Question for the resident photographers - which lens to buy?

[Pyro]

Hey guys
I'm going on vacation in a few weeks so I was thinking of buying a new lens for my sony a330. Didn't want to spend a lot. Found a couple used ones for under $100
Minolta AF 35-70 F4
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/topic11476.html
Minolta AF 50 F1.7
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/topic11365.html

Primarily want a new lens for
1) Pics with bokeh
2) Low light (restaurants for example) pics

35-70 F4 - more versatile being a zoom lens, mixed reviews on its low light performance. Seems like I could basically replace my 18-55 kit lens with this one for the most part which is really appealing because I wouldn't carry more then one lens around
50 F1.7 - better low light and possibly bokeh, however 50mm on aspc camera is more awkward and could possibly not be able to use it all the time. May be difficult to use as a walkaround lens since its more zoomed in all the time. This lens basically does what I want, but I might have to switch back and forth which would be a big pita

What would you say would be better choice?

[jTang]

you should sell your sony gear and just get canon or nikon. But if i had to choose between those two lens, i'd pick the 50 f/1.7 since you already have a 18-55 kit

[Pyro]

haha i plan to do that eventually, which is why im not willing to drop a lot of cash on this lens. gonna use this camera for a few more years then upgrade

[JaYson]

If your camera has a crop sensor. I would recommend getting a 30mm lense instead of 50mm.
Bc 50mm will effectively act like a 70mm lense, it's quite 'zoomed' especially for restaurant use, you won't be able to get shots of someone across the table. Even 30mm is pushing it. But you'll definitely want to get an f1.4 or f2.0 etc type lense if you want bokeh and to be used in low light situations. Also the camera helps with lowlight a lot. My old Nikon d40 sucks in low light, but a newer D7000 would be infinitely better even with the same lenses

I'd recommend using your 18-55mm lense and setting it to 30mm tape off the lense so it's stuck at 30mm and screw around with it for a day or two to get the feel for how 'useful' it would be for your intended purpose. Then do the same with 50mm

And FYI I got a 50mm 1.4 then came to the conclusion above... So then I ended up getting a 30mm 1.4 (too lol) thankfully the 50mm can be used if I ever go full frame

Wide angle 20mm large aperture etc type lenses are great for dinner type situations because they're wide enough to capture your subject (significant other I assume) AND the surrounding area like the table and restaurant. Even with a 30mm sometimes I find it to be too tight

[leecheefoto]

It's a cropped sensor. Don't get either if you're wanting to really wanting to use it for vacation. If I had to choose, then the 35-70. I'd rather stick to the kit lens as it does only a few steps forward you take instead of the 35-70.

If you want bokeh with more light then get a wider lens, like 20mm 2.8 pancake. 50mm is too close for crop sensor for vacation photos if you're taking portraits because you won't see all the background and since it's 50mm it will compress the background more.

[Pyro]

I do agree with you guys that 50mm is hard to use on cropped sensor but the 35mm is more then double the price at approx 200 used to 250 plus tax at Henrys , hence me looking at these cheaper lenses

[bluntman]

When on a vacation, most people tend to shoot wide shots. I recently took my A99 (full frame) on a trip to the Philippines and Singapore and I only brought my Minolta 35 f/2 with me and I loved it...compact, easy to carry, fast, light weight.

The 35-70 gives you choice, although the 50 is faster. If I couldn't bring a 16-50 (terrific lens!), I would get the 35-70.

What do you find lacking in your kit lens?

[Aitch]

Trust me 200-250 is decent for a wide-aperture prime. I wouldn't bother spending money on either lens you mentioned. Well, I would buy the 50/1.7 but understand it is better for portraits and subjects further away. On a crop sensor the 35mm is going to hit the sweet spot of normal field of view, and low-light performance.

Don't bother paying anything for a f/4 zoom lens that mostly covers what you already have in the kit lens. 70mm vs 50mm is nothing really at the long end, and you've already got the wide angle covered with the kit lens. Go with the kit lens and 35mm prime and you'll have a decent setup for walking around, and either low-light shots or ones with nice bokeh (background blur).

[Pyro]

hm , just found this lens this morning
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-cameras-camcorders-Minolta-AF-28mm-F-2-8-Lens-sticky-aperture-60-Etobicoke-W0QQAdIdZ484261825
any ideas if it would be easy and cheap to get it fixed? or should i just stay away from it?

[aZuMi]

hm , just found this lens this morning
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-cameras-camcorders-Minolta-AF-28mm-F-2-8-Lens-sticky-aperture-60-Etobicoke-W0QQAdIdZ484261825
any ideas if it would be easy and cheap to get it fixed? or should i just stay away from it?

Stay away from it. Even if you get it for $60, it will be tough to sell it once you sell your whole kit. You might end up adding it in the kit and giving it away.

Just get the lens below: Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 for $325. It's good enough for low light and gives you the versatility of your kit lens. You can probably lower the price to the $275-$300 and the best part about it is you won't have to bother bringing your kit lens.

In case you end up selling the camera, you can also sell the lens separately from your Sony kit.
http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-cameras-camcorders-Sigma-18-50-f2-8-ex-macro-for-Sony-Alpha-W0QQAdIdZ484661933

[bluntman]

What about this? The auction is located in Montreal.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Minolta-Maxxum-AF-24mm-f2-8-22-Prime-Lens-SONY-ALPHA-ex-/350789037753?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item51aca7eeb9#ht_4266wt_1062

[Pyro]

Lol you guys are blowing my budget
Well I found a 35mmf1.8 and the seller said I have to beat 170 for it....undecided since its more then I wanted to spend . might walk around the house with my kit lens at 50mm tonight to see if I find it really annoying or not

[ds2chan]

I have a Canon and my first lens was the 50mm f1.4. Taking candid restaurant (or wherever you are) pics suck because I had to stand 1 1/2 tables away to get a picture of a few family members. Walking around with your lens at 50mm doesn't always give you the same feeling as when using a prime lens that's stuck at 50mm. I would probably just stick with your kit lens and buy a flash or try the on board flash. Sticking a flash on your slr at restaurants is a pain sometimes but I find that you get better shots with an external flash.