Portrait lens for Sony A200

[Neil UK]

Since doing my first amateur photoshoot lat week with my good friend Jo, I have decided to take the plunge and get a DECENT lens but I am a bit confused on what to buy. Am getting sick of the kit lens that came with the A200, so does anyone have some recommendations for a decent portrait lens for indoor and outdoor shoots.

Neil

[DonSchap]

Originally Posted by Neil UK

Since doing my first amateur photoshoot lat week with my good friend Jo, I have decided to take the plunge and get a DECENT lens but I am a bit confused on what to buy. Am getting sick of the kit lens that came with the A200, so does anyone have some recommendations for a decent portrait lens for indoor and outdoor shoots.

Neil

There are some that would argue that the SAL 50mm f/1.8 DT would be an adequate lens to bounce around with, but if you want unmistakable response, spend the extra hundred and get the SAL 50mm f/1.4 lens. It offers that little extra bokeh to your image and exceptionally nice performance.

When you are ready for another ... consider the MANUAL focus Rokinon 85mm f/1.4, which, if you can live with manual focusing, will save you $1000 over its alternative, the SONY CZ 85mm f/1.4. This will give you a lens that makes the girls faces look just a little less pudgy (they like that).

A solid pair of glass options.

[Neil UK]

Thanks for all the info Don, think I will be going for the SAL 50mm f/1.4, looks like a fantastic lens, wondering how high the aperture goes though.

[DonSchap]

Originally Posted by Neil UK

Thanks for all the info Don, think I will be going for the SAL 50mm f/1.4, looks like a fantastic lens, wondering how high the aperture goes though.

The SAL AF 50mm f/1.4 lens tightens to f/22

The thing about really tight apertures is the optical/physical phenomena of "diffraction." This effect of light scattering through an aperture causes the image to apparently soften, not sharpen, as the stream of incoming light waves are literally forced in different direction by interaction with the edge of the tightened orifice. It usually happens more dramatically past f/13 in most telephoto lenses. So going "tight" may give you a deeper depth of field, but your image begins to blur or softening to this effect.

f/32 digital images are usually so badly affected by this phenomena that most of the images are effectively unusable.

Just something to consider, if what you are getting is looking a little rough and you cannot figure out exactly why.

[Neil UK]

Cheers Don, dont think ill ever be heading over F8 with this lens to be honest, another month and will hopefully have this attached to my camera.

Once again thank you mate