Reading mode: Light Dark

a55 lens confusion

Go to last post
4

4BOYS

Member
Messages
21
Reaction score
1
I am a novice photographer and have owned the a55 for a few months. I've spent quite a bit of time reading the forums, but just don't have time to wade through all the info! I will mainly be shooting my family--holidays, birthdays, school concerts, basketball, football, track, and watersports. These are the lenses I currently have:

DT 18-55 SAM
DT 55-200 SAM
DT 1.8/50 SAM

I am having trouble getting good photos of my kids slalom skiing, tubing, wakeboarding etc., and am wondering about purchasing a different lens....I am considering the 18-250. I just finished a photography class and am excited to start taking better pictures and to start using the manual setting more now that I understand how to use my camera. I realize this question has probably been answered on the forum, but would still appreciate suggestions. Thanks for any help!

Coleen
 
I see no reason the 18-250 would help your situation as it is no faster than the lenses you already have, doen't have much more reach than the 55-200 and quality difference is very small. If you want to invest very serious money in a high speed telephoto that is another issue--but would be pretty silly unless you know speed is the specific iss, which I rather doubt.

You may need some help with technique in using the lenses you have now. Post a few for C&C and you can get some help here. I suggest just posting 2 or 3 with a specific issue you want addressed at a time as posing too many shots with a variety of problems will just confuse the issue.
--
Dave
 
To post pictures for evaluation I recommend using the DPR Gallery. Click on Photos then My Gallery to download some of your shos to it. You can then add any of these Gallery Photos to your message.
--
Dave
 
You have a pretty decent set of lenses. I doubt that the 18-250mm would help. It would keep you from changing lenses, but that's about the only advantage IMO.

Basketball and indoor stuff will likely be your biggest problem. For indoors, use your 50mm f1.8. Basketball is a challenge with any lens, but, the faster the better generally. A fast telephoto will be expensive and heavy.
--
AEH
http://aehass.zenfolio.com/
Question: What do you do all week?
Answer: Mon to Fri. Nothing, Sat & Sun I rest!
 
Your 55-200 will likely produce sharper picture than 18-250 at their long end. I think I will agree other people's comments here, you just need to practice and get the right setting. Posting your unhappy images here is a good start.

On the second thought, you do lots of indoor action shots, you should use your 50mm prime. If you need different focal range, you can buy different prime lenses (I.e. DT 35/1.8, 85/2.8, etc.). Fast zoom lens (Sony70-200/2.8) is very expensive and heavy, or you can buy Sigma50-150/2.8 as cheaper alternative.
 
What troubles are you having? Based on what you posted, I'd say it's not the lenses you have, but you not fully understanding how to use the lenses you currently have.

And, what 'manual' settings are you talking about? Are you talking about using 'full manual', or about using 'aperture' or 'shutter' priority to better suit the type of pictures that you're taking, instead of just using the 'program' mode?

Perhaps the problem you're having is with composition, which hopefully your photo class helped you better understand.

More and better lenses and equipment will not help if you do not understand how to properly compose your shot. Years ago, there was a popular comic strip named 'Cathy'. In one strip, Cathy used an old camera and took pictures where the tops of the heads of her subjects were cut-off. As years went by, and she got better cameras, her pictures still had the subject's heads cut-off.
4BOYS said:
I am a novice photographer and have owned the a55 for a few months. I've spent quite a bit of time reading the forums, but just don't have time to wade through all the info! I will mainly be shooting my family--holidays, birthdays, school concerts, basketball, football, track, and watersports. These are the lenses I currently have:

DT 18-55 SAM
DT 55-200 SAM
DT 1.8/50 SAM

I am having trouble getting good photos of my kids slalom skiing, tubing, wakeboarding etc., and am wondering about purchasing a different lens....I am considering the 18-250. I just finished a photography class and am excited to start taking better pictures and to start using the manual setting more now that I understand how to use my camera. I realize this question has probably been answered on the forum, but would still appreciate suggestions. Thanks for any help!

Coleen
Click to expand...
 
Your lenses should work fine, the 18-250 would definitely be no improvement, AF is slow. Maybe just a few hints for action photography from my limited experience:
  • keep exposure at 1/500-1/1000s or faster to freeze motion
  • practice panning for objects moving in a straight line (slower speeds for this technique)
  • use central AF point and AF-C to make sure focus point doesn't jump to foreground or background
  • use smaller apertures when practicing like f/5.6-f/11, depending on focal length,gives you more DOF, makes sure everything is in focus
  • don't worry to push ISO to 1600 or maybe even 3200 to keep high shutter speeds, the A55 is pretty forgiving
I use either A mode to control DOF and select ISO to maintain shutter speed or use S mode with manual ISO selection when DOF is not so critical.
 
The biggest problem seems to be that I am not getting the closeup shots I want. The instructor of my photography class actually suggested a "200" zoom, which only confused me as I do have the 55-200 lens??
 
4BOYS said:
The biggest problem seems to be that I am not getting the closeup shots I want. The instructor of my photography class actually suggested a "200" zoom, which only confused me as I do have the 55-200 lens??
Click to expand...
There are 3 options,
  • get a longer lens (70..100-300/400mm)
  • shoot the 55-200 at 200mm and crop
  • get closer, not always possible
 
9000AF said:
4BOYS said:
The biggest problem seems to be that I am not getting the closeup shots I want. The instructor of my photography class actually suggested a "200" zoom, which only confused me as I do have the 55-200 lens??
Click to expand...
There are 3 options,
  • get a longer lens (70..100-300/400mm)
  • shoot the 55-200 at 200mm and crop
  • get closer, not always possible
Click to expand...
I am leaning towards a longer lens mostly for the shots at the lake as I can't physically get much closer when I'm in the boat. My son likes to look at the skiing pics so he can judge technique, etc., when running the slalom course.
 
Glenn said:
you should already know why your pictures aren't coming out but we don't. so why not post what you mean. seems to me the lenses you have are already good enough for the outdoor kinds of things your wanting to shoot? the other lens isn;t offering any more than your current lenses
--
http://www.fotosource.com/downloads/flyer/eye_cancer_en_CA.pdf
Click to expand...
Hi Glenn,

I know now (after my class) why some of my photos were not good as I was using everything auto....no manual mode or program mode, etc. My thinking in getting a different lens is that I'm not getting the good closeups that I want and I thought I needed a bigger zoom and the instructor seemed to think that also.
 
dlkeller said:
You may need some help with technique in using the lenses you have now. Post a few for C&C and you can get some help here. I suggest just posting 2 or 3 with a specific issue you want addressed at a time as posing too many shots with a variety of problems will just confuse the issue.
--
Dave
Click to expand...
Hello! Most of my problems were due to using auto everything, but I would like closer shots, especially of the slalom skiing, which is why I thought a bigger zoom would help. A little leery of posting pics here as everyone here is so knowledgeable, but I do want to be a better photographer. Lake has been very rough last few days so my pictures are not good...will try to post some soon though. Thanks!
 
Ed at Ridersite said:
You have a pretty decent set of lenses. I doubt that the 18-250mm would help. It would keep you from changing lenses, but that's about the only advantage IMO.

Basketball and indoor stuff will likely be your biggest problem. For indoors, use your 50mm f1.8. Basketball is a challenge with any lens, but, the faster the better generally. A fast telephoto will be expensive and heavy.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ed! I am hoping that since I have a little more knowledge about using my camera properly now my pictures will improve.
 
Amateur Sony Shooter said:
Your 55-200 will likely produce sharper picture than 18-250 at their long end. I think I will agree other people's comments here, you just need to practice and get the right setting. Posting your unhappy images here is a good start.

On the second thought, you do lots of indoor action shots, you should use your 50mm prime. If you need different focal range, you can buy different prime lenses (I.e. DT 35/1.8, 85/2.8, etc.). Fast zoom lens (Sony70-200/2.8) is very expensive and heavy, or you can buy Sigma50-150/2.8 as cheaper alternative.
Click to expand...
Yikes! I was doing some research today and discovered that you certainly pay a lot more for the fast lenses. Definitely agree with you about needing practice....still have a lot to learn. Thanks for your comments!
 
Coleen, I'm gonna have to side with your instructor. Because it seems you have enough lenses to capture most of what you want to shoot. But... you do not have the 70-200 sports shooter's lens that it seems you need. The others are quite well and even the 55-200, but they will not give you the aperture and fast shooting that it seems(to me) that you are looking for. An 18-250 will pretty much do what you are already doing. But I think you want a lens to do the sports part of your photography. This is probably what your instructor was getting at. And for the shots that your son wants to see of him in the water will definitely require something fast and with reach to get the shot he is looking for. This is my take on your OP. :-)
--
Glenn

I'm kinda partial to video, but I'm hangin!
 
cyainparadise said:
What troubles are you having? Based on what you posted, I'd say it's not the lenses you have, but you not fully understanding how to use the lenses you currently have.

And, what 'manual' settings are you talking about? Are you talking about using 'full manual', or about using 'aperture' or 'shutter' priority to better suit the type of pictures that you're taking, instead of just using the 'program' mode?

Perhaps the problem you're having is with composition, which hopefully your photo class helped you better understand.
Click to expand...
I don't seem to be getting the closeup shots that I would like, so was thinking I needed a longer zoom. I would certainly agree that I need much more practice on using my lenses. I was shooting everything on complete auto, not even using program, aperture priority or shutter priority. Now I feel a little more comfortable trying to use complete manual mode and experimenting with the semi-automatic modes. Thank you for your comments!
 
9000AF said:
Your lenses should work fine, the 18-250 would definitely be no improvement, AF is slow. Maybe just a few hints for action photography from my limited experience:
  • keep exposure at 1/500-1/1000s or faster to freeze motion
  • practice panning for objects moving in a straight line (slower speeds for this technique)
  • use central AF point and AF-C to make sure focus point doesn't jump to foreground or background
  • use smaller apertures when practicing like f/5.6-f/11, depending on focal length,gives you more DOF, makes sure everything is in focus
  • don't worry to push ISO to 1600 or maybe even 3200 to keep high shutter speeds, the A55 is pretty forgiving
I use either A mode to control DOF and select ISO to maintain shutter speed or use S mode with manual ISO selection when DOF is not so critical.
Click to expand...
Thank you--some very good practical suggestions I can really use and I actually understand what they all mean now!
 
JusLookN said:
Coleen, I'm gonna have to side with your instructor. Because it seems you have enough lenses to capture most of what you want to shoot. But... you do not have the 70-200 sports shooter's lens that it seems you need. The others are quite well and even the 55-200, but they will not give you the aperture and fast shooting that it seems(to me) that you are looking for. An 18-250 will pretty much do what you are already doing. But I think you want a lens to do the sports part of your photography. This is probably what your instructor was getting at. And for the shots that your son wants to see of him in the water will definitely require something fast and with reach to get the shot he is looking for. This is my take on your OP. :-)
Click to expand...
You summarized it better than I did!! Thank you for your comments, very helpful!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top