Sony Alpha 350 Lens

[cc_plusplus]

Hello,

Was wondering if someone could recommend some lenses for a Sony Alpha 350. I would be interested in a lens best suited for "scape" photography (sky-scape => mainly sunsets and sunrises, landscape, mountains), etc.
Also I would appreciate if you could recommend a good set of filters (circular and/or Cokin type).

Thanks,
Alex

[DonSchap]

Originally Posted by cc_plusplus

Hello,

Was wondering if someone could recommend some lenses for a Sony Alpha 350. I would be interested in a lens best suited for "scape" photography (sky-scape => mainly sunsets and sunrises, landscape, mountains), etc.
Also I would appreciate if you could recommend a good set of filters (circular and/or Cokin type).

Thanks,
Alex

Alex ... lens recommendations often require knowledge of a few things ... one, the price range you are looking to purchase in. One thing speaks volumes and that is the level of DSLR you chose. Since it is a a350, chances are you got a "deal" on the camera and are a novice concerning its operation.

Until you are sure whether photography is your bag, I would keep your glass costs close to that of the level of camera.

Here's the list (other people may dispute this, but to heck with 'em):

TAMRON AF 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) <- good "one-lens" solution for beginners. Lightweight and needs flash support, indoors.

TAMRON SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) <- sharp, bright, and lightweight zoom for solid, problem-free work. Can offer some indoor work with flash.

SONY AF 50mm f/1.8 DT <- bright, cost effective lens for indoor shooting, without flash.

TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD <- cost effective, bright zoom for the budget. Offers image quality rivaling lens twice its price.

SIGMA AF 10-20mm f/4-5.6 DC EX <- ultra wide imaging for a reasonable cost.

You can do well with just the 18-250mm and the 50mm lens, to get started. Buy a flash (HVL-F42AM) to go with your camera, for indoor work. They are always handy to have when the lights go down, in or outdoors.

I recommend sticking with Hoya filters, the MC (multi-coated) or SMC (super multi-coated) type. These reduce "lens flare." If you eventually purchase high-end lenses, consider B+W or Heliopan. You would not buy these for the average glass, because you probably would not realize the benefits of them with medium level glass, but once you cross over the line with the top-drawer glass ... the filters you place on the front of your lens can make or break your autofocus.

[cc_plusplus]

Thank you for your reply.
One other thing...
About the Tamron 18-250, how significant is the barrel distortion at the lower end of the zoom?

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by DonSchap

You would not buy these for the average glass, because you probably would not realize the benefits of them with medium level glass, but once you cross over the line with the top-drawer glass ... the filters you place on the front of your lens can make or break your autofocus.

Oh I gotta hear an explanation for this one. Go on, I'll wait

*grabs popcorn*

[Hemisfear]

I always have enjoyed using old Minolta glass, it's resonalby priced and has good optic quality.

[My December]

Originally Posted by cc_plusplus

Thank you for your reply.
One other thing...
About the Tamron 18-250, how significant is the barrel distortion at the lower end of the zoom?

If you're serious with landscape photography, I wouldn't recommend the 18-250mm. The optical performance are usually minimized to give room to wider reach.
The Tamron 17-50mm and the Sigma 10-20mm f4-5.6 are the two best lenses from DonSchap's list.
If you can afford it, the Sony Carl Zeiss DT 16-80mm is a good choice too.