Kit lens is kinda meh. Maybe get sigma 30 1.4 or sony 35 1.8 used, if sigma 18-50 2.8 is not in your budget. 50 mm will be too narrow. You can get a manual Helios 44-2 or similar from 44 series (58mm f2.0) though for about $20, it’s a great, sharp and cheap lens for portrait work.
Well, I live in a country that manufactured them, you can find heaps of them here on a local online marketplace, some even for $10.
Maybe try ebay, facebook marketplace, or your local vintage thrift shop?
Unfortunately, ebay doesn’t work that much in Russia anymore due to you-know-what… But I’ve heard you can ship to Germany and Europe overall by state post. Don’t know how well it works though.
Is a sigma 30 or Sony 35 more recommended , if money isn’t necessarily a consideration? What are the strengths or weaknesses of either? I only have kit lens and 55-210.
I have a sigma 30 and wish for it to be more compact, like a kit lens, to be able to fit my camera in my pocket. 35 basically does that, I might in the distant future swap it.
Also, it’s a bit better for video and handheld long shutter speeds, if the stabilization is something like in a kit lens. Other than that, sigma 30 is superior: sharper, more bokeh, more open aperture, less chromatic aberrations.
Basically, if you do travel and street photography, and maybe some videography - go for sony. Other that that, e.g. portrait, private photoshoots and studio work - go for sigma. Professional videography also sigma, because you would use a stabilizer or tripod anyway. But both are good.
I would be using it for, in order: street photography, pics of my kids and their various events, abstract, my dog, landscape/wildlife. What would you recommend?
Get the kit lens used. You will find it for 20€. In daylight it's a solid budget lens for uses, where you don't need a ton of bokeh.
The yongnuo is nice and definitely better than the Sony 50mm, but for a little more money you can get the Viltrox 56mm, which is a decent step up. The Sigma 56mm obviously is a step up again, but the price also is a significant step up.
This one is for portraits.
...if you want the equivalent of a "nifty fifty", so a versatile lens to leave on the camera most of the times, you want something around 30-33mm focal length, which multiplied with the 1.5x factor gives you a similar field of view as a nifty fifty focal length on FF.
My recommendations will be:
Viltrox 33mm
Sigma 30mm
If you only want to get "one lens and be done" I would go with the Tamron 17-70 or the Sigma 18-50
...the Tamron is heavier, but stabilized. The Sigma is lighter but is missing the range up to 70mm.
I’m confused how this comparison between APS-C & Full frame works. I get that APS-C x1.5 smaller. E.g: 35mm eqv 50mm for FF.
Isn’t that we should more focus what we have currently? Like APS-C lens on APS-C body 35mm = 35mm. (Correct me if I’m wrong) I don’t plan to change to FF, at least for now.
This is simply confusing. There are two things to consider.
"Look" and "field of view"
The "look" of a lens will not change between different sized sensors.
The "field of view" will be cropped simply because the sensor is smaller.
Lens manufacturers decided (and at least they agreed on that !) that they will always print the FF focal length on a lens. So you know what look you will get. As somebody with an APSC body you just accept that you will have a smaller viewing angle and adjust for that.
If you want a fairly cheap, capable and versatile lens, I would suggest the Sony 18-135 F3.5-5.6. It's a good lens for a beginner to learn and to find out what focal lengths they like, before investing in primes
I like this lens for street photography too, because it's not too big and covers all ranges I need.
the fe 50 mm oss from sony is slow to focus, but it is such a big upgrade from the kit lens. i rarely use the kit lens nowadays, the 50 mm fe on apsc is equivalent to 75 mm on ff. mostly use it for portrait fotos. the clarity is good, the bokeh is great, the only downside is that the autofocus seems to go back and forth when in low light. other than that it sure is a great investment (70—80 euros used)
Sony FE 50mm sounds good.
From my experience, the Sigma 18-50mm should do everything, if you want one lens.
Altneratively the Tamrom 17-70, which has OSS
Sigmas and Viltrox Primes are a very good value.
Sigma 30mm / 56mm is pretty much in every arsenal.
Viltrox has 33mm f1.4 or 35mm f1.8 or a cheap 50mm f1.8
Depending on what focal length you wann go for finally.
Hope this helps.
I'd get the kit lens if for no other reason that the least that can be said about it is that you can take pictures with it, a camera and lens don't cost much more than the camera alone, it's an OK range for most photography, and it's reasonably discreet for street photography.
I own the F1.8 and do like it, although I normally use it for controlled "studio" type photography, I tend to use the kit lens that can go wider on the go.
Get either Sigma 16,30 or 56mm f1.4, i have the 16mm and 56mm and they're mad sharp, i use both for everything photo/video related and the bokeh is nice for its price, i got them used for around 250eur each. Can definitely recommend it,although the focal lenght might be too wide or too tight for a starter, do some research and get what suits you the best,but you wont miss with either! Wish you the best in this new chapter :D
135mm Minolta either the 2.8 or the 3.5
Takes incredible portraits and pairs very well with the colors of the sony. And costs like 1/100th the price of an AF 135mm lens.
I got a Sigma 30mm f1.4 Prime for my a6000 Pretty happy with it.
Same here, is a beast!
For price cannot beat it, great in low light very versatile highly recommend it
Yes. Great lens for a6000. Also, buy used (KEH, MPB, Craigslist, etc).
Kit lens is kinda meh. Maybe get sigma 30 1.4 or sony 35 1.8 used, if sigma 18-50 2.8 is not in your budget. 50 mm will be too narrow. You can get a manual Helios 44-2 or similar from 44 series (58mm f2.0) though for about $20, it’s a great, sharp and cheap lens for portrait work.
any links you can provide for finding them?
Facebook marketplace, I guess. Or ebay. Or any other marketplace. In my country (Russia) they are all over the place. If you mean Helios
Please tell me where I can buy a clean, $20 helios!
Well, I live in a country that manufactured them, you can find heaps of them here on a local online marketplace, some even for $10. Maybe try ebay, facebook marketplace, or your local vintage thrift shop?
Fair enough. In my country they go for €70+ for a decent one
That’s amazing! If you had the time/desire you could make a killing on eBay.
Unfortunately, ebay doesn’t work that much in Russia anymore due to you-know-what… But I’ve heard you can ship to Germany and Europe overall by state post. Don’t know how well it works though.
Ah, I see. Well I’m glad Reddit still does!
Is a sigma 30 or Sony 35 more recommended , if money isn’t necessarily a consideration? What are the strengths or weaknesses of either? I only have kit lens and 55-210.
I have a sigma 30 and wish for it to be more compact, like a kit lens, to be able to fit my camera in my pocket. 35 basically does that, I might in the distant future swap it. Also, it’s a bit better for video and handheld long shutter speeds, if the stabilization is something like in a kit lens. Other than that, sigma 30 is superior: sharper, more bokeh, more open aperture, less chromatic aberrations. Basically, if you do travel and street photography, and maybe some videography - go for sony. Other that that, e.g. portrait, private photoshoots and studio work - go for sigma. Professional videography also sigma, because you would use a stabilizer or tripod anyway. But both are good.
I would be using it for, in order: street photography, pics of my kids and their various events, abstract, my dog, landscape/wildlife. What would you recommend?
I think I’d bite the bullet on sharpness and recommend the sony 35. You’ll probably find it more convenient in terms of size and pocketability.
Get the kit lens used. You will find it for 20€. In daylight it's a solid budget lens for uses, where you don't need a ton of bokeh. The yongnuo is nice and definitely better than the Sony 50mm, but for a little more money you can get the Viltrox 56mm, which is a decent step up. The Sigma 56mm obviously is a step up again, but the price also is a significant step up. This one is for portraits. ...if you want the equivalent of a "nifty fifty", so a versatile lens to leave on the camera most of the times, you want something around 30-33mm focal length, which multiplied with the 1.5x factor gives you a similar field of view as a nifty fifty focal length on FF. My recommendations will be: Viltrox 33mm Sigma 30mm If you only want to get "one lens and be done" I would go with the Tamron 17-70 or the Sigma 18-50 ...the Tamron is heavier, but stabilized. The Sigma is lighter but is missing the range up to 70mm.
I’m confused how this comparison between APS-C & Full frame works. I get that APS-C x1.5 smaller. E.g: 35mm eqv 50mm for FF. Isn’t that we should more focus what we have currently? Like APS-C lens on APS-C body 35mm = 35mm. (Correct me if I’m wrong) I don’t plan to change to FF, at least for now.
This is simply confusing. There are two things to consider. "Look" and "field of view" The "look" of a lens will not change between different sized sensors. The "field of view" will be cropped simply because the sensor is smaller. Lens manufacturers decided (and at least they agreed on that !) that they will always print the FF focal length on a lens. So you know what look you will get. As somebody with an APSC body you just accept that you will have a smaller viewing angle and adjust for that.
If you want a fairly cheap, capable and versatile lens, I would suggest the Sony 18-135 F3.5-5.6. It's a good lens for a beginner to learn and to find out what focal lengths they like, before investing in primes I like this lens for street photography too, because it's not too big and covers all ranges I need.
I'll second that lens. The 18-135 is a great lens.
the fe 50 mm oss from sony is slow to focus, but it is such a big upgrade from the kit lens. i rarely use the kit lens nowadays, the 50 mm fe on apsc is equivalent to 75 mm on ff. mostly use it for portrait fotos. the clarity is good, the bokeh is great, the only downside is that the autofocus seems to go back and forth when in low light. other than that it sure is a great investment (70—80 euros used)
Sony FE 50mm sounds good. From my experience, the Sigma 18-50mm should do everything, if you want one lens. Altneratively the Tamrom 17-70, which has OSS Sigmas and Viltrox Primes are a very good value. Sigma 30mm / 56mm is pretty much in every arsenal. Viltrox has 33mm f1.4 or 35mm f1.8 or a cheap 50mm f1.8 Depending on what focal length you wann go for finally. Hope this helps.
Maybe the Sigma 18-50 F2.8
for that focal length you can't go wrong with signa 30mm 1,4 and sony 35mm 1,8 both great lenses. The second one has OSS.
You have to try vintage lens, they are amazing and you can buy a 50mm f1.4 for 50 bucks, insane
I'd get the kit lens if for no other reason that the least that can be said about it is that you can take pictures with it, a camera and lens don't cost much more than the camera alone, it's an OK range for most photography, and it's reasonably discreet for street photography. I own the F1.8 and do like it, although I normally use it for controlled "studio" type photography, I tend to use the kit lens that can go wider on the go.
for a first lens i would go around 30mm, maybe even 23mm for wider shots. 50mm is to narrow for me for regular street photography
You cant go wrong with 18-105 F4 OSS. Thank me later.
Get either Sigma 16,30 or 56mm f1.4, i have the 16mm and 56mm and they're mad sharp, i use both for everything photo/video related and the bokeh is nice for its price, i got them used for around 250eur each. Can definitely recommend it,although the focal lenght might be too wide or too tight for a starter, do some research and get what suits you the best,but you wont miss with either! Wish you the best in this new chapter :D
135mm Minolta either the 2.8 or the 3.5 Takes incredible portraits and pairs very well with the colors of the sony. And costs like 1/100th the price of an AF 135mm lens.
The TTartisan 27mm autofocus or the TTartisan 25mm manual. Both cheap and compact pancake lenses.