Calling all Sony Alpha users! (Part 3)

Status
Not open for further replies.
heidfirst said:
bargains! :clap:
Click to expand...

I agree, I bought the 700 with kit zoom (? - 70), Tamron 70 - 300, filters and 4GB card for £809, but I would rather have had the 16 - 105. Still, I do have the Minolta fit Sigma 35 - 70 which is pretty good.
I have noticed that the new kit lens is so light when compared to older lenses, particularly the older Sigmas (the other one is a 70 - 200 fitted to my Nikkormat). They do not seem to have the build quality, although the optics seem to be sharp.
 
Maybe a silly question but how do you check which firmware you have? Im assuming my a700 has the latest but not so sure about my a350....
 
I don't think that the A200 & A330/A350 have had a firmware update released.
 
Question lenses again, I may go out tommorow and buy a lens I am considering either the Minolta 35-105 f3.5-f4.5 or a Tokina 35-200 f4-f5.6 this will be to replace the kit lens 18-70 on my a300, which do you guys think would be best?
 
rhonddaboy said:
Question lenses again, I may go out tommorow and buy a lens I am considering either the Minolta 35-105 f3.5-f4.5 or a Tokina 35-200 f4-f5.6 this will be to replace the kit lens 18-70 on my a300, which do you guys think would be best?
Click to expand...

alan...is 35mm gonna be wide enough for you,with the kit lens being 18mm?

i've no experience of either of the above lens,but the minolta has a slightly wider aperture,but the tokina is longer at the long end..if that makes sense :lol:

depends on your needs i suppose...

also...it might be worth trying to find some reviews on the lens in question...try here..

http://www.ephotozine.com/
 
I know what you mean Stan but I was looking for something that would give me better quality than the kit lens
 
I have only had the 700 for a short time, but I am really not happy with the kit 18 - 70. I have tried it on auto and manual focus, at high shutter speeds, but it still seems to deliver "soft" images occasionally. I am thinking of investing in a wideangle Sigma or Tamron zoom to augment my Sigma/Minolta AF 35 - 70, which seems to be much sharper, and the build quality is a lot better.
Has anyone any views on the Sigma or Tamron zooms?

Andy.
 
andy700 said:
I have only had the 700 for a short time, but I am really not happy with the kit 18 - 70. I have tried it on auto and manual focus, at high shutter speeds, but it still seems to deliver "soft" images occasionally. I am thinking of investing in a wideangle Sigma or Tamron zoom to augment my Sigma/Minolta AF 35 - 70, which seems to be much sharper, and the build quality is a lot better.
Has anyone any views on the Sigma or Tamron zooms?

Andy.
Click to expand...

hi andy

i can recommend the sigma 17-70 F/2.8-4.5 EX DC macro,or the sigma 18-50 F/2.8 EX DC macro...both excellent lens that produce great results.if you don't need the extra length,go for the 18-50 with the constant aperture :thumbs:
 
Ahoy there people.....just upgraded fom my trusty A100 to an a700, had it just over a week already shot over 1000 frames on it! The only gripe im finding is that its trickier to set my shutter speeds....but i guess after 18 months with my camera, its just lots of trail and error..

does anyone use capture one on here??
 
civicboy40 said:
Ahoy there people.....just upgraded fom my trusty A100 to an a700, had it just over a week already shot over 1000 frames on it! The only gripe im finding is that its trickier to set my shutter speeds....but i guess after 18 months with my camera, its just lots of trail and error..

does anyone use capture one on here??
Click to expand...

How do you mean?
 
civicboy40 said:
just that i seem to need to use faster s/speed to avoid overexposure...but its just trail n error.
Click to expand...

what mode are you shooting in?sounds like you are using manual,and not setting the exposure correctly...either that,or you may need to meter for the main subject and lock the exposure before recomposing...any shots you can show us...it will help us give you a better /more accurate answer.
 
Finally got my battery grip today :woot: loving the A700 in comparison to my A350 even the built in flash is a big improvement among other things...
 
Hi guys,

Looking for a replacement for the sony 18-70 kit lens, max budget around £300. cheaper the better, as it wont be used that much - mainly use the 70-200 or the 50mm f1.4. something abit sharper would be nice, possibly f2.8?:D

cheers
Paul
 
PAS said:
Hi guys,

Looking for a replacement for the sony 18-70 kit lens, max budget around £300. cheaper the better, as it wont be used that much - mainly use the 70-200 or the 50mm f1.4. something abit sharper would be nice, possibly f2.8?:D

cheers
Paul
Click to expand...

hi paul

i can highly recommend the sigma 17-70...great lens that punches above it's weight..

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-17-70mm-f2-8-4-5-dc-macro-lens-sony-minolta-fit/p1012230

but replaced it with the sigma 18-50 for the constant aperture,which is even better IMO...but slightly over your budget

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-18-50mm-f2-8-ex-dc-macro-lens-sony-minolta-fit/p1017298
 
stan the man said:
hi paul

i can highly recommend the sigma 17-70...great lens that punches above it's weight..

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-17-70mm-f2-8-4-5-dc-macro-lens-sony-minolta-fit/p1012230

but replaced it with the sigma 18-50 for the constant aperture,which is even better IMO...but slightly over your budget

http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-18-50mm-f2-8-ex-dc-macro-lens-sony-minolta-fit/p1017298
Click to expand...

thanks stan,
i could probably go to around £350-£400 at a push. so the 18-50 is alot better?
have you been down to surfcast wales recently? i was down casting at the Century International last month.
 
PAS said:
thanks stan,
i could probably go to around £350-£400 at a push. so the 18-50 is alot better?
have you been down to surfcast wales recently? i was down casting at the Century International last month.
Click to expand...

my copy of the 18-50 is a belter,and deffo sharper than the 17-70 i had,but not by much...love the constant aperture though.

i was thinking of going to surfcast wales last sunday,but had toooo much to drink to risk driving there...did you get any shots at the century international?
 
stan the man said:
my copy of the 18-50 is a belter,and deffo sharper than the 17-70 i had,but not by much...love the constant aperture though.

i was thinking of going to surfcast wales last sunday,but had toooo much to drink to risk driving there...did you get any shots at the century international?
Click to expand...

never took the camera, was too busy casting all day... surprised how lil time you got to get things fixed, being third up didnt help any:lol:
ok, i will look at the 18-50:D just thought id ask. Cameras away to pencoed, viewfinder was leaking water, and the glass was loose...:'( only noticed at the maxxis event recently:thumbsdown:
 
PAS said:
never took the camera, was too busy casting all day... surprised how lil time you got to get things fixed, being third up didnt help any
ok, i will look at the 18-50:D just thought id ask. Cameras away to pencoed, viewfinder was leaking water, and the glass was loose...:'( only noticed at the maxxis event recently:thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

oh yes...they used to have me cast first,as being a left hander,it used to scare the bejesus out of them...:lol: so after we all cast,i sprinted back to sort out anything that needed doing :gag:

we used to cast at pencoed,about 1/4 of a mile from the sony factory..but was a nightmare if the wind was in a S-SE direction...climbing over barbed wire fences ain't much fun....

hope you get the camera back soon,and sorted :thumbs:
 
thought about a Tamron (or KM) 28-75/2.8?
depends if you are looking to mainly replace the 18mm end or not but also allows future use on a FF ...
 
if you read the link he appears to be spread a lot more widely than just Dxyum.
 
Interesting lens for any Sony users esp the full framers: Item number 280392194522 in the usual place!

Will need to have a decent paypal balance though!!:eek:
 
stan the man said:
hey guys...can someone remind me if the A700 has mirror lock up,and if so..is it the 10 sec or 2 sec self timer that activates it?

my old grey matter is struggling to store all this info :lol:
Click to expand...

It is the 2 sec timer that has the lock up Stan.
 
springtide said:
The key is price (in the UK). Prices at the moment seem very similar to a900 prices in the UK, compared to $3k for the a900 and $2k USD in the USA.
Click to expand...
there is still some A900 stock kicking around in the UK that was bought in at pre-increase (18%) prices & that is making the A850 look oddly priced atm because it's dearer than those.
Also, some European countries are getting the full DxO Elite (£150 worth & gives better results with Sony A850/900 than ACR) bundled with the A850 - not sure if the UK is 1 though.
 
stan the man said:
hi andy

i can recommend the sigma 17-70 F/2.8-4.5 EX DC macro,or the sigma 18-50 F/2.8 EX DC macro...both excellent lens that produce great results.if you don't need the extra length,go for the 18-50 with the constant aperture :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Thanks Stan, sorry I didn't get back earlier, we have been down to very rainy and cold Devon for a week, and most of my shots are looking very gloomy indeed.
I may go for the 18 - 50 2.8 when I can afford it, because the wider aperture will come in handy for portraits.

Andy
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top