Originally posted by noelpolar Part of me (heart...not head) is thinking that I need to get the FA77 and give it a try .........
Yes, you probably need to give it a try. Because the character of the images from this lens is unlike anything you have right now.
Your head vs. heart "analogy" is probably a good one, because the DA70's output (whether the HD version or not) is more analytical and "digitally sharp" in appearance, whereas the FA77 yields a slightly softer, more beautiful appearance. I definitely lends itself to a more emotional, artistic approach to photography. When I decided (almost at the last minute) to purchase the FA77 instead of the DA70 (I was initially certain the DA70 took better photos) it transformed my photography - I now consider sharpness secondary to the beauty of a photo. This is why you need to give it a try - because it may change your photography as well. You probably wouldn't be asking this question if you'd already made this transition.
Originally posted by noelpolar On a scale of 1-10 I'm about a 5 as far as competancy in photography goes....
And getting the FA77 will change that.
But on the practical side as well, remember that the FA77 is still remarkably small. It's almost a full stop faster than the DA70, and it retains near-optimal IQ even wide-open (a very rare quality - it's hard to see any difference in IQ between photos shot at f/1.8, f/2, and f/2.2). The small size and fast aperture make it just as versatile as the excellent DA*50-135 - without even having any zoom! In some situations (like dark stage performances) you may find it's the
only lens suitable for the job.
EDIT: Upon reading your post again, I think you may have been getting at a different question as well ...
Originally posted by noelpolar but another part (head?) says that the HD DA70 will make a more reliable travel lens for grabbing good snaps when I can't control a number of the variables (such as light, angle, time to compose shot etc).
I don't think the DA70 would be any more "reliable" at getting the shot when you have little or no time to prepare for it. In fact, this is what makes the FA77 so great. You simply set it to somewhere between f/1.8 and f/2.2 in AV mode (unless the light is so bright the shutter can't go fast enough) and shoot away. The FA77's character (especially at wide apertures) will
make an otherwise ordinary photo look more interesting by featuring (isolating) the subject.
Last edited by DSims; 01-22-2014 at 02:04 AM.