[Agnostic]

I have an FA 50mm which I like but find kind of slow on AF and which tends to hunt a bit in lower light making it less than enjoyable to use for street/candids. I would also like something just a tad longer. For that reason I was looking at the DA 70mm and FA 77mm

So my question is: Would you choose the FA 77mm or DA 70mm for street/candid on a K20D?

I have looked at lots of images and I must say the bokeh and rendering on the FA 77mm is just gorgeuos, but I'm a bit worried about AF speed and low light performance. How do the FA 77mm and DA 70mm compare in this regard when paired wit the K20D?

Thanks in advance!

[pasipasi]

I don't have the 70mm or the 77mm, but wouldn't they hunt just the same in low light?

[Agnostic]

I think there are some differences between lenses in low light AF. My F 70-210 is very good in low light, as long as it is close to focus it snaps to confirmation very fast. The 50mm on the other hand often just starts hunting, even when it is very close to focus and also occasionally confirms focus erroneously in low light.

[Reportage]

I have an FA 50mm which I like but find kind of slow on AF and which tends to hunt a bit in lower light making it less than enjoyable to use for street/candids. I would also like something just a tad longer. For that reason I was looking at the DA 70mm and FA 77mm

So my question is: Would you choose the FA 77mm or DA 70mm for street/candid on a K20D?

I have looked at lots of images and I must say the bokeh and rendering on the FA 77mm is just gorgeuos, but I'm a bit worried about AF speed and low light performance. How do the FA 77mm and DA 70mm compare in this regard when paired wit the K20D?

Thanks in advance!

The FA 35mm would be good since it gives standard FOV on crop cameras. I have always considered 70mm and above to be more for portraits.

for me, the flexibility of a zoom like the Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4.5 is what i would use for street.

[Michaelina2]

Has fast focus.

Very useful for the times you wish to quickly isolate your subject when it's in a crowd.

...my 0.02 cent$

[roentarre]

Da 70mm f2.4 is faster in autofocus speed than Fa 77 ltd.

Fa 77mm ltd is often backfocusing and lagging behind the motion of street subjects wide open at f1.8

Even in continuous mood, I shoot Da 70mm f2.4 with f2.8 and Fa 77mm ltd with f2.2 or so

I tend to like da 70mm ltd for street stuff.

Pentax Fa 77mm ltd Shots

Pentax Da 70mm ltd shots

[Agnostic]

Thanks guys!

Difficult...difficult...

Damn, if only the FA 77mm didn't have that magic transition from sharpness to creamy bokeh...

You have some nice examples of what these lenses are capable of there roentarre!

[axl]

I'm thinking about one of those two myself, but I'm leaning towards 70/2.4. It's smaller, cheaper, and not much behind 77ltd in terms of IQ (if at all...)
BR

[beaumont]

I was in the same position, not knowing which one to get. I chose the 77 primarily (pardon the pun) because of the 1.8 speed. Glad I did, as I often use the 1.8 for kids concerts etc. Also gained the additional potential benefit of using it on full frame (if a full frame body ever does manifest itself at a do-able price.)
If speed wasn't an issue, I would have gone with the 70, primarily for the apparently quicker AF. The good news is, that there is no wrong decision (especially considering that the ISO speeds are also improving in the bodies, which may negate the need for speed?...)

[Agnostic]

Well, I'm leaning towards the DA 70mm. Not so much because of the price diference, but I think the DA 70mm will be more suitable for my uses.

For street shooting/candid it will offer better AF speed. I'm a bit scared that I'm going to get annoyed with the FA 77mm's slow AF since I already get a bit annoyed with the FA 50mm on occasion.

My second use for this lens would be landscapes, which means the reported PF problems on the FA 77mm disqualify it. The DA also has somewhat better edge to edge performance from what I read.

If only the FA 77m didn't have that beautiful focus to beautiful bokeh transition...

[benjikan]

I'm thinking about one of those two myself, but I'm leaning towards 70/2.4. It's smaller, cheaper, and much behind 77ltd in terms of IQ (if at all...)
BR

I beg to differ. The resolution across the entire spectrum from wide open to f16.0 on the 70/2.4 is better than the 77. The only point at which the 77 is slightly sharper is at the optimum aperture of f5.6 - f8.0.

Here are the tests from Chasseur d'Image in France.

[axl]

sorry Ben, it was my typo, I meant NOT much behind, if at all
apologies....

BR

[ILoveVerdi]

I beg to differ. The resolution across the entire spectrum from wide open to f16.0 on the 70/2.4 is better than the 77. The only point at which the 77 is slightly sharper is at the optimum aperture of f5.6 - f8.0.

Here are the tests from Chasseur d'Image in France.

Very interesting... I had always assumed the opposite. I'm guessing the 70 doesn't cover full frame?

[benjikan]

sorry Ben, it was my typo, I meant NOT much behind, if at all
apologies....

BR

No apologies necessary. The 77 is an incredible lens. As long as you understand where it shines. It is fine wide open especially in the center, which is very nice for portraits.

[Rico]

Agnostic another factor that might appeal to you with the DA70 LTD is quickshift focus as autofocus doesn't necessarily focus on what you want in focus in the case of fast paced street/candid shooting.

I have the FA77 the image quality goes without saying but I generally am always shooting in manual mode.