What lenses do you use?

[mdcromer]

I bought a 28-135/4-4.5, 50/1.4 and 70-210/4 in expectation of buying an Alpha 900. My financial situation changed and I got an Alpha 350 instead w/ kit lens. I more recently purchased a Sigma 20/1.8 for indoor available light event shooting.

I use the 50/1.4 often for indoor portraits, the beercan often for horse event photography, and the Sigma for general all-around wide angle use. I don't use the 28-135 much (not wide enough on a crop sensor for walkaround use), and I hardly ever use the 18-70 (just not a very good lens IMO).

The 50/1.4 is just mind-blowingly spectacular for landscapes at f/8 or so. When I saw my first images from the 350 with this lens, my jaw hit the floor. If you haven't tried this lens and aperture, give it a whirl. I think you will be mightily impressed!

I really enjoy the Sigma, probably most of all for general "around the house" shooting. After adjusting my 350's AF both the Sigma 20 and Minolta 50 focus pretty darn accurately, even wide open. 20mm on a crop sensor is just a gloriously fun focal length for animal and human "in the environment" photos. And the Sigma is a much sharper lens than I expected it to be.

When my finances recover a bit, I'd like to pick up a Sigma 12-24 for landscape use and (eventually) a FF Alpha. I don't have any interest in picking up any APS-only lenses. I'm also probably going to wait on my FF purchase until Sony releases a FF camera with Alpha-350 style liveview as an option (although I also want main sensor LV). It's just way too convenient to shoot WA portraits with the camera held a foot or two off the ground with blindingly fast AF when doing child / animal portraits.

I definitely can relate to the "too many lenses is a PITA" opinions offered up previously in the thread. Changing lenses before I take a picture definitely feels like a chore. I miss the simplicity of my R1 that I still use from time to time. I keep the 50/1.4 on the camera most of the time, because it is small and less likely to damage the lens mount if the camera bag gets jostled.

[SLUFDRIVER]

At the moment I have the following lenses:
SAL-2470Z - walk about and general use
SAL-50F14 - landscape / woodlands
SAL-50M28 - close little stuff
SAL-70200G - sports; occasional wildlife
SAL-100M28 - not so close little stuff
SAL-135F18Z - sports; occasional wildlife
SAL-500F8 - for the times that reach is everything

Sniffing about for an SAL-16F28 and an SAL-85F14Z

Had:
SAL-1680Z - Sold off when I went to A900
SAL-70300G - Sold off for SAL-70200G

[mikeriach]

Well, I have quite a few older bits as a legacy from my film Minoltas.
I shoot mainly aviation along with some wildlife and scenery.

Sony 18-70 (excellent for shooting through mesh fences due to 55mm filter)
Sigma 18-125 (lives on the wifes A100)
Sony 18-250 (usually on my A100)
Tokina 28-70 f2.8 (solid feel but severe back focus on all digital bodies-unusable)
Tamron 28-200 (used extensively on the old film bodies)
Sigma 70-210 f2.8 APO (old and battered but still very good handling and reasonable IQ when stopped down to 5.6)
Tamron 70-300 (bought as a cheap but good backup for travel)
Minolta 100-300APO (old faithfull, compact but good quality)
Sony 70-400G (a jewel usually on the A700 used for flying aircraft)
Sigma 170-500 (the old long range lens good but slow focus)
Teleplus 2x MC7 converter (mainly used on the Sigma f2.8)

Mike

[Mr_Canuck]

I have:
CZ 16-80
Sony 55-200
Min 35/2
50/1.7
50/2.8RS macro
100/2
135/2.8
200/2.8 APO
28-135/4-4.5

I've bought and sold:
Tam 17-50
Sig 10-20
Sig 17-70
Sony 16-105
2 beercans

I most use the CZ 16-80 which I settled on as my preferred walk-around having tried a handful of others; it's simply better in most every way than the other usual medium-quality walk-arounds. I use it because it's convenient as a zoom.

But I always prefer shooting with primes. It's simpler, gives me more artistic control, focusses me on a particular framing size, and is usually lighter to carry. I love to use my 50 macro and my 100/2. When I decide to carry something bigger, I bring along the 200/2.8.

I really like the 28-135 but it isn't as versatile as the CZ16-80 on an a700. I got the Sony 55-200 as a cheap and light vacation lens and it's ok. The 135/2.8 was my fave until I got the 100/2.

[Hawk]

My short list:

1. Sony 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 - I hardly use it since I bought 24/2.8
2. Tamron 55-200mm f4-5.6 - superb lens for the price, better than beercan in my opinion
3. Tamron 200-400mm f5.6 - good & cheap long telephoto lens
4. Minolta 34-70mm f4 - wonderful color reproduction
5. Minolta 24mm f2.8 - great for landscape shots
6. Minolta 50mm f1.7 - very sharp
7. Minolta 100mm f2.8 macro - even sharper
8. Soligor 2x TC - cheap TC but works ok

[Dr. Harout]

The original question is: what lenses do you use?
So, naturally the answer is: lenses that fit my A700.
Most often: SAL50M28 and
SAL16105
Sometimes: SAL75300
Rarely: MTO1000AM (1100mm f/10.5)
Minolta 28/2.8
Minolta 35-70/3.5-4.5
Industar 61L/Z-MC (50/2.8 macro 1:2)
SMC Takumar 50/1.4
Industar-50-2 (50mm/3.5)
Jupiter-37A (135mm/3.5)

[Birma]

On dPreview, Phixel made this comment:

"Yes, I believe David Kilpatrick has more Sigma lenses for his Alpha cameras than any other brand. I don't think he owns any Tamrons."

Not really true. ...

This guy has gone even further today.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readf ... d=32687816
"I found it interesting that David Kilpatricks stated that the majority of his lenses for his Sony cameras are Sigma."

Does he have some agenda in making DK out as having 'gone over to Sigma'?

[bonneville]

At the moment I have the following lenses:
<list>

Hi slufdriver

FWIW I'm afraid your text colour is unreadable in the 610nm Style skin (without highlighting it).

Interesting list all the same

Brian

[Mike]

I'm an amateur photographer. If I had to do it for a living it wouldn't be fun anymore, it would be work. No offense intended to anyone that does earn a living from photography, but it's not for me. Although my day time job interferes with my hobbies, it pays the bills and supports my hobbies (obsessions). I'm mostly taking pictures of my two Bernese Mountain Dogs Puppies, another obsession. You can see them at Magnusbmd.com.

Back to the subject at hand, I currently have/use:
SAL-85F14Z - Planar T*85mm F1.4 ZA - My favorite (puppy dog) portrait lens.
SAL-135F18Z - Sonnar T*135mm F1.8 ZA - Good in the horrible lighting of indoor dog shows (no flash).
SAL-2470Z - 24-70mm f2.8 Zoom Lens - Walk around (builds upper body strength) and quick portrait (saves time not having to move the camera).
SAL-70300G - 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 Zoom Lens - Dogs at play.

I have an a350 and a700 bodies right now but I'm trying to only invest in glass that will perform with full frame. I'm waiting to see what happens with the full frame body line up before jumping in. Besides the a700 still exceeds my meager abilities. "Good things come to those that wait?"

Right now the a700 has the SAL-2470Z on it and the a350 has the SAL-85F14Z . That's the "around the house" configuration that has sorted out.
Number one on my wish list is the SAL-1635Z - 16-35mm f/2.8 Zoom Len.

Wish List ... We are going on vacation to Northern Michigan in September and I'm thinking of renting a SAL-1635Z to see if I really like it before plunking down $1899 which would almost cover the cost of an a900 body.

Number two on the list is SAL-20TC, 2.0x Teleconverter Lens. I need to confirm how it performs with the SAL-70300G and a full frame. Might be too slow be worthwhile.
The end game being:
16-35mm SAL-1635Z f2.8
24-70mm SAL-2470Z f2.8
70-300mm SAL-70300G f4.5-5.6
140-600mm SAL-70300G & SAL-20T f6.7-f9.5

Mike

[bonneville]

With my alphas 700 & 100 I currently use:

Sony
70-200 2.8 G SSM
70-300 4.5-5.6 G SSM
18-250 3.5-6.3
18-70 3.5-5.6
TCx2

Minolta
50 1.7 (had this serviced by Dave at Milton Keynes but the blades are oily again )
300 4 G HS (was about to sell recently and it fell through [postage overseas too high] and then I discovered that the Sigma TC 1.4 works really well on it with autofocus, so I'm keeping it now )

Sigma
18-50 2.8
10-20 4-5.6
70-300 4-5.6 (bundled with a100 from Jessops - never use it)
70 2.8 macro
TC 1.4 EX DG

Wish list (unless Harout can cure me of lens lust )
Sony
70-400 4-5.6 G SSM
CZ 16-35 2.8
CZ 24-70 2.8

[Dr. Harout]

Wish list (unless Harout can cure me of lens lust )
Sony
70-400 4-5.6 G SSM
CZ 16-35 2.8
CZ 24-70 2.8

don't count on me

[bakubo]

At the moment I have the following lenses:
<list>

Hi slufdriver

FWIW I'm afraid your text colour is unreadable in the 610nm Style skin (without highlighting it).

Yeah, the skin I am using also makes that text hard to read. When I saw it I just skipped the post since it wasn't worth the trouble of trying to figure out what it said.

[SLUFDRIVER]

Well, the forum comes onto my screen with grey text on a black background ever since the appearance was changed. And I find that difficult to read with such low contrast. Sorry you felt that I wasn't worth the effort. I thought that with Sonolta gone so were snide and rude comments. Thanks awfully.

[bakubo]

Well, the forum comes onto my screen with grey text on a black background ever since the appearance was changed. And I find that difficult to read with such low contrast. Sorry you felt that I wasn't worth the effort. I thought that with Sonolta gone so were snide and rude comments. Thanks awfully.

Darn, you sure are a sensitive person aren't you? Nothing I said was snide or rude. I don't try to read anyone's post that is unreadable, not just yours. Life is too short. Even posts that are readable I don't always read if they hold no interest for me. Sorry you feel your post was so important that if anyone skipped it your life would be diminished. Please just relax and don't get upset.

[Greg Beetham]

I tend to operate on the Kiss principal, (keep it simple stupid)...

The KM28-75 f2.8 (D) sort of stays on the Dynax 60

The KM18-200 DT stays on the A100 mostly

The KM24-105 f3.5-4.5 (D) stays on the KM5D

And available for use for whatever is the
KM100-300APO (D)
KM100 f2.8 Macro (D)
KM17-35 f2.8-4 (D)
Greg