[Adam]

Just added some sample photos to the end. Glad you guys like the review!

Adam
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[eddie1960]

Thanks Adam, I had made my mind up to save for the FA77 this year this actually made the choice a little harder (the potential for an elusive FF will likely still keep me on the 77, but the 70 is no slouch)

[mikeSF]

good to see this comparison. a little late for me, lol, as i bought both and kept the the FA77. Tells me pretty much exactly what I already know.

If i were only shooting stopped down landscapes, i'd get the DA70 and be happy. But if there are portraits, close focus macro(with ext ring), low light, etc, the FA77 whips its butt.

Also, the CA correction tool in ACR works beautifully to eliminate any color fringing easily. I use it for all my photos.

[civiletti]

Likely a AF problem. The test chart shows FA77 is sharper at f1.8 than DA70 at f2.4, this is a big deal to me.

According to PhotoZone tests, the FA77 is not even close to the DA70 in wide-open resolution:






In fact, border resolution of the DA70 is significantly higher at f2.4 than the FA77's at f2.8.

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Last edited by civiletti; 05-07-2012 at 11:32 AM. Reason: more info

[eddie1960]

According to PhotoZone tests, the FA77 is not even close to the DA70 in wide-open resolution:

but at every other stop measure it beats the DA.
for me since i would mostly shoot wide open for portraits and bokeh shots i'm less concerned. they both look pretty superb though (I prefer the colour rendering on the 77 though from Adam's examples posted)

[civiletti]

but at every other stop measure it beats the DA.

If you care mostly about central resolution. If you care about the entire image, the DA wins at large aperture, while they are quite close from f4 down. Note that the FA77 MTF test did not include the corners, while the DA70 test did. My guess is that the DA would do better at the extreme corners at any aperture.

[jsherman999]

.

Personally I like the bokeh of the FA 77ltd far better, odd that they both got a '10' (or maybe the FA 77 should have gone to 11 )

DA 70 @ f/3.5

FA 77 @ f/3.5

[chesebert]

According to PhotoZone tests, the FA77 is not even close to the DA70 in wide-open resolution:






In fact, border resolution of the DA70 is significantly higher at f2.4 than the FA77's at f2.8.

I am wondering whether Photozone got a decent copy of the 77. I have just taken some test shots on the 77 and at f1.8, the corner performance on my 77 appears to be very good. Certainly better than Photozone's number would otherwise suggest. Honestly, at f2.8, I can hardly tell the center apart from the corner, difference in sharpness is minor.

Test shot; raw file straight from lightroom and cropped; sharpness is reduced to zero with -1 in sharpness applied in the camera (don't believe this affects the raw); The corner crops are actually the corners of the image

f1.8 corner 1; 100%




f1.8 corner 2 ; 100%



f1.8 center ; 100%



f2.8; corner1: 100%



f2.8: corner 2; 100%



f2.8; center; 100%

[jsherman999]

According to PhotoZone tests, the FA77 is not even close to the DA70 in wide-open resolution:


In fact, border resolution of the DA70 is significantly higher at f2.4 than the FA77's at f2.8.

But in general usage with this focal length, you don't usually care about border resolution at the higher apertures. When you need across-the-frame sharpness (no subject isolation,), you are usually stopping down - and at f/5.6, the 77ltd has matched the 70ltd across the frame, and beaten it by f/8.

At f/2.8, the first common aperture shared in those charts, the 77ltd is sharper in the center - at f/2.8 and larger, you're usually shooting for subject isolation, in which case the less-resolved edges actually add to the 'pop' and 3-D effect.

[eddie1960]

.

Personally I like the bokeh of the FA 77ltd far better, odd that they both got a '10' (or maybe the FA 77 should have gone to 11 )

DA 70 @ f/3.5

FA 77 @ f/3.5

I agree, the colour rendering is part of that of course, but it just seems so much better to my eye
the other thing for me is since this is mostly a portrait length for me edge to edge flatfield sharpness is not my #1 concern (if it was then I would have to also look at the Sigma 70mm macro though it's not as fast

[civiletti]

.

Personally I like the bokeh of the FA 77ltd far better, odd that they both got a '10' (or maybe the FA 77 should have gone to 11 )

DA 70 @ f/3.5

FA 77 @ f/3.5

What I see in your images is lower contrast with the FA77, both in the out of focus areas and in the face. What do you see?

[lesmore49]

Just got (last week) my DA 70mm F 2.4...in silver no less. Very happy with it....in fact so far...love it...and I have a very discerning eye.

[jsherman999]

What I see in your images is lower contrast with the FA77, both in the out of focus areas and in the face. What do you see?

A much more pleasing portrait!

[civiletti]

at f/2.8 and larger, you're usually shooting for subject isolation, in which case the less-resolved edges actually add to the 'pop' and 3-D effect.

This is true if your subject never wanders from the center of the frame. This is not the case in most of my images.

[civiletti]

edge to edge flatfield sharpness is not my #1 concern (if it was then I would have to also look at the Sigma 70mm macro though it's not as fast

True. The Sigma 70/2.8 bests both Pentax lenses. It also focuses closer and costs less.