Sony Alpha users check-in! KM users welcome, too :)

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: AndrewR
My kit:
KM 17-35mm f/2.8-3.5
KM and Sony 18-70mm f.3.5-4.5 (at least until I sell these)
KM 28-75mm f/2.8
Minolta 28mm f/2.0 (awesome prime!)
Minolta 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 (x2, anyone want one?)
Minolta 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 (scratched front element )
Minolta 50mm f/1.7 (just rediscovered it -- sharp!)
Minolta 100mm f/2.8 Macro
Minolta 70-210mm f/4 "beercan"

Sony HVL-F56AM
Minolta 3600HS(D)

Whoa! You dragged this thread from the depths!

It's funny to see what's changed with my list. I sold one Sony 18-70mm and bought another with a second A100 body. I sold both 28-85mm lenses, which pained me because they took great photos but just weren't getting used. I still have the 35-105mm, but I don't use it. Sold the Minolta flash.

Latest purchase (used, bought locally), and now my most expensive lens, was the Tamron 200-500mm f/5.6-6 which is an absolute beast. I didn't have any time to try it out except some silly shots inside the house, but I like what I see so far. We have birds aplenty near our house so I am looking forward to Spring weather to get some shots. I hope I can catch the red-tailed hawks and perhaps the woodpecker which is terrifying my dog.

 

[Heidfirst]

I've since added the 11-18mm, 16-105mm & a s/h (but mint) AF 500mm Reflex.

 

[AndrewR]

How do you like the first two? I'd like to find a comparison of the 16-80 Zeiss and the 16-105 because of a trip we should be taking to China next year. I was considering the Zeiss and the new 70-300G, but I thought perhaps the 16-105 might work as well. I don't have a superwide, though finances won't allow much of anything right now. I need to be deployed to Iraq so I can afford my wants.

 

[Heidfirst]

tbh I don't do a lot of wide - I got the 11-18mm cheap (1/2 price - we believe that it's being discontinued in favour of a newer lens, possibly a variant of the new Tamron 10-24mm) & it's currently in Australia with a friend which will be it's first major outing.
The 16-105mm came with my A700 (again it was a good deal so I picked it up even though I didnt really need it) & it seems pretty sharp but the max aperture steps down pretty quickly so it's not a great lens if there isn't a fair amount of light.
DPReview just reviewed it & mine possibly may be going to Photozone.de in April to be reviewed.

Dare I ask what your role is in the forces?
I'm an ex combat engineer & still have lots of friends who are mil & ex-mil.

 

[GrJohnso]

Hmmm... Half price on the 11-18mm I would have grabbed it too. Still missing a superwide...

Anyway, since last post here I've bumped up to the A700, added a Tamron 18-250mm for walk around, 100mm 2.8 Macro, and looking for a better "sport" or action lens. My beercan got a bit scuffed up on a recent vacation somehow... Sharp blow through my carry-on bag, through soft-padded lens case, through hard plastic lens cap, and cracked the UV filter on it, putting a few fine pits on the front element in the process... Good excuse to pick up another lens..

Any suggestions on good bang for the buck f/2.8 (I dream) or reasonably fast zoom lenses for medium telephoto range?

 

[Heidfirst]

the new Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 is supposedly ~$700 but apart from the f2.8 your 18-250mm covers you for the range.
You probably can't beat another beercan for the combo of range, aperture & price.

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst
tbh I don't do a lot of wide - I got the 11-18mm cheap (1/2 price - we believe that it's being discontinued in favour of a newer lens, possibly a variant of the new Tamron 10-24mm) & it's currently in Australia with a friend which will be it's first major outing.
The 16-105mm came with my A700 (again it was a good deal so I picked it up even though I didnt really need it) & it seems pretty sharp but the max aperture steps down pretty quickly so it's not a great lens if there isn't a fair amount of light.
DPReview just reviewed it & mine possibly may be going to Photozone.de in April to be reviewed.

Dare I ask what your role is in the forces?
I'm an ex combat engineer & still have lots of friends who are mil & ex-mil.

I read that DPReview exam of the 16-105 which turned me off from the lens (max aperture and corner sharpness in particular), but since it would overlap with the 70-300G anyway, it was always a 2nd choice to the 16-80Z. Best Buy here also had the 11-18mm discounted recently (US$400 vs. $650 regular price), but I missed the sale. If it is being discontinued, I hope the sale returns, and I have the cash to take advantage this time. I think I'll have some explaining to the wife in that regard, however!

I'm in the US Air Force Reserve now, though I'm presently inactive (I can be recalled but don't actually do anything). I am hoping and expecting an offer to join a C-130 Reserve unit in a few months so I can get back to the awesome world of operations, even if only for a weekend a month and several weeks per year (with some deployments as well). Maybe one of my A100s will make an airdrop mission or two, photographing not falling.

As for my exact job title, I don't broadcast that online anymore, for a combination of OPSEC and personal reasons. You may be able to find it in a search of past threads on this forum when I was less prudent if you really care.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Current setup is:

KM 28-75 f/2.8
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX
Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 LD Di (only for when I absolutely need the reach)
Minolta Maxxum 7 (film)

Ahh, how things change.

Added:
A700
Sigma 20-40 f/2.8 EX
Sony 16-105 f/3.5-5.6 (my new favorite carry-around lens)
Sony HVL-F56AM flash

Currently semi-halfheartedly for sale:
A100
Sony 18-70 f/3.5-5.6


ZV

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

I read that DPReview exam of the 16-105 which turned me off from the lens (max aperture and corner sharpness in particular), but since it would overlap with the 70-300G anyway, it was always a 2nd choice to the 16-80Z.

Mine seems pretty good & Zenmervolt seems to like his.
A lot of people that have tried both the 16-80 & the 16-105 say that there isn't a lot between them (except price & aperture) & the 16-105 if anything seems better built.
I was really just after the A700 body but the kit deal that I got was too good to pass (if I ever sell the lens I'll almost certainly make a profit on it).

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: Heidfirst

Originally posted by: AndrewR

I read that DPReview exam of the 16-105 which turned me off from the lens (max aperture and corner sharpness in particular), but since it would overlap with the 70-300G anyway, it was always a 2nd choice to the 16-80Z.

Mine seems pretty good & Zenmervolt seems to like his.
A lot of people that have tried both the 16-80 & the 16-105 say that there isn't a lot between them (except price & aperture) & the 16-105 if anything seems better built.
I was really just after the A700 body but the kit deal that I got was too good to pass (if I ever sell the lens I'll almost certainly make a profit on it).

Ok, something to think about then. I'd like to see if I can handle both of them before I buy, but since I've only ever seen the 16-105 and that was behind glass, I'm not sure that's an option unless I get to New York some time, which is actually a possibility.

 

[GrJohnso]

Yep, I'll need to look at that Tammy... Sure, I have range covered with the 18-250mm, but it's not especially fast, and not as sharp wide open and at the extremes as I'd like.... (what super zoom is). Anyway, I'll keep cruising the used camera bins for an old Minolta APO in the 100-300 or 100-400 range, as well as look at the few 70-200mm 2.8f options out there....

Unfortunately the lenses that I know I'd be happy with cost a few $ more than I'm willing to spend right now... You just can't "fake" good glass...

 

[AkumaX]

took me forever to find a thread like this

 

[Heidfirst]

recently added the 70-400mm G SSM - if you have the need for th ereach & can afford it it's an awesome bit of glass

 

[AndrewR]

Ha, back from the dead! Let's compare my current kit:
A700
Primes: 28/2, 35/2, 50/1.4, 100/2.8, 200/2.8APO
Zooms: Tamron 11-18, KM 17-35, KM 28-75/2.8, M 70-210/4, S 70-300G, Tamron 200-500
Flashes: HVL-F56AM, 2xHVL-F42AM
Same legs but added the 322RC2 grip-action ballhead...kept the 486RC2, fortunately because the 322 won't allow a vertical orientation at high angle which I discovered when trying to take a photo of a lighthouse up close with my Tamron

So THAT'S where my money is going...

I've been thinking about doing a brief rundown on lenses for the mount. Anyone want to help?

 

[Heidfirst]

Originally posted by: AndrewR

I've been thinking about doing a brief rundown on lenses for the mount. Anyone want to help?

if you mean a starter FAQ like the Canon & Nikon stickies here, yes.
In fact I offered to do 1 a while ago but didn't get any response.


meantime I'm trying to streamline my gear as I have quite a bit of overlap built up over 25 years & if I can release some cash then I can trade up a level in a few focal ranges.

 

[AkumaX]

Yeah, we really need a beginner's FAQ for Sony. I don't have any expertise in doing so, so some of you seasoned guys might be better off doing it just in case

--------------------

I started off w/ the A200K, then got an A300K for -$25, hahahaha, gotta love Craigslist! + Canada!!

Lenses I went through (was pretty n00b and had no idea what I was doing, so I bought and sold quite a bit

Sony 18-70mm 3.5-5.6 (sold)
KM 75-300mm 4.5-5.6 (sold)
M 50mm 1.7
M 70-210mm 4.0
Tamron 28-200mm "3.8"-5.6 (got for $30!)
M 28mm 2.8 (sold when I got below lens)
Sigma 18-50mm 2.8

and 1 HVL-F42AM

 

[AndrewR]

Just got back from a week with the Reserves. Let me get caught up with my regular life, and then I'll see about starting a FAQ for Sony/Minolta.

 

[GrJohnso]

FAQ would be cool... Let us know if you need someone to bounce ideas off of or help proof... Some experience with older Minolta film, lenses, a100, a700...

In the meantime, with the original thread, my gear bag(s) have grown over the last year... More old and some new glass...

New - Sony 11-18mm a little while back for a great deal to tied me over until a better FF one shows up...
Used - Minolta 100-400mm APO - VG, no hood - (wanted some range at a reasonable size/quality)
Used - Minolta 80-200mm f2.8 HS - VG, hard case, hood, etc.. (my big gun... love this thing for sports stuff) Noisey AF gears, but extremely fast... Quite nice..

And a new bag for beach and snow... LowePro Rover - older model... Nice waterproof lower section... Carries a heavy load quite comfortable...

 

[idiotekniQues]

you sony guys should come to a digital days workshop. pm me if you want a big discount.

the curriculum is brand transparent, but since its a Sony sponsored event, they send a tech rep with some good gear for Alpha users to check out.

www.digitaldaysphoto.com

 

[AndrewR]

Originally posted by: idiotekniQues
you sony guys should come to a digital days workshop. pm me if you want a big discount.

the curriculum is brand transparent, but since its a Sony sponsored event, they send a tech rep with some good gear for Alpha users to check out.

www.digitaldaysphoto.com

Crap! The days you're in Baltimore are the same that I'll be down in Mississippi for a Reserve exercise. What bad luck. I might be able to swing a trip to NYC in October though.