Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
05-22-2011, 03:49 AM   #1
Senior Member




Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 135
Am I crazy?

I already have the DA70, but I'm about to pull the trigger on an FA77. I've been perfectly happy with the performance of the DA70 (vibrancy, focus speed, bokeh rendering) but the mystical pixie dust status of the FA77 has pulled me in.

Secondly, my current lineup stands at:
Sigma 10-20, DA15, DA35, DA40, FA43, DA70

I'm thinking about consolidating down to:
Sigma 10-20, DA*16-50, FA43, FA77

DA40 - fantastic size and speed, but prefer the FA43 (similar FL)
DA15 - great flare resistance, but the DA*16-50 is a more suitable walkabout
DA35 - nice focal length, but as above the DA*16-50 would be better for walkabout

Opinions welcome. Can get the FA77 second hand for $680. Also considered the DA*50-135.

05-22-2011, 03:57 AM   #2
Ash
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
Ash's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Toowoomba, Queensland
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,920
It's a very understandable craziness... explained by three letters: L, B, A.
Then again, your planned kit isn't bad - it'd basically replaced the DA limiteds with FA limiteds.
Either way would be fine. Little to lose.

The 50-135 is also a great lens - if you like the 16-50 for your walkaround stuff, you'll love the 50-135 for your telezoom stuff. Focusing is slower, but you have great IQ. Your call there. (I'd even consider both )
05-22-2011, 04:05 AM   #3
Veteran Member
wlachan's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Canada
Photos: Albums
Posts: 2,625
Boy trading Limited lenses for SDM? NO FREAKING WAY!
05-22-2011, 04:09 AM   #4
Senior Member




Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 135
Original Poster
Maybe I should just ditch the DA*16-50 and get an FA31, hahah

05-22-2011, 05:12 AM   #5
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Digitalis's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 11,694
QuoteOriginally posted by wlachan Quote
trading Limited lenses for SDM? NO FREAKING WAY!
now I have seen it all.
05-22-2011, 05:13 AM   #6
wjt
Veteran Member




Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Perth
Photos: Albums
Posts: 371
I'll buy your 15Ltd, I think it's holding you back
05-22-2011, 08:32 AM   #7
Site Supporter
Aegon's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 1,416
Get the FA77 secondhand for $680. Compare it to the DA70. If you don't think the 77 is worth the premium then sell it and keep the 70.

I did the same thing a while back and kept the 77. I think this is a really sensible way of telling if which lens is better. You really can't lose because it is easy to resell the 77 and you may even make a small profit.

This method of trying out lenses is quite the opposite of crazy.

05-22-2011, 08:51 AM   #8
Veteran Member




Join Date: Jul 2010
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 2,395
I would agree that the 16-50 is bit of a gamble with all the SDM failures...

You could do -

SELL: Sigma 10-20, DA 15, DA 40

BUY: Pentax 12-24, FA 77

and finally, sell either the DA 70 or FA 77.

12-24, 35 (Macro), 43, 70/77.

My comparison from having owned both:

DA 70 - focused faster, quickshift, more vivid colours that work best if you are going to post-process, 9/10 bokeh.

FA 77 - more natural colours that work best if you do not want to post process, 10/10 bokeh, hood is a little short (some flare on digital), about 1 stop faster is nice but only occasionally useful. WAY MORE CHROMATIC ABERRATIONS. If you are also shooting film though, the FA 77 is the way to go.

Depending on your needs, the FA 77 could *easily* be worth it and be a steal at 680, or *easily* be overkill. If you want it specifically for portraiture, the 77 is best for that. I find the DA 70 is better for general purpose.

Also I suggested the 12-24 because it goes to 24... which is essentially a ultra wide - wide spread. The 35 is normal, the 43 is a short tele, the 77 is a long tele... functionally this should be a useful spread (and no SDM). Plus the 35 is a macro!
05-22-2011, 02:57 PM   #9
Senior Member




Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 135
Original Poster
Considering getting a 70-200 instead of DA*50-135. Might be a more useful focal length.
05-22-2011, 05:00 PM   #10
Veteran Member
twitch's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,571
I just bought the FA77 even though I was perfectly happy with my DA70. At first I was a bit disappointed with the FA77 as I first shot it side by side with the DA70 in a slightly backlit situation. The FA77 sure PF's a lot more than the DA70. However the more I use the FA77 the more I'm growing to like it; the rendering is beautiful and the extra stop is very handy both from a DOF and exposure POV. Also I thought the DA70 was sharp but wow, the FA77 is incredible.

If Pentax ever comes out with FF though those FA ltds will get even more valuable....

The DA*50-135 is a fantastic zoom and there are many times I use it in preference to either my 70/77. Eg at family events or at the beach. Is it as sharp? No it isn't but not by a huge amount.

Since you have both a 10-20 and a DA15 then you ae in the best position to decide between those. My DA15 will be pryed out of my cold dead hands, while my DA12-24 is "OK", but that hood gives me the irrites. Also the sharpness drops off over 20mm.

I tried 2 copies of a DA*16-50 and gave up, the AF accuracy was a joke and the IQ was pretty poor @ 2.8. The SDM issues add insult to injury.

So, my view is to cover 15ish to 80ish with both prime and zooms as this range is 90% of my shooting and there are too many times that I need a zoom vs a prime or vis versa. O

For me I think I might end up with:
Zooms: 12-24, 28-75 (dont own yet), 50-135, 55-300 (can't justify 60-250 as dont use this range enough)
Primes: 15, 21, 31, 43 (swap for my DA40), 70 (perhaps sell or swap this for a 100mm macro though), 77
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
da*16-50, da15, da35, da40, da70, fa43, fa77, k-mount, pentax lens, sigma, slr lens, walkabout
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SR Went Crazy Engi_Nerd Pentax DSLR Discussion 5 06-09-2010 08:37 PM
Would this be crazy? icywarm Photographic Technique 5 05-14-2010 01:18 PM
Maybe I'm Not Crazy After All Sailor General Talk 7 04-02-2010 07:02 AM
Am I crazy? opianstate Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Other Camera Brands 34 10-12-2009 08:02 AM
Am I crazy ? Fred2726 Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 18 08-23-2009 08:25 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:25 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top