Proving that I really do pay attention here is the front runner for my new lens

[JBW]

Hi one and all, This lens is not a macro nor a serious zoomer. But it looks like it would allow me to get in closer, have more zoom, and is of a higher quality than the lens I now use.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._4_5_Carl.html

Comments?
Brian

[tao2]

Hi Brian,

Remembering that DT means that it's image circle is designed for an APS-C sensor. It'll strongly vignette on a full frame...

[JBW]

Hi Brian,

Remembering that DT means that it's image circle is designed for an APS-C sensor. It'll strongly vignette on a full frame...

the a58 comes with an APS - C sensor and 1.5x crop factor so I am not sure that it will be any different than the lens I have for vignetting?

[tao2]

Hi Brian,

in case ye were tempted tae upgrade the camera body in the future tae..say, a Sony a7 series (full frame). Then it would be a "lost" lens.

[JBW]

Hi Brian,

in case ye were tempted tae upgrade the camera body in the future tae..say, a Sony a7 series (full frame). Then it would be a "lost" lens.

I have a dark hole in my mind that keeps whispering medium format camera. And unless i am mistaken if i went that route It would have to include lenses?

[chauncey]

I have a dark hole in my mind that keeps whispering medium format camera

I've managed to suppress that same urge.

[Dave Humphries]

We are discussing the merits of the: Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT Standard Zoom Lens, compared to your kit lens: Sony DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 zoom lens
I believe the Carl Zeiss is about four times the price of the kit lens, the link you provide lists at $998 today.

If I were in your position with regard to camera and the lens you already have, I would not go this route Brian.

Why?:
Plus: It gives you 25mm more at the telephoto end - 80mm vs 55mm
Plus (kinda): 2/3 stop improvement in maximum aperture at telephoto end of range (no such improvement at wide angle end)
Negative: The maximum reproduction ratio is 1:4, (mag. = 0.24), so you will achieve smaller images of a given subject with this lens on your A58 compared to lens you have now. See also "Beware 1" below.
Plus: I'm sure it is better quality glass and yield improved image quality
Plus: It gives you a couple of extra mm at the wide angle - 16mm vs 18mm
Negative: I doubt the above will benefit your shooting, since a slight increase in distance using 18mm would get the same amount in shot

Negative: That's a lot of money for a very small increase in telephoto range (and quality and aperture) with no benefit for close up and macro, which you do a lot of.

That's a non-exhaustive list compiled by me (someone that does not know the ins and outs of Sony A-mount lenses).

Beware 1:
The B&H spec seems to have a very small closest focus distance (2.4 inches, 6.2 cm), but that just doesn't make sense compared to all the other data (magnification), so I'd be very suspicious that's an error in their telling of the specs. If you check elsewhere, be careful, other sites may have simply used this too. Although Photozone show it as 35cm, which I would believe, since it fits the other data (according to my instinct).

Beware 2:
Some users report zoom creep, which may be a problem for you; e.g. if you have the lens (on camera on tripod) and are shooting at any significant up or down angle, the zoom may change from what you set. I guess you could use rubber bands or tape to prevent this, but on a thousand dollar lens, should that be necessary? I might overlook this IF the lens offered a significant advantages in all other areas, but it doesn't.


I guess you'd have no real* need for the 18-55mm if you bought this, but I doubt you'll get much for it s/h to offset the price of the 16-80mm.
* excepting the magnification - but even then, the improved IQ of Carl Zeiss MIGHT compensate and allow a bigger crop in PP, all other things being perfect in capture.

Regards, Dave

... discussion to be continued

[JBW]

We are discussing the merits of the: Sony 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT Standard Zoom Lens, compared to your kit lens: Sony DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 zoom lens
I believe the Carl Zeiss is about four times the price of the kit lens, the link you provide lists at $998 today.

If I were in your position with regard to camera and the lens you already have, I would not go this route Brian.

Beware 1:
The B&H spec seems to have a very small closest focus distance (2.4 inches, 6.2 cm), but that just doesn't make sense compared to all the other data (magnification), so I'd be very suspicious that's an error in their telling of the specs. If you check elsewhere, be careful, other sites may have simply used this too. Although Photozone show it as 35cm, which I would believe, since it fits the other data (according to my instinct).

Beware 2:
Some users report zoom creep, which may be a problem for you; e.g. if you have the lens (on camera on tripod) and are shooting at any significant up or down angle, the zoom may change from what you set. I guess you could use rubber bands or tape to prevent this, but on a thousand dollar lens, should that be necessary? I might overlook this IF the lens offered a significant advantages in all other areas, but it doesn't.


I guess you'd have no real* need for the 18-55mm if you bought this, but I doubt you'll get much for it s/h to offset the price of the 16-80mm.
* excepting the magnification - but even then, the improved IQ of Carl Zeiss MIGHT compensate and allow a bigger crop in PP, all other things being perfect in capture.

Regards, Dave

... discussion to be continued

The big point for me was the getting up close and personal. But the Carl Z. site matches your 35cm figure. If it is 35cm i keep on looking.

[Dave Humphries]

The big point for me was the getting up close and personal. But the Carl Z. site matches your 35cm figure. If it is 35cm i keep on looking.

Yeah, I though I'd try B&H Live Chat to advise them of the error, but when I clicked the button, it said it was closed
I guess they are on a different time zone to me
I have no idea how 10:25 am GMT equates to wherever B&H are

Perhaps I'll try again in a few hours time

[JBW]

Yeah, I though I'd try B&H Live Chat to advise them of the error, but when I clicked the button, it said it was closed
I guess they are on a different time zone to me
I have no idea how 10:25 am GMT equates to wherever B&H are

Perhaps I'll try again in a few hours time

I have been trying to access their chat for about a week with no luck. But i did email them about their error.

I have spent the last hour or so trying to find a lens that will allow me to get in close and give me better macro than I already have. I can't find one at B&H.

Are there specialty manufacturers that might have what I am looking for. Perhaps someone somewhere makes a macro that is not a prime?

[DanK]

Brian,

there are many lenses I don't know about, but I think you are likely to have to choose one over the other.

The number you need most about zoom lenses is the maximum magnification, that is, the magnification and minimum focusing distance. This will usually be often as a decimal, for example, as 0.2 rather than 1:5. There are a few specialty zooms that have a macro mode, but I don't know if any are available for Sony. For example, the Canon 24-70 f/4 (which is shorter than you want) has a macro mode that moves some of the lens elements and gets a magnification of about 0.5, which is half the magnification of most true macro primes. However, other than those specialty lenses, I don't think you will find that the "macro" zooms get all that close. I vaguely recall reading about one (a Tamron????) that got to about 0.33, but I think you will find most top out at 0.25 or less. I would just make a short list of zooms that meet your other criteria and then look up the magnification. Most likely, you can find it on the manufacturers' websites.

If I am right--you'll have to check--then the question is which matters more to you, staying far away (telephoto) or getting close up (macro). The answer will depend on just how much magnification you want. Keep in mind that a 100mm macro, while it will not give you the flexibility of a zoom, will give you much more reach than your current lens.

Re B&H: I believe their regular hours are 9:00-7:00 US eastern time. Fridays they close early, depending on the season, and they are closed Saturdays.

Dan

[JBW]

Brian,

there are many lenses I don't know about, but I think you are likely to have to choose one over the other.


If I am right--you'll have to check--then the question is which matters more to you, staying far away (telephoto) or getting close up (macro). The answer will depend on just how much magnification you want. Keep in mind that a 100mm macro, while it will not give you the flexibility of a zoom, will give you much more reach than your current lens.

Re B&H: I believe their regular hours are 9:00-7:00 US eastern time. Fridays they close early, depending on the season, and they are closed Saturdays.

Dan

Getting up close wins hand down. I will take a look at some of 100 mm macros. Thanks

[rpcrowe]

Getting up close is easiest with a true macro lens... The macro lens also usually has the best image quality for close-up shooting.

I don't know what the cost in the R.P would be but the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Sony Alpha & Minolta Maxxum SLR runs $499 (U.S. Dollars) from B&H in New York City.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._f_2_8_Di.html

This is significantly lower than your maximum budget...

I have the older model (Non-Di version) of this lens and it provides excellent imagery. The lens also uses a nine blade aperture which results in creamy smooth bokeh and thus, is a great lens for portraits and, of course, for macro and close-up shooting. I shoot with this lens on both 1.6x and full-frame cameras.



The lens provides a 1:1 image ratio without the need for any accessory. However, a set of extension tubes will provide imagery far greater than 1:1 if you so desire.

The 90mm focal length provides a 1:1 image at an 11.4" focus distance this allows you to light the subject which is great for macro work.



It is light in weight and is very easy to hand hold and is tack-sharp!



The 90mm Tamron Macro lens is also available on eBay as a used item sometimes at quite a low price...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...mm&_sacat=3323

Be careful, however. The f/2.5 model is a completely different lens and I would not necessarily recommend that model. Stick with the f/2.8; either the Di or older non-Di version...

[xpatUSA]

The big point for me was the getting up close and personal. But the Carl Z. site matches your 35cm figure. If it is 35cm i keep on looking.

Some folks quote the distance from the front of the lens, others the distance from the sensor (the London Underground mark on the camera body). 35cm sounds like the latter. SlrGear says 37cm, btw.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/lens...pecifications/

It might be worth comparing the close-ish Sigma 17-70mm:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/lens...pecifications/

7 rounded blades for your bokeh

Very sharp

Closer focus: 22cm from the sensor

Half the price.

This is a recent lens from Sigma's "global" line which is very well-regarded.

Available with your 'A' mount.

[JBW]

Some folks quote the distance from the front of the lens, others the distance from the sensor (the London Underground mark on the camera body). 35cm sounds like the latter. SlrGear says 37cm, btw.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/lens...pecifications/

It might be worth comparing the close-ish Sigma 17-70mm:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/lens...pecifications/

7 rounded blades for your bokeh

Very sharp

Closer focus: 22cm from the sensor

Half the price.

This is a recent lens from Sigma's "global" line which is very well-regarded.

Available with your 'A' mount.

Thanks for the heads up. The S 17-70 does get in a lot closer and extends my range nicely. And at that price I just might sneak in an honest telephoto? Or some other gear.

[JBW]

Getting up close is easiest with a true macro lens... The macro lens also usually has the best image quality for close-up shooting.

I don't know what the cost in the R.P would be but the Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro Autofocus Lens for Sony Alpha & Minolta Maxxum SLR runs $499 (U.S. Dollars) from B&H in New York City.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc..._f_2_8_Di.html

This is significantly lower than your maximum budget...

I have the older model (Non-Di version) of this lens and it provides excellent imagery. The lens also uses a nine blade aperture which results in creamy smooth bokeh and thus, is a great lens for portraits and, of course, for macro and close-up shooting. I shoot with this lens on both 1.6x and full-frame cameras.



The lens provides a 1:1 image ratio without the need for any accessory. However, a set of extension tubes will provide imagery far greater than 1:1 if you so desire.

The 90mm focal length provides a 1:1 image at an 11.4" focus distance this allows you to light the subject which is great for macro work.



It is light in weight and is very easy to hand hold and is tack-sharp!



The 90mm Tamron Macro lens is also available on eBay as a used item sometimes at quite a low price...

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw...mm&_sacat=3323

Be careful, however. The f/2.5 model is a completely different lens and I would not necessarily recommend that model. Stick with the f/2.8; either the Di or older non-Di version...

I doubt that it is sold in the Philippines so the Pinoy price is the B&H price.
Telephoto and an honest macro all in one is unusual and at a good price. thanks.

[Manfred M]

Telephoto and an honest macro all in one is unusual and at a good price. thanks.

Not at all Brian - anything with a focal length that is longer than the "standard lens" is a telephoto and anything wider is a wide angle lens. Once you start looking at the 80 - 105mm macros, they are all going to act as telephotos on your camera. When not shooting extreme closeups, they all make decent portrait lenses, although they tend to be a bit short for other types of work.

[JBW]

Not at all Brian - anything with a focal length that is longer than the "standard lens" is a telephoto and anything wider is a wide angle lens. Once you start looking at the 80 - 105mm macros, they are all going to act as telephotos on your camera. When not shooting extreme closeups, they all make decent portrait lenses, although they tend to be a bit short for other types of work.

Okay in that case... the Tamron gets me to about 6 to 8 inches from the lens to the subject. This answers your thought about getting closer? Do you have a lens preference in this area?

[Manfred M]

Okay in that case... the Tamron gets me to about 6 to 8 inches from the lens to the subject. This answers your thought about getting closer? Do you have a lens preference in this area?

I'll leave that advice to the macro shooters. I am not one (although I have borrowed macro lenses from friends to try this out several times) so at least I understand some of the issues involved.

Again, my concern is your expectations versus your motor abilities due to your MS, vis-a-vis shooting a fixed focal length lens and having to make adjustments manually, as well as manual focus that is a must in macro work.

[JBW]

I'll leave that advice to the macro shooters. I am not one (although I have borrowed macro lenses from friends to try this out several times) so at least I understand some of the issues involved.

Again, my concern is your expectations versus your motor abilities due to your MS, vis-a-vis shooting a fixed focal length lens and having to make adjustments manually, as well as manual focus that is a must in macro work.

As I understand the Tamaron it works he same as the lens I now have. Autofocus when I want it manual when I don't? When I get up close and personal it is not difficult to line up the cross-hairs where I need them to be.