Calling all Sony Alpha users! (Part 3)

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Just got a Minolta 50mm 1.7 and well chuffed about it but just got a couple questions, just gonna try it out however I have noticed that there is a bit of dust on the rear part of the lens as I think the rear lens cap came off during posting, which is the best way to clean the rear lens? At the moment I have a proper lens cloth will that do if I use it lightly? or do I need a blower? will it be safe to use with my camera with a bit of dust on the rear lens or should I wait?
 
Rocket Blower or Lenspen.

personally I wouldn't worry about a bit of dust - always try to avoid using clothes as its overkill and you can always scratch a lens if the dust turns out to be harder than the glass...
 
puddleduck said:
Generally mirror lenses (reflex) are generally a bad thing. You'll be stuck at f/8 or f/11 and it's going to be pretty soft.
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If you have a Minolta or Sony & want a Reflex there is 1 standout choice - the Minolta/Sony 500 AF - yes, not only is it 1 of the best optically but it's the only AF mirror lens in the world.
Like everything it has pros & cons & is not a panacea for everything but it definitely has it's uses & imo it's a very good soultion for someone who only occasionally needs 500mm but wants to carry it with them on the chance they do.
pros - it's light, compact & relatively cheap whilst IQ is OK
cons - not particularly flexible; low contrast (typical of a mirror but easily fixed in pp these days); a good (but more expensive) conventional lens will outperform it
open to debate - you can get under certain circumstances "donut" highlights in the bokeh. this can either be ugly, avoided or used creatively depending upon you.

some reading
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/lenses/sony500.shtml
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=25
http://www.bobatkins.com/photography/tutorials/mirror.html

if after that you are still interested then I have a mint 1 for sale in the classifieds since I bought a 70-400 G SSM.
 
Cheeky time again......!:help:

I've got a 21st birthday to photograph in a couple of weeks (Sat Nov 21st), which will involve some low light indoor, disco type shots. I've got an external flash so should be ok, but the widest aperture I've got is f3.5 which has me a little worried!

So...........(here it comes!)........

Could one of you lovely nifty fifty owners be kind enough to lend me a lens for a weekend??

At the moment I can't justify buying one just to use for one night and I've never heard of a company that hires out Sony fit lenses so I'm a bit stuck. I'd obviously cover all postage costs and I'd return the lens as quickly as possible. I'd also make a donation to a chosen charity/TP.

I know this is a long shot and I'm not holding my breath as it's such a big ask, but if you don't ask, you don't get!
 
Well done to Stan for coming 4th in the TP Calender Competition!!:clap:

Really lovely image, and great to see an Alpha user in the Calender!!:thumbs:
 
i still can't believe i made it again...with so many great shots entered,i'm quite speechless(yes,really marc :p).it was a grab shot really,as i was hunting for bugs with my macro lens attached,and had no other lens with me,so it had to do.

oh,and thanks both :thumbs:
 
stan the man said:
i still can't believe i made it again...with so many great shots entered,i'm quite speechless(yes,really marc :p).it was a grab shot really,as i was hunting for bugs with my macro lens attached,and had no other lens with me,so it had to do.

oh,and thanks both :thumbs:
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Ah, so you're a lucky ****** then. :D

Oh and in case I don't get the chance before and as you are not gracing us with your presence on Sunday, have a very happy birthday you old git! :p
 
Slimbert said:
Cheeky time again......!:help:

I've got a 21st birthday to photograph in a couple of weeks (Sat Nov 21st), which will involve some low light indoor, disco type shots. I've got an external flash so should be ok, but the widest aperture I've got is f3.5 which has me a little worried!

So...........(here it comes!)........

Could one of you lovely nifty fifty owners be kind enough to lend me a lens for a weekend??

At the moment I can't justify buying one just to use for one night and I've never heard of a company that hires out Sony fit lenses so I'm a bit stuck. I'd obviously cover all postage costs and I'd return the lens as quickly as possible. I'd also make a donation to a chosen charity/TP.

I know this is a long shot and I'm not holding my breath as it's such a big ask, but if you don't ask, you don't get!
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I can lend you one
 
fabs said:
Ah, so you're a lucky ****** then. :D

Oh and in case I don't get the chance before and as you are not gracing us with your presence on Sunday, have a very happy birthday you old git! :p
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yep,luck had everything to do with it :p

gutted i can't be there tomorrow,so i'm going to console myself by having a few beers and watch the wales-new zealand game this afternoon with the lads,and see if i can see in my birthday before going to bed :D.cheers for the birthday wishes..48 tomorrow,and i don't look a day over 60!!
 
Just got back to test out my Sony A900 is definately tickety-boo. Sorry about the someone morbid subject matter!



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Seems fine again...
 
Slimbert said:
VERY kind of you!!:thumbs: Just got to nip out now, but will send you a PM a bit later to sort it all out. Thanks a lot, it really is appreciated:D
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No problem - I always end up buying 50mm lenses and I just never use them, so you are welcome to put it to good use :lol:
 
fabs said:
You don't have a Sony 24-70 that you'd like put to good use do you? :naughty:
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LOL! No, Tamron 28-75 and Sigma 24mm Super Wide II are covering that range for me :)

I'm not going down the big lens root Sony-wise.

(The Sigma 24mm is VERY nice BTW tiny, sharp and cheap)
 
Don't blame you, I actually have the Sigma 24-70 and am very happy with it. The lens I actually covet is the 35mm f1.4 but it's way out of my price range. Do you have any experience of the Sigma 30mm f1.4 via Nikon or any other brands you've used? I'm wondering how it compares given that it's a third of the price of the Sony.
 
fabs said:
Don't blame you, I actually have the Sigma 24-70 and am very happy with it. The lens I actually covet is the 35mm f1.4 but it's way out of my price range. Do you have any experience of the Sigma 30mm f1.4 via Nikon or any other brands you've used? I'm wondering how it compares given that it's a third of the price of the Sony.
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Yep, the Sigma 30mm is one of my favourite lenses. Bought one when they first came out in 2005 and I find them excellent - very sharp wide open (which is what you want from a fast lens)

I've had about 3 of them actually and always found them fine (and never saw any of the alledged focus problem)

I have no experience of the Minolta 35mm though I'm afraid, but I'd be suprised if a Sigma 30mm would disappoint you.
 
Nice photos those, Andy, don't think they're morbid either - more calming.
Decision made on whether to get a reflex or an older lens. I'm getting a new graphics card instead, well I will once I find the one I'm after.

Cheers for the links heidfirst, interesting reads on them, certainly making me consider things.
 
Hi folks

Does anyone here use a Phottix Cleon remote?

I use this on my D700, and got a cable so I can connect it to the A900 (so by swapping the cable I can use it on my D700 or my A900, nifty eh?!)



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However... because Sony provides a fairly eccentric hotshoe, I can't mount the wireless reciever directly to the Sony. Has anyone bought one for Sony and does it have the proper hotshoe mount?!
 
I have a stupid question *blush* I don't know if I'm guenuinely being stupid or if I'm being stupid cause I'm not well ATM (*bigger blush*) so please be gentle :lol:

Does the kit lens have a filter on? You see, to put a filter on I have to unscrew a bit at the front and put the filter in it's place. This is the bit that focuses. I use an A350
 
MagicMynx said:
I have a stupid question *blush* I don't know if I'm guenuinely being stupid or if I'm being stupid cause I'm not well ATM (*bigger blush*) so please be gentle :lol:

Does the kit lens have a filter on? You see, to put a filter on I have to unscrew a bit at the front and put the filter in it's place. This is the bit that focuses. I use an A350
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the kit lens doesn't come with a filter on it(no lens do as far as i know).when you say you have to unscrew the bit at the front,do you mean the lens hood?for the 18-70 kit lens,you will need a 55mm filter which screws on to the thread thats located just inside the front of the lens....then just fit the lens hood if you need it..
 
stan the man said:
the kit lens doesn't come with a filter on it(no lens do as far as i know).when you say you have to unscrew the bit at the front,do you mean the lens hood?for the 18-70 kit lens,you will need a 55mm filter which screws on to the thread thats located just inside the front of the lens....then just fit the lens hood if you need it..
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Nope, not the lens hood, I'm sure the kit lens didn't come with a hood (I only have 2 hoods and they're came with the other 2 lenses I think).

That's what I though TBH, but I'm confussed about attaching filters - cause you have to unscrew a part to screw the filter on.

I'm probably being really dim TBH.

I'll take some pics with the other camera and post them - would that make it easier to eaxplain with pics? (got 55mm magnifying filter thingys)
 
Doesn't make any sense to me but a few people have not realised the the hood on the kit lens is even there!!

Only other thing I can think of is that you already have a filter on the lens??!:thinking:
 
Slimbert said:
Doesn't make any sense to me but a few people have not realised the the hood on the kit lens is even there!!

Only other thing I can think of is that you already have a filter on the lens??!:thinking:
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yeah,i remember someone had the hood on backwards and thought it was mean't to be like that.even if there was a filter already fitted,there will still be a thread visible(for attachments of say,cokin filter holder etc..).
 
Slimbert said:
Doesn't make any sense to me but a few people have not realised the the hood on the kit lens is even there!!

Only other thing I can think of is that you already have a filter on the lens??!:thinking:
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ah, I thought both of the hoods had come with lenses, I must have been wrong and one came with the kit lens.

It's also the bit that you turn to focus, if that makes any more sense? :shrug: I have to unscrew that to put a filter on :thinking:

I'll take a series of pics with the other camera to show you and post them tomorrow - I'm just kind of confussed TBH :thinking:
 
puddleduck said:
LOL! No, Tamron 28-75 and Sigma 24mm Super Wide II are covering that range for me :)

I'm not going down the big lens root Sony-wise.

(The Sigma 24mm is VERY nice BTW tiny, sharp and cheap)
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some good colours and sharp image pics there.

anyone interested in a tamron 28-75 f2.8 check out the classifieds ;-)
 
I need to put a small cheap lighting rig together to use with my flash, I've found a shoot through umbrella and a stand, but need a bracket (ballhead maybe) that will screw or fix onto a standard lighting stand that will also take the Sony/Minolta hotshoe :thinking:

I've found plenty but none take the Sony hotshoe! Can anyone point me in the right direction?:help:
 
Slimbert said:
I need to put a small cheap lighting rig together to use with my flash, I've found a shoot through umbrella and a stand, but need a bracket (ballhead maybe) that will screw or fix onto a standard lighting stand that will also take the Sony/Minolta hotshoe :thinking:
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The Sony/Minolta flashes come with a plastic foot that has a standard screw thread hole underneath so they can be mounted on a lighting stand.
 
Beer_Stalker said:
The Sony/Minolta flashes come with a plastic foot that has a standard screw thread hole underneath so they can be mounted on a lighting stand.
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Mine didn't as I bought it second hand, plus I need the bracket to hold a rod for the soft box/umbrella. Something like this would be perfect however it won't take the Sony hotshoe:shake:

EDIT: Sorry, I see what you mean now!:bonk: So all I need is one of those plastic feet and I should be ok?

Long shot but does anyone know the part number??:thinking:
 
Slimbert said:
Cheeky time again......!:help:

I've got a 21st birthday to photograph in a couple of weeks (Sat Nov 21st), which will involve some low light indoor, disco type shots. I've got an external flash so should be ok, but the widest aperture I've got is f3.5 which has me a little worried!

So...........(here it comes!)........

Could one of you lovely nifty fifty owners be kind enough to lend me a lens for a weekend??

At the moment I can't justify buying one just to use for one night and I've never heard of a company that hires out Sony fit lenses so I'm a bit stuck. I'd obviously cover all postage costs and I'd return the lens as quickly as possible. I'd also make a donation to a chosen charity/TP.

I know this is a long shot and I'm not holding my breath as it's such a big ask, but if you don't ask, you don't get!
Click to expand...

Already read you got the 50mm but just wondered which mode will you be taking your shots? Auto, Manual etc? Reason I ask is because there was a great thread in the lighting section about gig photography which tells you how to best capture the lights etc...
 
Well I've all but decided to come back to the Sony fold, unless I saw an amazing deal on a Nikon, its more the lenses than anything that put me off Nikon it would cost me a fortune to get an equivalent set of lenses to a Sony / Minolta kit.
Now my only quandry is which body to get, the A700 seems very hard to get hold of now, hows does the A550 compare?
 
I have seen a few reviews being posted on here already about the a550 but havent checked to see how they compare but I think the general opinion is the a700 is still a better body.
 
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