Walk Around FE Lens for Travel

ultragc · Apr 29, 2016

Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

slstr · Apr 29, 2016

Check out the sony fe28f2 and the brand new sony 50mm f/1.8 FE lens..

rogerjosem · Apr 29, 2016

I used my FE55 F1.8 for a year and so as my only walk around lens for general photography, but now my FE 35 F2.8 is getting more use due to its hyper-portability (I still carry both anyways).

--
Warm Regards,
Roger
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96461835@N07/

ultragc · Apr 29, 2016

Thanks for the comment. I did looked at the 55mm F1.8 today... nice one at that price point. The FE28F2 looks good too. Would both of these overlap each other?

ultragc · Apr 29, 2016

rogerjosem said:
I used my FE55 F1.8 for a year and so as my only walk around lens for general photography, but now my FE 35 F2.8 is getting more use due to its hyper-portability (I still carry both anyways).

--
Warm Regards,
Roger
https://www.flickr.com/photos/96461835@N07/

Thanks for the comment. Which has better IQ in your opinion? What do you think about the FE2470F4?

MikeTakesPix · Apr 29, 2016

Of all the FE lenses, the 35 ƒ/2.8 option is the one most close in size to an APSC lens and easiest/lightest to take along. Cities in Asia tend to be tight, so going wider than the 55mm may be advisable, and 35mm is my favorite focal-length... plus that lens is tiny, it's practically a pancake so even with big FF bodies you'll not feel the lens weight.

ultragc · Apr 29, 2016

MikeTakesPix said:
Of all the FE lenses, the 35 ƒ/2.8 option is the one most close in size to an APSC lens and easiest/lightest to take along. Cities in Asia tend to be tight, so going wider than the 55mm may be advisable, and 35mm is my favorite focal-length... plus that lens is tiny, it's practically a pancake so even with big FF bodies you'll not feel the lens weight.

Thanks Mike. What about 35 f/1.4... other than the weight factor?

golfhov · Apr 29, 2016

ultragc said:
Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Budget? I would say the 28 f2. The 35 2.8 isalittle smaller but on ApSc you really need something wider than 35 mm/52.

Neurad1 · Apr 29, 2016

ultragc said:
Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Batis 25 or Loxia 35.

ultragc · Apr 29, 2016

golfhov said:
ultragc said:

Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Budget? I would say the 28 f2. The 35 2.8 isalittle smaller but on ApSc you really need something wider than 35 mm/52.

Thanks. I try to keep my budget under $1000. I want to make sure I invest wisely.

ultragc · Apr 29, 2016

Neurad1 said:
ultragc said:

Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Batis 25 or Loxia 35.

Cipher010 · Apr 29, 2016

If it is a single lens solution, I will go for the traditional classic focal length of 50mm. It is good for landscape and portraits/street portraits. The best lens one can get for Sony is 55mm f/1.8. Excellent IQ and no widely reported QC issues.

golfhov · Apr 29, 2016

ultragc said:
golfhov said:

ultragc said:

Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Budget? I would say the 28 f2. The 35 2.8 isalittle smaller but on ApSc you really need something wider than 35 mm/52.

Click to expand...

Thanks. I try to keep my budget under $1000. I want to make sure I invest wisely.

To be honest I would say to just save your money for an a7x. Even the kit lens is decent. Just not very wide. But for travel it is reasonably small and flexible. Pair it with a wide low light film and you are golden. Most of the FE lenses I can think of right now are too long for travel on the a6000 IMO. Maybe the sigma 19 for your trip and save your money. Or rent the 10-18. Just for the trip

MikeTakesPix · Apr 30, 2016

That 1.4 is 3-5x the cost and weight for a little speed. 2.8 on FF will provide sufficient depth of field and subject isolation. Compare the two on camerasize.com- not worth the size/weight penalty for two stops of light... plus f/1.4 is only situationally a useful aperture on a full frame sensor.

Neurad1 · Apr 30, 2016

ultragc said:
Neurad1 said:

ultragc said:

Hi All,

Newbie and first post here. I've been using my A6000 (w/ 16-50 & 55-210 kit) for over a hear now. So far, I have no major complains. I am planning a trip to Asia this Summer and would like to find a lens that I can use for the entire trip. I want to invest on a Sony FE lens in case I decided to go for a A7x later on. I like something that give better IQ and low light. Long range telephoto is not important at this point. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Batis 25 or Loxia 35.

Click to expand...

straylightrun · Apr 30, 2016

MikeTakesPix said:
That 1.4 is 3-5x the cost and weight for a little speed. 2.8 on FF will provide sufficient depth of field and subject isolation. Compare the two on camerasize.com- not worth the size/weight penalty for two stops of light... plus f/1.4 is only situationally a useful aperture on a full frame sensor.

Disagree. F2.8 on FF does not give you enough subject isolation unless the subject is right in front of you.

Michaelgunawan94 · May 1, 2016

I used the FE 55mm f/1.8 at Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Bandung, Bali in Indonesia. I used it at Hong Kong. I used it at Singapore. Just one lens with the A7s. It's perfect for street photography in Asia as Asians don't like being taken photos from too close. Some are not friendly.

If you like wide-angle photos, get the Batis 25. Tried it, LOVED it, GONNA OWN it.

The FE 35mm f/1.4 IS A MONSTER LENS. Great performer but LARGE as life. The FE 35mm f/2.8 is great too but not good to isolate objects.

My recommendation is the 55mm f/1.8 and Batis 25 for travel. It's either you want a more verstatile, or the 50mm look.

golfhov · May 1, 2016

For his trip. The 55 on the a6000 is pretty long for a walk around travel lens. You can....... I just think most of us wouldnt

Jonathan Robson · May 1, 2016

Back when the A7r first came out I went on vacation to England for 2 weeks, had the A7r, 35 2.8, 55 1.8 and a metabones adapter for canons so I also took a 17-40, 24-105.

I took 90% of my shots with the 35 about 5% with the 55, the rest with the canons. The 35 is not the fastest prime in the world, but wonderfully sharp, great colour and portability.

By my second trip I had the 16-35 and 24-70 f4. The 24-70 got a lot of use. It gets a lot of abuse online, but maybe I got lucky a I have some great shots from that lens, better than my Canon 24-70 2.8 L.

cheers

Jonathan

ultragc · May 1, 2016

Thanks everyone for your feedback. Lots to consider here... will have to really think about it. I have thought about biting the bullet for a A7ii along with a walk around lens. Somehow, the A6000 seems to stay in my mind for now... that is why I want to see if I can pair it with an good FE for now and deal with A7ii later.

Like I said, I'm a newbie. Chances are, I probably won't notice many of the slice IQ differences you experienced folks can see.

... just need all the helpful advice I can get.

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