Calling all Sony Alpha users! (Part 3)

Status
Not open for further replies.
wellyboot said:
Hi Fabs,
Do you have any images I can see where the 18-250mm was used please?
Thank you :)
Click to expand...

All of these were taken with the 18-250

stan the man said:
well,i've never seen it marc,as you either have your 70-200 or 24-70 glued to your camera :p

anyway...get some shots posted for marcia to look at :rules: :lol:
Click to expand...

You don't think I'd show you all my hidden depths do you? ;)

King of Groove said:
You tell him Stan!
Click to expand...

INTERLOPER!!! :p

stan the man said:
dare i clive...you know how touchy these equestrian togs can be :suspect:
Click to expand...

:razz: :D
 
Thank you for posting the link Fabs. Definitely gives me food for thought...... or more confusion ;)
Best wishes
Marcia
 
I am really gonna stir the pot now! Is an A300 really quality? I know that it's not the gear (a workman never blames his tools) and good glass helps, but am I doing the right thing staying with my A300? It has been a good learning tool, but at times I get the feeling to move on. Am I the only one feeling like this?
 
the A300 is capable of excellent results (given the right photographer & glass) comparable to any of it's competitors in the market but of course that doesn't mean that it's the perfect camera (don't think that exists) or Sony would only make 1 model of DSLR & everyone would be using them rather than a mix of bodies.
There will always be newer & better but if it your existing gear already does what you want ...
What are you finding wanting/limiting you?
 
I don't know really to be honest. Maybe it's an ego thing...when I am out and about I often feel looked down on by other toggers because I feel my camera is inadequate. I am happy with the photos and the camera meets my current requirement. Yep...definately an ego thing then!! Guess better lens and a 'don't care what you think attitude' would be best!?
 
Grayman said:
I don't know really to be honest. Maybe it's an ego thing...when I am out and about I often feel looked down on by other toggers because I feel my camera is inadequate. I am happy with the photos and the camera meets my current requirement. Yep...definately an ego thing then!! Guess better lens and a 'don't care what you think attitude' would be best!?
Click to expand...

Unless they ever come out with a nikon-canon-sony-olympus-pentax-leica-hassleblad-infinitium hybrid there will always be someone looking down their nose at you. Because of brand loyalty and the time taken to decide which route to go down eveyone is convinced they selected the best brand, when really they selected whatever was right for them. I'm sure if you showed your pictures without the exif data nobody would by able to discern what brand of camera it came from. I made the decision years ago to go with minolta and then sony, I'm happy with my pictures, mostly what other togs see is the brand on the camera, they have no idea what I can do. As long as you are happy with your photos then go with it, even if you aren't it may not be your camera or lenses that aren't quite up to scratch ;)
 
Swithering between a new lens or a flash unit, currently have the kit lens, a Minolta 35-70mm and a Beercan, but I'm considering my next purchase.
What would a proper flash unit allow me to do that I cannot do without it?

Looking at lens options too, been considering a prime lens such as the Minolta 50mm, but I would appreciate some direction on wide angle options too!

'Was also looking at the 70-300 mm zoom options but I don't think that it would give me an awful lot more than my Beercan does at present.

Lastly I'm looking for a smallish shoulder bag that would hold just my camera, needing something that I can pop in my backpack if I need it rather than all my camera gear, any ideas?
 
chrism_scotland said:
Swithering between a new lens or a flash unit, currently have the kit lens, a Minolta 35-70mm and a Beercan, but I'm considering my next purchase.
What would a proper flash unit allow me to do that I cannot do without it?

Looking at lens options too, been considering a prime lens such as the Minolta 50mm, but I would appreciate some direction on wide angle options too!

'Was also looking at the 70-300 mm zoom options but I don't think that it would give me an awful lot more than my Beercan does at present.

Lastly I'm looking for a smallish shoulder bag that would hold just my camera, needing something that I can pop in my backpack if I need it rather than all my camera gear, any ideas?
Click to expand...


I've always thought:

"If you are not sure what you want, you probably don't need anything."

Wait until you get into a situtation where you think, "I really could do with 'x' as I'm not able to do 'y' properly". That way you buy what you need.

IMO, if you don't know what you need, buy a book on an area of photography you enjoy. That way it gives you lots of ideas about talking photographs, and the gear requirements will soon follow.
 
springtide said:
I've always thought:

"If you are not sure what you want, you probably don't need anything."

Wait until you get into a situtation where you think, "I really could do with 'x' as I'm not able to do 'y' properly". That way you buy what you need.

IMO, if you don't know what you need, buy a book on an area of photography you enjoy. That way it gives you lots of ideas about talking photographs, and the gear requirements will soon follow.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate that really answers my own question, I know what lens I would ideally like to get and how I'd use it but I'm not really sure what I'd use a flash for! :shrug:
 
chrism_scotland said:
£145 for a Sony F42 flash, good deal?

Oh and Minolta 50mm f1.7, too good to miss?
Click to expand...

Do you need a 50/1.7 or Flash? Once you know that, you'll have your answer.

The main purpose of both of these are portraits (the 50mm especially), so do you shoot many portraits?

Flash obviously has many uses in photography; it adds light to the image (or can be used to remove light!)

It's best NOT to buy gear and then think of a use for it, but to take photographs and let that dictate what you need. Best advice, treat yourself to a bunch of books from Amazon and spend your time reading about photography rather than thinking about more gear.
Magazines are fine, but no substitute for a nice book with a bit of depth.
 
mastertrinity said:
i dotn know wether to buy a tamron 17-50mm f2.8 or a minolta 50mm f1.7 as i need a lens that will stay on my camera for general purpose.
Click to expand...

Well I've gone for the Minolta 50mm for a general purpose, based on the fact that if I want something else I can always sell it, probably give the flash a miss just now and buy one later, how much is a Tamron 17-50 lens?
 
I have just joined this forum, still learning things reading threads and using my Sony DSC-H3. Would you suggest me to buy Alpha series?? would that be easier for me use as I have been using sony Digital Cams??

One more thing, what is DRO? (Asking for appology if that's a stupid question, I really have much ideas and still learning)
 
Hi all thinking of buying this book £22.76 on Lulu.com.
Has anybody got it? whats it like? and finally can I get it cheaper anywhere else.
Not available on Amazon.
 
I have the A300 book its excellent I must say.
On a second note been looking around for flash as I am now the owner of a 50mm f1.7 and I would like to develop my portrait photography, I have seen the Sony F-42 Flash cheap but how do Metz flash's compare?
 
rhonddaboy said:
Hi all thinking of buying this book £22.76 on Lulu.com.
Has anybody got it? whats it like? and finally can I get it cheaper anywhere else.
Not available on Amazon.
Click to expand...

Hi all, Just a quick note to say I put Gary Friedman in search on Amazon, and it brought his book up at £9.09.

Cheers

Gary

And showing "in stock"
 
garyd said:
Hi all, Just a quick note to say I put Gary Friedman in search on Amazon, and it brought his book up at £9.09.

Cheers

Gary

And showing "in stock"
Click to expand...

Was it this book - Sony Alpha DSLR-A300/A350 Digital Field Guide? If so that one is by Tom Bonner not Gary Freidman. Not sure what it's like though.
 
Just thought I'd let you know that I have just spoken to Sigma and my 24-70 is on it's way back to me! :woot: I also asked them what steps, if any, they were taking to prevent this problem recurring and I was told that they had received new stronger parts that would prevent it going forward. He couldn't say whether whether these new parts would be fitted into new lenses as they were produced, but one would like to hope so.

Nice to know that Sigma are doing something about it, although I would imagine that the cost of in warranty repairs would have pushed them into it. Would also think it will take some time for the new stronger units to appear on the market so there will be plenty of the old ones to shift first and no doubt the prices will increase to cover any extra costs.
 
wellyboot said:
Was it this book - Sony Alpha DSLR-A300/A350 Digital Field Guide? If so that one is by Tom Bonner not Gary Freidman. Not sure what it's like though.
Click to expand...

Oops sorry, did'nt take in all the information when I viewed it.

*shall go and sit in the corner and stare at the wall*:bonk::bonk:
 
garyd said:
Oops sorry, did'nt take in all the information when I viewed it.

*shall go and sit in the corner and stare at the wall*:bonk::bonk:
Click to expand...

Hope I didn't come across as a know it all! ;)
I just didn't want you to go buying something different to what you expected, and perhaps be disappointed :)
 
if you don't know then you probably don't need it (but as an example macro work, light trails etc.).
As for the Tamron it will only give you an extra 1mm wider (of course you lose at the other end) but should be sharper throughout it's range & better in low light due to wider aperture.
 
chrism_scotland said:
Mulling over my next purchase, aside from portraits what could I use a flashgun for?
Also considering a wide angle lens or kit lens replacement, I like the Tamron 17-50mm but would it be a good cover for Wide Angle and kit lens replacement?
Click to expand...

get the tamron as i am too at the next focus event, its a perfect kit lens substitute.
 
mehraj said:
I have just joined this forum, still learning things reading threads and using my Sony DSC-H3. Would you suggest me to buy Alpha series?? would that be easier for me use as I have been using sony Digital Cams??

One more thing, what is DRO? (Asking for appology if that's a stupid question, I really have much ideas and still learning)
Click to expand...

definetely invest in the alpha series if you've had a sony P&S, get the a200 and buy your lenses off ebay as you'll get great deals.
 
Cheers folks,

I'm still considering my purchase, will await my 50mm first and then see what route I want to go down.
I have been reccomended the TAMRON SP AF Di II 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6, good option for a wide angle?

Also can anyone tell me if Minolta Flashguns work with the A300?

Chris
 
chrism_scotland said:
I have been reccomended the TAMRON SP AF Di II 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6, good option for a wide angle?
Click to expand...
the usual suspects are this, the Sony variant of it or the Sigma 10-20mm.
The Tamron/Sony & the Sigma both have pros & cons so some people prefer 1 & some prefer the other.
There are also other options like the Sigma 12-24mm if your budget stretches that far.

Also can anyone tell me if Minolta Flashguns work with the A300?
Click to expand...
iirc (but not 100% sure) the 3600 HS(D) & 5600 HS(D) will, earlier versions won't fully.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top