Which 50mm lens?

[Tony Meredith]

I've been thinking lately of buying a 50mm prime to use mostly for family style portraits. The Sony 50 f1.4 sells for about $540au, and the Sigma 50 f1.4 HSM sells for about $730au. Which do people think would be a better lens? Also, would there be any advantages of these two over my Tamron 17-50 at 50mm given that i wouldn't be using any of these lenses wide open? Any thoughts appreciated.

[bonneville]

I've been thinking lately of buying a 50mm prime to use mostly for family style portraits.

Have you considered a Minolta 50 1.7 Tony? Still plenty about and considerably less beans than the Sony 50.

Brian

[pakodominguez]

I've been thinking lately of buying a 50mm prime to use mostly for family style portraits. The Sony 50 f1.4 sells for about $540au, and the Sigma 50 f1.4 HSM sells for about $730au. Which do people think would be a better lens? Also, would there be any advantages of these two over my Tamron 17-50 at 50mm given that i wouldn't be using any of these lenses wide open? Any thoughts appreciated.

If I'll buy a 50mm, and I'm ready to pay that much, I'll go for the f2.8 macro. You can do everything that you can do with the f1.4 (remember that the 1.4 isn't that sharp wide open, while the 2.8 have all the chances to be sharp at any f stop)

I haven't use the Tamron, but it has good press -you probably don't need another lens... or is better to invest that money in a different kind of lens, like a tele zoom? the Sony 55-200 has good press too!

Regards

[bfitzgerald]

Hmm hard to know without some kind of info about what type of portraits.

The 50mm 1.7 will do the job, and well considering the price (I would add, I would not pay the crazy prices I have seen on ebay) But 50mm feels a bit short for headshots, and puts you close to the subject, this can make some folks a tad uncomfortable.

Maybe something a bit longer might be of more use. I would not get the 50mm macro, simply because you can get the 90mm Tamron f2.8, and it's a fair bit cheaper, a very well respected lens, and a good focal length for portraits too.

What we really need is a FF lens like an 85mm f1.8, it could be priced well, very fast..and ideal for portrait shots. Sadly, no sign of one as of yet. The Carl Zeiss might be a fab lens, and faster still, but it's a horrible price!

[KevinBarrett]

If you've already got a Tamron 17-50/2.8, then I can forgo telling you just how limiting the 50mm focal length is indoors. I use the Tamron 17-50 myself, and love it, but my apartment has limited lighting and I find that even f/2.8 is challenging, and the Tamron isn't quite its best at f/2.8, so I reach for my 50/1.7 more often.

Comparing Sigma's 50/1.4 to Sony's 50/1.4, it looks like the Sigma is designed for corner to corner consistency at all apertures, whereas the Sony is designed for ultimate sharpness at center at all apertures. The Sony sharpens up in the corners when stopped down, however, and ultimately is sharper than the Sigma.

If you look at macros and longer lenses, I'd suggest the Sigma 70/2.8 Macro, which my brother just bought for his Pentax. It's sharper than just about everything out there and is fairly inexpensive for the Sony mount ($499 for Pentax, $399 for Sony).

[pakodominguez]

Maybe something a bit longer might be of more use. I would not get the 50mm macro, simply because you can get the 90mm Tamron f2.8, and it's a fair bit cheaper, a very well respected lens, and a good focal length for portraits too.

Totally agree, but the OP asked for a 50mm lens.
If we decide that a Macro lens will make a good Portrait lens (I don't think so, but if I'll buy a expensive 50mm, I prefer a Macro than a "low light" lens) the Sigma 70 f2.8 or the Tamron 60 f2.8 will work better than the 50 f2.8

What we really need is a FF lens like an 85mm f1.8, it could be priced well, very fast..and ideal for portrait shots. Sadly, no sign of one as of yet. The Carl Zeiss might be a fab lens, and faster still, but it's a horrible price!

One more time I agree with you, Barry. A nice built (not like the new 50mm 1.8 SAM) 85mm f1.8 or f2.0 might be welcome.

Regards

[KevinBarrett]

I've often wondered why third party manufacturers haven't offered faster portrait primes. There's virtually nothing longer than 50mm and faster than f/2.8 that isn't Carl Zeiss/Sony. The Tamron 60/2, which isn't available in Sony mount yet, is all.

[pakodominguez]

I've often wondered why third party manufacturers haven't offered faster portrait primes. There's virtually nothing longer than 50mm and faster than f/2.8 that isn't Carl Zeiss/Sony. The Tamron 60/2, which isn't available in Sony mount yet, is all.

The Tamron 60mm f2 isn't a portrait lens but a Macro lens.
You don't need a faster lens for portraits.
REF: http://www.photoclubalpha.com/forum/vie ... 746#p14746

Regards

[bfitzgerald]

I don't know if it's any good, MF only..but still

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/85mm-IF-f-1-4-Por ... 7C294%3A50

Evidently Bower, is a badge of vivitar or something like that

KR thinks it's pretty good!

http://www.kenrockwell.com/vivitar/85mm-f14.htm

Found the vivitar on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vivitar-LENS-85mm ... 7C294%3A50

[Tony Meredith]

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Barry, i already have a Tamron 90mm Macro, which i have used for close up portraits in the past. It is slow to focus on my A100, and it tends to hunt a lot so i usually use it in manual focus mode. In fact I always use this lens in manual focus regardless of what style of photography I'm using it for.

My sisters and brothers and sisters in law all have young families now and I'm increasingly being asked to take family photos for them.
The style of portraits i had a 50mm in mind for would be family group shots, mostly full length or 3/4 length, for example maybe mum, dad and a 6month old arranged on an antique tractor, lit by natural light using diffusers and reflectors.

I too would love an 85mm zeiss, but the cost is just too much.

With regard to the 50mm 1.7, I check eBay occasionally but never really see many for sale in Australia. And I'm always a bit weary of buying second hand lenses, why would anyone want to sell a good lens?

If there is no real IQ advantages of a prime lens over the tamron 17-50 at 50mm, maybe i should keep saving for the sigma 120-400 which i would also like, but for different uses of course.

Tony

[Tony Meredith]

1. They need the money.
2. Someone died and the relatives are selling off the goodies.
3. Someone switches systems and they no longer need the glass.
4. The person is leaving photography.
5. The person does not use it enough on the particular sensor format.
6. Someone made a good deal on one or more 50's and they are selling the lens for profit.
7. The person wants to purchase a lens they will use more often so they sells the 50.
8. The lens is not being used enough to warrant keeping it.
9. Some folks do not appreciate (or use) the low light abilities of the 50 1.7 so they get rid of it.
10. A few folks dump the 50 1.7 to get the bit of extra speed the 50 1.4 gives. Or they dump the old 50 to get the 50 RS or the 50 macro.
11. Ex-wife is selling off hubby's gear.
12. Somebody covers the 50mm range with a zoom so they then sell the 50.

That said, I own (2) 50 1.7s.

-Sonolta

Don, these are all valid reasons to sell a lens, I agree, but knowing my luck I'd get one that was being sold because it didn't focus properly, or had a scratch on the rear element, etc. Is there a way to get eBay to send you an email if an item you're looking for is listed, because I've never seen a 50 1.7 for sale in Australia yet.

[pakodominguez]

1. They need the money.
5. The person does not use it enough on the particular sensor format.
6. Someone made a good deal on one or more 50's and they are selling the lens for profit.

I got mine for 30 US$, i think I can sell it 3 times that price now

7. The person wants to purchase a lens they will use more often so they sell the 50.

Not a lens, but a new body

8. The lens is not being used enough to warrant keeping it.
9. Some folks do not appreciate (or use) the low light abilities of the 50 1.7 so they get rid of it.
12. Somebody covers the 50mm range with a zoom so they then sell the 50.

-Sonolta

7 of 12 reason to sell my 50mm f1.7... but I won't sell it. You'll always regret to sell a good lens.

[KevinBarrett]

Are you sure you wouldn't find 50mm a little too long on APS-C for full-length family shots? Indoors, where you'd need the additional speed, you may not have enough room to back up and get the shot! I imagine you've already checked out whether the focal length will work for you, but it seems to me that you'd need either the speed or the length, but not necessarily both. Had you considered something wider, say a Sigma 24/1.8?

If the length isn't an issue, I'd say go for the Minolta 50/1.7, which is a stellar deal...easily my favorite and least expensive lens. There's no need to pay three times as much for a 50/1.4, which you'll be stopping down anyway. The 50/1.7 easily out resolves the Tamron 17-50, stop for stop, and it will not have the zoom's slight pincushion distortion. It also makes a brighter viewfinder.

[Tony Meredith]

The sigma 24mm f1.8, and the sigma 30mm f1.4 are both about the same price as the sigma 50mm f1.4. I don't think 50mm is too long for the style i have in mind. In fact i would be hesitant to use a lens of less than 50mm equiv. on FF. Most people seem to be happy with the minolta 50 f1.7, so i will keep looking for one of these, and use my tamron in the mean time.

[InTheSky]

I just received a 50mm F/1.7 yesterday to give me a chance to play with it on the A900. For a long time I had not played with this lens because of my sony 50 1.4.

For what I have seen this morning, the lens is better than I though. And I have got it on ebay for 85$ two weeks ago.

The other alternative, is to convert a old MD lens with the back design allowing it. But you will have to focus manually. On my side I have the 50mm 1.2 and 58mm 1.2 who are really really good on the A900. Both need really a small amount of time to modify (drill 4 holes on the correct place on a standard AF confirm focus M42 for 60$ programmed at F/1.1).

I will probably post some picture of the 50mm F/1.7. For me this lens will stay for ever a very good buy for any Alpha mount user. (And better for full frame user). In the price range for the quality, this is a no brainer for investment.

Regards,

Frank