[Eagle94VT]

I do not own the prime, but absolutely love my 50-135. Feels solid, smooth well built and won't be planning on parting with it.

[ChristianRock]

You could probably buy the DA 50 & 70 plus the FA 135 for the price of the 50-135...

[Stavri]

You could probably buy the DA 50 & 70 plus the FA 135 for the price of the 50-135...

Not quite, the FA 135mm (a $300+ lens) has gotten quite expensive nowadays...

[aikilink]

You could probably buy the DA 50 & 70 plus the FA 135 for the price of the 50-135...

I've seen excellent copies of the 50-135 DA* go for anywhere from $520 - $600 these past weeks since the FF was announced.

My guess is that if you are careful, you may find a DA 70 for around $350 (that'd be the cheapest I've seen one).
An FA 135, you'd be lucky if you got one for much below $400, in my opinion.
Sure, you can find the DA 50 for $100+ and it's a lens that I think anyone should have, for that price!

I have the above primes, and I love them! I had quite a disliking of zooms, and that only changed with the DA* 50-135, and for just over $500, I think it's a pretty great price! I don't think it's reasonable to compare a DA 70mm and a DA* 50-135 on the money alone - two very different lenses which could be taken out for very different reasons.

A few reasons I'd take the DA 70 out and leave the zoom at home right now would be:

* If I didn't want to be noticed, wanted to stay out of the way, yet be able to get some great quality images.
* If I was going out to get very specific pictures, such as of a single subject and I had the flexibility to move around a lot.
* It packs a lot of quality in a very small and lightweight package.
* For the extra little bit of aperture width.
* For the extra little bit of focusing speed.
* More likely to be usable on the future FF camera.

Things the DA* might be more useful for:

* Flexibility of re-framing when you have subjects with short attention spans (kids make for a great example).
* Weather sealing, which would make it a great choice for a single lens (or to pair up with a favorite prime) if you were taking a road trip and unaware of what the weather conditions may be like.
* In a church or other indoor setting where the quiet focusing would be much appreciated by those around you.
* Perhaps if you want attention, if you are the designated photographer at an event - when the group is being assaulted with countless phones and P&S cameras, it definitely gives one an air of authority (this could be a huge negative also).

Just some of my thoughts on when I'd use one or the other...
-Q

[Stavri]

Wait until he discovered the awesomeness of the -F/FA 135mm f2.8, (the lens was build for candid photography) He'll have to officially change his name to Sneaky Pete

[micromacro]

I've seen excellent copies of the 50-135 DA* go for anywhere from $520 - $600 these past weeks since the FF was announced.

My guess is that if you are careful, you may find a DA 70 for around $350 (that'd be the cheapest I've seen one).

I have not seen 50-135mm for that price range, except one I missed on ebay for 400 something (stupid me!). DA 70 is now on ebay for 339, but from Japan.

"Portrait" for me means human face with the chest and sometimes lower. Indoor, outdoor, studio- doesn't matter. The face is the main point.
I will go for 70mm. Ones again I checked so many faces taken with 70mm, compared again and again with all lenses mentioned here.

Nope. Not the same. I need to get that DA 70mm to check myself what's so special about that one.

[Stavri]

I have not seen 50-135mm for that price range, except one I missed on ebay for 400 something (stupid me!). DA 70 is now on ebay for 339, but from Japan.

"Portrait" for me means human face with the chest and sometimes lower. Indoor, outdoor, studio- doesn't matter. The face is the main point.
I will go for 70mm. Ones again I checked so many faces taken with 70mm, compared again and again with all lenses mentioned here.

Nope. Not the same. I need to get that DA 70mm to check myself what's so special about that one.

There's not wrong choice when it comes to Pentax lenses (limiteds vs DA*) they're all great, I hope you have lots of fun

[UncleVanya]

I own the DA* 50-135; my dad owns the DA 70; I own the DA* 60-250; my dad owns the DA* 200... see a trend here?
I also own the A* 85 f/1.4; which is why I don't worry over not having the DA 70 or the FA 77 despite the lack of AF.

Casual short range comparison shots between the DA* zooms and the 85mm revealed that at f/4 it would be hard to tell them apart from my A* 85. These are phenomenal lenses and 70 - 100 is in the butter zone for both of them. It really is more about preferred style and size of shooting gear at least in my mind.

[micromacro]

I own the DA* 50-135; my dad owns the DA 70; I own the DA* 60-250; my dad owns the DA* 200... see a trend here?
I also own the A* 85 f/1.4; which is why I don't worry over not having the DA 70 or the FA 77 despite the lack of AF.

Honestly I don't see the trend I still believe that all those lenses are different in characters. Without money limitation I would love to have them all.

[Stavri]

Honestly I don't see the trend I still believe that all those lenses are different in characters. Without money limitation I would love to have them all.

You promised this would be the the final thoughts, you promised.................

[Rondec]

I have owned the DA 70 in the past. I currently own the DA *50-135 and the FA 77 and the DA *55. On a crop sensor, I would rank them (my preference of shooting) DA *55 followed by the DA *50-135 followed by the FA 77. I know it is sacrilege to rank the FA 77 so low, but that's what I like. The DA 70 would be behind the FA 77.

[micromacro]

the DA *55.

It's a great lens as well, but I wanted a bit longer range. Maybe, one day.

---------- Post added 03-18-15 at 07:04 AM ----------

You promised this would be the the final thoughts, you promised.................

I lied!

[narual]

I have the 77, not the 70. I'm happy with it, but not yet in love. I haven't had as much opportunity to use it as I have the 50-135. The 50-135 is my favorite lens. I've gotten so many wonderful shots from it, from the first day it was on my camera.

The 60-250 is a nearly identical lens, at least to me. Both the same excellent quality, with rendering and color I can't tell apart.

I've used both at the same venue, my neighborhood association's meeting space, with similar seating and lighting, and couldn't tell you which shot was taken with which lens, unless I happen to notice something I remember was taken when the 50-135 was in the shop. So Twitch's suggestion above has some merit. But the 50-135 is moderately heavy, and the 60-250 is considerably moreso. I have a hard time handholding it.

If you can only get one, I'd get the 50-135.

[twitch]

I recommended a combo of 77 & 60-250 because they have exceptional IQ, are clearly differentiated in speed and purpose, and with very complementary shooting envelops. The 50-135 and 70 are too similar and the 70 is too slow for a prime of that length.

[Nicolas06]

I think many explained the zoom vs prime and the fact that the 50-135 is huge/heavy. With the hood it is 20cm long and more than 700g. With this you are a paparazi to normal people. Really.

Alone it is ok, but in a bag with other lense you may think 2 time before taking it.

One day I brought the FA77 and since then I didn't ever really used my 50-135 again. Really better rendering for the FA, more light gather. Long enough for most tele need on a trip and really great portraiture capabilities. Maybe 6-8 month later I sold the 50-135 that was collecting dust and finally few days ago, I brough an F135 for when I really need the reach.

Good prime are zoom with the size and quality of a prime. You can use a DA70 ltd like a 70-140 or at least a 70-110 because it is perfectly sharp even wide open and in 99.9% time you don't need 24MP of latest bodies even more so for portraiture. So you get most of the 50-135 range (not the 50-70 one) for much smaller package.

If it is to choose between DA70 & FA77 then for me FA77 without thinking. The DA70 is great and sharp. The FA77 has incredible rendering that will make your portrait standout. I would not think the DA70 to be really greater in rendering than 50-135. Well likely better but not as visible difference as FA77, clearly.

For me 50-135 is better in events/wedding things like that where you can't move much and want to reframe fast. It start at 50 and by cropping the 135mm you can reframe to 200-250 depending of the apperture/isos. So for sure you cover more range.

You need to think if that really factor the heavy/huge form factor and honestly noticably inferior rendering to FA77.

Finally somebody say the 50-135 is like the 70-200 of Canikon. This is true for picture quality that is really great. This is true for build quality... This is completely wrong for AF. The 50-135 is not made for action/sport. I used for it, it works, but this is not by far its strength.

Maybe I'am biased for prime and really the most important is how you would use the lense. It is totally different feel and way to take photos, really. Look for yourself if you are after ultimate greatness in rendering, incredible results, something small/light and that nobody will notice (and then that's FA77) or if you want the versatility in events, the possibility to zoom without moving and the additionnal reach of the zoom. Price wise also in the end the zoom is sure to be cheaper.