Photo sharing: Sony Alpha

[henryk67]

In the morning before I went to work.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

Want to get a new lens and need advice. See I am not sure what type that I want. I love portrait, sports, wildlife, and landscape photography. I do not want to spend over $200, the less the better, this is just a hobby for me and cannot see spending over that since I am a rookie.

I have a Sony A300 with the kit lens, and a Sony DT50mm F1.8 SAM


ETA, I am not against buying used.

 

[zackiedawg]

You need to decide what type of photography you would like to try to take, that you can't now...then look for that type of lens. There are so many different directions you can go - the types of photography you mentioned would likely be best served by a zoom lens with a decently fast aperture...which usually cost a bit more than your budget. Some things to consider would be: Do you want a wider lens or a longer lens? Which is a priority - the landscapes, portraits, wildlife, or sports? Where do you find yourself the most with your current lenses thinking 'darn, I can't get that shot I was thinking of'?

If looking for more zoom range on a budget of $200 or less, one of the better lenses you can find ultra-cheap is the Minolta 'beercan', 70-210mm F4. These are typically available used from $100-200, depending on condition. There are cheaper versions that do not have the constant F4 aperture, and they're not as good...so I'd stick with the F4 lens (the other is a Minolta 70-210 F4.5-5.6...same focal range but not as 'fast' with the aperture). It's a good, cheap introduction lens to telephoto shooting, and can do a little portrait, wildlife, and sports shooting in a pinch.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

Thank you. I will look into both of those lenses. I think the more I have thought about it, I would like a zoom, but also want to do portraits, and be as sharp as I can be with a $200 budget.

 

[zackiedawg]

A good sharp portrait lens to consider for cheap is the Tamron 90mm F2.8. Of course, depends on what you mean by 'portrait' - if in a small space, indoors, or studio, then you probably need a wider lens than that on a cropped-body camera like the A300 - most folks would likely be looking at the 50mm you have for small spaces. But portrait lenses are usually considered those that are in the 100mm to 150mm range, and fairly fast - most people like the shallower focus the wide apertures and longer focal lengths give to blur backgrounds and keep the focus on the face. On a crop body, the Tamron 90mm F2.8 will give you a pretty typical 135mm equivalent focal range for portrait work, and the lens is extremely sharp - you can easily find them in the $100-200 range used. That's if you decide to go the portrait route. But you can get by with some portrait work even with the zoom lens - the 70-210mm F4 is pretty sharp and goes right through the portrait focal length, so in a pinch you can do pretty nice work with it.

 

[MICKEY88]

But portrait lenses are usually considered those that are in the 100mm to 150mm range, and fairly fast - most people like the shallower focus the wide apertures and longer focal lengths give to blur backgrounds and keep the focus on the face. .

hmmm I'm hoping someone else will answer this one, I've always heard it's 85-105 for the best portrait focal length

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

Thanks. I like my 50mm for portraits, it is sharp enough. I will look at the Tamron you suggested. I will also look at the zoom suggested, I am pretty sure zoom is the way I will go since i do not have one, and I do at least have the 50mm.

 

[zackiedawg]

hmmm I'm hoping someone else will answer this one, I've always heard it's 85-105 for the best portrait focal length

It is for sure...but remember the 'they say...' logic is probably talking about old film/35mm specs, and also likely taking into consideration portrait use indoors or studio - the longer focal lengths won't work as well there. Most portrait photogs I know or talk to agree fairly universally that a 105mm or 135mm lens on full frame is what they consider their main portrait lens for outdoor work - for getting closeup shots, head & shoulders, of people with the least distortion and most comfortable working range. So that generally puts crop body users in the 70mm to 90mm range. Of course, any lens can be a portrait lens, and it's up to the photographer to decide the lens and focal length they are most comfortable - some love a good 50mm and working close, while some model shooters I know use 300mm primes for portraits from 15-20 feet away. I have to say I find the 90mm just about right - it lets me get close enough to move my angles around and find the shadow/light cast on the face just right, and interact with the model, yet not be so close that i'm standing on their toes! That 135mm zone is just right - if I had a full frame, the Zeiss 135mm F1.8 would probably be the most gorgeous portrait lens I could imagine!

 

[MICKEY88]

It is for sure...but remember the 'they say...' logic is probably talking about old film/35mm specs, and also likely taking into consideration portrait use indoors or studio - the longer focal lengths won't work as well there. Most portrait photogs I know or talk to agree fairly universally that a 105mm or 135mm lens on full frame is what they consider their main portrait lens for outdoor work - for getting closeup shots, head & shoulders, of people with the least distortion and most comfortable working range. So that generally puts crop body users in the 70mm to 90mm range. Of course, any lens can be a portrait lens, and it's up to the photographer to decide the lens and focal length they are most comfortable - some love a good 50mm and working close, while some model shooters I know use 300mm primes for portraits from 15-20 feet away. I have to say I find the 90mm just about right - it lets me get close enough to move my angles around and find the shadow/light cast on the face just right, and interact with the model, yet not be so close that i'm standing on their toes! That 135mm zone is just right - if I had a full frame, the Zeiss 135mm F1.8 would probably be the most gorgeous portrait lens I could imagine!

it's definitely from the film days, I'm old.. but it would still hold with digital once factoring the crop factor, the 85-105 was considered the ideal because it gives the least distortion, yet keeps the subject at a distance that keeps them from getting uncomfortable with a lens in their face..LOL

I use my 28-75 2.8 in studio, it allows me to shoot full body, then zoom for a headshot.. ouside I use the same lens plus my 80-200 2.8

the 300 primes, interesting, are they shooting full frame I hope, otherwise it sounds like they are just trying to justify the money they spent, by finding ways to use the lens

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

A couple of interesting looking products I saw in an email from B&H. Anyone heard anything about them?

Lightscoop Standard

Lightscoop Warming

 

[zackiedawg]

the 300 primes, interesting, are they shooting full frame I hope, otherwise it sounds like they are just trying to justify the money they spent, by finding ways to use the lens

Oh yeah...full frame only for that! Man, I haven't tried a portrait with my 300 F4 yet, but I have a feeling I'd feel like I was in another zip code from my model.

 

[henryk67]

 

[henryk67]

 

[vandort]

It's been a while since I've posted any pictures. I hope that you've all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday (for those of you in the US).

 

[foolishmortal]

 

[zackiedawg]

A couple of 300mm F4 candid portraits at Animal Kingdom, from my trip at the beginning of the month...I don't normally shoot people as subjects, but these all had some personality, color, or style that made them fun to shoot. Camera was A550, lens was Minolta 300mm F4 APO G, and some high ISO was needed in mixed and low light:

African drummer (ISO1000):

African dancer (ISO320):

DeVine (ISO1600):

Finding Nemo performers (ISO1600):

 

[zackiedawg]

To bring this thread alive again, I figured I'd share some photos I've taken with my new Sony camera, a NEX3 with 18-55 kit lens. Picked it up as a second body to go alongside my A550 - neat little thing it is! Here are a few various snaps around my hometown:

Turtles on a log:

Swamp scenery:

My birding wetlands area boardwalk:

ISO1600 of my cat by the window:

Even higher, at ISo3200:

Armadillo wandering across my path:

Fern Forest:

Great blue heron out at the wetlands:

Beach bicycle:

 

[pixiedust247]

If you were to get another lens what would it be?

I am trying to learn the camera and have gotten some great shots but I have the normal lens that came with my A300 and a zoom lens. Any suggestions will be appreciated?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

If you were to get another lens what would it be?

I am trying to learn the camera and have gotten some great shots but I have the normal lens that came with my A300 and a zoom lens. Any suggestions will be appreciated?

A little more info would help with suggestions. What do you like or want to shoot? And what do you feel you're missing with the lenses that came with the camera?

 

[vandort]

Thanks for sharing your photos, Justin. I always enjoy looking at your pictures. The images from your new camera are very nice.

Looking at your pictures reminds me that I am really tired of winter. It has been a long one this year.

Here is a picture I took from my back yard.