I would like to know what some of you who are lens savvy would recommend as a good lens for my A-700. This would be for portraits that would give a nice bokah background that won't break the bank, if that is possible. I currently have my Minolta 5D kit lens which is a 18-70 5.6. Also a couple of old Minolta film camera lenses. I want to get something newer and possibly faster. Any recommendations? Di
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Can we talk lenses?
- Thread starter ladyD
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brokenspoon photography
Forum Enthusiast
Hi Di,
You actually have a wide range of options. I have (and have used for portraits) the CZ24-70, the 85 1.4 CZ, the 135 1.8 CZ, as well as the 35 1.4 G. These all do a superb job of producing high quality bokeh and colour and IQ for portrait sessions. Cost-wise these are the top of the heap.
In a more reasonable range, I would recommend that you take a look at the 50 1.4 - it is relatively inexpensive and does a great job. If you want a double-purpose lens, take a look at the 100 2.8 macro - it does a pretty good job with Bokeh and colour as well.
It's really a matter of taste and budget. I'm sure that a lot of other users will make recommendations, but it's basically what you choose and the look you and your clients like. I have a few images in my flickr account if you want to look. There are plenty of portrait images on the forum if you have the time/inclination to search.
All the best in your hunt
Ashok
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Photography - therapy for the eyes
Equipment details in profile
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You actually have a wide range of options. I have (and have used for portraits) the CZ24-70, the 85 1.4 CZ, the 135 1.8 CZ, as well as the 35 1.4 G. These all do a superb job of producing high quality bokeh and colour and IQ for portrait sessions. Cost-wise these are the top of the heap.
In a more reasonable range, I would recommend that you take a look at the 50 1.4 - it is relatively inexpensive and does a great job. If you want a double-purpose lens, take a look at the 100 2.8 macro - it does a pretty good job with Bokeh and colour as well.
It's really a matter of taste and budget. I'm sure that a lot of other users will make recommendations, but it's basically what you choose and the look you and your clients like. I have a few images in my flickr account if you want to look. There are plenty of portrait images on the forum if you have the time/inclination to search.
All the best in your hunt
Ashok
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Photography - therapy for the eyes
Equipment details in profile
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brokenspoon
dtrph
Leading Member
consider also what kind of portraits you'll be doing - studio/home flash/natural light - street candid portraits? on the cheap and quality the used 50f1.7 or even for a little more a new sony 50f1.4 or the 50/100 macros. great for indoor portraits with or without flash. street photos beercan on the cheap, 28-75f2.8, the 135f2.8 used (if you can find one is excellent because is so small and incospicuous yet very sharp.
the choices are many
here's a link to a dyxum discussion on the same the check out their lens reviews
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21420&KW=best+portrait+lens&PN=1
dancph
the choices are many
here's a link to a dyxum discussion on the same the check out their lens reviews
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21420&KW=best+portrait+lens&PN=1
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dancph
pickles101
Forum Enthusiast
If you are looking for a good portrait lens with a nice bokeh then why not try a minolta 85mm f1.4G?, it is an incredible lens!, or you could try to do a mount transplant on a Leica R 50mm F2!
dtrph
Leading Member
yes these are great but the OP stated "without breaking the bank" - i guess it all depends how much there is in the bank to begin with?
dancph
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dancph
Frederico Maranhao
Forum Enthusiast
Which kind of minolta film lenses? MD or AF? If AF you can stilll use them. If MD you might get an adapter and still use them.
As for the lens recommendation, if on the budget side I would take the 50mm f/1.7 (used) or f/1.4 (new). If you have some (read much) more to spend, CZ 85mm f/1.4 or 24-70mm f/2.8 (you loose 2 stops but get the versatility of the zoom).
Cheers!
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Fred Maranhao
'All constants are variables.' - Murphy's Law of Mathematics
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Greg Beetham
Senior Member
Hi Di,
you could also consider the Sigma 70mm macro or the Tamron 90mm macro, they are less than half the price of the CZ 85mm and would do a nice portrait on the APS-C format (head and sholders) or as others have stated the 50mm, either f1.7 or f1.4 for full length, you could also use the 70mm as well for this I'd say, but you'd be shooting from around 5m most likely, only thing is for any of the longish lenses used for full body length portrait you'd have to allow for moving the background a good distance back behind the subject, so you can get that bokeh.
Greg
you could also consider the Sigma 70mm macro or the Tamron 90mm macro, they are less than half the price of the CZ 85mm and would do a nice portrait on the APS-C format (head and sholders) or as others have stated the 50mm, either f1.7 or f1.4 for full length, you could also use the 70mm as well for this I'd say, but you'd be shooting from around 5m most likely, only thing is for any of the longish lenses used for full body length portrait you'd have to allow for moving the background a good distance back behind the subject, so you can get that bokeh.
Greg
woofw
Leading Member
this is the first time I've used the beercan and am amaze but the bokeh.
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woofw
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woofw
Besides, my 5D kit lens I have 3 lens I inhereted from my father which were film camera lenses. One is a 28 -85 AF 4.5 another is 75 -300AF 5.6 and the last is 50 AF 1.7 I use the 28 -85 quite a bit. I have never been able to get a really good bokah with the 50mm, I have got a decent one with the 75 -300, but it is like having a 5lb bag of cement on my camera. I am looking to spend around $700 - $900. I would like something hopefully lighter, faster and more practical, if that's possible for that price. A more all around lens, but mostly for portraits. Full length and close up. I really seem to like the zoom lens rather than fixed. I guess that's why I am not too fond of the 50mm. Anyway I am stumped as to what to get. Will be looking into some of the suggestions, Any more thoughts on this I'm open. Thanks Di
there are a couple of lenses I would look at
as mentioned the 70-210mm f4 "beercan" and one of my all time favorites the 28-135mm f4-4.5.
both have good bokeh and will come in at less than $300.
the 28-135 is getting a bit hard to find.
either of these lenses will be a large improvement over what you have now.
as mentioned the 70-210mm f4 "beercan" and one of my all time favorites the 28-135mm f4-4.5.
both have good bokeh and will come in at less than $300.
the 28-135 is getting a bit hard to find.
either of these lenses will be a large improvement over what you have now.
RomeoD
Senior Member
Good bokeh and sharp. I use the Sigma 105.
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RomeoD
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RomeoD
Keith Schmidt
Veteran Member
and you could get both without breaking the bank (and within your stated budget of $700-$900) - the beercan (Minolta 70-210 f4) is only available second hand, but there are tons of them out there - an excellent copy typically sells for between $175-$250 on ebay, or other trusted used shops (KEH, Adorama, B&H).
The 28-75 2.8 is an excellent lens, and can be found used from Minolta ($300 or so) or new from Tamron (same lens essentially).
You mentioned that you prefer zooms to primes, but the other one that I'd highly recommend is the Minolta 85mm f1.4 - you can find an excellent used copy in your budget (there are several at KEH) - it's an awesome portrait lens.
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Keith
http://www.pbase.com/themitty/
http://www.picasaweb.google.com/themitty
The 28-75 2.8 is an excellent lens, and can be found used from Minolta ($300 or so) or new from Tamron (same lens essentially).
You mentioned that you prefer zooms to primes, but the other one that I'd highly recommend is the Minolta 85mm f1.4 - you can find an excellent used copy in your budget (there are several at KEH) - it's an awesome portrait lens.
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Keith
http://www.pbase.com/themitty/
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headofdestiny
Veteran Member
Most Minolta lenses (the Tamron is nearly identical to the Minolta 28-75) have a pleasing bokeh. I imagine that you're look you're after is more about depth of field than quality of bokeh, because your kit lens is more limited in this area. A fast lens like the Sony 50mm 1.4 or Minolta 50mm 1.7 will allow you to really separate the subject from the background with nice bokeh. The 28-75 2.8 will allow this as well. I have all three, and they work well.
It's an excellent lens. In another post, you ask about the 28-75/2.8. The 28-85 is probably on par, just a tad longer and a stop (overall) slower. The relatively rare 28-85[RS] has faster autofocus than the very common original version. With the 28-75/2.8, you can probaby expect similar overall image quality, just a stop faster, but also faster autofocus. The 28-75 also has a much more effective lens shade and excellent close focus ability (the 28-85 has poor close focus, only a funky macro mode at the WA end).
28-85/3.5-4.5 examples:
28-75/2.8
Next one relies on the close focussing ability of the 28-75:
Then there's the 85/1.4
- Dennis
Gallery at http://kingofthebeasts.smugmug.com
Mahmou A Samra
Well-known member
How the mount transplant works and where you buy it.
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mahmoud
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mahmoud
Keith Schmidt
Veteran Member
Yes, it does. Here's a link to a samples page from that lens on dyxum, with several good examples of it's bokeh (even a portrait or two):
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11308
Note - these aren't mine, just samples from other A-mount users. While at dyxum, check out the lens reviews - lots of good info, including user and professional reviews, as well as sample images, and discussion boards.
http://www.dyxum.com
tbarb
Forum Enthusiast
Here is a link from another post addressing many of the differences in deciding what current Sony DSLR to purchase.
http://www.photoclubalpha.com
You will see a few articles on this page but read the titles to find it.
I switched from a 7D to an A700 a couple weeks ago. Still have the 7D and will probably sell it as the A700 seems to be a keeper. I don't need a back up digital myself and will probably keep older M7 for fun. Handling the A700 right out of the box was a snap as to ergonomics and where the controls and buttons were. I don't shoot every day or even week so that is a plus when it comes to 'muscle memory' and such. Others have made similar comments.
For me I have seen better flash results and apparent WB improvement. It has faster FPS and some other things that for me arn't as much as a factor, but may be for you. The extra MP's was also a plus of course.
-Tom
http://www.photoclubalpha.com
You will see a few articles on this page but read the titles to find it.
I switched from a 7D to an A700 a couple weeks ago. Still have the 7D and will probably sell it as the A700 seems to be a keeper. I don't need a back up digital myself and will probably keep older M7 for fun. Handling the A700 right out of the box was a snap as to ergonomics and where the controls and buttons were. I don't shoot every day or even week so that is a plus when it comes to 'muscle memory' and such. Others have made similar comments.
For me I have seen better flash results and apparent WB improvement. It has faster FPS and some other things that for me arn't as much as a factor, but may be for you. The extra MP's was also a plus of course.
-Tom
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