The rare Tamron 28-105mm F2.8. I forgot who or where was selling. Yes, that's a lady A700 user!

There is the popular Tamron 17-50mm F2.8. Then, you couple it with a Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 (coming soon to Sony mount.)

Or, you can get a 17-50mm and pair it with the Tamron 90mm F2.8 Macro.

Or, get a 50mm F1.4 and pair it with a 2x teleconverter which makes it a 100mm F2.8. The 2x TC can be found in J-one, Amcorp Mall. They also have a 200-400mm F5.6 for Sony mount!

Amen to that kelvinyam!

I usually would not buy a F2.8 lens because it's not bright enough for low light, and too expensive to pay just for less depth of field.

Don't worry, F2.8 zooms are much much better these days. Macros are sharp wide open.

I'd rather have a F2.8-4, F3.5-4.5 or F4 lens that covers a wider range, and bright prime lenses for everything else.

That's why my plan would be a F1.4-2.0 prime lineup; a 50mm F1.4, maybe a Sigma 30mm F1.4, and a Sony Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8.

However, if you don't have the old-school mentality of slow zooms and fast primes, then having 2 F2.8 zooms can cover everything, not too bright and not too dark.

nic_chm: NIIICE!

Soony: The Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT is nice. Very compact, like a slightly longer kit lens. Same thickness.

mhhee: Sure ah? I like having the ISO and Drive buttons separately... you have to check out the A200 vertical grip.

In the end it all boils down to what we shoot, and where we shoot.

I find that the performances I shoot are either dark that I need around F2.0... or bright that I can use F4.0.

Similiarly, I mostly shot at ISO400 on the A100, or ISO1600 on the A700. I don't use ISO800 much, like I don't use F2.8 much, for some weird reason.

I find that I prefer lighter lenses than the 70-200mm F2.8. 17-50mm F2.8 is good though. The Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 is better for me, I always wish my 70-210mm F4 can go wider (it is meant to be on full-frame).

Of course, your kind of composition will be different than mine... and you might like to flash... so pick your own lenses.

Though, just nitpicking, I prefer the bokeh rendition on my 70-210mm F4 to the 50mm F1.4.

ianho: I've always had a 50mm F1.4 la LOL.

This post has been edited by albnok: Feb 26 2008, 06:36 PM

My take on F2.8 lenses:

A pro could use a 16-35mm F2.8 (rumored CZ), 24-70mm F2.8, 70-200mm F2.8 and maybe a 50mm F1.4 and 135mm F1.8 on full-frame. For the stuff he is paid to shoot, F2.8 will be bright enough. There will be enough space in his bag, and he might add a battery grip, handstrap and monopod for stability. No overlaps.

A hobbyist can pick lighter, cheaper lenses, and make do with compromises. Some days, I don't bring a tele; instead I bring my 50mm F1.4 + teleconverters. It has a different, but interesting, look.

nic_chm: Then, the 75-300mm will almost get there. You can bird with a 300mm! Go slow on them lenses. The 35mm F1.4G is rare indeed, in the sense that very few people have that or have considered it... and since you're getting the A900, the 50mm F1.4 is 'normal' again... and the 35mm becomes kinda wide and not as nice honestly.

No wonder people don't buy it. It's meant for the older photographers who understands the skill of bringing out one lens... but then these older photographers will skip this lens and buy a full-frame. Somemore the A900 is A700-sized, and the 50mm F1.4 is much smaller than the 35mm F1.4.

The Sigma 30mm F1.4 is APS-C only, and is muuuch cheaper. soulfly sells one for RM1450.

If you can find your old Minolta with the 50mm lens, that 'feels' more streetshooter because of its T-shaped look and feel.

dark lenanza: Leos Trading, 1st floor, next to the escalator in Ampang Park, has all the Tamron lenses in Sony mount.

Eiraku: Without a doubt, the beercan. It does 210mm at F4! If you add a 1.4x teleconverter it makes a 100-300mm F5.6.

And now, for pictures!


From left: Sony 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 DT, Sony Carl Zeiss 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 DT, Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT, Minolta 50mm F1.4, Sony 50mm F2.8 Macro, Sony Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8, Minolta 70-210mm F4, Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM, Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6

Front row is the VG-B30AM, Sigma 17-35mm F2.8-4 EX and Peleng 8mm F3.5 circular fisheye.

Behind are 2 A700 bodies and 1 A200 body.


Bird's eye view!

Featuring 4 Sony Alpha 200 and 3 Sony Alpha 700 dSLRs!


Sony 70-200mm F2.8 G SSM (flagship telephoto zoom) versus the Minolta 70-210mm F4 "beercan" (flagship telephoto zoom back in 1985 when Minolta made AF popular)

Obviously, the weight and size are different; one is 695 grams, 152mm long, takes 55mm filters. The other is 1340 grams (almost twice the weight), 197mm long and takes 77mm filters. Both are sharp and have beautiful bokeh and colors. One is just one stop higher. SSM is subjectively faster as nobody can really make a standardized test for these things!


Somebody said I should shoot girls instead with this lens, so here you go. The Sony Carl Zeiss 135mm F1.8 focuses down to 72cm. Makes for great portraits.

This post has been edited by albnok: Feb 27 2008, 12:55 AM

Alamak, drinks on me next time. Oh yeah thanks again!