[Stavri]

I don't own a FA 77 (and the Sigma 85 is long gone), but I have the next best thing. Hope that it helps with your decision. A quick and dirty comparison of the DA* 55 and EX 50, indoor (The EX 50mm is almost identical to the Ex 85mm in my experience, in terms of IQ, bokeh and character)

The Sigma might be sharper on the pixel level, the bokeh blends smoothly. The DA* has better colors, micro-contrast (images pop) and the bokeh is a bit busier but by very little.

EX 50mm @ 2
DA*55 @f2

Sigma (crop)
DA* (crop)

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Last edited by Stavri; 09-24-2014 at 11:48 AM.

[todd]

@ 2.8

just fyi exify reports these nice kitty images were taken @f2.0

[Stavri]

just fyi exify reports these nice kitty images were taken @f2.0

Fixed it...

[nicoprod]

Sigma EX definitely renders cooler (temperature)

[Stavri]

Sigma EX definitely renders cooler (temperature)

Sorry for shifting the topic to DA vs EX 50 (I feel pretty strongly about the EX washed out colors) People have talked at length about the DA* 55 (and FA in general) busy bokeh. Some even prefer the smoothness of the EX fast lenses.
Here's a bokeh comparison between the DA* 55 and the EX 50. On my calibrated 26" NEC MultiSync 2690WUXi2 the difference is noticeable. the DA* has richer colors, darker blacks, better micro-contrast.
2690WUXi2
EX 50 @f1.8

DA* 55 @f1.8

EX 50 (crop)

DA* 55 crop

[nicoprod]

I think it's also valid for FA 77 vs. EX 85.