Calling all Sony Alpha users! (Part 3)

Status
Not open for further replies.
so you have:
"Sony Alpha 380
18-55 Sony Lens
55-200 Sony Lens
18-250 Sigma Lens
70-300 Sigma Lens
50-500 Sigma Lens
TCs 1.4x & 2x Sigma Lenses"

i had an a300 and tamron 11-18, tamron 28-75 f2.8 and a sony 18-200
sony 18-200 only went on at the beginning when i had no other lens and then probably came out with me once or twice, but found it to be slower on focusing and not great in low light.

the tamron 11-18 was a wicked bit of kit, but i just never had time for the creative side which left me with the 28-75 f2.8 on i would say 98% of the time as the general walkabout, parties, weddings, portraits etc. check some examples in link below in the sig.

i heard people say the tamron 17-50 f2.8 was good, but i found when using the 18-200 i would use 50mm+, so went with the option of 28-75. great in low light and gave some good depth of field play.

your list covers a whole range, but maybe not the best for image quality, speed etc. maybe consider which range you shoot in most and consider a more specialist lens.

if on a budget maybe try a 50mm prime to play with and see the difference from that.
 
chrism_scotland said:
I hope the "New" A700 is something like a Nikon D300, I'm not bothered about video at all but some heavy duty weatherproofing and faster AF would be nice!
Click to expand...
the "old" A700 is something like a D300 ...
Seriously, imo it's 95% there at 1/2 the price plus of course has SSS which the D300 doesn't.

Yes, it's not officially weatherproof but it's very well sealed - certainly a lot better than my KM7D.
& you know I've just trawled Nikon's website & I can't find any definitive measure of how well-sealed/weatherproof the D300 is either ...

I don't think that the A700 AF is that far off either indeed I've heard from people that have used both that sometimes the Nikon can't seem to make up it's mind it has so many points & the A700 can be more decisive.
I'm sure that sometimes it's the other way round though (I suspect that the Nikon has better tracking/predictive focus).
 
heidfirst said:
the "old" A700 is something like a D300 ...
Seriously, imo it's 95% there at 1/2 the price plus of course has SSS which the D300 doesn't.

Yes, it's not officially weatherproof but it's very well sealed - certainly a lot better than my KM7D.
& you know I've just trawled Nikon's website & I can't find any definitive measure of how well-sealed/weatherproof the D300 is either ...

I don't think that the A700 AF is that far off either indeed I've heard from people that have used both that sometimes the Nikon can't seem to make up it's mind it has so many points & the A700 can be more decisive.
I'm sure that sometimes it's the other way round though (I suspect that the Nikon has better tracking/predictive focus).
Click to expand...

Yeah to be honest it made me think when the insurers asked what an equal replacement value would be and I had to say twice the value of what I paid!
 
Does anyone know, if I buy an ex display model at a reduced price, will the manufacturers guarantee still stand? I know this question has a lot of variables in it, but I am really tempted by this other A700 body. What I don't want though, is a case where it could have suffered a bit of knocking around by all kinds of not too careful hands.

Andy
 
andy700 said:
Does anyone know, if I buy an ex display model at a reduced price, will the manufacturers guarantee still stand? I know this question has a lot of variables in it, but I am really tempted by this other A700 body. What I don't want though, is a case where it could have suffered a bit of knocking around by all kinds of not too careful hands.

Andy
Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure but I would have thought it would be fine, guarantee normally starts when its sold.
 
I have been looking at the cheap(in comparison to Sony's genuine article) hot shoe converters on ebay.

Has anyone used one and are they any good.

It seems that whatever flash I look at is substantially cheaper when its not designed to fit a Sony!!!!!

If I buy one of these cheap alternatives, what freedom will it give me when buying a flash.

Thanks in anticipation

(still) Clueless

Chris
 
chrism_scotland said:
I'm not 100% sure but I would have thought it would be fine, guarantee normally starts when its sold.
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris, I only asked this, because one of the other display models (Nikon D90) has a crack across the LCD screen at the back and another one on the clear plastic cover by the shutter release.
I am obviously worried about damage which cannot be seen. I suppose that I could take a lens and battery along, and take a few shots.
 
andy700 said:
Thanks Chris, I only asked this, because one of the other display models (Nikon D90) has a crack across the LCD screen at the back and another one on the clear plastic cover by the shutter release.
I am obviously worried about damage which cannot be seen. I suppose that I could take a lens and battery along, and take a few shots.
Click to expand...

Its probably more likely to be cosmetic damage than anything else, most of the larger stores like Currys only have the cameras on display to touch not use, so unless someone has stuck their finger in the lens mount or something stupid they should be fine internally, :)
 
clueless said:
I have been looking at the cheap(in comparison to Sony's genuine article) hot shoe converters on ebay.

Has anyone used one and are they any good.

It seems that whatever flash I look at is substantially cheaper when its not designed to fit a Sony!!!!!

If I buy one of these cheap alternatives, what freedom will it give me when buying a flash.

Thanks in anticipation

(still) Clueless

Chris
Click to expand...

I've been after one as well - seems that a lot of the clones on Ebay from HK only have 2 out of the 4 contacts wired. Not sure what difference that would make in practice (if any at all)
 
If you limit the ebay search to UK only then there are lots of british sellers with a price range between 6 and 10 quid
 
clueless said:
If you limit the ebay search to UK only then there are lots of british sellers with a price range between 6 and 10 quid
Click to expand...

Chances are they will be the same items offered from HK.

I could do with one pretty sharpish as I need to be able to fit my Phottix Cleon onto the hotshoe - I use it on my Nikon and I forgot Sony have the silly proprietory thing going on!
 
I've had a two pin ebay hotshoe converter for about 3-4 years and it works. They're simple things so there's nowt to go wrong. As long as you use a flash with a safe sync voltage and in manual or auto mode (if it has one) then you can stick what you like on it as far as I know.

The extra pins are going to be for the TTL control and if you're using anything other than a minolta/sony flash then the TTL control is no use to you anyway.
 
Hi folks

Going to New Zealand in a few days, so finalising my bag. I'm backpacking and camping, so travelight light - just a shoulder bag with my A900 and no more than 3 lenses.

So...

A900 +
1) Konica Minolta 17-35 or Carl Zeiss 16-35?
2) Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
3) Tamron 24-135 SP or Minolta 100-200?

I can only take 3 lenses, so will need a wide and something longer. Only my Tamron 28-75 is a shoe-in. The CZ 16-35 might get edged out due to weight by the KM 17-35.

I haven't take time to really use the 100-200 yet so have no idea how it performs. The Tamron 24-135 is very solid but does overlap two of the others..!
 
chrism_scotland said:
Its probably more likely to be cosmetic damage than anything else, most of the larger stores like Currys only have the cameras on display to touch not use, so unless someone has stuck their finger in the lens mount or something stupid they should be fine internally, :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Chris, it was exactly that which I was worried about, as it only has the "body cap" on and no lens fitted.
Andy
 
puddleduck said:
Hi folks

Going to New Zealand in a few days, so finalising my bag. I'm backpacking and camping, so travelight light - just a shoulder bag with my A900 and no more than 3 lenses.

So...

A900 +
1) Konica Minolta 17-35 or Carl Zeiss 16-35?
2) Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
3) Tamron 24-135 SP or Minolta 100-200?

I can only take 3 lenses, so will need a wide and something longer. Only my Tamron 28-75 is a shoe-in. The CZ 16-35 might get edged out due to weight by the KM 17-35.

I haven't take time to really use the 100-200 yet so have no idea how it performs. The Tamron 24-135 is very solid but does overlap two of the others..!
Click to expand...

I would take the CZ 16-35 (should be better image quality than the Minolta ,only a guess though), the Tamron 28-75 (good in low light, nice "Bokeh" effect for portraits), and the Minolta 100-200 (has it got a macro setting?).
I would think it comes down to the image quality on each lens, and what you prefer. You may not use the 100-200 Minolta at all, but who can tell?

Andy
 
puddleduck said:
Hi folks

Going to New Zealand in a few days, so finalising my bag. I'm backpacking and camping, so travelight light - just a shoulder bag with my A900 and no more than 3 lenses.

So...

A900 +
1) Konica Minolta 17-35 or Carl Zeiss 16-35?
2) Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
3) Tamron 24-135 SP or Minolta 100-200?

I can only take 3 lenses, so will need a wide and something longer. Only my Tamron 28-75 is a shoe-in. The CZ 16-35 might get edged out due to weight by the KM 17-35.

I haven't take time to really use the 100-200 yet so have no idea how it performs. The Tamron 24-135 is very solid but does overlap two of the others..!
Click to expand...

I'd cover the biggest range you can purely for the "just incase" factor!

I'd have the 17-35 KM, 100-200 Minolta and I'd be happy with either of the Tamrons......

Have a good trip Andy!:thumbs:
 
hi guys

2 months back i bought my other half a sony a380 with the 18-55mm lens kit and yesterday i went and bought her the 55-200mm sony lens for christmas to increase her picture taking

i really want my own sony dslr now but cant decide whats best, i have 300 MAX to spend on a body, what should i go for? so far i have thought of the a200 230 or 350 but i am really not sure what to do

i have seen the a230 without lens go for 250 second hand but would prefferably like an a350 as ive been told its the older version of the a380, whats everyones thoughts?
 
lew said:
hi guys

2 months back i bought my other half a sony a380 with the 18-55mm lens kit and yesterday i went and bought her the 55-200mm sony lens for christmas to increase her picture taking

i really want my own sony dslr now but cant decide whats best, i have 300 MAX to spend on a body, what should i go for? so far i have thought of the a200 230 or 350 but i am really not sure what to do

i have seen the a230 without lens go for 250 second hand but would prefferably like an a350 as ive been told its the older version of the a380, whats everyones thoughts?
Click to expand...

hi lew,and welcome to talk photography :wave:

all the above a great cameras to get into the DSLR world.i had an A350 for a while and loved it,in fact,having held an A380 recently..i prefer the A350 to the A380 in hand,as the grip on the newer A230,330 and 380 is too small for me personally.you should be able to get an A350 for around £250[what i sold mine for]with low shutter actuations in excellent condition[trawl through the for sale section on here].
 
Looking to add a decent if cheap telezoom to my lens lineup along with a 50mm of some description. Now for a 50mm there seems little price difference between the Minolta and Sony now so I may seek out a mint Minolta over a Sony.
But for a long zoom the budget range is less clear, the Tamron 55-200 was always well regarded but hard to find now and the Beercan is excellent but I sold my previous one as it was too heavy to use all the time, what is the Minolta 100-300 APO like? Is it lightweight?
 
thanks for the advice stan :D

maybe i might be best to wait until after christmas now though as i may get a better deal on one, the temptation to buy one now is so high!
 
Do we think the CZ 16-80mm is likely to go up in price at Jessops after crimbo or down? I know they had a good sale on last year.

I've got the money to buy it now, but would be more convenient to buy it after pay day really (22nd) but I'm also concious of the VAT increase and the fact after crimbo places dont have to be as competitive. I mean Jessops is at least £50 cheaper than anywhere else as it is!
 
With 300 you could easily get an A350, however, the A200 is a fantastic camera and body only can be picked up for under 200. I personally don't like the newer sonys as much as their grips are simply not as nice.

Also, does anyone know a good place to buy well priced camera stuff in Orlando, Florida? I'm over there over christmas and it'd be nice to pick up a couple of lenses :D
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top