A6000 - Next Lens Choice - 55-210MM or Sigma 16MM f/1.4

[matttelz]

As the title states, I need some help deciding on my next lens choice...

Here's what I've got thus far:

1) Sigma 60mm f2.8 ART lens

2) Sigma 30mm f2.8 ART lens

3) 16-50mm OSS Kit lens

I like shooting landscapes but I'm also wanting to get into some more portrait work as a hobby... I'm thinking the 55-210MM might be a good choice as a longer focal length to the 60mm for portraits? Ideally the 16mm Sigma would be awesome for landscapes but that's a heck of a lot more of an investment. Right now I could pick up a used 55-210MM for around ~$150 whereas the 16mm would be like $350. I can probably get away with the kit lens right now for wider angles but definitely nothing to write home about... I'm definitely open to suggestions.

I'm also planning on a Disney trip in a month or so which I'm thinking the 55-210MM might be nice to lug around? Or not? I'm also hoping to get a "fall colors" vaca in with the SO.... I can probably get away with what I have right now but I'm itching for some new glass. Especially since I want to take my hobby to the next level with getting into some portrait/paid work, which is a whole other discussion for me....

Thanks all!

 

[Bento2]

I used to use the 55-210 all the time until I got an 18-135. That just blows it out of the water. It doesn't have the reach on the long end, but I can crop pretty nice images out of the 135.

I got my 55-210 pretty cheap but it's really soft and sucks in anything but good light. That said I got some great pictures over the years.

The 16mm is a great lens and worth the investment. On the long end the 70-350 is awesome but really expensive.

 

[Sympa]

I have a 55-210 as well. I think it's problem is long distance performance and perhaps focusing.

In general I think the 55-210 performs better for close up than pictures taken near infinity.

As for the Sigma 16/1.4 - it is a big thing. Good but big. Perhaps the Samyang 12/2 is worth a consideration? It doesn't duplicate the 16mm of the kit lens though it is rather wide. But I like its smaller size.

(FWIW one of my favorites in the forest and some landscapes with foreground interest is a Chinese fisheye - which is sharp when stopped down a bit. But others got a way worse copy of that lens, the Risespray 7.5/2.8).

 

[PhotoFactor]

You don't know whether you want a wide angle or a telephoto?

I would get the 18-135 which is much sharper than the 1650.

 

[navydad]

The Sigma 16/1.4 is much better in low light so it would be a good choice if you’re going to use your camera on dark rides.

 

[Martin_99]

What do you miss on Sigma 60f2.8 for portrait work? If you want upgrade, I would go for newer Sigma 56f1.4, Samyang 75f1.8 or Sony 85f1.8. Certainly not the old kit lens 55-210.

I like my 18-135 for landscape shooting. It's small, sharp, cheap on used market. In my area I don't miss wider focal lenghts, but if you do, some of the manual wide prime can do the job.

 

[Sympa]

I rarely use the 55-210 as I do not like the zoom range. 55 is too narrow to just leave it on the camera. For me it is a "nature" lens, but for that it is not good or long enough.

For general photography the 55mm is often too narrow.

 

[Martin_99]

Just wanted to mention the focal lengths. You can use any FL you want for portrait. I even used 350mm for fun family portrait shooting. But for regular portrait shooting FLs behind app. 85-100mm on apsc are not much practical, as you stand too far from subject. Not mention the indoor portraits.

If you want two focal lengths for portraits, I would personally choose 35mm and 85 mm as short and long portrait primes.

 

[Bender79ita]

I have a 55-210 as well. I think it's problem is long distance performance and perhaps focusing.

In general I think the 55-210 performs better for close up than pictures taken near infinity.

As for the Sigma 16/1.4 - it is a big thing. Good but big. Perhaps the Samyang 12/2 is worth a consideration? It doesn't duplicate the 16mm of the kit lens though it is rather wide. But I like its smaller size.

(FWIW one of my favorites in the forest and some landscapes with foreground interest is a Chinese fisheye - which is sharp when stopped down a bit. But others got a way worse copy of that lens, the Risespray 7.5/2.8).

Indeed the 16 1.4 can be extremely redundant. Once I got my 18-135 I stopped carrying it. It wasn't worth to change lenses and shoot f8 anyways for 2mm and a very little sharpness boost.

Imo the 16 1.4 is a club photography / vlogging lens. I found the massive focus (by wire) ring very annoying for astro.

The 12mm was still worth it though because of the much wider angle and the much smaller bulk.

 

[Bender79ita]

There are no lenses for portraits as there are no lenses for landscapes, just lenses.

Pretty much any focal length can be used for anything, it simply depends on the composition you are going for. Below two examples, to help you understand what I mean.

Imo, looking at your lens collection, you might need a better and more versatile walkaround zoom. If you want the reach, I suggest the 18-135 Sony lens.

The 55-210 provides overall worse image quality than the 18-135.


Cropped, about 100mil FF


18mm FF equivalent

 

[matttelz]

Thanks for all the advice guys! This is really helpful. I'm wondering if the Kit lens on the FF would be another good option or if it'd be redundant with what I already have? The SEL2870 FE 28-70MM.... That might give me a little further focal length but not necessarily really expanding the capability of my A6000, which I might have just talked myself out of it... From some sample images I've seen of the 55-210mm it still looks pretty good just not all the way out at 210mm....

 

[Martin_99]

Thanks for all the advice guys! This is really helpful. I'm wondering if the Kit lens on the FF would be another good option or if it'd be redundant with what I already have? The SEL2870 FE 28-70MM.... That might give me a little further focal length but not necessarily really expanding the capability of my A6000, which I might have just talked myself out of it... From some sample images I've seen of the 55-210mm it still looks pretty good just not all the way out at 210mm....

 

[matttelz]

That's kinda how I feel about my 30mm f2.8 right now... it's decent but only f2.8 is kind of lacking... I'm hoping at some point to upgrade to the f1.4 version of the 30mm. I can probably sell my 30mm for around the same amount I purchased it for, recoup the cost of that purchase and put it toward the 30mm 1.4...

I have a thing for Prime lenses...not the most versatile lenses but IMHO they offer the best sharpness.

I also kind of wonder the impression I might give off if I'm trying to start out in photography for some paid/free portrait work and end up showing up with some dinky apsc camera with some small prime lens... I'm not to a kill level nor level of commitment right now for FF or some of the best equipment but I'd like to upgrade my glass for my A6000 before I upgrade my body.

I'm steering more and more away from the 55-210mm now that I've seen some comments on here.

--
Current Camera Shots --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGUheAv

 

[Bigbad401]

I bought the 55-210 for my A6100 along with the 18-135. I never used the 55-210, I did not like it at all. The 18-135 is my walk a round lens. I did want something with further reach so I just purchased the Tamron 70-300 which is really nice. And I also have the Sigma 19 2.8 which is a very good lens too. I sold the 55-210.

 

[geopapa]

There's a new Tamron 18-300mm coming out soon. It has stabilization and good motors for AF. The price is 700$. If it performs as well as the mft charts show, it will be a great way to "merge" 18-135mm and 70-350mm lenses..

 

[Bender79ita]

Thanks for all the advice guys! This is really helpful. I'm wondering if the Kit lens on the FF would be another good option or if it'd be redundant with what I already have? The SEL2870 FE 28-70MM.... That might give me a little further focal length but not necessarily really expanding the capability of my A6000, which I might have just talked myself out of it... From some sample images I've seen of the 55-210mm it still looks pretty good just not all the way out at 210mm....

I understand that going budget is tempting, but there are no upsides to using a FF lens, specially like that. You would be giving up 18-27 and 70-135. 27-200 FF eq. is a pretty good range.

If you are into portraiture, you most certainly can shoot professional portraits with aps-c, but I suggest the 56 f1.4 for classic head and shoulder portraiture, if that's what the client is usually after.

I say portraiture but I wouldn't shoot (example) a wedding with only 1 body (that has a single card slot too). There is the possibility that some accident might happen around drunk dancing people, and not delivering would be devastating, but with portraiture the shoot is rarely not repeatable and the conditions are much less dangerous for your gear.

A body with continous eye AF would be better, and this shows something else, that glass usually stays for many years while bodies come and go.

If you like what Sony aps-c does and how it works, you will be able to use your lenses for a very long while.

 

[Martin_99]

That's kinda how I feel about my 30mm f2.8 right now... it's decent but only f2.8 is kind of lacking... I'm hoping at some point to upgrade to the f1.4 version of the 30mm. I can probably sell my 30mm for around the same amount I purchased it for, recoup the cost of that purchase and put it toward the 30mm 1.4...

I started with photography 4 years ago with new kit A6000 with 16-50 and 50f1.8 for free. I realize soon, that 16-50 is too slow and 50f1.8 too long for interior shooting of our baby.

So I bought cheap Sigma 30f2.8...but changed soon for Sony 28f2 due to faster aperture and faster focusing. I use it for a year, but looking for something wider as I often felt that I don't have space to step back for desired framing. So I finally purchased Sony Zeiss 24f1.8, which is the right focal length for me and as a bonus is slightly faster with great close focus! The new lens is overpriced as hell, but I was able to find used one for 50% which is fair price for the features the lens offer IMHO. Today you can find more similar offers - from Viltrox and Samyang. It's great to have options!

I have a thing for Prime lenses...not the most versatile lenses but IMHO they offer the best sharpness.

I also kind of wonder the impression I might give off if I'm trying to start out in photography for some paid/free portrait work and end up showing up with some dinky apsc camera with some small prime lens... I'm not to a kill level nor level of commitment right now for FF or some of the best equipment but I'd like to upgrade my glass for my A6000 before I upgrade my body.

I'm steering more and more away from the 55-210mm now that I've seen some comments on here.

--
Current Camera Shots --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGUheAv

 

[PhotoFactor]

That's kinda how I feel about my 30mm f2.8 right now... it's decent but only f2.8 is kind of lacking... I'm hoping at some point to upgrade to the f1.4 version of the 30mm. I can probably sell my 30mm for around the same amount I purchased it for, recoup the cost of that purchase and put it toward the 30mm 1.4...

I have a thing for Prime lenses...not the most versatile lenses but IMHO they offer the best sharpness.

I also kind of wonder the impression I might give off if I'm trying to start out in photography for some paid/free portrait work and end up showing up with some dinky apsc camera with some small prime lens... I'm not to a kill level nor level of commitment right now for FF or some of the best equipment but I'd like to upgrade my glass for my A6000 before I upgrade my body.

I'm steering more and more away from the 55-210mm now that I've seen some comments on here.

I have the Sigma 30 f2.8 and it's pretty sharp. Realize that if you go to the 30 f1.4 that it's much larger. You have to decide whether two stops are worth the size increase.

The kit 1650 optically was quite poor, the 18-135 is a zoom where I've been happy with the sharpness (and I'm also pretty picky about optical quality).

The 55210 is not well regarded optically although it's better than the 1650, which isn't saying much. For optical quality get the 1655 which is expensive but apparently excellent. The old Sony 1670 is apparently both pretty expensive and very variable in optical quality but not all that fantastic.

 

[matttelz]

OK thanks guys... I think I have a good path forward now.

I'll probably pick up the 16mm f1.4 for Christmas. I'll replace my 30mm f2.8 with the f1.4 at a later time. Then ultimately I think the 18-105mm would probably be the most versatile. I'm hoping at some point in 2022 that I can get involved in shadowing/2nd shooter for wedding photography so I'd think the 18-105mm is going to be the best bet for that....

Edit: Just purchased a lightly used 30mm f1.4. Should have it here after the holiday. Listed my 30mm f2.8 for sale on ebay. Hoping to have it sold this week. Should be a nice upgrade for Disney later in the month.

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Current Camera Shots --> https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGUheAv