Discussion
OK chaps, time for some questions about lenses. I want a macro, general purpose and "long distance" lens (not sure how to describe that?? i.e.150-500mm or other).
I currently have the standard lens from the camera 18-55mm and an old lens from my Minolta Film camera 70-300mm. They are good lenses but I've just been told that because the lens is from my old Minolta Film camera that the effective zoom is approx 35-150mm, is that correct?
Anyway back to the lenses, are Sigma and Tamron good enough lenses?
I'm looking to take photographs of my interests, insects, flowers (Macro lens) and wildlife (long range lens) and I think something like an 18-270mm lens would just about cover everything else which I would need without carrying 4-5 different lenses with me.
So if the above makes any sense, can you please answer the questions and give me any suggestions? Also any suggestions for other lens manufacturers? or are Tamron/Sigma easily good enough?
I've also seen Sangyang lenses, but they sound a little too much like the LingLong equivalent of car tyres.
ETA Sony Alpha A500 Camera body.
Thanks.
I currently have the standard lens from the camera 18-55mm and an old lens from my Minolta Film camera 70-300mm. They are good lenses but I've just been told that because the lens is from my old Minolta Film camera that the effective zoom is approx 35-150mm, is that correct?
Anyway back to the lenses, are Sigma and Tamron good enough lenses?
I'm looking to take photographs of my interests, insects, flowers (Macro lens) and wildlife (long range lens) and I think something like an 18-270mm lens would just about cover everything else which I would need without carrying 4-5 different lenses with me.
So if the above makes any sense, can you please answer the questions and give me any suggestions? Also any suggestions for other lens manufacturers? or are Tamron/Sigma easily good enough?
I've also seen Sangyang lenses, but they sound a little too much like the LingLong equivalent of car tyres.
ETA Sony Alpha A500 Camera body.
Thanks.
Edited by WorAl on Friday 6th May 17:41
First - the lens you already have, when put on a DSLR, actually increases if focal length by a factor of 1.5, so your 75-300 becomes a 112.5-450mm lens. The one that came with the camera (18-55mm) isn't affected because the optics were designed for the digital camera in the first place.
http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/crop-factor.html
As for lenses, I've had a Sigma 50mm macro that broke (but only after about 5 years of reasonable use), now have a 90mm Tamron that's pretty good. For wildlife, it depends on whether you're patient enough to let them get close, otherwise a 300mm lens won't really cut it. I use a Sigma 175-500 (which works out as a 224-750 on the DSLR), and even then a lot of stuff comes out small.
As for manufacturers, I'd stick to the brand names - Sigma, Tamron, Sony - all should be good enough.
There are some pics here
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd147/ULVRS/
taken with the various lenses I have.
http://www.digital-slr-guide.com/crop-factor.html
As for lenses, I've had a Sigma 50mm macro that broke (but only after about 5 years of reasonable use), now have a 90mm Tamron that's pretty good. For wildlife, it depends on whether you're patient enough to let them get close, otherwise a 300mm lens won't really cut it. I use a Sigma 175-500 (which works out as a 224-750 on the DSLR), and even then a lot of stuff comes out small.
As for manufacturers, I'd stick to the brand names - Sigma, Tamron, Sony - all should be good enough.
There are some pics here
http://s221.photobucket.com/albums/dd147/ULVRS/
taken with the various lenses I have.
Edited by Monty Python on Friday 6th May 17:47
Edited by Monty Python on Friday 6th May 17:48
Spotting scope and adaptor it is then! 
Monty Python said:
Only if you can find one of the 500mm lenses designed for film SLRs, then it becomes a 750mm lens when used on a digital.
No it doesn't. Have a read hereLenses are marketed against a x1.0 FOVCF. So a 500mm lens on, say, a Canon 1DS will give you 500mm as advertised.
On a x1.6FOVCF camera you'll get an equivalent of 800mm (500x1.6).
Most DSLR are 1.0, 1.3 or 1.6 FOVCF, check what you have and you can work out the equivalent.
Monty Python said:
The one that came with the camera (18-55mm) isn't affected because the optics were designed for the digital camera in the first place.
Monty Python said:
Only if you can find one of the 500mm lenses designed for film SLRs, then it becomes a 750mm lens when used on a digital.
Not true, lens focal lengths are always quoted in terms of 35mm cameras. For example, my Canon 50mm f1.8 will always be a 50mm lens whether I fit it onto my 40D or if I upgrade to a 5D. The effective length does change however as the 5D is full frame (the effective focal length is 50mm) as opposed to the 1.6x crop factor on the 40D (the effective focal length is now 80mm).So that 18-55mm will have an effective focal length of 27-82.5mm on the OP's camera.
It won't - the Sony 18-55 optics are designed to take into account the crop size of the sensor - I've got exactly the same lens on my A100, and I'm basing the bit above on the A100 which has a crop factor of 1.5. The lens is still 500mm, but the effective focal length is 750mm.
Anyway, as long as it's long enough to capture what you want, it's largely academic.
Anyway, as long as it's long enough to capture what you want, it's largely academic.
Edited by Monty Python on Friday 6th May 20:59
Edited by Monty Python on Friday 6th May 21:00
Monty Python said:
It won't - the Sony 18-55 optics are designed to take into account the crop size of the sensor - I've got exactly the same lens on my A100, and I'm basing the bit above on the A100 which has a crop factor of 1.5. The lens is still 500mm, but the effective focal length is 750mm.
Anyway, as long as it's long enough to capture what you want, it's largely academic.
The image circle of the optics may only cover the 1.5crop sensor, but the focal length is still quoted in 35mm equivalence.Anyway, as long as it's long enough to capture what you want, it's largely academic.
Edited by Monty Python on Friday 6th May 20:59
Edited by Monty Python on Friday 6th May 21:00
OP, older minolta lenses will fit your camera, they are well regarded too. Lose days here: http://www.dyxum.com/
A wide range lens like say an 18-250 is very much a compromise in design. Your current lenses cover a pretty wide range of focal lengths, what exactly is it that you want to do that they cannot, if you can put up some examples of what you want to do, I'm sure we can help.
Sigma and Tokina both make good lenses at lower price points than the usually very nice sony lenses. The sigma macro lenses are all pretty good, particularly the 70mm, I have one and its razor sharp.
Samyang are an interesting manufacturer, some of their new lenses look rather nice, but they are manual focus only which probably won't appeal.
WorAl said:
I'm looking to take photographs of my interests, insects, flowers (Macro lens) and wildlife (long range lens) and I think something like an 18-270mm lens would just about cover everything else which I would need without carrying 4-5 different lenses with me.
A megazoom like that will compromise image quality significantly.I can recommend some nice alpha mount lenses, but it rather depends on your budget. It's also worth reading dyxum.com which has information and user reviews on every lens made for alpha mount since Minolta introduced the first autofocus SLR and lenses in 1985.
onomatopoeia said:
WorAl said:
I'm looking to take photographs of my interests, insects, flowers (Macro lens) and wildlife (long range lens) and I think something like an 18-270mm lens would just about cover everything else which I would need without carrying 4-5 different lenses with me.
A megazoom like that will compromise image quality significantly.I can recommend some nice alpha mount lenses, but it rather depends on your budget. It's also worth reading dyxum.com which has information and user reviews on every lens made for alpha mount since Minolta introduced the first autofocus SLR and lenses in 1985.
these guys were very helpful
Manufacturers site
the aperture size can be restrictive fastest being 3.6, but with the vibration control you can claw back 3 to 4 stops to enable suprisingly good hand held shots even when using full-tele. Quality isnt going to be up with dedicated lenses but for general use and a tad under £500 I'm very please with the lens and perfect partner to my D7000 and has given some remarkable results.
Al that being said not sure if it is available in your mount, but I is horses for courses and as a keen amateur photographer I would certainly recommend that you dont exclude this type of lens without experiencing it first ....... make your own mind up and enjoy the search
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