Do Fast Lenses Matter Anymore?

For most people using an SLR who don't even know what subject isolation is then no it really doesn't and for a lot of people who don't want subject isolation again not really.

But for those not using SLRs I think this new breed of compacts with fast lenses are brilliant and really give them something that their camera phones can't. I think with the superzoom (yuck I know :P) they are the only form factor that is going to survive the onslaught of the smart phone.

For those of us who use subject isolation, well obviously they're all over fast lenses and you question is pure heresy.

And for folk like me that take pictures of fast moving subjects in poorly lit rooms well nup we're still not there - I need high iso and a stupidly fast lens.