Kit lens is decent for what it does but very limiting. 50/1.7 is a great lens in all its incarnations. Have fun with it!

I suppose this makes sense if the two are actually in competition. But I am supposing you actually do have this time... or otherwise you would not be engaged in the even less vital act of posting here.

I would get a manual Vivitar 28mm for $30-150 instead.

IMO there is never a lens that is too sharp, unless perhaps one was invented that was sharper than reality. The need to "soften" for some portraits is no great burden. Setting up macros and automation is easy no matter what software you use.

In any case, every digital photo needs PP to reveal its best. Learning to do this is no different a requirement than learning the chemical darkroom. This is not a burden but instead a means of expression, a tool-kit to produce the image you saw in your mind's eye when you took the shot.

People do not begrudge the time take to get the right posture, background, lighting setup and so on. So why begrudge the time it take to "develop" the digital image? That makes no sense to me!

Have lots of fun with those lenses! You won't be missing any quality, that's for sure.

That's why it's pretty odd to compare them! They fit totally different needs and IQ is the least of it.

The DA* zooms are giant ostentatious lenses more suited to Canon shooters. The FA Limiteds are tiny jewels of perfection. No comparison, IMO.

And once you are inside you will never get out.

Yeah, unlike others I make no attempt to hide my identity and stand by everything I say. But since I write on at least four forums, plus blogs etc. I tend to not have a photographic memory for every single thread. A simple reference would help. This is the web after all. It does do links.

What I don't get is if someone has a personal issue with me, why not take it up with me? Or in the appropriate thread? Instead, "Flossie" has chosen to pollute a thread on a different forum that has nothing to do with the issue at hand. In order to terminate that process, I will unsubscribe.

Have a better one!