FA 77 or DA*16-50

sumanm17 · 06-11-2012, 05:02 AM

I have a FA 31 limited, DA*60-250 and kit lens 18-55. Which lens should I be looking for now? Is fa 31 and fa 77 a good combination? Is 16-50 good for portraits?

selar · 06-11-2012, 05:08 AM - **1 Like**

I quite like the portraits from the long end of the 16~50. But it's not really anywhere close to a FA77. It really depends on whether you feel a greater need for a general purpose zoom or a specialist portrait lens. You will get much more use out of the zoom.

top-quark · 06-11-2012, 05:20 AM - **1 Like**

It's a bit like asking "should I have steak and chips or the trifle?". Depends. Do you want a main course or dessert? Those are two very different beasts: a large, general purpose standard zoom and a small, special purpose telephoto prime.

sumanm17 · 06-11-2012, 05:33 AM

I think i need the standard zoom ( 16-50) but I was wondering if the combination of FA 31 ,smc A 50 f1.7 and FA 77 will fill that gap. I am quite new to prime lens world.

parsons · 06-11-2012, 05:44 AM - **1 Like**

i would go for the 77 if you want something for portraits. It can't really be beaten. edit: (well it can, but not by the 16-50 anyway)

i would be tempted to say that if you pointed the 16-50 at someone they would get a little intimidated. the 77 doesn't do that- and it has extra reach, and the extra speed.

i think that da15, fa31,fa77 would be a good kit.
your legs can zoom between these.
they would probably all fit into the same space as a single 16-50 and give much better images too.
thats just my opinion though.

Mareket · 06-11-2012, 05:54 AM - **1 Like**

I WILL say that pointing the 16-50 at people (children) makes them somewhat intimidated (cry). A good bunch of primes is a wonderful thing, and the FA77 would suit you much better for portraits, but as others have said, they're two entirely different lenses.

I've had the DA 15 and I much prefer my 16-50 for wide angle work, it's faster and has nicer rendering IMO. I adore my 16-50, and if you;re looking for an all-weather wide angle workhorse then it'll serve you well, but if you want a longer lens with incredible bokeh and rendering then go with the 77.

EDIT: I noticed you have the 60-250. Combining the two DA* zooms will give you amazing IQ over a huge range without needing to swap lenses much. The main advantage of the primes is the smaller size. IQ isn't massively different between the two. But you could fit a lot of primes in the space the 16-50 takes up.

sumanm17 · 06-11-2012, 06:14 AM

I think i will go for 16-50 because of its flexibility. Prime lenses are better options picture-wise but it may be inconvenient to keep changing the lenses.

pdo · 06-11-2012, 06:34 AM

I have 16-50mm, 50-135mm but my most used lenses when it comes to shooting people is my FA 35mm F2 and 77mm Limited..

top-quark · 06-11-2012, 07:04 AM

@sumanm17
You were also asking about choosing between the DA* 55mm and FA 77mm in another thread.

Glad you've made up your mind. Don't know whether you've thought about third party, but the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 is a lot cheaper and rather smaller but is not weather-sealed. I'm guessing that since you have the 60-250, you don't mind packing a large piece of glass, so perhaps the size difference won't be important but maybe the weather sealing will.

FWIW, your 31mm is a normal lens on digital. You can use it to take most shots so long as you don't mind moving rather than zooming to do your framing. Your 50mm now occupies a similar ecological niche to the 77mm on film. As to whether the 77 is a good partner for the 31, well it's probably not bad - it is part of a set, after all. In my own experience, I use the 35 Ltd as my all-purpose normal lens. I also have the 70mm Ltd. However, if I'm needing the extra length (because I can't physically get the shot otherwise), I generally find that 70mm isn't long enough so don't get a tremendous amount of use from it. The DFA 100mm WR (which I have recently acquired) has the same build-quality and good looks and is a good deal longer. Hence, for me, it may form part of a walkaround prime collection (close focus is good to have too).

tabl10s · 06-11-2012, 08:27 AM

Originally posted by top-quark

It's a bit like asking "should I have steak and chips or the trifle?". Depends. Do you want a main course or dessert? Those are two very different beasts: a large, general purpose standard zoom and a small, special purpose telephoto prime.

Haven't had Trifle in almost 30 years.

RioRico · 06-11-2012, 09:47 AM - **1 Like**

You have 18-55 and 60-250. At what focal lengths do you normally use them? Do you have many shots clustered around 50-60mm or 75-80mm? If the first, go for the DA*55. If the second, go for the FA77Ltd. Do you feel especially limited by the 18-55? Then get the DA*16-50. Ask yourself, "What do I want to do that I can't do with what I already have?"

Bestzoom · 06-11-2012, 08:55 PM

I have FA31 Ltd, FA77 Ltd, Sigma 50f1.4 plus the kit lens(back up).
You have the longer end covered.
The only reason i can think of getting a DA16-50 is WR, as i will be heading to snow fields in a few weeks and i normally don't shoot wider than FA31Ltd. I don't want to risk my Ltd's.
If your aim of getting your next lens is for portrait (above waist or head and shoulder shots), get the FA77Ltd.

06-11-2012, 05:02 AM	#1
sumanm17 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9	*FA 77 or DA16-50** I have a FA 31 limited, DA*60-250 and kit lens 18-55. Which lens should I be looking for now? Is fa 31 and fa 77 a good combination? Is 16-50 good for portraits?

06-11-2012, 05:08 AM - 1 Like	#2
selar Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,042	I quite like the portraits from the long end of the 16~50. But it's not really anywhere close to a FA77. It really depends on whether you feel a greater need for a general purpose zoom or a specialist portrait lens. You will get much more use out of the zoom.

06-11-2012, 05:20 AM - 1 Like	#3
top-quark Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Aylesbury, Bucks Photos: Albums Posts: 492	It's a bit like asking "should I have steak and chips or the trifle?". Depends. Do you want a main course or dessert? Those are two very different beasts: a large, general purpose standard zoom and a small, special purpose telephoto prime.

06-11-2012, 05:33 AM	#4
sumanm17 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9 Original Poster	I think i need the standard zoom ( 16-50) but I was wondering if the combination of FA 31 ,smc A 50 f1.7 and FA 77 will fill that gap. I am quite new to prime lens world.

06-11-2012, 05:44 AM - 1 Like	#5
parsons Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 389	i would go for the 77 if you want something for portraits. It can't really be beaten. edit: (well it can, but not by the 16-50 anyway) i would be tempted to say that if you pointed the 16-50 at someone they would get a little intimidated. the 77 doesn't do that- and it has extra reach, and the extra speed. i think that da15, fa31,fa77 would be a good kit. your legs can zoom between these. they would probably all fit into the same space as a single 16-50 and give much better images too. thats just my opinion though.

06-11-2012, 05:54 AM - 1 Like	#6
Mareket Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Chester Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 719	I WILL say that pointing the 16-50 at people (children) makes them somewhat intimidated (cry). A good bunch of primes is a wonderful thing, and the FA77 would suit you much better for portraits, but as others have said, they're two entirely different lenses. I've had the DA 15 and I much prefer my 16-50 for wide angle work, it's faster and has nicer rendering IMO. I adore my 16-50, and if you;re looking for an all-weather wide angle workhorse then it'll serve you well, but if you want a longer lens with incredible bokeh and rendering then go with the 77. EDIT: I noticed you have the 60-250. Combining the two DA* zooms will give you amazing IQ over a huge range without needing to swap lenses much. The main advantage of the primes is the smaller size. IQ isn't massively different between the two. But you could fit a lot of primes in the space the 16-50 takes up.

06-11-2012, 06:14 AM	#7
sumanm17 New Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 9 Original Poster	I think i will go for 16-50 because of its flexibility. Prime lenses are better options picture-wise but it may be inconvenient to keep changing the lenses.

06-11-2012, 06:34 AM	#8
pdo Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Westminster CA Posts: 264	I have 16-50mm, 50-135mm but my most used lenses when it comes to shooting people is my FA 35mm F2 and 77mm Limited..

06-11-2012, 07:04 AM	#9
top-quark Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Aylesbury, Bucks Photos: Albums Posts: 492	@sumanm17 You were also asking about choosing between the DA* 55mm and FA 77mm in another thread. Glad you've made up your mind. Don't know whether you've thought about third party, but the Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 is a lot cheaper and rather smaller but is not weather-sealed. I'm guessing that since you have the 60-250, you don't mind packing a large piece of glass, so perhaps the size difference won't be important but maybe the weather sealing will. FWIW, your 31mm is a normal lens on digital. You can use it to take most shots so long as you don't mind moving rather than zooming to do your framing. Your 50mm now occupies a similar ecological niche to the 77mm on film. As to whether the 77 is a good partner for the 31, well it's probably not bad - it is part of a set, after all. In my own experience, I use the 35 Ltd as my all-purpose normal lens. I also have the 70mm Ltd. However, if I'm needing the extra length (because I can't physically get the shot otherwise), I generally find that 70mm isn't long enough so don't get a tremendous amount of use from it. The DFA 100mm WR (which I have recently acquired) has the same build-quality and good looks and is a good deal longer. Hence, for me, it may form part of a walkaround prime collection (close focus is good to have too).

06-11-2012, 08:27 AM	#10
tabl10s Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Sacramento(formerly from B'Ham, England). Posts: 1,424	Originally posted by top-quark It's a bit like asking "should I have steak and chips or the trifle?". Depends. Do you want a main course or dessert? Those are two very different beasts: a large, general purpose standard zoom and a small, special purpose telephoto prime. Haven't had Trifle in almost 30 years.

06-11-2012, 09:47 AM - 1 Like	#11
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	You have 18-55 and 60-250. At what focal lengths do you normally use them? Do you have many shots clustered around 50-60mm or 75-80mm? If the first, go for the DA55. If the second, go for the FA77Ltd. Do you feel especially limited by the 18-55? Then get the DA16-50. Ask yourself, "What do I want to do that I can't do with what I already have?"

06-11-2012, 08:55 PM	#12
Bestzoom Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Sydney Photos: Albums Posts: 232	I have FA31 Ltd, FA77 Ltd, Sigma 50f1.4 plus the kit lens(back up). You have the longer end covered. The only reason i can think of getting a DA16-50 is WR, as i will be heading to snow fields in a few weeks and i normally don't shoot wider than FA31Ltd. I don't want to risk my Ltd's. If your aim of getting your next lens is for portrait (above waist or head and shoulder shots), get the FA77Ltd.