Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

[Sewfun]

More from the rose garden.

From the sensory garden.

 

[Sewfun]

Middle Falls of Gooseberry Falls along the north shore.

My daughter at Split Rock Lighthouse.

Split Rock Lighthouse. This is one of my favorite spots in MN.

This is looking straight down while standing on a ledge (fenced in of course!)

 

[Sewfun]

subbing to this thread.

 

[jsrj21]

If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it.

I am planning on purchasing the Sony A350 and I have been told that the lenses that come with the camera are sub-par. That I should consider purchasing Minolta lenses instead. Now I want to make the best choice but I was wondering if anyone can corroborate the tidbit about the lenses and if the Minolta lenses are that much better [and if you know specifics on the Minolta lenses, that would be great]. This is a first DSLR for me and so one or two basic lenses is all that I am looking for at this time.

Thanks.

Jose

 

[Sewfun]

If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it.

I am planning on purchasing the Sony A350 and I have been told that the lenses that come with the camera are sub-par. That I should consider purchasing Minolta lenses instead. Now I want to make the best choice but I was wondering if anyone can corroborate the tidbit about the lenses and if the Minolta lenses are that much better [and if you know specifics on the Minolta lenses, that would be great]. This is a first DSLR for me and so one or two basic lenses is all that I am looking for at this time.

Thanks.

Jose

Jose, I have been very happy with the kit lens that came with the camera. I have the 18-70mm and it was on my camera the whole trip at DW in June. I don't think the lens performed poorly at all. The pictures I posted here recently were taken with the Sony kit lens as well. Any really good zooms were with the Sigma 70-300mm lens I picked up for almost nothing at a Ritz camera store closing near me. Now, I am still very new to the DSLR world, and I probably have no idea what I am talking about other than I love the pictures this camera is taking! I have far more posted on my facebook account than I have on flikr. I am sold on the camera and the lens that came with it. I expect to have a prime lens before my next trip to the World in December. You can always rent a minolta lens to see if you see a difference in your pictures once you get the camera.

Good luck. I know it is an overwhelming experience at time researching this, but I for one have been very happy with my lens and the camera.

 

[MICKEY88]

If anyone can help me, I would really appreciate it.

I am planning on purchasing the Sony A350 and I have been told that the lenses that come with the camera are sub-par. That I should consider purchasing Minolta lenses instead. Now I want to make the best choice but I was wondering if anyone can corroborate the tidbit about the lenses and if the Minolta lenses are that much better [and if you know specifics on the Minolta lenses, that would be great]. This is a first DSLR for me and so one or two basic lenses is all that I am looking for at this time.

Thanks.

Jose

is there a difference between the sony kit lens and Minoltas top glass, sure,,

a difference between the kit lens and minoltas lenses from later years, not as big...

the kit lens is Ok for general use...
,

the kit lens would be fine, I wouldn't go spending money on other lenses until you know what types of photography you want to do and what lenses will best fit your needs..

 

[jsrj21]

Jose, I have been very happy with the kit lens that came with the camera. I have the 18-70mm and it was on my camera the whole trip at DW in June. I don't think the lens performed poorly at all. The pictures I posted here recently were taken with the Sony kit lens as well. Any really good zooms were with the Sigma 70-300mm lens I picked up for almost nothing at a Ritz camera store closing near me. Now, I am still very new to the DSLR world, and I probably have no idea what I am talking about other than I love the pictures this camera is taking! I have far more posted on my facebook account than I have on flikr. I am sold on the camera and the lens that came with it. I expect to have a prime lens before my next trip to the World in December. You can always rent a minolta lens to see if you see a difference in your pictures once you get the camera.

Good luck. I know it is an overwhelming experience at time researching this, but I for one have been very happy with my lens and the camera.

As far as my research, I have you guys to really thank because of all of the places I have gone, this is by far the most informative and substantial. I have it narrowed down to the A350. I did some comparisons and for what I'd like to accomplish, this is the camera for me right now. My concern with the lenses have been tamed by the responses to my post. Your pictures look great by the way. All the more convincing for me.

Thanks again!

Jose

 

[jsrj21]

is there a difference between the sony kit lens and Minoltas top glass, sure,,

a difference between the kit lens and minoltas lenses from later years, not as big...

the kit lens is Ok for general use...
,

the kit lens would be fine, I wouldn't go spending money on other lenses until you know what types of photography you want to do and what lenses will best fit your needs..

Thanks for the advice. I think you are correct when you say I should wait until I narrow down what type of lenses I want/need etc.

Thanks again!

Jose

 

[Sewfun]

Thanks for the advice. I think you are correct when you say I should wait until I narrow down what type of lenses I want/need etc.

Thanks again!

Jose

Jose, I am going to rent a couple of lenses before I actually buy more. I will get an idea of what I like for the type of shooting I do.

Tammy

 

[vandort]

I agree with the other's comments. I use my 18-70mm kit lens more than any other lens; it's so versatile. My other favorite lenses are my 100mm Minolta macro (great for close up nature photography) and my 100-300mm Minolta zoom (great for capturing action and people with natural expressions at a distance. The other lenses that own are:

28mm prime Minolta
50mm f1.7 Minolta
beercan (70-210mm f4) Minolta
70-210mm f4.5-5.6 Minolta
35-70mm Minolta

In the future, I would like to buy the 50mm f1.4 and an adapter for my Swarovski spotting scope (that has incredible optics) for nature photography and maybe even pictures of the moon.

 

[punkin413]

just found this thread and had to sub! hubby and i just bought our first D-SLR last weekend - a sony 330. we got the camera, a 75-300mm lens, a shoulder bag and extra battery all for $750...i thought it was a great deal!

thank you all so much for sharing your awesome pictures. i've spent the last hour looking through page 15 so i will be back later to see the rest. i've already saved several links explaining different things that we've had questions about. SO much to learn but we're so excited about learning it!

i thought i'd share a few pictures we've taken. these were taken the day after we bought it, so we were VERY new at this! i haven't had time to do much this week as far as reading up on it, but ray (my hubby) has been doing his homework and we're slowly but surely learning ALL the different things we can do.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Any SLR Minolta AF lenses will work fine. You may sometimes see the odd 'Vectis' lens here or there - they're pretty rare but they're out there - those lenses will NOT work with the Sonys. But any Maxxum AF lens, commonly known as A-Mount, is the same mount Alpha uses.

Hey Justin - I remembered this after finally seeing my first Vectis lens for sale on KEH. It sounds so cool - it's a 17 F3.5 V RED DIAL (VECTIS S-1, DIMAGE RD3000)(62). Oh well - I'd always get the name wrong anyway.

And now I see a second one - a 50mm macro. I'm a little surprised that KEH doesn't have it noted that these lenses do not work with the Maxxum and Alpha cameras but at least I know it from the DIS!

 

[Code]

I don't have much time to take pictures of anything not related to our boys lately, but I thought I'd share a few of those that I have managed (all w/ A700).

My coworker brought her pet frog into work the other day and I just happened to have my bag-o-gear.

Sigma 105/2.8 Macro, ISO 200, f/16, 1/250
Wireless flash fired into a piece of copy paper camera left as a makeshift diffuser

100% crop of the above, small amount of sharpening applied

My parents recently got a new dog, a little anklebiter Maltese named Buddy. Sometimes I really hate my old Minolta Beercan, but sometimes it sings...

Minolta 70-210/4 @ 210mm, ISO 200, f/8, 1/500

Minolta 70-210/4 @ 210mm, ISO 200, f/4.5, 1/500

And since these guys occupy most of my time, I'll post a few pics

Sigma 30/1.4, ISO 200, f/2, 1/80

Tamron 17-50/2.8 @ 50mm, ISO 800, f/2.8, 1/25

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Great pictures Code - the frog shot is terrific and your boys adorable. They're going to give you lots of photo opportunities over the years. You're not photo shopping them in are you? They always seem so happy and content - and identical!

That's a very cute puppy too - nice job with the beercan. What do you sometimes hate about the lens? I haven't used mine much recently but have been thinking about getting it out for some shots. Other than not being real fast on the focus I don't have any complaints about it....but then I don't find myself using it too often either b/c of having other favorites.

 

[Code]

You're not photo shopping them in are you? They always seem so happy and content - and identical!

Ok, how about this one?

That's a very cute puppy too - nice job with the beercan. What do you sometimes hate about the lens? I haven't used mine much recently but have been thinking about getting it out for some shots. Other than not being real fast on the focus I don't have any complaints about it....but then I don't find myself using it too often either b/c of having other favorites.

Good sharpness/colors and decent bokeh on the beercan, but the focus speed (especially when it hunts through the range) and CA can get annoying. I really, really want to replace it with a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM.. maybe for Christmas. What are your favorites?

 

[Sewfun]

Ok, how about this one?

Good sharpness/colors and decent bokeh on the beercan, but the focus speed (especially when it hunts through the range) and CA can get annoying. I really, really want to replace it with a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM.. maybe for Christmas. What are your favorites?

Too cute! They are adorable!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Ok, how about this one?

LOL - OK, not always so happy and I'm convinced you're not photo shopping but they're still adorable!

Good sharpness/colors and decent bokeh on the beercan, but the focus speed (especially when it hunts through the range) and CA can get annoying. I really, really want to replace it with a Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 HSM.. maybe for Christmas. What are your favorites?

My Sony 16-80 and Sony 70-300G. Very sharp (especially the G), good focus speed (especially the G and that one is very quiet with the SSM), little to no CA, decent bokeh, good contrast and excellent colors. About the only thing I can "fault" either with is that they are not 2.8's and the hood on the 70-300 is HUGE! I really like the 16-80 - it's pretty fast at 3.5-4.5 and the one I reach for if the situation allows. I really like the zoom range - very wide and a touch longer than many of the other walk arounds. And the 70-300 deserves all the great reviews - it's awesome. If I could only keep two these would be the ones.

DH bought me the Sony 70-200 2.8. for my BD last year. Wow - great lens! It's a bit heavy for me to carry around everywhere and I've been wanting the extra 100mm recently so the 70-300 is on my camera more. Still, it is a favorite and I have used it a lot. From what I've heard the Sigma is very comparable so I think you'll love it. If it or the Tamron had been available at the time and I knew DH was looking at this I probably would have nudge him towards one of those although I do love what I got - just not what I know he paid.

Finally, my Minolta 135 F2.8. Just love that little lens although it can have some fringing and sounds like it may fall apart as it focuses.

 

[Sewfun]

LOL - OK, not always so happy and I'm convinced you're not photo shopping but they're still adorable!



My Sony 16-80 and Sony 70-300G. Very sharp (especially the G), good focus speed (especially the G and that one is very quiet with the SSM), little to no CA, decent bokeh, good contrast and excellent colors. About the only thing I can "fault" either with is that they are not 2.8's and the hood on the 70-300 is HUGE! I really like the 16-80 - it's pretty fast at 3.5-4.5 and the one I reach for if the situation allows. I really like the zoom range - very wide and a touch longer than many of the other walk arounds. And the 70-300 deserves all the great reviews - it's awesome. If I could only keep two these would be the ones.

DH bought me the Sony 70-200 2.8. for my BD last year. Wow - great lens! It's a bit heavy for me to carry around everywhere and I've been wanting the extra 100mm recently so the 70-300 is on my camera more. Still, it is a favorite and I have used it a lot. From what I've heard the Sigma is very comparable so I think you'll love it. If it or the Tamron had been available at the time and I knew DH was looking at this I probably would have nudge him towards one of those although I do love what I got - just not what I know he paid.

Finally, my Minolta 135 F2.8. Just love that little lens although it can have some fringing and sounds like it may fall apart as it focuses.

I have the Sigma 70-300 and love it. I am still new to all of this digital SLR stuff, but I have been very pleased with this lens as well. I was recently at the MN Arboretum and came upon a hummingbird. I did not have this lens on and couldn't switch lenses fast enough without losing the shot. I had the 18-70 mm lens on and shot with that. I have to crop those images so that I can get them up. I was in the right place at the right time with the wrong lens!!

Tammy

 

[Sewfun]

Just a few of my recent pictures. The giraffe picture was taken in June at AK, the rest at the MN Arboretum last Thursday.

 

[Code]

My Sony 16-80 and Sony 70-300G. Very sharp (especially the G), good focus speed (especially the G and that one is very quiet with the SSM), little to no CA, decent bokeh, good contrast and excellent colors. About the only thing I can "fault" either with is that they are not 2.8's and the hood on the 70-300 is HUGE! I really like the 16-80 - it's pretty fast at 3.5-4.5 and the one I reach for if the situation allows. I really like the zoom range - very wide and a touch longer than many of the other walk arounds. And the 70-300 deserves all the great reviews - it's awesome. If I could only keep two these would be the ones.

DH bought me the Sony 70-200 2.8. for my BD last year. Wow - great lens! It's a bit heavy for me to carry around everywhere and I've been wanting the extra 100mm recently so the 70-300 is on my camera more. Still, it is a favorite and I have used it a lot. From what I've heard the Sigma is very comparable so I think you'll love it. If it or the Tamron had been available at the time and I knew DH was looking at this I probably would have nudge him towards one of those although I do love what I got - just not what I know he paid.

Finally, my Minolta 135 F2.8. Just love that little lens although it can have some fringing and sounds like it may fall apart as it focuses.

Wow you have a great setup. I've used the 70-300G once and it is awesome. I've been very interested in the 135/2.8 too, but I'm going to have to butter my wife up enough to get her to give me the Sigma 70-200 for Christmas (oh and a 1.4x TC for it too )