New SLR, what essential lenses?
Discussion
Picked up the Sony A200 at weekend, absolutely bleedin' well loving it.
However its now time to start considering lenses.
I was out trying some night imaging last night (moon, long motorway exposures), and someone else parked up near me (with the Sony A350!) and I borrowed his lens - a Minolta 70-210. That (obviously) made a huge difference in getting pictures of the moon.
But most of the time I'll be taking portraits of the kids, action shots out and about, holidays and the like.
I'm figuring on a 50mm F1.something prime and a much longer zoom than the stock 17-70mm lens. And looking much longer term, a wide angle as well.
I'm right in saying that the Sony uses the "old" Minolta AF mounting system, so i can use lenses going back years?
I probably won't be going out right now and buying, just planning my purchases. Any suggestions on lenses to go for without totally breaking the bank?
However its now time to start considering lenses.
I was out trying some night imaging last night (moon, long motorway exposures), and someone else parked up near me (with the Sony A350!) and I borrowed his lens - a Minolta 70-210. That (obviously) made a huge difference in getting pictures of the moon.
But most of the time I'll be taking portraits of the kids, action shots out and about, holidays and the like.
I'm figuring on a 50mm F1.something prime and a much longer zoom than the stock 17-70mm lens. And looking much longer term, a wide angle as well.
I'm right in saying that the Sony uses the "old" Minolta AF mounting system, so i can use lenses going back years?
I probably won't be going out right now and buying, just planning my purchases. Any suggestions on lenses to go for without totally breaking the bank?
krusty said:
I've just upgraded to Nikon from Konica Minolta and have a load of Sony compatable lenses I'm about to put on the Bay of you're interested?
Oooh, you horrible mean mean person! I wasn't looking for lenses now, but if the price is right .... swmbo will not be happy. Will send you a PM shortly ....If your budget is low you could try getting an M42 lens adapter and some old M42 lenses off eBay.
Can get some very decent prime lenses that really show up the stock 18-70mm for between £10 and £60
!
And my A300 still meters in fully-manual 'M' mode when it thinks there is no lens attached - which is handy.
Can get some very decent prime lenses that really show up the stock 18-70mm for between £10 and £60
!And my A300 still meters in fully-manual 'M' mode when it thinks there is no lens attached - which is handy.
rasputin said:
If your budget is low you could try getting an M42 lens adapter and some old M42 lenses off eBay.
Can get some very decent prime lenses that really show up the stock 18-70mm for between £10 and £60!
And my A300 still meters in fully-manual 'M' mode when it thinks there is no lens attached - which is handy.
I'd seen a few of the M42 adapters on ebay, I almost wish I'd kept my old Chinon, as I had a 50mm F1.7 lens on that ....Can get some very decent prime lenses that really show up the stock 18-70mm for between £10 and £60
!And my A300 still meters in fully-manual 'M' mode when it thinks there is no lens attached - which is handy.
clonmult said:
I'd seen a few of the M42 adapters on ebay, I almost wish I'd kept my old Chinon, as I had a 50mm F1.7 lens on that ....
Can pick up some very sharp 50mm M42 lenses for not much money.I got an Optomax 85-205mm F/3.8 for £3, Helios 58mm F/2 for £9 and Carl Zeiss 135mm F/3.5 for £60.
The Optomax has fungus but still gives decent images sometimes. The two primes look barely used despite their age, and give ultra-sharp pictures at wide open apertures. Would definitely recommend them for the price
.clonmult said:
However its now time to start considering lenses.
clonmult said:
I wasn't looking for lenses now
Well that's foxed me!Mind you, the idea of buying a spangly new DSLR and putting a fungus-filled Optomax lens on the front is interesting. Is it digital fungus?
Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 6th July 11:50
Simpo Two said:
clonmult said:
However its now time to start considering lenses.
clonmult said:
I wasn't looking for lenses now
Well that's foxed me!Mind you, the idea of buying a spangly new DSLR and putting a fungus-filled Optomax lens on the front is interesting. Is it digital fungus?
Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 6th July 11:50
If that bloke hadn't turned up with his 70-210, and krusty hadn't sent me over the prices for his interesting zoom, then my life would be considerably easier .....
Simpo Two said:
Mind you, the idea of buying a spangly new DSLR and putting a fungus-filled Optomax lens on the front is interesting. Is it digital fungus?
I wouldn't say fungus-filled. Just... fungusy-ish 
All the Googling I've done suggests that lens fungus is not contageous - the spores are everywhere anyway and will only start growing in a lens if it's left damp and has food (dust) for them.
For £3 I thought it was worth trying. Might even open it up for a clean and to learn about lens internals. Almost guaranteed it won't go back together
!Good to see another Sony user
Sony have recently launched a 50mm f/1.8 which retails at little more than the current s/h price of the Minolta 50mm f/1.7. whx have it at £135. No idea how good it is though, I already have a 50mm lens and am not looking for another so haven't looked at any reviews yet.
The beercan as mentioned is a super lens.
Sony have recently launched a 50mm f/1.8 which retails at little more than the current s/h price of the Minolta 50mm f/1.7. whx have it at £135. No idea how good it is though, I already have a 50mm lens and am not looking for another so haven't looked at any reviews yet.
The beercan as mentioned is a super lens.
sgrimshaw said:
One real cracker to hunt down is the Minolta 70-210 constant F4, known as the Beercan.
They regularly come up on ebay, I got mine for under £70.
Another good value lens is the Minolta 50mm f1.7
Mine cost around £40 on ebay.
Not recently I take it. Prices have gone up a vast deal, even since the start of the year. I sold my 50mm f1.7 for £100. Put it up with a BIN and it went in less than 12 hours.They regularly come up on ebay, I got mine for under £70.
Another good value lens is the Minolta 50mm f1.7
Mine cost around £40 on ebay.
krusty said:
W4X LG said:
krusty said:
I've just upgraded to Nikon from Konica Minolta and have a load of Sony compatable lenses I'm about to put on the Bay of you're interested?
Mark you still got these lenses? Got a Sony A200 and might be able to do a bit of a deal with you!Gassing Station | Photography & Video | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff