New camera! Lens questions...

Thanks for the inputs. I currently have:

Minolta 35-105 f3.5-4.5
ProSpec 28-70 f3.5-4.5
ProSpec 75-300 f4.5-5.6

He's now given them to me officially, which takes some pressure off
replacing them and returning them to him.

So looks like a 70-200 something in a quality lens would probably be the
first one to buy, and that's helpful.

Generally, looking at airshow type shots, both static displays and
flybys. Here at the Grass Valley airport, one cannot get too close to
the runway along which most flybys occur, but one can get fairly close
to the taxiway. And in the static displays, close enough to touch for
the most part.

I do understand the cost/quality issue. It's not that I am a cheap
tightwad, but probably not going to be buying $1000 lenses anytime soon
unless I find a screaming deal on a CZ 16-35... I'm moving to Australia
next year and struggling to come up with the $20k it'll take to move my
machine shop and pay immigration fees. But stuff like this is cheaper to
buy and have shipped here, so want to get a good basic kit together
before I move.


Jon

Jon,

Don't forget that Sony still also uses older Minolta lenses. You might
be able to get some good deals on used Minolta lenses at your local
photography shop. Make sure the autofocus works.
A friend of mine got an excellent 50mm f1.4 for about $50.00.
He also purchased a newer Sony 70-300 G Series lens for around
$900.00. It is very sharp.

Good Luck,

Oldman











On Sun, 22 May 2011 09:59:12 -0800, Jon Anderson
wrote:

After years of dreaming and lusting, I finally have a quality camera, a
Sony A700. Bought the body only, but my brother has loaned me several
lenses until I can get my own. My overall interests are scenery and
closeup (flowers, insects, etc). But I'm also quite interested in taking
great photos of airplanes, static and in the air. I don't have a lot of
money to blow on fancy lenses. And boy in looking around, cameras are
like a Bridgeport mill. Machine itself may not be cheap, but tooling up
to make it useful is where the money really is...

But this group inspires me, and so I thought I'd inquire here.
So looking for recommendations on some good basic lenses. Zooms are a
given, but also quite open to fixed focal.
And, any sites to recommend with tips on getting good aviation shots?

Looking forward to finally taking shots worthy of sharing here.

Thank you,


Jon

On 5/25/2011 3:12 AM, oldman wrote:

Don't forget that Sony still also uses older Minolta lenses. You might
be able to get some good deals on used Minolta lenses at your local
photography shop. Make sure the autofocus works.
A friend of mine got an excellent 50mm f1.4 for about $50.00.
He also purchased a newer Sony 70-300 G Series lens for around
$900.00. It is very sharp.

Yeah, looking into that too. One lens I really want is a 100mm true
macro. They are not cheap, but just found a Minolta 100mm Macro w/1:1
tube, and MD mount. Looks like I can get an adapter for around $30. For
this type of close up, not having auto focus doesn't seem like a bad
thing, but for other lenses, I would want direct compatible mounts w/AF.
I'm even looking at entire camera kits. With patience and luck, just
might bag a couple useful lenses, filters, and a bag in one shot, for
what a lens alone might cost. I've seen a few go for under $50.

I did get sorta wowed by AF, never had a film camera with that feature.
But really, unless it's a moving subject, I'm perfectly capable of doing
that myself. But it sure is nice having all the other features of the
digital age!

Thank you,


Jon

On Wed, 25 May 2011 10:00:23 -0800, Jon Anderson
wrote:

On 5/25/2011 3:12 AM, oldman wrote:

Don't forget that Sony still also uses older Minolta lenses. You might
be able to get some good deals on used Minolta lenses at your local
photography shop. Make sure the autofocus works.
A friend of mine got an excellent 50mm f1.4 for about $50.00.
He also purchased a newer Sony 70-300 G Series lens for around
$900.00. It is very sharp.

Yeah, looking into that too. One lens I really want is a 100mm true
macro. They are not cheap, but just found a Minolta 100mm Macro w/1:1
tube, and MD mount. Looks like I can get an adapter for around $30. For
this type of close up, not having auto focus doesn't seem like a bad
thing, but for other lenses, I would want direct compatible mounts w/AF.
I'm even looking at entire camera kits. With patience and luck, just
might bag a couple useful lenses, filters, and a bag in one shot, for
what a lens alone might cost. I've seen a few go for under $50.

I did get sorta wowed by AF, never had a film camera with that feature.
But really, unless it's a moving subject, I'm perfectly capable of doing
that myself. But it sure is nice having all the other features of the
digital age!

I believe 'oldman' was specifically referring to the Minolta
Maxxum/Dynax line of AF lenses, which are compatible with the Sony AF
mount. Most of my lens collection dates back to the early 1990s and
even a couple from the first Maxxum 7000 from 1985. All work fine
with my current Sony.

On 5/25/2011 2:25 PM, Bob (not my real pseudonym) wrote:

I believe 'oldman' was specifically referring to the Minolta
Maxxum/Dynax line of AF lenses, which are compatible with the Sony AF
mount.

Yes, I knew that, and I'm watching several on ebay. But my brother had
also talked about using an adapter with the older MD lenses which can
often be had real cheap. No AF, and a few other compromises, but for
macro work, that's not an issue. Wouldn't use MD mount lenses to shoot
action or just walking around taking pictures.

And, the airshow is in Grass Valley this year (they alternate every with
nearby Auburn). My brother might come up for this. With his help and
advise I should get some shots worthy of posting!


Jon

On Wed, 25 May 2011 22:10:20 -0800, Jon Anderson
wrote:

On 5/25/2011 2:25 PM, Bob (not my real pseudonym) wrote:

I believe 'oldman' was specifically referring to the Minolta
Maxxum/Dynax line of AF lenses, which are compatible with the Sony AF
mount.

Yes, I knew that, and I'm watching several on ebay. But my brother had
also talked about using an adapter with the older MD lenses which can
often be had real cheap. No AF, and a few other compromises, but for
macro work, that's not an issue. Wouldn't use MD mount lenses to shoot
action or just walking around taking pictures.

And, the airshow is in Grass Valley this year (they alternate every with
nearby Auburn). My brother might come up for this. With his help and
advise I should get some shots worthy of posting!

Please share your results with us!

Bob ^,,^