Looking for news lens for studio woek

donkeymusic

donkeymusic

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Hi,

Was looking for a new lens for doing studio/portrait work and was looking at the Sigma 18-250mm f3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM, just wondered if this would be suitable and had anyone used the lens?

Thanks
 
That Tamron 28-75 is just as sharp as any of my L lenses, and it cost me £250 (and has f2.8 for low light situations) - best value lens I've ever bought.
 
Only you will know what focal length you need, but the ZA 135/1.8 is a splendid lens.
 
at the moment money is an issue so was looking for an all round lens. currently using an 18-55 but dont feel i can zoom in enough with this so was looking for something with a larger zoom, i know 250 is a bit too extreme, but this was to cover use as an all round lens.

want o be able to do full length shots but to get close up for headshots without being in the subjects face
 
wondered if this might be more suitable

Sigma 18-125 f3.8-5.6 DC HSM Sony/Minolta fit
 
I don't know what Sony range are like, so I can't comment specifically. But a few facts about lenses.

When stopped down, most of the flaws in lenses are obscured. At f11, base ISO, and lit well, the difference between entry level lens and pro lenses are minimal (at least to most eyes).

Superzooms you refer to are regarded as a big compromise. Jack of all trades, master of none.

I'd look to figuring out the range you are likely to use. My focal length of choice in studio shoots on my full frame camera are around 50-135mm. 90% of the time, I only shoot with 50mm, 85mm and 105mm primes. If you are looking at getting 1 lens, perhaps 70-200mm of some kind. Tamron, Sigma, Tokina. All the 3rd parties will make them in some format, and they are all pretty reasonable in price and performance. If Sony do their own, perhaps it's worth a look.

HTH
 
hairboy said:
I don't know what Sony range are like, so I can't comment specifically. But a few facts about lenses.

When stopped down, most of the flaws in lenses are obscured. At f11, base ISO, and lit well, the difference between entry level lens and pro lenses are minimal (at least to most eyes).

Superzooms you refer to are regarded as a big compromise. Jack of all trades, master of none.

I'd look to figuring out the range you are likely to use. My focal length of choice in studio shoots on my full frame camera are around 50-135mm. 90% of the time, I only shoot with 50mm, 85mm and 105mm primes. If you are looking at getting 1 lens, perhaps 70-200mm of some kind. Tamron, Sigma, Tokina. All the 3rd parties will make them in some format, and they are all pretty reasonable in price and performance. If Sony do their own, perhaps it's worth a look.

HTH
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Thanks, was considering primes but at the moment its a cost issue, so looking for an all in one, there is a 18-200, would i be compromising that much if i went for 18-250?

Looking an alternative to Sony lens due to the price would rather get more for my money than minimal with sony.
 
Generally zoom lenses with the best image quality are around the 3-4x zoom length (talking in compact camera terms to keep things easy). Prime lenses are the sharpest kind of lens, end of story, but you don't get much flexibility. Then you get the short zoom lenses, so 17-55mm f/2.8 (around 3x), 24-70 f/2.8 (again around 3x), 24-105 f/4 (around 4x) and the 70-200mm f/2.8 (just under 3x) and these are considered some of the best and sharpest zoom lenses in the business, albeit all Canon. Sony will offer similar lenses. When you're talking about the 18-200 you're looking at 11x zoom, and the 18-250 is even more. That is simply stretching the lens far too much in terms of range and image quality seriously suffers.

Keep your kit lens and get a lens to add on to it in terms of focal length. If you're on a serious budget than there is the 55-200 f/4.5-5.6 which is USM, so nice fast focus, albeit not that sharp. A good match for the kit lens though, and acceptable when stopped down. I sold my old one to a friend for £40 and she's been getting some lovely shots with it. There's also the 55-250 f/4-5.6 which gives you some extra reach and marginally faster wide end, not that it matters that much in the studio. If you saved up a little longer you could go for something like the 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM which gives you USM and the benefit of IS in low light, with some extra reach over the kit lens and a lot of extra sharpness.
 
Nuffles said:
Generally zoom lenses with the best image quality are around the 3-4x zoom length (talking in compact camera terms to keep things easy). Prime lenses are the sharpest kind of lens, end of story, but you don't get much flexibility. Then you get the short zoom lenses, so 17-55mm f/2.8 (around 3x), 24-70 f/2.8 (again around 3x), 24-105 f/4 (around 4x) and the 70-200mm f/2.8 (just under 3x) and these are considered some of the best and sharpest zoom lenses in the business, albeit all Canon. Sony will offer similar lenses. When you're talking about the 18-200 you're looking at 11x zoom, and the 18-250 is even more. That is simply stretching the lens far too much in terms of range and image quality seriously suffers.
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Never even thought about it like that but makes a lot sense, thanks
 
Traditionally, for portrait work (which is what I guess you are doing in a studio) you really had to run somewhere between 85-200mm. In the old film days 135mm was the optimum focal length.

I don't know the Sony range (bodies or lenses) but if you are on a 1.5/1.6 crop, an 85mm f1.8 should provide very good results, especially if you stop it down to around f8 which is about standard in a studio environment. A decent 70-200 would be useful if the budget extends that far.

Steve
 
Jelster said:
Traditionally, for portrait work (which is what I guess you are doing in a studio) you really had to run somewhere between 85-200mm. In the old film days 135mm was the optimum focal length.

I don't know the Sony range (bodies or lenses) but if you are on a 1.5/1.6 crop, an 85mm f1.8 should provide very good results, especially if you stop it down to around f8 which is about standard in a studio environment. A decent 70-200 would be useful if the budget extends that far.

Steve
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would i be able to get full length shots with a 70-200, thought i need to be looking a lower than that?
 
I thought that was a bit long myself. Wouldn't a prime be better though?
 
Agreed on the above 28-75. Cracking lens but still, wouldn't a prime be a better bet?
 
donkeymusic said:
would i be able to get full length shots with a 70-200, thought i need to be looking a lower than that?
Click to expand...

If room is tight drop down to 40mm, but I wouldn't go below that as you'll start to get the effects of a wide angle lens which is never flattering.

Steve

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i am limited to funds and the lenses that look suitable are just too pricey, best for price range i can see might be the

sigma-18-125-f3-8-5-6-dc-hsm-sony-minolta-fit


what would your views me on this lens?

thanks
 
donkeymusic said:
i am limited to funds and the lenses that look suitable are just too pricey, best for price range i can see might be the

sigma-18-125-f3-8-5-6-dc-hsm-sony-minolta-fit


what would your views me on this lens?

thanks
Click to expand...

just wondered if anyone has any adivce on the lens for studio work?

thanks
 
If you've got the 18-55 and 55-200 plus the 50mm prime as it says in your camera bag, not sure you need to be thinking about another lens unless you want something specific (e.g. 85mm prime)

Not sure how a 28-300 will benefit you tbh.
 
Hi Mark, have amended my camera bag to reflect just the ones lens i currently own. I did have the other two lenses but need some quick cash a while back so sold them and now looking to get a news lens.

So what i am looking for is an all round lens that i can use for out and about but primarily one for using the studio, i dont want to be swapping lenses in the studio so one that covers a range would be most suitable and equally would benefit me for being out and about.

This is the reason i had been looking at either a 18-250, 18-125 or the 28-300. OUt of the three i was thinking that the 18-125, would be the best for me and the most affordable at the moment.

My reasoning for a new studio lens is that with the kit lens of 18-55 i dont think i can zoom in close enough onto a client, and as the studio is only a make do garage studio i think possibly 18-125 would suit, just really look for advice on the lens.

Thanks
 
Consider the amount of room you have in your studio... you really want to shoot as long as you have space for to give less distortion and less intrusiveness with the subject, which if you aren't shooting in a proper studio space (ie at home and your home isn't a vast cavern) then you probably are looking at 85mm maximum.

You also want the ability to open it up as much as possible sometimes, which means f2.8 as a minimum.

I'd look at a 85mm 1.8 or if money and or space is a problem, try starting with a 50mm prime.
 
desantnik said:
Consider the amount of room you have in your studio... you really want to shoot as long as you have space for to give less distortion and less intrusiveness with the subject, which if you aren't shooting in a proper studio space (ie at home and your home isn't a vast cavern) then you probably are looking at 85mm maximum.

You also want the ability to open it up as much as possible sometimes, which means f2.8 as a minimum.

I'd look at a 85mm 1.8 or if money and or space is a problem, try starting with a 50mm prime.
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Was trying to avoid a prime lens as this would need to be an all round lens and with a hol coming up i would like to use the lens then. Also with the zoom i am gonna have to be getting up close with the subject which i dont really want to be doing which is why i presumed a larger zoom would have been better.

thanks
 
"All round lens" and "studio" don't really mean the same thing to be honest.

Probably the closest thing would be a 24-70 2.8 or if you were on Canon, you might be able to get away with the 24-105 f4.

You are right, you want to stand off as far as possible for portrait, but thats unlikely to be like 200-300mm unless you have an aircraft hangar!
 
Just out of interest, when you say 'studio work', do you mean you're using/hiring a studio and taking pictures for pleasure, or are you being paid to produce images for someone?
 
Shine On said:
Just out of interest, when you say 'studio work', do you mean you're using/hiring a studio and taking pictures for pleasure, or are you being paid to produce images for someone?
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Have a garage/studio that i am working in as learning and doing shoots for friends and family
 
i could probably stretch to this if you feel this would be more suitable for my needs

Sigma 17-70mm f2.8-4 DC Macro OS HSM Lens - Sony F
 
Do you have the option of keeping your 18-55 as a general use lens and buying something like a 50mm 1.8?

I can't see you getting something that is a huge improvement for studio work and also versatile for other stuff without spending a lot of money I'm afraid. Dedicated lenses for each task seems like your best option to me.
 
plan n keeping the 18-55 just want more zoom, i know what ever i get is probably covering what i already have.
 
Do you have budget in mind? The Sigma 50-150mm 2.8 may be worth a look but would probably be £400 used.
 
they are 400 new on ebay and potential could be what i need, need to test with what i have, wondering if i would ever go below the 50mm in the studio
 
donkeymusic said:
they are 400 new on ebay and potential could be what i need, need to test with what i have, wondering if i would ever go below the 50mm in the studio
Click to expand...

Easy way to find out. Just check back through your exif data on some of your favourite shots and see what focal length you're shooting at. If you're regularly shooting at 50-55mm then you have your answer (especially if you have been cropping these images in PP). If you are always below that then maybe you're on the right lines with a faster 'short' zoom.
 
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