Going to china for a month- what lens

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rasmusrok1

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Jonny
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Hi

I am going to travel down the east coast of china for a month to hong kong. I know i am lucky :). Any way i am a novice photographer with an alpha a300 plus kit lens.

I want to buy a new lens for the trip in addition to my kit. The options are:

a) buy an 18-200mm tamron
b) buy an 28-200mm tamron
c) buy a nift fifty 1.8
d) Any other options that you can suggest4

So far people seem to be against the super zooms and more for the nifty.

PLEASE HELP ME AS THIS TRIP IS IMPORTANT!

Jonny
 
I'm going to suggest a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 (if you can get it in sony fit - if not try the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8)

The f/2.8 is versatile. The range is a nice general purpose range ideal for everyday travel use and most importantly it's small and light. The bonus is it's pretty cheap too!!!!

I'd stay away from the super-zooms - too slow and poor IQ. The nifty would be a great addition to any kit and I'd recommend you pick one up at a later stage anyway.


Are you going to take a telephoto?
 
I'd say go for the 50mm. If you want to get good portraits of people or in low light situations it's perfect, and you can get real nice shallow-DOF shots with it. If you want a walkaround zoom, your kit lens should be sufficient, I don't think you will need the 200mm

On another note, where are you starting from on the east coast?
I lived in Shenzhen (close to hong kong) in 2008 for 8 months, you will probably be passing through there. It's a good time of year to go!

Have fun
 
I did Japan last year, and my most used lens was a Tamron 18-250. The IQ is excellent, and it's a very convenient lens although you're limited by the max aperture.

There's a bunch of stuff on my Flickr from Japan shot on that lens (all of Tokyo, and most of Kyoto) The only other lens I took was a 50mm 1.4. The first 3 currently in my Photostream are on the 18-250 too, as I put it on yesterday for a bit of a play.

In an ideal world I'd suggest a 24-70 2.8 and a 70-200 2.8, but that's £1K to either Tamron or Sigma, and given the original list, I'd guess budgets a little tight.

The other option is to hire a couple of lenses, but not sure if anyone rents them in Sony mount.
 
Sony 18-55 and a Sony / Tamron 55-200.

Should get both for under £150. The 18-55 is excellent, if you have a 18-70 replace it with the 18-55.

The Tamron 18-200 or 18-250 are also very good. Not seen the Sony version of either, but likely to be re-badges.
 
ok that gives me some option, so people i will have a look round. The 2.8 i guess makes a big difference. I want a nifty fifty aswel. Maybe il get both. Where shall i buy them from?

I will be starting in beijiing and then work my way down. i will be going to Shenzhen definitely. I can't wait!

Jonny
 
Tamron - Jessops for £330 or Warehouse Express about a fiver more. Or try HK based onestop digital for £260.

Sony 50 - Jessops £130 is about as cheap as I can find.
 
THANKS, i think i can only afford the 50 ***.

Does anybody know whether to get a new sony 50mm or a used minolta?
 
Check my website and flickr for China and Hong Kong shots. I reckon its handy to have 18-200 but I expect only a number of times you'll be needing the long end so maybe best to get a wide. I did my trip with a 24-70 and 70-200.

Beijing is amazing!!
 
interesting any other opinions? Thanks for the advice so for. I have hear Beijiing is amazing.
 
I remember an article were a pro tog took only a 50mm lens on a one month assignment to India. Made him really think about every shot. Needless to say he got a great set of images. Having only one lens takes away any indecision as to what to use. Good idea to get one anyway, stick it on and use it exclusively for a coupla weeks before you go. See how you get on.
 
I dont think i am very experienced to limity myself in that way. As i cannot at this time afford the 2.8 tamron 18-55 do you think it will suffice if i just take my kit (18-70) and a sony SAM 1.8 50mm?

If anybody has been to china PLEASE GIVE ME SOME HINTS ON WHAT TO PHOTOGRAPH!
 
Not sure what SAM stands for, but definitely get the 50mm 1.8. Gives you more flexibility when the light is poor. I reckon you'll get a lot of use out of it.
 
Hints on what to photograph in Beijing and vicinity

Great wall, people, markets, landscapes, city buildings, Temple of Heaven, the park around it and again the people especially on a Sunday. Forbidden City buildings , people treasures of the dynasties. Be aware the skies can be very bland due to the layer of pollution, it's almost orange at times I was disappointed in some of my pictures because of the skies.

At the other end of your trip Hong Kong is one of the most photogenic places I have ever been to, one of my favourite shots was the financial district at night from across the harbour, the colours are amazing. They have a lovely garden in the city with fantastic flowers, orchids etc, it's part of the zoo so animals too.

I am sure you will find lots to focus on, so have a wonderful trip and I hope the ash problem doesn't affect your plans.
 
Thanks, Kath,sounds great, i hanen't really travelled v far before so i have no idea what to expect. It is so much hastle sorting out all the stuff like, passport, visa, inoculations. I just wan't to go.

Jonny
 
Have you got your visa? you can drop your passport and the fee and the form into the Chinese embassy ( actually it's not quite an embassy ) in Rusholme and pick it up a couple of days later. We didn't go anywhere very remote so we didn't have any innoculations when we went. I am sure you will have a great time.
 
JEmerson said:
Tamron - Jessops for £330 or Warehouse Express about a fiver more. Or try HK based onestop digital for £260.

Sony 50 - Jessops £130 is about as cheap as I can find.
Click to expand...

Are you not going to HK? Pick it up over there cheaper!

I'd perhaps try to fit in 70-200mm f/2.8. Both sony and tamron should do a great job.
 
i have just got back from Barcalona (5 days late) and i took a Sigma 17-70 2.8 and it was perfect for most shots
 
I've been putting a lot of thought into the same situation. I'm going to head for SE Asia for a few months and have been thinking up and then scrapping lens line ups for a few days now. I think I will end up going with a 18-200, 85 f/1.8 and 30 f/1.4 so I have versatility and then two faster lenses that sit in between my most used focal lengths. Weight wise it is a lot less than taking my two f/2.8 lenses and it also offers me more than a stop at each length.

I would suggest a 30 or 35mm rather than a 50, I often find it a tad to long for general walkabout but each to their own.
 
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