Camera Labs

Hi I'm new to digital photography and I've just bought a Sony Alpha 700 with a SAL20F28 20mm f/2.8. The lens is really good quality but it's the only one I have. I'm wondering whether to try selling the lens on EBay for £350(ish) and buying a couple of lenses so I have more flexibility. However I'm conscious of the fact that I might regret selling a good quality lens for the sake of 2 lenses that are rubbish. (Can I have get good Sony lenses for £150?)

Does anyone have any advice? Is it worth sticking with my SAL20F28 20mm f/2.8 and just practicing until I save enough money to buy another lens. Or, because I'm a beginner, is it worth selling and purchasing a couple of lenses to give me more flexibility?

Any advice?

Cheers!

Hi Michael,

May I wish you a warm welcome to the CameraLabs forum.

£350 might be a bit optimistic unless the lens is mint. I'd suggest hanging onto it as, so long as you intend to stick with Sony, it could see service on several bodies over the years. Premium glass tends to have a much longer useful life than camera bodies.

As, it would seem, the 16-80mm f3.5-4.5 is going to be out of budget for some time then, assuming you want a general purpose walkaround lens, would the Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM DT (review) be of interest and in budget? It could tide you over until you can afford more premium glass and, when in a few years time you decide to upgrade the camera body, it might improve the chances of selling the A700.

But I'd better confess that I've no experience with any of the Sony/Minolta kit so before I dig a hole for myself I'll hand over to forum members who know more...

Bob.

P.S. Please don't get suckered into any discussions about selling your lens here on the forum. Against the rules, I'm afraid.

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It depends on what you want to do, and when. I'm sure the 20mm f/2.8 would give a lot of potential within its scope, but of course it wont cover every situation. Selling will almost always result in some loss of value.

I'd suggest you see how you get on with that, and look to get some budget lenses to add to that over time depending on what you want to do.

For example: the Sony 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 DT budget kit zoom isn't going to set the world on fire but it is good enough for a minimal cost. Following on from that, perhaps the 50mm f/1.8 or 85mm f/2.8 if you like the prime lenses and want something longer. The 55-200 is a nice value tele zoom, although the Tamron version which is practically identical could be even cheaper.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I aqsually really like the Sony 35mm F/1.8. But depends on your needs,you should get an all-around lens with constant aperture instead,llike the Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8. Don't buy the 18-55,it's a waste of money. Save for the Tamron & you'll love it!

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Gear: Nikon D80, 18-105mm, 35mm F/1.8, 85mm F/1.8, SB-600
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Here's the best Alpha mount database.

http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/topic24857.html

The A700 is a tough magnesium pro-body camera that will give you years of use, it's 12.3 sensor is used by the much heralded D300 as well.
I would think that you may want a better "all-around" lens than the one you have right now.
"Quality" lenses can always be re-sold with a minimum of market loss.

Thanks
For the advice everyone!

Hi micheal
welcome to the forum.

If i were you I would keep 20mm for now.

I don't know what's your opinion on buying on ebay. I would invest the money on some second hand minolta glass. I bought the minolta 75-300 and 50 1.7, which I still use, from ebay.

The minolta 35-70 f4 or minolta 28-105 would also be a good budget add-on, and if you come across a sony 18-55 starter lens, it's not bad either. I only stopped using it once i bought the tamron 17-50 2.8

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Sony α580 dSLR
Tamron 17-50 2.8, Sony 18-55 kit lens, Minolta AF 50mm 1.7, Minolta 28-105mm xi zoom, Minolta 35-70mm 3.5-4.5, Minolta 75-300mm 4.5-5.6
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