Lens selection for Sony A58

[Karthiks]

Hi, I have started learning photography and been experimenting on aperture and dof.

The lens I am using is 18-55mm A mount lens, which has minimum f3.5

I found there is another prime lens 50mm one which has f1.8 but zoom in/ zoom out is not possible with that one since it's only 50mm.

So is there any compatible lens for this one where it would have lesser fstop like atleast 2.0 and still have zoom in / zoom out ?

Let me know if it's possible at least with other lenses with attaching an adapter.

 

[markintosh13]

Consulting the lens database at Dyxum, setting the selection to A Mount, Zoom, Aperture equal to or greater than 2, yields one lens:

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www.dyxum.com

It retails new for approximately $800 usd.

 

[lhkjacky]

So is there any compatible lens for this one where it would have lesser fstop like atleast 2.0 and still have zoom in / zoom out ?

If you want a large aperture zoom lens, the Sigma 18-35 F1.8 is the only choice.
The image quality is excellent, but the zoom range is small.

Personally, I prefer the Sony 16-50 F2.8 SSM more.
F2.8 at 50mm is already 2 stops larger than the 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 at 50mm.

Let me know if it's possible at least with other lenses with attaching an adapter.

Both lenses are available in A-mount, no adapter required.

 

[Gridfire]

I started out with an A58 and kit lens. It is still very possible to get the shallow depth of field you are looking for if you take the shot very close to the subject at near the minimum focus distance.

Other than that, you're best looking at primes to start of with, like the Minolta 50mm f1.7. It's old, but still a very nice lens and practically every shot you take with the aperture wider than about f4 will show a blurry background, not to mention the colours are extra nice through the old Minolta glass.

As for zooms with a wide aperture... that's the bit that costs the money. The 'faster' the lens (so the wider the aperture opens, allowing more light in and consequently a faster relative shutter speed), the closer to being a pro-level lens they tend to be, along with pro-level prices.

As you're starting out, rather than immediately splashing out on expensive lenses I recommend trying a Minolta beercan. It's a 70-210mm f4 zoom lens that can be bought used for less than $100 (and they're only used, having been made in about 1985). While the f4 aperture doesn't sound all that fast with the long focal length it's wide enough to get a nice shallow DOF with pretty good bokeh. It's a bit long and slow for indoor use though!

 

[QuietOC]

If you are shooting Jpegs there is Clear Image Zoom and normal digital zoom available on the A58 that works pretty well with sharp prime lenses like the 50/1.8. Starting with a wider lens like the 35/1.8 might be more useful.

The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM is definitely worth getting. It took me a while to buy one. I tried dozens of other lenses first. The Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 is not as good, but it is pretty good and cheaper. The other DT zooms are pretty good too.

 

[markintosh13]

If you are shooting Jpegs there is Clear Image Zoom and normal digital zoom available on the A58 that works pretty well with sharp prime lenses like the 50/1.8. Starting with a wider lens like the 35/1.8 might be more useful.

The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM is definitely worth getting. It took me a while to buy one. I tried dozens of other lenses first. The Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 is not as good, but it is pretty good and cheaper. The other DT zooms are pretty good too.

Or one could use the classic solution for zooming with primes...

... zoom with your feet.

 

[Karthiks]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Looking at the number of lenses you suggested, I would stop thinking that I could have bought Nikon/Canon.

Well, looking at all the theory and knowledge you guys have, photography seems more like an ocean and just scares me about how far I could learn.

Regarding lenses, Sony's DT 16–50 mm F2.8 SSM seems readily available and quite apt for what I wanted, but lol interesting thing - it is more costlier than my dslr itself. But I read that we need to buy some good dslr body and not worry abt it later. Only then buy great lenses to achieve best results, instead of buying a different dslr cam again.

Would like to know if anyone achieved great photos with A58.

The other lenses like Minolta, Sigma etc seems not easily avilbl in India. I will search anyhow. Thanks guys.

 

[sybersitizen]

Would like to know if anyone achieved great photos with A58.

I can assure you that the A58 is capable of achieving great photos. Some examples here.

 

[QuietOC]

Regarding lenses, Sony's DT 16–50 mm F2.8 SSM seems readily available and quite apt for what I wanted, but lol interesting thing - it is more costlier than my dslr itself. But I read that we need to buy some good dslr body and not worry abt it later. Only then buy great lenses to achieve best results, instead of buying a different dslr cam again.

Would like to know if anyone achieved great photos with A58.

The 16-50 SSM is great on the A58. I was also wary of spending as much on a lens as a body. This is a bigger problem for me with my new A5000. E mount lenses are much more expensive and the body was even cheaper.

The Tamron 17-50 F2.8 is also quite good. From my limited experience the Sony is worth the premium.

The A58 image quality overall is excellent, but it will alias a bit more than earlier SLT models. The A77II seems to be similar and probably the A68 too. I traded my out of warranty A58 for a cheaper less used A65. The image quality might be slightly worse with the A65, but I do appreciate the reduced aliasing.

 

[Karthiks]

Hi all, today I've searched many stores for the Minolta f1.7 lens you guys have suggested but none of the stores (used lens sellers) were selling it. I've found one in ebay, that guy is selling it for 62$. But he was telling that some sony cam models might not be able to use AF with this lens and we need to use MF only (is this true? I'm still comfortable using MF).

Further, there is Sony's own 50mm f1.8 lens which is being sold at 117$.

please suggest me which one to invest. If the Sony's lens is better, then I won't mind spending extra money instead of buying Minolta.

 

[Ed at Ridersite]

If you are shooting Jpegs there is Clear Image Zoom and normal digital zoom available on the A58 that works pretty well with sharp prime lenses like the 50/1.8. Starting with a wider lens like the 35/1.8 might be more useful.

The Sony DT 16-50mm F2.8 SSM is definitely worth getting. It took me a while to buy one. I tried dozens of other lenses first. The Tamron 17-50mm F2.8 is not as good, but it is pretty good and cheaper. The other DT zooms are pretty good too.

Or one could use the classic solution for zooming with primes...

... zoom with your feet.

Well, yes. But, if you're indoors and want to shoot at 16mm (with a 50mm prime), you're gonna have to zoom right through the wall ;-)

 

[Ed at Ridersite]

Hi all, today I've searched many stores for the Minolta f1.7 lens you guys have suggested but none of the stores (used lens sellers) were selling it. I've found one in ebay, that guy is selling it for 62$. But he was telling that some sony cam models might not be able to use AF with this lens and we need to use MF only (is this true? I'm still comfortable using MF).

Further, there is Sony's own 50mm f1.8 lens which is being sold at 117$.

please suggest me which one to invest. If the Sony's lens is better, then I won't mind spending extra money instead of buying Minolta.

The Minolta Maxxum 50mm f1.7 is definitely autofocus and fits/works nicely on the A-58 w/o an adapter.

The newer Sony 50mm f1.8 is also a good lens and may have slightly better coatings to control CA/PF, has a focusing motor in the lens and is a bit lighter (170g vs 210g). Otherwise, not a lot of difference. There are two versions of the f1.7 (very little difference in the two). Here's links to all three lenses. Read some of the reviews:

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www.dyxum.com

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www.dyxum.com

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www.dyxum.com

 

[QuietOC]

Further, there is Sony's own 50mm f1.8 lens which is being sold at 117$.

please suggest me which one to invest. If the Sony's lens is better, then I won't mind spending extra money instead of buying Minolta.

The Sony DT 50mm F1.8 SAM is better unless you need a full-frame lens. Both of mine are very sharp wide-open. The aperture blades are curved. I've had 4 or so Minolta AF 50mm F1.7 and none were comparable. One of my 50/1.7 (a later one) is pretty sharp wide-open, but the focus mechanism sticks quite badly.

Minolta made 50mm F1.7 lenses before their AF system and those cannot be used on an A-mount camera without major modification.

 

[markintosh13]

Minolta made 50mm F1.7 lenses before their AF system and those cannot be used on an A-mount camera without major modification.

To clarify:

Minolta MD 50mm 1.7 are manual focus, work on MD mount and will fit A mount.

Minolta AF 50mm 1.7 are... are autofocus and will fit and work on A mount cameras.

 

[sybersitizen]

Minolta made 50mm F1.7 lenses before their AF system and those cannot be used on an A-mount camera without major modification.

To clarify:

Minolta MD 50mm 1.7 are manual focus, work on MD mount and will fit A mount.

A Minota MD lens will not fit A-mount.

You can use an adapter with glass that degrades the image; or you can use an adapter without glass that makes infinity focus impossible; or you can (sometimes) replace the entire mount.

Also, there never was an 'MD mount'. It was always the Minolta SR mount ... but early lenses carried the MC designation and later ones with additional capabilities were designated MD.

 

[markintosh13]

Minolta made 50mm F1.7 lenses before their AF system and those cannot be used on an A-mount camera without major modification.

To clarify:

Minolta MD 50mm 1.7 are manual focus, work on MD mount and will fit A mount.

A Minota MD lens will not fit A-mount.

You can use an adapter with glass that degrades the image; or you can use an adapter without glass that makes infinity focus impossible; or you can (sometimes) replace the entire mount.

Also, there never was an 'MD mount'. It was always the Minolta SR mount ... but early lenses carried the MC designation and later ones with additional capabilities were designated MD.

whoops, yes, missing the important NOT.

thanks for catching that