Lens Question?

[tazdev3225]

I have read a lot of the threads about different lenses and now I have a question. I bought a Sony A300. It came with the kit lens of 18 to 70mm. I also purchased a 70 to 300mm lens at the same time. I managed to get a good deal on a 50mm f 1.7 lens. Do I really need any thing else? The kit lens gives me a wide angle. The 70-300 gives me distance and the 50mm gives me speed. I use my camera for everything from pics of my grandkids to landscape, sports and vacations. Basically if you can take a picture of something I will. I had a lot of accessories on my old 35mm but digital is easier and sometimes a little more confusing for my old brain. Is there any other lens I should think about or am I covered? Thanks for any help.

 

[VVFF]

I have read a lot of the threads about different lenses and now I have a question. I bought a Sony A300. It came with the kit lens of 18 to 70mm. I also purchased a 70 to 300mm lens at the same time. I managed to get a good deal on a 50mm f 1.7 lens. Do I really need any thing else? The kit lens gives me a wide angle. The 70-300 gives me distance and the 50mm gives me speed. I use my camera for everything from pics of my grandkids to landscape, sports and vacations. Basically if you can take a picture of something I will. I had a lot of accessories on my old 35mm but digital is easier and sometimes a little more confusing for my old brain. Is there any other lens I should think about or am I covered? Thanks for any help.

Well, there are other fixed focal lengths that may prove useful. There are super wide angle and fisheye lenses. There are higher quality lenses than what you have there. There are faster zoom lenses than what you have there. There are "travel" lenses that may prove useful.

Hopefully that list helps you realize the reasons you may buy more.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If you have an interest in taking close up shots then a dedicated macro lens could be a nice addition. Also, the super wide zooms such as the Sigma 10-20 can be nice for landscape etc.

 

[Master Mason]

I have read a lot of the threads about different lenses and now I have a question. I bought a Sony A300. It came with the kit lens of 18 to 70mm. I also purchased a 70 to 300mm lens at the same time. I managed to get a good deal on a 50mm f 1.7 lens. Do I really need any thing else? The kit lens gives me a wide angle. The 70-300 gives me distance and the 50mm gives me speed. I use my camera for everything from pics of my grandkids to landscape, sports and vacations. Basically if you can take a picture of something I will. I had a lot of accessories on my old 35mm but digital is easier and sometimes a little more confusing for my old brain. Is there any other lens I should think about or am I covered? Thanks for any help.

There is a very simple answer to that question. Can you take all the pictures you want to take with your current equipment? If so, you don't need anything else. If not, then you need to figure out what will let you get the pictures you want to take.

What someone else has in their bag shouldn't be of any concern, just what you need to have to get the pictures your looking for.

 

[zackiedawg]

What they said!

Actually, I would probably mainly concentrate on eventually improving the quality of the lenses you've got above the kit level glass...if you ever feel the need to. And the only other possible addition might be an ultra-wide, like a 10mm-20mm zoom or fixed UW.

 

[handicap18]

Many people will go for years with just a basic kit lens. I went some 15+ years with only 2 lenses on my film camera. 28-90 and 70-300.

It's going to depend on what you want from your photography. With the 3 lenses you've listed you should be good for a long time to go. Once you really start getting into photography specific's then you'll know if you need to buy anything else. ie: super wide, macro, wider primes, longer primes, indoor sports, wild life (needing extra long reach).

I would think about getting a flash before another lens. While the built-in flash on a dSLR is better than one on a PnS camera, it still isn't very powerful. Getting a seperate flash will make a difference. Add a good diffuser to it and you'll really see improvements.

 

[tazdev3225]

Many people will go for years with just a basic kit lens. I went some 15+ years with only 2 lenses on my film camera. 28-90 and 70-300.

It's going to depend on what you want from your photography. With the 3 lenses you've listed you should be good for a long time to go. Once you really start getting into photography specific's then you'll know if you need to buy anything else. ie: super wide, macro, wider primes, longer primes, indoor sports, wild life (needing extra long reach).

I would think about getting a flash before another lens. While the built-in flash on a dSLR is better than one on a PnS camera, it still isn't very powerful. Getting a seperate flash will make a difference. Add a good diffuser to it and you'll really see improvements.

Thank you, I actually did get a flash when Circuit City was going out of business so I guess that was a good thing. I did a lot of great photography with the 35mm I had but it was a lot of hit and miss without really understanding a lot of the basics. With the DSLR I can stick to auto but that defeats the purpose of having it. I lurk on this board a lot and have really learned a lot from other peoples questions. Thank you all for the help.