Lens for 850 & 900

[Johnc]

As a A700 user, I am looking to upgrade to an 850.
There has been some interesting chat here about certain lens on full-frame camera's, but I am generally ignorant on this subject.
Therefore my question is how can you determine what lens will work on the FF camera, and what limitations will there be?
Ideally I would not like to fork out more big $$ now for additional lens.
Thanks
John

[KevinBarrett]

I assume that you're looking for a "walk-around lens" to cover the usual 24 to 28mm wide end to the 70 to 105mm tele end. If that's the case, there are just a few people here who can tell you how the popular choices will behave on a full-frame sensor. I believe the consensus is that you can't go wrong with the ZA 24-70/2.8 SSM if you've got the money, and that the Tamron, Konica Minolta, and Sony versions of the 28-75/2.8 are acceptable as well. Most will caution you against the Sony and Konica-Minolta 24-105/3.5-4.5 designs. David Kilpatrick, with his extensive experience and knowledge of the system, uses the Minolta 28-105.

However, in case you're open minded, and in case you've got the normal range covered with your a700, I'd suggest using wider lenses and primes on your a900 to get the most out of that great big sensor. Konica-Minolta and Tamron made a similar 17-35/2.8-4 which is great.

[Old Hydro]

As a A700 user, I am looking to upgrade to an 850.
There has been some interesting chat here about certain lens on full-frame camera's, but I am generally ignorant on this subject.
Therefore my question is how can you determine what lens will work on the FF camera, and what limitations will there be?
Ideally I would not like to fork out more big $$ now for additional lens.
Thanks
John

I've been using the 850 for three weeks now. you can use the DT lenses -- if that is what you are asking -- but you have to change a setting, and they are limited to 12mp.

As to other choices, the 20 year old Minolta's that I have work fine. Most of the time I use an old Minolta 28-135.

Also, I don't about where you live, but Sony in the US offers credit with no interest and no payments for a year, or no interest for two years.

[David Kilpatrick]

Secondhand, the final Minolta RS 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 is an outstanding lens for its range and price on full format digital. I've just processed another 200+ pix from it, after switching to the 28-75mm f/2.8 KM lens (aka Tamron) for a few months. I am glad I did, as the extra range was useful and the results are very sharp. New, the latest Sony 28-75mm SAM lens will almost certainly be equal to or better than the KM/Tamron 28-75mm.

David

[01af]

Lenses carry markers in their names which indicate their image circle diameters. Basically the image circles are either large which makes the lens suitable for 35-mm full-frame format and for APS-C format both, or they are small which suits APS-C format only.

Small-format lenses carry these markers:

• DT (Konica-Minolta/Sony)
• Di-II (Tamron)
• DC (Sigma)
• DX (Tokina)

Full-frame lenses carry these markers:

• none (Minolta/Konica-Minolta/Sony/Tokina/pre-digital era lenses from any maker)
• Di (current Tamron)
• DG (current Sigma)

Zoom lenses starting at 16 - 18 mm and going up to 50 mm or beyond are always APS-C-format lenses. The same is true for all wide-angle zoom lenses starting at 10 - 12 mm ... with the singular exception of the Sigma 12-24 mm EX DG which is a full-frame lens. With most other lenses, it takes a closer look to find out whether they are made to cover 35-mm full-frame or not.

-- Olaf

[Johnc]

Thanks all very much for the info.
Olaf's response is probably where I will start, but as this hobby dictates, the pleasure of learning never stops.
Will also keep an eye open for some good second hand gear as suggested.

[KevinBarrett]

Also, a big welcome to Old Hydro, who made his first post in our forum above. Thanks for your valued input, and we look forward to sharing with you more in the future!