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03-12-2017, 01:38 PM - 1 Like   #1
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DA*50-135 & FA 77 color differences?

I've got a DA*50-135 that I use as my portrait lens. The colors are rich and vibrant like I hear most DA* lenses are. I don't own the FA 77 but have looked over many portraits taken with that lens. My question is......are the colors from the FA 77 a bit more "muted"? Not quite as vibrant? Is there a difference between these two lenses as far as color saturation goes?

I'm satisfied with the sharpness and color of my DA*50-135 but wanted to know if I'm missing anything regarding the FA 77. I own the FA 31 and find it plenty color rich and contrasty. Enquiring minds want to know.

DA*50-135 taken at 85mm 1/1250 @ F3.5



123mm



03-12-2017, 03:24 PM   #2
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Those photos look wonderful! As you probably know, the prime lenses usually show a bit more contrast due largely to the simpler optical design with fewer elements. With a high quality zoom like the DA* 50-135, it is hard to tell the difference form a prime lens in normal circumstances. When comparing lens contrast, it is very important to keep other variables such as post-processing settings identical. I will say that there is a bit of difference even between the FA 77 and DA 70 if you shoot a scene with an eye to microcontrast and identical post-processing. I actually prefer the rendering of my FA77 better than my DA70 since it has a slightly better 3D-like effect on portraits and macro shots. For everyday photography, there is little that one can't fix in post-processing with a great lens like the DA*50-135.
03-13-2017, 07:58 AM   #3
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QuoteOriginally posted by Driline Quote
colors from the FA 77 a bit more "muted"? Not quite as vibrant?
You are right on that. FA77's color is not as vibrant. It is slightly warmer as well. But 77 does not lack contrast. The micro contrast is great, makes the photos very crystal.
To put it simple: FA77 for young woman and DA 50-135, or DA 55/1.4 for man.
03-13-2017, 08:04 AM - 1 Like   #4
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It is really hard to say. The FA 77 doesn't have quite as much contrast and is a little warmer. Definitely sharper at f2.8 and usable on full frame.

f5





(both shot on K-1)

03-14-2017, 03:30 PM - 1 Like   #5
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The 77 likes purple more
03-14-2017, 04:52 PM   #6
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Yeah, I love both lenses, but I think the coatings are probably better on the 50-135, Driline ... more saturation, more contrast.
03-14-2017, 05:19 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by clackers Quote
better on the 50-135, Driline ... more saturation, more contrast.
Well, DA coating is more contrast in general. But FA 77's micro contrast is definitely better and image has more clarity.
DA50-135 shows very slight glowing at wide open due to slightly under corrected spherical aberration. It is great for portrait but the micro contrast is not as good as fa 77. Many Tokina lenses have similar taste.

03-14-2017, 05:34 PM - 1 Like   #8
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Both are great portrait lenses, but the FA77 has a certain je ne sais quois. The slightly muted colours and extra DoF control help make it special. I especially like it on crop.



03-14-2017, 08:18 PM   #9
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QuoteOriginally posted by Sandy Hancock Quote
the FA77 has a certain je ne sais quois
The two portraits you posted are great because they are a bit "special" and I assume they were part of a much larger collection of images. Just for my curiosity, how did your subjects react to these specific images? I'm curious as to how people perceive themselves compared to how others perceive them. My guess is that they preferred more conventional images (especially the second one), but if I'm wrong, I'd like to know. Thanks!
03-14-2017, 08:57 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by grahame Quote
Well, DA coating is more contrast in general. But FA 77's micro contrast is definitely better and image has more clarity.
DA50-135 shows very slight glowing at wide open due to slightly under corrected spherical aberration. It is great for portrait but the micro contrast is not as good as fa 77. Many Tokina lenses have similar taste.
I'm not so sure, Grahame.

Undercorrected spherical aberration is certainly a feature of Jun Hirakawa's lenses like the FA77.

Photozone.de measured the DA50-135 sharpness wide open at 90mm as 2050 lw/ph in the centre and 1650 at the border.

For the FA 77 wide open it's just 1930/1330. Even going to f2.8 to match the zoom, it's 2120/1594.

You might expect that the prime should be better than the zoom at these measurements, but it's not.
03-14-2017, 09:29 PM   #11
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QuoteOriginally posted by clackers Quote
Photozone.de measured
Photozone's numbers are from just one lens they have received from user, so all used lenses. I always take their conclusion as just one of many. If a lens gets high score, it suggests a good potential a lens could have. If the numbers are lower than other reviewers, or different from my own observation, I will take it as a bad copy.
I tested several 77 and 50-135, I can not agree later is ALWAYS sharper than 77, if tested at same FL and aperture.

QuoteOriginally posted by clackers Quote
Undercorrected spherical aberration is certainly a feature of Jun Hirakawa's lenses like the FA77.
I have that feeling from the photos I see so I might be wrong. But 50-135 clearly has the feeling of that, and very similar to some Tokina lenses such as 60-120, and 80-200. 28-80 also. FA 24/2 is also one of them: wide open, you can see a lot of details, but contrast is a little low, and slight bit of glowing at the edge. I don't have that feeling on 77, always clean and clear, even wide open at 1.8. Although color is not as saturated, and edge is not overly sharpened.
03-14-2017, 11:18 PM   #12
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They were just candid snaps at an informal gathering before a school formal. They were both well received. Maddison (with the strawberry) is quite a character, and the shot captures some of her mischievous nature
03-15-2017, 04:19 PM - 1 Like   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by grahame Quote
Photozone's numbers are from just one lens they have received from user, so all used lenses. I always take their conclusion as just one of many. If a lens gets high score, it suggests a good potential a lens could have. If the numbers are lower than other reviewers, or different from my own observation, I will take it as a bad copy.
.
Well, if I and Photozone have better results than you, Grahame, whose lens is not up to spec, ours or yours?

I find the microcontrast of the DA50-135 a strength over other lenses, Grahame.

The coatings are more modern for starters.

This is a traditional Pentax plus. Zeiss were one of the first companies to license SMC technology.





[IMG][/IMG]
03-15-2017, 04:45 PM   #14
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It is possible that I got a better 77 and you have a better 50-135 and I guess both are happy. That is great.
But back to photo zone: on K5, DA18-135, 24MM, center: F4: 2598, 5.6: 2683. I can hardly find any MTF number better than that from any other Pentax lenses, zoom or prime:
FA 31: F2.8: 2596, F4: 2563, F5,6: 2485.
After quick check, I found only DFA 50 2.8, a bleeding sharp lens, reaches that MTF at its best: F4: 2668, still < 18-135's 2683.

clackers: your posted photos are really nice. what they show are very nice contrast in general, from back to white in the frame, and very vivid and saturated color, not micro contrast, which makes the image crystal clear, but not as contrasty as DA coating.

I believe that is the difference of FA and DA lenses in general. Some prefer DA lens' more contrast and saturated color, some like FA's taste better. Or in other words, DA is better for some situation, FA is better in other. -- we should be happy as pentaxian, we have choices, and both are great.
03-15-2017, 05:29 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by grahame Quote
clackers: your posted photos are really nice. what they show are very nice contrast in general, from back to white in the frame, and very vivid and saturated color, not micro contrast, which makes the image crystal clear, but not as contrasty as DA coating. .
There is plenty of 'micro contrast', champ, you just can't tell at that resolution.

Here's a crop:
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