achew: The beercan is lighter than your 24-70mm and easy to hold. Go find some Sony/Minolta fans in Clubsnap to get a hands-on!

hazril: The firmware update is just an auto-AEL-lock-upon-AF-lock for the A230/A330/A380 because these models do not have an AEL button.

Tainted: The Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT is the same just with a 55mm filter thread, same as your kit lens.

And yes, it would be optically better than the Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6.

lildaredevil906:

The following Minolta lenses are APS-C only:

Konica Minolta 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 DT
Konica Minolta 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT
Konica Minolta 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DT

Every other Minolta lens is full-frame.

Braynumb: I would not call any lens STF-like; it means you still don't understand what the STF bokeh really looks like.

finejava: We can have another TT with a Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4 owner, or a Minolta 85mm F1.4G owner.

Tainted: I mean, the 18-70mm has a 55mm filter thread. So you could buy the same size filter for the 55-200mm. The 55-200mm is a fair bit better.

Some 49mm filter thread lenses:
Minolta 50mm F1.7
Minolta 50mm F1.4
Sony 28mm F2.8
Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro
Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM

Before this, only the Sony 28mm F2.8 came in 49mm filter size... they should've changed it to 55mm! However this means that Sony can sell more Carl Zeiss T* MC Protectors in 49mm and 72mm!

Some 55mm filter thread lenses:
Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT
Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM
Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT
Sony 50mm F1.4
Sony 35mm F1.4G
Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
Minolta 70-210mm F4 beercan

Some 62mm filter thread lenses:
Carl Zeiss 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 DT
Sony 24-105mm F3.5-4.5
Sony 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT
Sony 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DT
Sony 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM

Some 72mm filter thread lenses:
Carl Zeiss 85mm F1.4
Sony 135mm F2.8/T4.5 Smooth Transition Focus
(Yes, there are only 2... which makes me wonder why Sony didn't just change the ring size!)

Some 77mm filter thread lenses:
Sony 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 DT
Carl Zeiss 24-70mm F2.8 SSM
Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM
Sony 70-400mm F2.8G SSM
Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8

If you notice, most lenses have 55mm, 62mm or 77mm filter threads. Minolta/Sony is commended for being consistent.

However it is recommended to get a 77mm filter and buy step-up rings (49mm -> 55mm, 55mm -> 62mm, 62mm -> 77mm and 72mm -> 77mm if you need it).

DolphinDiver007: The Sony 50mm F1.8 has cleaner bokeh and can focus closer (34cm) than the 50mm F1.7 (45cm). It is also more contrasty at F1.8.

freddy manson: The Carl Zeiss 85mm F1.4 also has a 72mm filter thread.

ohzmygod: A700 has weather seals, but they are not specific how far it goes.

Congratulations porkchop! Yes the A550 can use the RMT-DSLR1.

Use the DRO Level 5 outdoors but without having skintones in the photo - it will look brilliant.



Note: Turn off DRO completely when using high ISO to get noise levels as clean as the sensor intended it to be.

tanjq87: He had DRO on with high ISO which further amplifies shadow noise.

Poadster: Just look for any irregularities. Open the aperture lever from the back and turn it to 210mm while looking through it from the front, with the back facing a light source. Look around the various edges.

V12Kompressor: I think it was even longer ago - the Sony Cybershot DSC-R1 succeeded the F828 and that got discontinued, too.

blur: For brighter lenses that are decently wide, there are:

Sigma 20mm F1.8
Sigma 24mm F1.8
Sigma 28mm F1.8
Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC
Sony 30mm F2.8 DT Macro SAM
Minolta/Sony 35mm F1.4G

ieR: DRO Advanced never quite reaches DRO Level 5. I have not tested exactly where but I know it does not.

Jag: The Tamron/Minolta 28-75mm F2.8 is good enough. The Sony 28-75mm F2.8 is not worth our time for the moment due to its iffy implementation of SAM and weaker closeup capabilities... plus it is not in the market yet.

The Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM is great if you're on a budget. It is better than the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG Macro.

SHOfrE3zE: Thank you for not-overboard HDR!

ieR: There is no 11m full-frame lens - widest rectilinear is the Sigma 12-24mm F4.5-5.6 EX DG.

Uzumaki NaruTo: Nice straw shot! Crop off the left 33%, the right 33% and the bottom 33%. Post how that looks.

Poadster: 50mm F1.8 is contrastier wide open, focuses to 34cm instead of just 45cm close, has cleaner bokeh, but SAM is not nice for A700 because AF/MF button is made useless.

achew: Nice warm feel for the reprocessed shot!

However your bokeh rain shot er... the bokeh is sharp and prickly while she is soft and portraity.

hokc77: I love how your shots are getting more classy!

porkchop: No shit, there was another guy using a 135mm?

vcvx: I like #5!

Ranceed: Wooo, nice blue background! Looks like y'all been paying attention.

ieR: Yes I was being sarcastic.

porkchop: Should've figured you were the other guy with the A550!

If you don't put the teachings to practice, it is going to be forgotten. I fear it might've, for some people!

Anyway, now for shots from yesterday:


Guys, this is not street shooting yo! Get up and get the shot. (I waited in this spot to have some chicks walk behind them, unnoticed, but they didn't come...)


The Minolta 50mm F1.4 at F2.0 makes for a great walkaround.


This is a crop.


All this, on the way to Federal Hotel for "My Job, My Passion..." Photography Talk by Encik Zainal Abdul Halim, a Malaysian photographer for Reuters.


Inside, we gathered insights into his world of photojournalism, and his ideas of composition. He works with only a 17-35mm and 70-200mm!

I loved his composition, in particular how he tends to frame subjects squarely, or diagonally across the frame. The Rule Of Thirds is abundant here, and he likes putting the event title in the background (if there is a background.) He's a background-centric photographer (I am, too!)


And so, we went to the street, inspired to wait for the pictures that we intended to create.


1, 2, and 3.

mcline_007: Nice #2! Like the mood in #3.

Now I am wondering if I posted pictures in the previous page too small.

Continuation from the previous series:


1) Later that night, I was at Titiwangsa LRT and I guess I had a little calling to do some photojournalism! (The midtones were pulled on this one, hence the posterization.)


2) Ah, a properly exposed one. While I could've shot with my wide-angle or 50mm I decided to go with 135mm on this one, to be a fair bit away in case it was going to explode! En. Zainal warned of an experience where he photographed a bomb detonation, but a shrapnel flew 1km and injured the soldier next to him in the leg.


3) The firemen came! Interestingly, I have a few photos of them not in fire-retardant suits yet. They put them on as they get off their trucks!


4) After the initial extinguishing, they hose it down to kill little flames.


5) The owner (I presume) looking over the charred remains of his car.


6) I don't know if this can be saved - the rest of the car was alright though.


7) Finally, a fireman jots the details.

noprob: Nice #1! For #3 if you noticed she will eventually turn her eyeballs to you (especially if you shoot in burst mode) so take a few shots and you'll get her eyes.

lwliam: Thanks!

porkchop: If you can wear it out during the warranty period, just send it in, don't worry.

jcjk: Only the A850 and A900 are full-frame.

lwliam: The Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 does not come in Alpha mount yet.

weixuan: Nice abstracts!

Kul | Mo0: Amazing! Let's hope it holds!

ieR: Well done! I think the plane actually adds to the photo by looking like a wire.

porkchop: Yes, a good filter will reduce flare.

VeRoN_7: Nice #4!

Honestly, no idea, but Digitalsmania in Pudu Plaza should be the first to stock such a RMT-DSLR1 copy if there is one.

Zen-X: Every Sony Alpha before the A230/A330/A380/A500/A550 uses the Micro-B 5-pin format.

Do not confuse this with the common Mini-B 5-pin format, found on card readers and the new Alphas mentioned above, or the Type-A 4-pin format, found on computers.

This post has been edited by albnok: Nov 10 2009, 04:42 PM

braindead_fr3ak: My gallery/site is in the watermark in the pictures that I post.

wuszhtag: You were shooting under strong flourescent light. That is why it looks greenish. Set your WB to Flourescent and do not use flash.

To correct the green tint, pull the green channel down a bit in Levels. If you shoot RAW, adjust the Magenta/Green Tint slider.

Poadster: Go ahead and get the 50mm F1.8. The 50mm F1.4 is only if you need that F1.4 for shutter speed as it does not offer better quality bokeh.

achew: The cats-eye bokeh happens more with full-frame bodies using full-frame lenses at close focus.

ieR: Your example has brightline bokeh (the brighter borders around circles) apparent with the Minolta 50mm F1.7 and Minolta/Sony 50mm F1.4. The Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM is cleaner because it is less pronounced.

The Minolta 50mm F1.7 and F1.4 will still produce circular out-of-focus highlights when shot wide open! It does not automatically get heptagons (7-sides) wide open (you are still very misled here.)


Minolta 50mm F1.4 at F1.4. Cats-eye bokeh apparent on the left and top. Bright-line bokeh becomes distracting next to subject's eyes.


Minolta 50mm F1.4 at F1.4. Bright-line bokeh on the top of the Petronas Twin Towers. Building next to it is distracting also due to bright-line bokeh.


Minolta 50mm F1.4 at F1.4. Again, ugly bright-line bokeh. The highlights should stay out of focus, become flat like the rest of the background, and not distract you from the subject.


Minolta 50mm F1.4 at F1.4. What catches your attention first? The flowers in focus, or the lights behind?

ieR: ALL lenses have produce circular OOF highlights wide open!

Minolta's definition of "Circular Aperture" means that the aperture blades will stay circular 2 stops below wide open. For a Minolta 50mm F1.4 Re-Styled this means it will still be circular at F2.8 while the Minolta 50mm F1.4 Original already has heptagons at F2.0!


Minolta 50mm F1.7 at F1.7 on A900 in FF mode. Circular aperture!


Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM at F1.8 on A900 (forced into APS-C mode.) This shot is taken at the exact same position as the shot above.

Note that the white highlights are less harsh compared to the F1.7's.


Minolta 50mm F1.7 at F1.7 on A900 in FF mode. Brightline bokeh is apparent to the right of mcline_007's shoulder and in the far left, top half edge.


Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM at F1.8 on A900 (forced into APS-C mode.) This shot is taken at the exact same position as the shot above.

Poadster:

Don't call it the SAL50mm, we don't know whether you're talking about the Sony 50mm F1.4 or Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM. There are two product names:

SAL-50F14
SAL-50F18

The 135mm F2.8/T4.5 STF can only be used in conditions where a F4.5 lens is bright enough.

braindead_fr3ak: I think it's because you wrote:



Although you meant, "confirm can get! Everywhere else cheapest also RM520..."

It can be read as "confirm can get everywhere else. Cheapest also RM520..."