• Members 84 posts
    May 22, 2023, 9:21 a.m.

    Hi!
    I am amateur, that mostly use camera for travel and everyday casual photo. Camera Sony APSC A6600 and affordable universal zoom 16-70f4 (FF 24-105). I like zoom and frequently use it most time. Also I have pancake 20mmf2.8 (FF 30mm). Last time I looking for new prime lense to improve my skill and find something new.
    I think about some ways or lense collection strategy:
    1) fast prime 23mm f(1.4 or 1.8) (FF 35mm) for indoor and lowlight condition. But I have 20mm, so may be I can't open something interesting for me except fast aperture.
    2) fast prime ~35mm (FF 50mm). May it will be more interesting, don't know.
    3) fast prime ~50-56mm (FF 75-80mm). I frequently use tele range on my zoom.

    So, as I know it's long time discussion how to form lense collection, FF 50mm vs FF 75-80mm
    It's personal, but for me very important to be as compact and light weigth as possible.

    It's very interesting to hear opinions and suggestions which strategy is more will be interesting for amateur.

    (p.s. sorry for bad english)

  • Members 3952 posts
    May 22, 2023, 9:51 a.m.

    I am in the hobbyist/enthusiast category of photographers.

    Changing lenses often is something I would find annoying and so I don't have any primes. I have 3 lenses I use mainly: 17-70mm f/2.8-4, 55-250mm f/4-5.6, 150mm - 600mm f/5-6.3

    These cover the focal length range that I am ever likely to need and keep things simple for me.

  • Members 174 posts
    May 22, 2023, 11:14 a.m.

    Unless you want to collect lenses just for the sake of collection, it might be best to buy a new lens when if feel you actually need it, when your feel you're missing shots without it.

  • Members 718 posts
    May 22, 2023, 12:55 p.m.

    AlexeyK77.

    It might be easier to decide first how much money you want to spend, and then make your decision based on that. There is a web site called,
    Camera Times that lists best lenses for the a6600. and gives you prices for each.. You might check that out.
    If you want something that's compact, lightweight and affordable, you might start with the 50mm prime and then decide later if you want something that has more or less reach.

    PS: Never mind about your English. You do very well.

    Steve Thomas

  • Members 84 posts
    May 22, 2023, 2 p.m.

    I ask question because I need something for lowlight condition (concert, dances, nightscape) as addition to 16-70f4. Zoom with IBIS and OSS is really amazing, but sometime for dynamic scenes in lowlight it's not enough.
    So I begin to analyse and first idea where is lenses 23mm(FF 35mm) f1.4 (Viltrox/Sigma). It's a good choice, but last time I begin to make more portrait photo, and 20mm pancake isn't good for that. Also I feel that wide angle lense don't give me opportunity to improve new skills and vision that give portrait focus range.

    Personally I am interesting to try apsc sigma 56mmf1.4, but before do it and spend money I ask opinion of community about choice between FF50mm or FF75mm ranges.

    Thank's!

  • Members 174 posts
    May 22, 2023, 2:59 p.m.

    I've shoot a lot of concerts and I'd suggest to get a good zoom lens for that; actually your f4 lens may be ok for that, but a f2.8 one would be better. The issue is, you rarely control the exact distance to the stage or your own position.

    For nightscapes (e.g. with Milky Way) you may want to get a wide lens with wide aperture, that's right, but 35mm FF equivalent would be too narrow. It wouldn't be totally useless, but you'd find it quite limiting.

  • Members 360 posts
    May 22, 2023, 3:22 p.m.

    Heya.

    It is true, that this is very personal.
    On one side, "I can't stand" 50mm field of view last three years, but hey, photography is a long term hobby, and the lens can wait for better times. No reason to skip it.

    In my work, I found that 16mm, 35mm, 75-85mm and long reach 200-400mm are vital focal lengths.

    For size, it helps to have a limited compact set of like two lenses, and full portfolio of faster lenses, in my case except for telephoto, where I don't shoot sports or animals on the move.

    1) It would be best for you if you sat with yourself and wrote it down on the paper.
    2) Expect mistakes and learning changes. If is okay to choose wrongly in some cases. It's almost inevitable, and you should not be scared of it or resentful because of it.
    3) Needs, requirements, moods and liking changes. This hobby is a process. Take the choice lightly. You half way learn through your wallet.

    My recommendation is to start with 35mm pancake, 16,35 and 75mm (EQ focal length), that is at least f/1.8, and see where it goes.
    I must admit I have zero experience with fast tele lenses. Nothing under f/5.6, because I was never limited by that.

  • Members 159 posts
    May 22, 2023, 4:42 p.m.

    Simple.

    23mm f1.4 Sigma

    30mm f1.4 Sigma

    56mm f1.4 Sigma