Camera Labs

I just ordered an A55 and am now looking at lens options. Can anyone familiar with the A mount recommend a good walk around lens? So far I've come up with is this modestly priced lens which seems to be a good general walk-around lens; Sony SAL16105 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6 ($600 USD). It has some decent reviews on Amazon.

Down the road I plan on getting a prime or two but I think to start, something more utilitarian like a reasonably priced zoom is in order.

Any thoughts?

See our recommended Alpha lenses here:

http://www.cameralabs.com/lenses/lens_b ... nses.shtml

I find myself mostly doing urban landscape photography (tripod at night) and family type stuff (ie kids and holidays). I'm used to the 18-55 range that came with my old starter DSLr and for landscape I tended to use the 18 side a lot. I didn't do much in the way of portrait style photos but I would like to start with some family and friends.

I couldn't find anything interesting on the Sony Lens link but on the "Sigma for Sony A mounts" page I found these; A Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM, whose specs and price looks promising. It's within my budget and will allow me to have a nice walk around landscape lens with enough budget leftover to get a Sigma 50mm f1.4 EX DG HSM prime for portraits and playing around. Priced at $400 and $500 respectively. So, I love the price, the HSM and size/weight.

Any thoughts? I know one downside is they use different filter sizes, one a 72mm and one a 77mm. I'm still working this out and it'll probably take a while to decide. Luckily I have time as the A55 is on pre-order right now.

You should look at the Sal 18-250 or the new 18-270 mm lenses that just came out. They offer great IQ and have an all-purpose reach.

Personally I wouldn't bother with superzooms. I'd rather get the 18-55mm and 55-200mm...

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Sony α77V/VG-C77AM/α350/18-70/70-400 G SSM/NEX-5/18-55 OSS/Lowepro Pro Trekker 600 AW/CompuTrekker AW/Nova 140 AW/Street & Field gear/Toploader Pro 75 AW. And a huge wishlist...

My photos on Flickr...

Sigma has two lenses that match up with each other pretty well, I'm just not too sure on their quality and how well they'll play with the A55;

1) Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC Macro
2) Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II EX DC HSM

Two lenses covering 18 to 150mm in total with f/2.8 all the way through. Both have reviews that say they're soft on the 2.8 side but are crisp starting at around f/4 and up. Mixed reviews on their autofocus ability, some say it's quick and quiet and one person said it hunts in the dark while another said it's 100x better than any kit lens.

There are a ton of top level lenses out there but I keep thinking that I'll be using a ~$700 body and I should find a lens that matches that well, nothing too much more yet definitely nothing less.

Honestly the only thing that scares me about these two zoom lenses is keeping them clean. I remember from a long time ago when I had a SLR and zoom lenses they would suck dust into them and I couldn't clean them.

If that's the camera with the new kind of mirror, you should check with Sigma about compatibility. there was a news release from Sigma saying that some lenses are not currently compatible with the new mirror, but they are looking at a fix for their newer lenses. however, if you buy older, used lenses, they don't have any plans to find a fix.

thought you should know....

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Sony A37, Minolta 70-210 F4, Minolta 50 F1.7, Sigma 28-105 F2.8-4, Zenitar 16mm Fisheye 2.8, Sony 35mm 1.8, Tamron 18-200 and Sony 18-55 kit lens