Newbie starting out with a Sony A200 - What do I need in terms of lenses?

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So, I'm starting out with my Sony A200. I found a nice deal on eBay the other day where Argos were clearing out "refurbished" A200's. Mine has no signs of use so I'm almost positive it's brand new.

Anyway, I'm visiting Madrid later this month for the 2nd time and want to take some pictures of both the city and the Bernabeau stadium. I'll be going to the Real Madrid v Milan game as well, but I don't expect to take my camera with me as I want to go out on the **** afterwards :naughty:

I expect to do the stadium tour again and want some nice wide angle/panaromic shots, but I also expect to want to zoom in on various bits and pieces. I'm therefore looking to take 2 lenses with me (I'll need to buy these before I go).

The following 2 lenses seem to be well regarded:

Minolta 50mm f1.7 AF Prime Lens
Minolta AF 70-210MM f/4 "Beercan" Lens

As for a budget, i'd not be looking to spend much more than £200 for both lenses.

Any recommendations?
 
Did you get the 17-70mm kit lens? If so this will be good for the wide angle shots of the stadium

The Minolta 50mm is a fixed focal length so doesnt have a zoom function and is generally used for portrait photography

The Minolta 70-210mm will be good for Zooming in but if you havent purchased it yet, mite be worth looking for a zoom lens which goes to 300mm if the price difference isnt past your budget.

I have a Sony A200 (from Argos as well funnily enough) and have the kit lens and a Tamron 55-200mm at present.
 
noneforit said:
Did you get the 17-70mm kit lens? If so this will be good for the wide angle shots of the stadium

The Minolta 50mm is a fixed focal length so doesnt have a zoom function and is generally used for portrait photography

The Minolta 70-210mm will be good for Zooming in but if you havent purchased it yet, mite be worth looking for a zoom lens which goes to 300mm if the price difference isnt past your budget.

I have a Sony A200 (from Argos as well funnily enough) and have the kit lens and a Tamron 55-200mm at present.
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I did yes, but was under the impression (perhaps the wrong impression) that it wasn't particularly great.
 
not sure how much the beercan is, but the 50mm on forums fetch here about £100 and ebay some bargins but some silly prices

personally i would take the camera to such a game. get a versatile lens for group shots afterwards, like a 18-200 or 18-250 etc.
 
Lots of differing views on the 18-70. I personally thought the version I had was OK.

The Beercan is a bulky lens, quite heavy and long. I don't know where you live, but I saw one in the Colchester LCE last week for £150.

The Tamron 55-200 is a good budget lens, should be able to pick one up on Ebay for about £40-50.
 
I use the kit lens and it seems ok, well for a beginnner anyway.

If you wanted a better wide angle lens you may end up spending quite a bit.

Take a few shots with the kit one and see how it fares.

If you are just a beginner then I wouldnt invest in expensive lenses just yet, use the kit lens and get a zoom one and take a few shots first. Once you are confident and are more used to the camera and all the settings then look at better lenses with wider apatures etc.

Just my two cents
 
leaky5 said:
Lots of differing views on the 18-70.
Click to expand...
I agree & I think that there are several factors at play:
there is some sample variation
depends what you attach it to - 6MP great, 10Mp - OK, 14Mp - starts to show up it's flaws
who is looking at the output - average person or nitpicking enthusiast/professsional :p
how you look at output - 100% on a monitor or average sized print
 
wide angles are expensive, i know as i have a tamron 11-18!
might put it on ebay to recoup some money as don't use it often enough
 
i have a sony 18-200 if interested
 
PM sent
 
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