Purchasing different lens' for Sony A550

[disneyboy2003]

Carl Zeiss 16mm-25mm f/2.8 sal-1635z
Sony SAL-20f28 Wide Angle lens
Sony sal-16f28 Wide Angle fish eye lens


I do know the Carl Zeiss is expensive. I am just curious about it.

The fisheye lens I know is going to be distorted on the sides but I am wondering how much so.

Some more general recommendations...nothing specific to the above lenses.

If you're gonna go for a prime lens, I'd say go for one with an aperture that's larger than f/2.8. For zoom lenses, f/2.8 is the largest possible aperture you can get. But if you are considering prime lenses, you might as well go for better than f/2.8, especially since you're going for low-light photography.

Fish eye lenses can produce very unique and interesting photos. For me, though, there's only so much fish-eye photos I can take. For an occasional photo here & there, fish-eye is interesting. Not so much for an entire vacation.

Yeah, and the Carl Zeiss lens is expensive.

Just some thoughts.

 

[DznyFan]

the CZ 16-35 f/2.8 has excellent reviews/ratings on a user-driven Sony/Minolta website that I use. The other two get decent marks as well, but not as high as the CZ. They're also significantly cheaper. KAT4DISNEY might know how much 'fish eye' effect you'll lose with the 16 fisheye on a crop sensor camera.

If you're willing to give up a smidge in the f/stop department, can live with a 16 (well, really 24mm on APS-C) focal length as your widest, and don't mind a DT lens, you might consider the Sony SAL 1680 CZ. It is a very nice lens. You'll save some money, too. The good thing is the other two on your list are full frame compatible if I'm not mistaken.

 

[wisbucky]

Anyone know of a wide angle lens that has an f-stop of under f/2.8?

 

[wisbucky]

I should of also said not only under f/2.8 and starting with under 24mm.

 

[wisbucky]

the CZ 16-35 f/2.8 has excellent reviews/ratings on a user-driven Sony/Minolta website that I use. The other two get decent marks as well, but not as high as the CZ. They're also significantly cheaper. KAT4DISNEY might know how much 'fish eye' effect you'll lose with the 16 fisheye on a crop sensor camera.

If you're willing to give up a smidge in the f/stop department, can live with a 16 (well, really 24mm on APS-C) focal length as your widest, and don't mind a DT lens, you might consider the Sony SAL 1680 CZ. It is a very nice lens. You'll save some money, too. The good thing is the other two on your list are full frame compatible if I'm not mistaken.

Any idea if the SAL 1680CZ would work for a night parade well? Im a little worried about the the f-stop being 3.5.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Sigma has a both a 20mm & 24mm f/1.8 that get decent reviews. The 24 slightly better than the 20mm.

The Sony 16mm fisheye is a great lens. The complaint I had about it on my A700 is it didn't produce much of a fisheye effect since it was really developed for full frame. But - I don't think you're really looking for that distortion so you might be very happy with it. You will still get more distortion than you would with a wide angle of that focal length.

Here's a couple of examples of perspectives that may help with what length you are most looking for.

16mm equivalent:

8mm equivalent:

33mm equivalent. Would show what you could get with the Sigma 30mm 1.4 which is a great lens and would give you a fast lens for hand holding and will be good for night parades:

The Sigma 10mm f/2.8 fisheye will get you perspectives like this:

You said you have the Sony 18-250 - correct? The Zeiss 16-80 starts at the same f/3.5 (although it's one of my favorite lenses ever!) so it may not be what you are looking for. Are you wanting something wider than your 18-250 or just something of similar width that is faster?

If wider then I'd say the Sigma 10-20 f/3.5 or the Tamron 10-24 f3.5-4.5 are you current best bets. However - if you want to wait just a bit Tokina announced the release of their 11-16 f/2.8 in the Sony mount. I don't know the exact date it will be available but I'd expect it in the next few months. That's the fastest ultra-wide you could get.

If hand held for night parades etc. then the Sigma 30mm 1.4. Actually I always prefered to use a 50mm on my A700 for night parades and Sony has both a f1.4 and a f1.8. For a fast, wide angle zoom the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. You would possibly be able to use this for night parades b/c of the excellent high ISO capabilities of your camera.


It's just hard to get the hand held night parade and an ultra-wide combo.
You might be very happy with the Sigma or Tamron ultra-wides and the Sigma 30mm 1.4 or Sony 50mm 1.8 for night parades. You could get one of these combos for under your $1,000 budget.

 

[DznyFan]

Any idea if the SAL 1680CZ would work for a night parade well? Im a little worried about the the f-stop being 3.5.

that would be the downside to that - just not as fast. I saw the announced Tokina that Kat mentioned today as well, and thought about you. It looks like a nice combination of speed and wide angle

 

[wisbucky]

Kat I am looking for something wider. And yes I do have the 18-250. It is not wide enough. I need something much wider for the shots I want. I am only able to get half a float during a night parade. So I am thinking the Tokina 11-16 F/2.8 might be just what I am looking for. Or the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 has the light I really want. I am looking for the info on the Tokina now.

If I loose that fish eye effect that would be perfect for me. I am not interested in having photos with fisheye looking prints. I just want a nice wide lens.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Kat I am looking for something wider. And yes I do have the 18-250. It is not wide enough. I need something much wider for the shots I want. I am only able to get half a float during a night parade. So I am thinking the Tokina 11-16 F/2.8 might be just what I am looking for. Or the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 has the light I really want. I am looking for the info on the Tokina now.

If I loose that fish eye effect that would be perfect for me. I am not interested in having photos with fisheye looking prints. I just want a nice wide lens.

Lol - you see, I'm definitely different. I've even used 85mm for the parades!

I appears that the Tokina Sony mount may be released in early May. Everyone seems to rave about it.

 

[wisbucky]

Lol - you see, I'm definitely different. I've even used 85mm for the parades!

I appears that the Tokina Sony mount may be released in early May. Everyone seems to rave about it.

I really wanted a wide angle for this upcoming trip but if that Tokina is waht I am looking for I think I can wait til May. But I will still stop at a few camera stores and just see what is there spefically that Tamron.

I came across a used Sigma 50- 500mm F/4.0- 6.3. Wondering if anyone has any input on this as to how well it would work for wildlife shots.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I really wanted a wide angle for this upcoming trip but if that Tokina is waht I am looking for I think I can wait til May. But I will still stop at a few camera stores and just see what is there spefically that Tamron.

I came across a used Sigma 50- 500mm F/4.0- 6.3. Wondering if anyone has any input on this as to how well it would work for wildlife shots.

Another option for your upcoming trip might be to rent a lens. This place has sony mount's for rent. Another dis'er used them recently without problem AFAIK. Just an option if your heart was set on the wide angle for the trip but you want to wait for the Tokina.

Sony lens rentals

No comment on the Sigma 50-500 other than it is popular for wildlife. You may need a monopod to help steady it at the 500mm focal length but the steady shot may assist enough that you will get a lot of keepers without one.

 

[zackiedawg]

The Sigma 50-500 would be fine for wildlife...anything in the 400-500mm range is what you'd be looking for, and that one has been around a while. Do note that it is a heavy lens, and fairly long...so for stationary shooting, tripod mounted shooting, or short walks it should be fine - but for long hikes you might need to do some weightlifting if you're smaller to build up for it! The 50-500 is very similar to the Tamron 200-500 and the Sigma 150-500, but is larger and heavier than those other two because of the extra range on the low end (starting at 50mm instead of 200mm makes the lens longer). If the used Sigma 50-500 is going for more than $800, I'd probably recommend looking at the Sigma 150-500 or Tamron 200-500 instead, as they run around $800 new, and would be smaller and lighter too. If you happen to find a used 150-500, Tamron 200-500, or Sigma 170-500, those may save you a little more money over the 50-500.

 

[vandort]

Good suggestion to do some weightlifting to prepare for carrying the Sigma 50-500mm lens around, Justin. There is a reason why people call the Sigma 50-500mm the "bigma".

Kathy,
I have the feeling that you own or have owned every alpha mount lens. I'm impressed with your knowledge and diverse pictures.

Have you every tried one of the mirror lens (e.g. Minolta/Sony 500mm f8)? I know the bokeh is strange, but it is very light in comparison to the other 500mm lenses?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Kathy,
I have the feeling that you own or have owned every alpha mount lens. I'm impressed with your knowledge and diverse pictures.

Have you every tried one of the mirror lens (e.g. Minolta/Sony 500mm f8)? I know the bokeh is strange, but it is very light in comparison to the other 500mm lenses?

Lol - it seems close! Jumping into a DLSR without any idea of what you're going to do, not loving the first lenses you buy, having family that likes to support your habit at Christmas and for your BD, having a DH that decides he wants a DSLR and getting more lenses with that used camera, and then the switch to full frame. Yep - all my reason's for having tried/used way more lenses than necessary.

Anway - yes, of course I've tried the mirror reflex! It is so lightweight and easy to handle. In a way that's a slight problem b/c I think a little more weight might help to steady it. 500mm - especially on a crop camera is long and you need to be very steady so even though it's light a monopod would be beneficial, although not absolutely necessary. The downside to the lens is the constant f/8 but if you plan on shooting in good light that's ok. It's a razor thin depth of field at that focal length and aperture if your subject is close and it's been the most difficult to use lens for me, other than a macro. But that might be true of other 500mm's for me. It also only uses the center autofocus point. It's not as versatile as the Bigma or other's but you cannot beat the weight if looking for a long telephoto and the price isn't bad either - especially for a used Minolta. You would want to make certain it still has the drop in filters if you buy used.

The "doughnuts" are funky but really only stand out with certain items in the background. They make me smile so that's not all bad.

 

[zackiedawg]

The "doughnuts" are funky but really only stand out with certain items in the background. They make me smile so that's not all bad.

Exactly - the donuts aren't there all the time - if the background isn't out of focus, no problem, and if the background is far enough away, also no problem. The only time you need to be wary of the donuts is when you've got a background which is moderately close to the subject, but out of focus.

I played around with someone else's 500mm F8 while out birding - we did a lens swap for a few minutes just to try out the other. As I hadn't shot with the lens previously, I wasn't thinking about the donuts and didn't mind my backgrounds...I ended up with lots of them:

(in case the inbed doesn't work, the link: http://g1.img-dpreview.com/C712834D3EDE4BBC809A0F42D085B1FA.jpg )

BTW - I also thought I'd mention here on the Sony thread that I've come down with another bout of 'LAS' - Lens acquisition syndrome...So far, fortunately, it's only caused me to purchase a Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro...but I'm not sure I'm quite over it yet, and there's the possibility I might end up with a Minolta 300mm F4 APO when it's all done.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

...but I'm not sure I'm quite over it yet, and there's the possibility I might end up with a Minolta 300mm F4 APO when it's all done.

Ahhhhhhhhh!

And your shot with the 500mm is a perfect example of the donuts you can get.

 

[zackiedawg]

Ahhhhhhhhh! .

yeah...it's a lovely and tempting beast. The thing is so solid and heavy - it feels like you could use it to prop up your car to change a tire. And that lovely white crinkle coating that resists scratches and such.

I had a chance to take a few shots with it on my A550 in a backyard, just to test it out...lovely lens:

The person I bought the Tamron 90mm from, and tested the 300mm from, has quite the collection of lenses...he'd have you bowing all day in reverence! He let me handle the 300mm F4 APO G, the 400mm F4.5 APO G and 600mm F4 APO G (both of which come in those gorgeous steel felt-lined crates), and the Zeiss 16-35 F2.8 SSM. Just part of his collection of 15 or so lenses. He's unloading a few, which is how I came by the Tamron 90, and possibly the 300mm F4 G...if I bite the bullet!

 

[vandort]

Justin,
Those pictures with the 300mm lens are gorgeous. I think that it would be hard to pass that one up.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

yeah...it's a lovely and tempting beast. The thing is so solid and heavy - it feels like you could use it to prop up your car to change a tire. And that lovely white crinkle coating that resists scratches and such.

I had a chance to take a few shots with it on my A550 in a backyard, just to test it out...lovely lens:

The person I bought the Tamron 90mm from, and tested the 300mm from, has quite the collection of lenses...he'd have you bowing all day in reverence! He let me handle the 300mm F4 APO G, the 400mm F4.5 APO G and 600mm F4 APO G (both of which come in those gorgeous steel felt-lined crates), and the Zeiss 16-35 F2.8 SSM. Just part of his collection of 15 or so lenses. He's unloading a few, which is how I came by the Tamron 90, and possibly the 300mm F4 G...if I bite the bullet!

Those cases are amazing indeed. And the 600mm! Is there a drooling icon? This might work also! I'd enjoy seeing that lens. I almost went and looked at the Zeiss 16-35 a few weeks ago when I was out of town on business. Unfortunately the store I could walk to did not have a copy and I would have had to drive a short ways and just didn't make it. Yes, I would have enjoyed see all of those.

It'll be great to see shots you take with the 300mm F4 after you buy it!

 

[wisbucky]

After much consideration and knowing that I really wanted to play with the lens for a night parade on our upcoming trip I purchased the Sigma 30mm F/1.4. Now it has been delivered and I have been playing with it. I sure like the fast lens for capturing light.

I am still leaning towards getting the Tokina 11-16 when it comes available in the United States. Then my husband said you need a zoom lens to get the wildlife. We have deer, turkey, Bald Eagle, numerous hawks and a bear that lurk in our back yard near the woods. My 300mm just does not get close enough.

If I could find a used 50-500mm again or even a lens that is a zoom up to 600mm I would grab it.

My husband saw zackiedawg's photo of the fountain and went nuts. He said that is what you need to get.

So with that in mind does anyone know of a store or website that sells used lenses?