Steve'sDigicams

mike63 · Dec 5, 2008, 6:06 AM

hi all,:?

A little new to digital photography, and would like a little help, a recent visit to my local camera shop was looking to buy a lens. told the guy i was looking for a lens that cantakeportrait and sports photographs.

He advised me to buy the Tamron55-200mm lens and then proceeded to list a mega list of lenses, i would need a truck to carry them about lolololol and i know i can combine a few good lenses to do both,instead of buying the list he gave me

any advice would be a help :?

mike

algold · Dec 5, 2008, 6:19 AM

Mike, you will get more relevant info if you can tell what kind of portraits and what sports you have in mind. Also knowing your camera make and model and your budget will help.

mike63 · Dec 5, 2008, 7:06 AM

hi algold

yes sorry never thought about that lolol i got a sonya200, DT18-70mm lens, portraits of children head and shoulders type portraits, sport in mind is jet ski,surfers, canoeing, yachting, water skiing.

As far as budget i havent given it a thought yet was going to draw a list of things i need and take it from there.

many thanks

mike:?told you i was new to this:angry:

TCav · Dec 5, 2008, 7:41 AM

Portraiture usually means a large aperture lens, so you can take advantage of a shallow depth to accentuate the subject. Portraiture of children usually means a longer focal length, so you don't have to be very close to get the shot. There are a number of lenses that will work well for that including Sony's 100/2.8 (~$600), Sigma's 105mm f/2.8 (~$400) and Tamron's 90mm f/2.8 (~$360). All are quite good. You may want to drag a child with you when you return to the store, so you can best see the effects of the focal length and aperture.

For outdoor sports, especially the sports you mentioned, aperture isn't such a big deal, but focal length is. At a minimum, the Sony (Tamron) 55-200/4.0-5.6 (Sony:~$230, Tamron: ~$125 after rebate) is nice, as is the Minolta 70-210/4.0 'Beercan' (~$200 used), but something longer might be better. There is the Sony 70-300 'G' (~$750 on sale) which is the best of it's kind, but if that's a little steep, there are other, more affordablechoices. None of them are very good, but probably the best among them is the Tamron 70-300 Di LD (~$170). The Sigma 70-300 (~$210)is ok, buthas a history of failing when connected to Sony dSLRs. The Sony 75-300 (~$230) is inferior to the other two and more expensive.

mike63 · Dec 5, 2008, 10:53 AM

hi TCav

read your msg and thanks very much for the info.i am going to go with the lenses you mentioned try a few and make my choice.

much appritiated

mike:?

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Dec 5, 2008, 6:06 AM	#1
mike63 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5	hi all,:? A little new to digital photography, and would like a little help, a recent visit to my local camera shop was looking to buy a lens. told the guy i was looking for a lens that cantakeportrait and sports photographs. He advised me to buy the Tamron55-200mm lens and then proceeded to list a mega list of lenses, i would need a truck to carry them about lolololol and i know i can combine a few good lenses to do both,instead of buying the list he gave me any advice would be a help :? mike

Dec 5, 2008, 6:19 AM	#2
algold Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Israel Posts: 369	Mike, you will get more relevant info if you can tell what kind of portraits and what sports you have in mind. Also knowing your camera make and model and your budget will help.

Dec 5, 2008, 7:06 AM	#3
mike63 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5	hi algold yes sorry never thought about that lolol i got a sonya200, DT18-70mm lens, portraits of children head and shoulders type portraits, sport in mind is jet ski,surfers, canoeing, yachting, water skiing. As far as budget i havent given it a thought yet was going to draw a list of things i need and take it from there. many thanks mike:?told you i was new to this:angry:

Dec 5, 2008, 7:41 AM	#4
TCav Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Washington, DC, Metro Area, Maryland Posts: 13,826	Portraiture usually means a large aperture lens, so you can take advantage of a shallow depth to accentuate the subject. Portraiture of children usually means a longer focal length, so you don't have to be very close to get the shot. There are a number of lenses that will work well for that including Sony's 100/2.8 (~$600), Sigma's 105mm f/2.8 (~$400) and Tamron's 90mm f/2.8 (~$360). All are quite good. You may want to drag a child with you when you return to the store, so you can best see the effects of the focal length and aperture. For outdoor sports, especially the sports you mentioned, aperture isn't such a big deal, but focal length is. At a minimum, the Sony (Tamron) 55-200/4.0-5.6 (Sony:~$230, Tamron: ~$125 after rebate) is nice, as is the Minolta 70-210/4.0 'Beercan' (~$200 used), but something longer might be better. There is the Sony 70-300 'G' (~$750 on sale) which is the best of it's kind, but if that's a little steep, there are other, more affordablechoices. None of them are very good, but probably the best among them is the Tamron 70-300 Di LD (~$170). The Sigma 70-300 (~$210)is ok, buthas a history of failing when connected to Sony dSLRs. The Sony 75-300 (~$230) is inferior to the other two and more expensive.

Dec 5, 2008, 10:53 AM	#5
mike63 Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 5	hi TCav read your msg and thanks very much for the info.i am going to go with the lenses you mentioned try a few and make my choice. much appritiated mike:?