[Another dyemention]

just wondering which would be better mainly for indoor concerts. I know the 77 is a full stop faster but the majority of the time, stage lighting is bright enough to not require 1.8 over 2.4. Looking at pictures taken with both lenses, it seems the 70 is a bit "clearer" than the 77. The 77 seems to have a bit of graininess to it like my k135/2.5 did. Which I don't mind in certain situations but I would prefer whichever is going to be better in that regard. It also looks like the 70 may be a bit sharper all around. Am I wrong in my observation? I would actually prefer the 77 for portraits because of the deliberate softer edges but I don't need that for concerts. Another thing is I intend to buy the k1 at some point this year mainly for shooting concerts. So the 77 might be a better choice. Although I may look into a bit longer FL for the k1, something like an 85.
Thanks

[Kozlok]

Recently acquired the 77. Can't imagine how any lens would ever be better under any circumstances. If you buy both used, on the forum, use them for a couple of weeks, sell whichever you don't need. It's like a free rental.

[Paul the Sunman]

The 70 is just fine for concerts. My son borrowed mine a while ago for that purpose. Great lenses both.

[Abbazz]

I tried to use the 77 Ltd for shooting concerts and I do not recommend it (except for daylight events). It shows too much purple fringing in harsh lighting at wide apertures to be suited for shooting performances with artificial lighting.

Cheers!

Abbazz

[Digitalis]

I do not recommend it

Really?

The FA77 does have issues with PF and LoCa at f/1.8, but almost without exception a majority of f/1.2~f/2 lenses in the classic 70~90mm portrait lens range have similar issues to varying degrees. A common mistake with concert photography is the need for absurdly fast lenses, only in situations where fast movement on the stage and a pressing need to freeze motion are where fast lenses are desirable. There are concert photographers here on PF who use the DA15mm f/4 or the SMC-M 135mm f/3.5 for such events and produce excellent results. The FA77 needs to be stopped down a bit* to reduce the inherent aberrations from the lens, but the results it produces stopped down are superb.



Pentax K5IIs- Pentax SMCP-FA 77mm f/1.8 Limited. ISO3200 f/2.8 1/60th


*around f/2.8~f/5.6

[Winder]

just wondering which would be better mainly for indoor concerts. I know the 77 is a full stop faster but the majority of the time, stage lighting is bright enough to not require 1.8 over 2.4. Looking at pictures taken with both lenses, it seems the 70 is a bit "clearer" than the 77. The 77 seems to have a bit of graininess to it like my k135/2.5 did. Which I don't mind in certain situations but I would prefer whichever is going to be better in that regard. It also looks like the 70 may be a bit sharper all around. Am I wrong in my observation? I would actually prefer the 77 for portraits because of the deliberate softer edges but I don't need that for concerts. Another thing is I intend to buy the k1 at some point this year mainly for shooting concerts. So the 77 might be a better choice. Although I may look into a bit longer FL for the k1, something like an 85.
Thanks

I think the 77mm is a great lens in good even light. Shooting events here in Nashville I'm always dealing with CA from chrome microphones, stands, drum sets, guitar tuning pegs. That said, stage lighting has gotten so bad with cheap LED lights that B&W is what I usually end up with just to kill off all the damn purple and green LED lights and CA isn't much of an issue for B&W.. I ended up with the Sigma 85mm for several reasons. I love the 85mm lens, but I would love to have the smaller 77mm as well. I like the 77mm for its size and color rendition, but I prefer the Sigma for the AF, rendering, & sharpness.

https://www.flickr.com/groups/1619491@N24/

[Another dyemention]

Thanks for the replies. Even though the 70, 77, and 85 are similar FL, I feel like all three of them are different enough to justify owning all three. And they're also different enough to where I couldn't just use one of them as a comprise for the others. I do feel like the 70 or 85 would be the best choice for smaller indoor venues and the 77 would be best for portraits. So at least I kind of have that figured out. The 70 would be my third choice in terms of the lens itself but the price makes it a very difficult choice. I guess when I have the money in my hands I'll make a decision.

[Digitalis]

It is a common Pentaxian conundrum: If you buy the FA77: you will always wonder what the DA70 would be like, If you buy the DA70: you will always wonder what the FA77 is like.


Pentax K7 - Pentax SMCP-FA77mm f/1.8 Limited @ f/1.8 1/180th ISO 100 AF540FGZ flash used with 1/2 CTO filter.

[Jonathan Mac]

The DA 70mm is very sharp wide open and has little to no fringing of any kind, so I imagine it would be very good at photographing live music events, though I've never used it for that. I don't have an FA 77mm so I don't know how much it would need to be stopped down to get rid of the fringing.

[Sandy Hancock]

I don't use the FA77 much for concert photography (the f/2.8 zoom get a hammering), but like Digitalis said, at f/2.8 its aberrations are pretty well controlled.



Not so good at f/2.5 (but I suspect it would have cleaned up pretty well in Lightroom, which I didn't have back then)



And sometimes stage lighting ain't so good. Manual focus wide open @ ISO 25600.

[kaipa]

I used DA 70 once at Keith Jarrett concert. Worked good wide open, but not enough reach.



I did not have 77 that time, but it should be as good or better (CA to be removed in post proc).

I think FA* 85 would be better with its extra speed and reach. Or K 135/2.5 that is longer and sharp wide open.

[Another dyemention]

Well the indoor venues I'm planning on shooting will be small-ish. Nothing like concert halls or places with seating. Clubs and standing room type places. 85 might be a bit long in some situations but I'm not too concerned. I used to have the Rokinon 85 and it was a good fl for what I want to do. I used to also own the sigma 70 and found it a bit short sometimes. This is my draw to the 77mm but any of the three will suffice.

[writeb]

I've had DA70, FA77, FA*85, and Samyang 85.

Ultimately, I kept the DA70, and FA* 85, but sold off the FA77 and Sammy. If your camera body supports the proper ISO performance, the DA70 is a great choice. If you're shooting a K-7 or some older camera with questionably helpful ISO performance and you need to squeeze that extra stop out of your lens, then it's worth considering. But overall, the performance was not that different (in fact, I preferred some rendering the DA70 provided in natural "street venue" performance) to justify the cost premium over the DA70.