sigma 24-60 I had briefly) have been really sharp at f/2.8.

I do love the weather sealing though, and that makes me bring it more places than I would some of my other lenses (like the 43 and 77).

The 43 is great. Great focal length for indoors and a nice short portrait length. Compact and unintimidating. Very sharp, but I agree about the bokeh sometimes letting you down. Also it's very nice wide open--people say it's soft to the point of being not worth getting over the 40, but 1.9 is very very useable, and it's very sharp by 2.2. Most of all though, I use it at f/4 for sharpness and go around doing quick snaps.

I might use the 43 more because of the focal length, but the 77 is my favourite. Its rendering is beautiful, and it's extremely sharp.

I saw a recommendation here for the DA 70. The DA 70 is definitely a great lens by any standard (I've had it and sold it twice--long story!). Small, and light, and best of all sharp and great colour. But as far as IQ and rendering goes, I really don't see any gain over your 50-135. If you wanted a tiny version of the 50-135 at 70mm, it'd be your best bet, but I don't think that's why you posted!

So, long story short, I'd get the 77 first, then hunt for the 43, then upgrade your zoom.

*NaClH2O* · 04-29-2009, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by nah

Great comments.

*snip*

The 77 Ltd with the crop factor would come in at around 123mm. I'm not sure if it would be a little redundant when I have my 50-135 already. My concern is that Pentax will one day cancel production of this lens and the price will sky rocket.

I actually don't understand the above statement. Both lenses would be affected by the crop factor. Yes 77mm is in the middle of 50-135, but tne 50-135 lens is "renders like" a 75-203 lens as compared to a FF sensor camera. Just because the DA lens is optimized for the APS C sensor does not mean it is unaffected by the crop factor.

NaCl(I actually don't understand why we're still using 'crop factor terminology)H2O