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01-07-2013, 12:28 PM   #1
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FA 77mm 1.8 with DA*50mm-135mm 2.8

I really want the FA 77mm 1.8 limited, but I already have the DA* 50mm-135mm 2.8. Would it be silly to get the FA lens? I have LBA, and need to hear some opinions. Anyone out there have both lenses, and do you find it useful to have both or is it just redundant?

I mainly shoot, nature, wildlife, and pets (lots of pets)

Thanks a bunch,

Debbie

01-07-2013, 12:55 PM   #2
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I have both and my 77 Ltd rarely sees the light of day.
01-07-2013, 01:11 PM   #3
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Do you like to shoot at f2 or f4? If f4 then you don't need the 77!
01-07-2013, 01:16 PM   #4
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I have both too, and the difference between these two lenses is more than obvious. So listen LBA, LBA never lies .

Otherwise, if you have a fast moving pets (I have a ferret) is making in focus shot with my k7 and FA 77 Ltd mission impossible.Maybe when he sleeping, eating or marking his favorite rock .

01-07-2013, 01:16 PM   #5
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I also have both. You would benefit from the FA 77 if you like more bokeh in some of your shots. Also the FA 77 is better for low light shots and shots that you don't want to use flash. It is also good when you don't want to carry around the extra weight and bigger size of the DA*50-135 mm f/2.8 lens.
01-07-2013, 01:20 PM   #6
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I have both and I don't use the FA 77, but then again, I don't do many "portrait sessions." My wife uses the FA 77 quite a bit and likes it a lot. It is just that on APS-C, the FA 77 seems kind of long. It isn't the fastest focusing lens, so even though its aperture should allow it to be a great low light lens, it often struggles a bit in low light, keeping up.

Wide open, it is neck and neck with my DA *55 for sharpest lens. Has beautiful out of focus rendering. Can't argue with it in portrait sessions, it just wouldn't work as a walk around lens.


01-07-2013, 01:22 PM   #7
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between my husband and i we have both...i wouldn't give up the 77 for any reason...the 50-135 takes excellent pictures but if i had to give up 1 it would be this one..you just need to decide how you want to use it and then that might help you to decide..

01-07-2013, 01:41 PM   #8
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Thanks everybody. I really like shallow DOF and great bokeh for pets, so I think I will go for it. Woohoo!!
01-07-2013, 01:54 PM   #9
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Bokeh is excellent, so if you do not need ultra fast focus you will not be sorry.
01-07-2013, 03:18 PM   #10
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Don't worry, it's not redundant. For that matter, neither is my FA*85/1.4 (which replaced my FA77). The FA77 has a further advantage over the FA*85 in being even smaller compared to the DA*50-135.

For me, at least, the DA*50-135 gets used a little less. But it's usually very clear which lens I need to use for a given situation.
01-07-2013, 04:20 PM   #11
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I have never tried the FA 77 but I love my DA 70. It's got very fast AF and it's very compact and light. Definitely keeps up with toddlers and pets. But for the best bokeh and shallow DOF, get the FA 77 and don't look back.
01-07-2013, 04:22 PM   #12
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QuoteOriginally posted by seventysixersfan Quote
I have never tried the FA 77 but I love my DA 70. It's got very fast AF and it's very compact and light. Definitely keeps up with toddlers and pets. But for the best bokeh and shallow DOF, get the FA 77 and don't look back.
I tried the DA 70. I liked it a lot, but would rather get the FA 77, not only for FF in the future but for the 1.8 f stop.
01-07-2013, 05:45 PM   #13
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If you have been "infected" with LBA, there's no such thing as a silly purchase...I have the da*50-135, fa77, and da70; I don't regret having all three. The one I use most is the da70.

In terms of IQ, the FA77 is the best without a doubt, the AF is a tad slower than the da70. The da70 is slightly smaller, slightly less sharp but well enough for portraits. The 50-135 is actually very good for a zoom, very versatile, but the IQ suffers slightly compared to the above (specially when wide open). I haven't had more than a week with the 50-135, so haven't had much field experience with it.

Something with the limiteds is that I can travel with 3-4 of them in the same space as the 50-135, and they don't weight much, which is important for me. It's quite nice to travel with a 3 DA limited kit...for me, it's the 21, 40 and 70, for some reason the 40 gets the most usage.
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