Lens Dilemma

[Chiacj]

I've searched through so many threads that I've become even more in a dilemma than before =\

I own a A55 with kit lens.

I use the camera mainly for travelling (landscapes especially) and covering events of friends and family. I don't intend to go pro (have a collection of lenses) so I just want to settle on one lens for the time being (no budget )

I've been looking at 3 lenses

SAL18250
vs Kit Lens: Non-rotating filter, further reach, all in one!
disadvantages: read somewhere pretty solve at wide end and some other disadvantages along the range, meaning to get sharp pictures I need to stop down pretty much wherever along the range I am. Low light die.

SAL16105
vs Kit Lens: Non-rotating filter, less reach than SAL18250 but sharp at the wide end
disadvantage: soft at the tele end, and some sellers say EOL?

Tamron 17-50mm
vs Kit Lens: Non-rotating filter, fast! sharp!
disadvantages: Soft at wide and tele, not as far reach as the two above




Which do you think makes a better lens for me? I think the more I read, the more confused I get prefer to get real world opinions from people who have actually used them

Hi, you pretty much have everything sort out, but here's my piece of advice:
If you are looking for image quality, then consider 2lens or 3 lens build up;
If versatility is what you are looking for, SAL18-250 is a no brainer and your concern on low light ---> get a flash and/or tripod

 

[kei1309]

Hi, you pretty much have everything sort out, but here's my piece of advice:
If you are looking for image quality, then consider 2lens or 3 lens build up;
If versatility is what you are looking for, SAL18-250 is a no brainer and your concern on low light ---> get a flash and/or tripod

quick note: at 250mm the flash is most likely unable to give good illumination. so you can always use Wireless Flash Sync, something that's available on your A55 with an external flashlight like the HVL-F58AM (of course for shooting pretty gals in low-light conditions :bsmilie

 

[stvc11]

Why don't try 18-55 kit lens + 35 F1.8 + 50 F1.8 + 85 F2.8 + Beercan = total around 1200.. Covered the whole range and good image quality & you can get them 1 by 1...

 

[pck3810]

I have the SAL18250 for quite a while now since my A100 days and still using it. Sharpness wise can never compare to the G or CZ or even the old KM lens ..for practical reasons ie traveling want it light etc..it is quite reasonable in its quality ..low light wise it is already a 3.5-6.3 you just have to stop down no choice...can never have cheap fast and good ..it is always 2 of the 3 think about it cheers

 

[eventidephoenix]

hmmm I was thinking of finally settling down with the tamron 17-50mm for it is just about the sharpest lens out of the three and also the lowest price =\

Just wondering, if I get the lens from ebay, would warranty be much of an issue?

 

[greenieadi]

To TS, buy UWA lenses if you always use those wide focal range because of the ex price tag and specific/niche use.

I tend to agree with TS the A55 Panorama Sweep feature should suffice for holiday landscape shots and to skip getting the UWA lens.

Sony SAL18-250 seems like a one-size fits all lens but I believe you will outgrow the lens IQ after a while.

Getting an external flash also seems like an answer to low light situations, BUT, flash photography in it's self, requires considerable knowledge and skill.

Prime lenses like the "Easy Choice" lenses- DT 35mm f1.8, DT 50mm f1.8 and 85mm f2.8 is a good idea. But you need to get use to using prime lenses, need to move forward/backwards to compose/frame shots.

But the "extra" work is worthwhile due to the great IQ, bokeh and low-light capability.

Do observe which focal length you have been using most with you kit lens and only you alone knows what lens to buy.

Like many others here, I'm not a pro but own a couple of lenses for different occassion.

What lenses I can't afford but require, I rent.

 

[greenieadi]

hmmm I was thinking of finally settling down with the tamron 17-50mm for it is just about the sharpest lens out of the three and also the lowest price =\

Just wondering, if I get the lens from ebay, would warranty be much of an issue?

The Tamron 17-50mm is a good alternative but in my experience the 50mm is a limitation in a couple of single-lens outing occassions that I finally deided to sell it after awhile.

Personally I might have paired it up with a Sony 70-300mm G.

Nowadays if I need quality and flexibility I just rent a CZ 24-70mm and 70-200mm G for a two body and two lens outing. Sometimes bringing along my trinity of easy choice prime lens as backup.

 

[JiEeEe]

hmmm I was thinking of finally settling down with the tamron 17-50mm for it is just about the sharpest lens out of the three and also the lowest price =\

Just wondering, if I get the lens from ebay, would warranty be much of an issue?

honestly speaking. unless u gonna print big size. sharpness is not really a big big problem..

i print 4r photos from 18 - 70 kit .. after PP. its sharp enuff

 

[greenieadi]

Post Processing also requires lots of knowledge & practice to master. Sharpness is one aspect, bokeh is another- though both can be PP'ed using 3rd party software eg alienskin bokeh software. Exposure, saturation etc, etc if done wrongly can mess up the image.

I guess, having good quality glass minimize time and work flow. A Pro did ever told me why waste time PP in front of PC when it's better spending time taking more pictures outside to hone your photography skills.

 

[javabeans]

since 17-50 is within ur current kit lens range, can use it to get a better feel of the focal length b4 u buy the 17-50. cos u may feel u prefer longer reach? at times u may prefer wider angle? try to organize own shooting projects la

 

[Aimevous]

Hmm.. before you buy a lens, you need to know your needs. Do you usually shoot wide? Or do you shoot at a middle telephoto range?
Everyone have a specific range of focal length they love best. If you are not sure, and if you are using bridge or lightroom, just sort your images into focal length and you'll see the distribution.
From there you will know whether you need the extra reach, like 18-250mm.

Personally I thought the 18-250mm is a good lens for beginners who doesn't yet know what they want to shoot. However, I personally find that I almost never shoot at anything more than 80mm. And frankly the 18-250mm's sharpness wide open at the long end isn't that sharp (tested at 200mm f/5.6 against beercan 200mm f/4). So if anyone asks, I wont really recommend the 18-250.

Next, you need to decide if you really need the f2.8 for the Tammy. Do note that at f2.8, it is sharp but probably not as sharp as some may like it to be (well, at least me).
And personally I find that lens too restrictive from 17-50mm and its not very cheap either.

I personally went for the CZ 1680 and I've never looked back since. I can say the colors (though not a big deal to some) and the sharpness (can be quite a deal) is unmatched with other lenses in this price range. The extra 2mm (or 1mm) at the wide end does make a huge difference.

I just came back from a sightseeing trip to Japan and the CZ1680 was my most used lens, allowing me to get landscape shots at 16mm yet zoom in on street details up to 80mm easily. Following close behind is my ultrawide Minolta 11-18mm. And occasionally my 35mm F1.8. I could actually do without this lens on that trip actually.

Hope this is useful...

 

[eventidephoenix]

Hmm.. before you buy a lens, you need to know your needs. Do you usually shoot wide? Or do you shoot at a middle telephoto range?
Everyone have a specific range of focal length they love best. If you are not sure, and if you are using bridge or lightroom, just sort your images into focal length and you'll see the distribution.
From there you will know whether you need the extra reach, like 18-250mm.

Personally I thought the 18-250mm is a good lens for beginners who doesn't yet know what they want to shoot. However, I personally find that I almost never shoot at anything more than 80mm. And frankly the 18-250mm's sharpness wide open at the long end isn't that sharp (tested at 200mm f/5.6 against beercan 200mm f/4). So if anyone asks, I wont really recommend the 18-250.

Next, you need to decide if you really need the f2.8 for the Tammy. Do note that at f2.8, it is sharp but probably not as sharp as some may like it to be (well, at least me).
And personally I find that lens too restrictive from 17-50mm and its not very cheap either.

I personally went for the CZ 1680 and I've never looked back since. I can say the colors (though not a big deal to some) and the sharpness (can be quite a deal) is unmatched with other lenses in this price range. The extra 2mm (or 1mm) at the wide end does make a huge difference.

I just came back from a sightseeing trip to Japan and the CZ1680 was my most used lens, allowing me to get landscape shots at 16mm yet zoom in on street details up to 80mm easily. Following close behind is my ultrawide Minolta 11-18mm. And occasionally my 35mm F1.8. I could actually do without this lens on that trip actually.

Hope this is useful...

Thanks for your frank response! I was thinking along your lines as well. But it means I have to save up more budget for the CZ 1680. True for the SAL18250.

 

[albertri]

Thanks for your frank response! I was thinking along your lines as well. But it means I have to save up more budget for the CZ 1680. True for the SAL18250.

yep I too own 18-250 and sold it asap as it's not that sharp as I hope it would be turn to Tamron 17-50 it easy beats 18-250 from 18-50mm at any f... and gotten my self beercan and just love the combo. CZ1680 is one of the best lens in it range sharpness and color wise and it got some reach also 80mm is good for half body to whole body portraits... sadly it's way beyond my reach hehe I'm saving up for my ultra wide lens to complete my lens setup

 

[eventidephoenix]

yep I too own 18-250 and sold it asap as it's not that sharp as I hope it would be turn to Tamron 17-50 it easy beats 18-250 from 18-50mm at any f... and gotten my self beercan and just love the combo. CZ1680 is one of the best lens in it range sharpness and color wise and it got some reach also 80mm is good for half body to whole body portraits... sadly it's way beyond my reach hehe I'm saving up for my ultra wide lens to complete my lens setup

eek even from ebay CZ cost $888 SGD excluding the happy gst tax after bringing in...

 

[Chiacj]

One thing to note, to get the best sharpness of any lens, you have to know the "sweet" aperture of it. I won't surprise if you are surprised by the sharpness of kit lens 18-55 at f8.

SAL18250 is never gonna beat those expensive or shorter zoom lens at wide open, simply it is a super zoom class lens. The point of having this lens is to allow yourself to have maximum versatility at any focal length range. This also trains and allow you to find the focal length which you really like when shooting portraits or landscape, and most impt, you won't have to frequently change your lens outdoor risking dirt to fly into your cam body...

Well, it is really up to personal choice in the end, get the tools that work for ya.

 

[javabeans]

wanna make a guess cz+apsc vs normal lens+ff which one is sharper?

 

[albertri]

eek even from ebay CZ cost $888 SGD excluding the happy gst tax after bringing in...

yep thats why this lens is way out of my reach

 

[Aimevous]

wanna make a guess cz+apsc vs normal lens+ff which one is sharper?

easy choice. the cz lens will beat the ff camera with normal lens hands down.

 

[eventidephoenix]

yep thats why this lens is way out of my reach

do you think it's worth saving several months for it and endure my 18-55 first?

 

[kei1309]

do you think it's worth saving several months for it and endure my 18-55 first?

YES. yes yes yes.

oh wait. i think i'd rather you buy the 16-35 and 24-70 :bsmilie:

prepare yourself for FF!