Low_Sky
No longer a newbie, moving up!
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2013
- Messages
- 282
- Reaction score
- 182
- Location
- Alaska
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos NOT OK to edit
Short version if you don't like reading: Are there any good 300mm (or longer) lens setups for the a6500 that would be in the ~1500 USD price range (new or used), and appropriate for wildlife?
I'm upgrading from my Canon t3i to an a6500. The camera is in the mail, but I won't be able to get my hands on it until I get home from abroad in July. Reading lens reviews and specs and trying to imagine how they'd work on a camera I've never held is driving me crazy.
1. The longest/fastest Sony native EF options are way out of my ~1500 USD price range. (70-200 f2.8 GM + TC, or 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 GM).
2. The 70-200 f/4 G is too short and not compatible with Sony E mount TC's.
3. The 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G is at the short end of what I'm looking for, not compatible with Sony E mount TC's. This one's an option, but just barely.
4. I am completely overwhelmed by Canon/Nikon/Sigma/Tamron/Sony A mount options and lens adapters. I am hoping that the a6500's IBIS, decent ISO range and focus peaking will open up some good options out here in non-native territory, but I have no idea where to start.
The wildlife photos I want to take are primarily land animals, birds not flying, fish and marine mammals. Birds in flight would be cool, but it's not a high priority for me. The image quality I am looking for are photos that may not stand up to pixel peeping, but would be good enough quality for sharing in the galleries here, printing in amateur-friendly publications like state wildlife department reg books or magazines, outdoor club magazines or newsletters, etc. and more importantly are just generally pleasing for me to look at. If I got a really great shot that didn't require cropping, I'd consider printing something for my wall, but mostly I just look at my photos on my laptop. The image quality I get out of my t3i and Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 is so poor that I don't even enjoy using it, so I'm not looking to repeat that mistake in a higher price bracket.
I'm upgrading from my Canon t3i to an a6500. The camera is in the mail, but I won't be able to get my hands on it until I get home from abroad in July. Reading lens reviews and specs and trying to imagine how they'd work on a camera I've never held is driving me crazy.
1. The longest/fastest Sony native EF options are way out of my ~1500 USD price range. (70-200 f2.8 GM + TC, or 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 GM).
2. The 70-200 f/4 G is too short and not compatible with Sony E mount TC's.
3. The 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 G is at the short end of what I'm looking for, not compatible with Sony E mount TC's. This one's an option, but just barely.
4. I am completely overwhelmed by Canon/Nikon/Sigma/Tamron/Sony A mount options and lens adapters. I am hoping that the a6500's IBIS, decent ISO range and focus peaking will open up some good options out here in non-native territory, but I have no idea where to start.
The wildlife photos I want to take are primarily land animals, birds not flying, fish and marine mammals. Birds in flight would be cool, but it's not a high priority for me. The image quality I am looking for are photos that may not stand up to pixel peeping, but would be good enough quality for sharing in the galleries here, printing in amateur-friendly publications like state wildlife department reg books or magazines, outdoor club magazines or newsletters, etc. and more importantly are just generally pleasing for me to look at. If I got a really great shot that didn't require cropping, I'd consider printing something for my wall, but mostly I just look at my photos on my laptop. The image quality I get out of my t3i and Canon 70-300 f/4-5.6 is so poor that I don't even enjoy using it, so I'm not looking to repeat that mistake in a higher price bracket.
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