What two lens to buy?

[RichieTang]

Hi, I'm looking for some opinions as to what I should buy. Mind you, I only have a finite amount of money, so of the 3 lenses, I plan on only buying two.

I am purchasing a Sony a6000, which I will be taking with me on backpacking trips, as well as weekend trips across Korea/Japan. I am going to switch to full-time prime lenses, and would like some suggestions on which two I should buy between the 16/20mm, 35mm, and sony 50mm/Sigma 60mm.

I hear the 16/20mm are very soft at the edges, and comes out very...magenta-ish. 35 I hear great things, and same with the 50mm. I also read that the sigma 60mm is a good alternative to the 50mm.

I will be doing 3-4 week lightweight backpacking trips, from landscapes to portraits to orangutans. I like to do a wide variety of things.

I would love some thoughts as to which 2 I should buy.

 

[Derrel]

I'd strongly consider buying a mirrorless camera from a company that can make some decent lenses. Fuji and Olympus IMMEDIATELY spring to mind. Buying a small-format camera that has so-so lenses doesn't make much sense.

 

[Gary A.]

I'd strongly consider buying a mirrorless camera from a company that can make some decent lenses. Fuji and Olympus IMMEDIATELY spring to mind. Buying a small-format camera that has so-so lenses doesn't make much sense.

+1 ... this is good advice. I have the Olympus EM1 and the Fuji XP1, XT1, X100S and XE2. I suggest you look also take a hard look at the Panasonic MTF cameras as well. I prefer the Fuji over the Olympus and Panasonic mirrorless cameras. The Fuji's have bigger sensors (APS-C) than the Olympus/Panasonic (MFT), they are both about the same small size and the Fuji has a sensor significantly different than any sensor on the market. To my eye, the Oly/Pany looks very digital-ish ... while the Fuji looks very film-esque. The top of the line Oly/Pany and Fuji are all weather sealed, but they are also the most expensive. If money is tight check out the Fuji X-E2. It is small, compact, full-featured, well made and Fujinon lenses are simply exceptional.

 

[RichieTang]

I'd strongly consider buying a mirrorless camera from a company that can make some decent lenses. Fuji and Olympus IMMEDIATELY spring to mind. Buying a small-format camera that has so-so lenses doesn't make much sense.

+1 ... this is good advice. I have the Olympus EM1 and the Fuji XP1, XT1, X100S and XP2. I suggest you look also take a hard look at the Panasonic MTF cameras as well. I prefer the Fuji over the Olympus and Panasonic mirrorless cameras. The Fuji's have bigger sensors (APS-C) than the Olympus/Panasonic (MFT), they are both about the same small size and the Fuji has a sensor significantly different than any sensor on the market. To my eye, the Oly/Pany looks very digital-ish ... while the Fuji looks very film-esque. The top of the line Oly/Pany and Fuji are all weather sealed, but they are also the most expensive. If money is tight check out the Fuji X-E2. It is small, compact, full-featured, well made and Fujinon lenses are simply exceptional.

X-E2 is way out of my budget. If anything, It'd be a comparison between x-e1 and sony a6000.

 

[sashbar]

Yesterday I saw X-E1body in Curry's for the clearance price of £149.00 . It was brand new, and Curry's is a big electronics chain in Britain. I could not believe my eyes and was seriously tempted, even though I do not need it. Came home, checked their website and could not find any. It was probably the last one in their stock

 

[jaomul]

Olympus omd em10 is similar price to that sony

 

[RichieTang]

Olympus omd em10 is similar price to that sony

This is a good choice actually...I"ll have to look into it. Any prime lenses you can recommend for it? Similar to the ranges I posted above?

 

[BGeise]

Hi, I'm looking for some opinions as to what I should buy. Mind you, I only have a finite amount of money, so of the 3 lenses, I plan on only buying two.

I am purchasing a Sony a6000, which I will be taking with me on backpacking trips, as well as weekend trips across Korea/Japan. I am going to switch to full-time prime lenses, and would like some suggestions on which two I should buy between the 16/20mm, 35mm, and sony 50mm/Sigma 60mm.

I hear the 16/20mm are very soft at the edges, and comes out very...magenta-ish. 35 I hear great things, and same with the 50mm. I also read that the sigma 60mm is a good alternative to the 50mm.

I will be doing 3-4 week lightweight backpacking trips, from landscapes to portraits to orangutans. I like to do a wide variety of things.

I would love some thoughts as to which 2 I should buy.

Is there a reason you are wanting to go all primes? If you are I find that 16 mm works well for landscapes on my a77. I have a Sony 50 mm f1.8 that I use around the house and that works great for a lot of portrait like photos.

 

[RichieTang]

Hi, I'm looking for some opinions as to what I should buy. Mind you, I only have a finite amount of money, so of the 3 lenses, I plan on only buying two.

I am purchasing a Sony a6000, which I will be taking with me on backpacking trips, as well as weekend trips across Korea/Japan. I am going to switch to full-time prime lenses, and would like some suggestions on which two I should buy between the 16/20mm, 35mm, and sony 50mm/Sigma 60mm.

I hear the 16/20mm are very soft at the edges, and comes out very...magenta-ish. 35 I hear great things, and same with the 50mm. I also read that the sigma 60mm is a good alternative to the 50mm.

I will be doing 3-4 week lightweight backpacking trips, from landscapes to portraits to orangutans. I like to do a wide variety of things.

I would love some thoughts as to which 2 I should buy.

Is there a reason you are wanting to go all primes? If you are I find that 16 mm works well for landscapes on my a77. I have a Sony 50 mm f1.8 that I use around the house and that works great for a lot of portrait like photos.

I never found myself actually using zoom when I had a zoom lens on. I find prime suits me better. Might as well trade for better quality and/or lower price/small lens for all the zoom I don't use.

 

[Gary A.]

One more thing to consider. With mirrorless cameras you can buy adaptors and shoot with 'legacy' glass. I much prefer AF but many photogs enjoy manually focusing. Legacy glass is significantly less than OEM lenses.

 

[Ido]

An option for the Sony that you seem to have left out is the Sigma 19mm f/2.8. Should be quite a good lens overall.

If you end up choosing the Olympus OM-D E-M10, here are some options:

• For wide-angle: Olympus 12mm f/2 (expensive), Panasonic 14mm f/2.5
• Standard: Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 25mm f/1.8 (own this one and love it), Panasonic 25mm f/1.4
• Short telephoto: Olympus 45mm f/1.8 (There's also the beautiful Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2, but I guess it's well out of your budget)

14/2.5-25/1.8-45/1.8 seems like a wonderful combination, in my opinion. And they're all pretty affordable.

 

[RichieTang]

An option for the Sony that you seem to have left out is the Sigma 19mm f/2.8. Should be quite a good lens overall.

If you end up choosing the Olympus OM-D E-M10, here are some options:

• For wide-angle: Olympus 12mm f/2 (expensive), Panasonic 14mm f/2.5
• Standard: Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 25mm f/1.8 (own this one and love it), Panasonic 25mm f/1.4
• Short telephoto: Olympus 45mm f/1.8 (There's also the beautiful Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2, but I guess it's well out of your budget)

14/2.5-25/1.8-45/1.8 seems like a wonderful combination, in my opinion. And they're all pretty affordable.

I have ended up deciding to go with the EM10. I also bought the 25mm (as you've suggested) as the starter lens, and yes, will probal be buying the 12mm f/2 along with it once I test out the 25mm. I don't think telephoto will be too much help as of right now for backpacking through the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia

 

[Gary A.]

An option for the Sony that you seem to have left out is the Sigma 19mm f/2.8. Should be quite a good lens overall.

If you end up choosing the Olympus OM-D E-M10, here are some options:

• For wide-angle: Olympus 12mm f/2 (expensive), Panasonic 14mm f/2.5
• Standard: Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, Olympus 25mm f/1.8 (own this one and love it), Panasonic 25mm f/1.4
• Short telephoto: Olympus 45mm f/1.8 (There's also the beautiful Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.2, but I guess it's well out of your budget)

14/2.5-25/1.8-45/1.8 seems like a wonderful combination, in my opinion. And they're all pretty affordable.

I have ended up deciding to go with the EM10. I also bought the 25mm (as you've suggested) as the starter lens, and yes, will probal be buying the 12mm f/2 along with it once I test out the 25mm. I don't think telephoto will be too much help as of right now for backpacking through the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia

Not a bad choice. The Panasonic/Leica 25mm is stellar lens.

PL 25mm

PL 25mm

PL 25

Oly 12mm

Oly 12mm

Oly 12mm

 

[RichieTang]

Ahh very nice pictures. I love the bread shot with the 12mm. I think a 12mm and 25mm will be perfect for backpacking with. Thanks for all the help. I'm fairly sure I made the better decision to go with the EM10 m43 system than the aps-c a6000.

 

[sashbar]

Ahh very nice pictures. I love the bread shot with the 12mm. I think a 12mm and 25mm will be perfect for backpacking with. Thanks for all the help. I'm fairly sure I made the better decision to go with the EM10 m43 system than the aps-c a6000.

Ha ha. Congrats with the new camera. Just be aware that it was not 12 mm and 25 mm that took these shots. It was GaryA who did it