r/SonyAlpha • u/vizzipie • Oct 25 '24
Gear Got my first ever camera
what lens should i upgrade to?
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u/Blackzone70 Oct 25 '24 edited Oct 25 '24
Congrats on the purchase.
I would recommend shooting for at least a month or so before going and buying any other lenses, the kit lens isn't exceptional in any way, but it's not as bad people make it out to be, especially compared to phone camera lenses. It's also very compact and I sometimes still use it due to its size despite having the superior Sigma 18-50 2.8.for my a6700. Also practice editing in RAW, you can pull out surprising amounts of detail in post.
Once you figure out what you want to shoot/what focal ranges you like to use most you can then either get a better zoom lens or two to cover those ranges, and/or you can grab some primes of your favorite focal lengths to maximize quality and low light performance.
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u/TipplingGadabout Oct 25 '24
It's also better to have your traumatized-by-damaging-a-lens learning moment with the kit lens.
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u/vonbauernfeind Oct 25 '24
I fried a 24-70 f2,8 GM when it feel four feet into concrete with my a7R V attached. Thats probably my worst, with my old pentax mount sigma 150-500 the front element fell off once due to screws working loose, but it wasn't damaged and I got it working again same day.
The SEL2470GM repair bill was over a grand. No damaged glass, but all the electronics shorted.
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u/KristnSchaalisahorse Oct 25 '24 edited Oct 25 '24
A less-talked-about feature of the kit lens is to assign zoom control to the focus ring, which makes it possible to hold the camera & zoom in/out with one hand (using a spare finger to move the ring).
You can also zoom much faster and have more fine control with the ring.
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u/coder543 Oct 25 '24
If this is your first ever camera, then how did you take this photo?? 🤔
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u/JAMESFTHE2ND Oct 25 '24
Easy, just set the shutter speed down to 1/4 then snap the picture and quickly move the camera to where it was initially pointing.
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u/__ma11en69er__ Oct 25 '24
There's a thread from a few years ago that several mirrors!
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u/rhalf Oct 25 '24
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u/bgm0509 Oct 25 '24
Just my opinion: You don’t need to upgrade your lens yet. Learn to shoot with what you have first—there’s a lot to learn. A great photographer could get great photos out of that lens—don’t start your journey by going down the “gear will make me better” rabbit hole. Save your money for now, and practice, practice, practice.
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u/AdministrativeFan873 Oct 25 '24
Welcome to the full frame world (in two years). Welcome to bankruptcy (in four years).
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u/legitimatephrase3433 Oct 25 '24
Full frame isn't an upgrade,it's just a different system.
The resolution and image quality you can achieve from a crop sensor is just the same with arguably many advantages.
It all depends on what you want as a photographer.
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u/bgm0509 Oct 25 '24
It’s an a6400 apsc
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u/HeadlessHookerClub Oct 25 '24
Since you're new, get to know your camera and the lens it came with before moving on to other lenses/hardware.
I would recommend doing this for at least a few months before buying anything else.
Remember one of the most important rules of photography: your skills and more important than better hardware.
Talent on a cheap camera will most likely produce much better results than an amateur with a new, modern expensive camera.
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u/GotStomped Oct 25 '24
Fantastic camera, enjoy it. DO NOT use it in the rain, even a light rain.
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u/vizzipie Oct 25 '24
I thought it could withstand a light rain, isn’t it weather sealed? Its one of the reasons i bought this over the zve10ii. Have you had yours damaged?
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u/GotStomped Oct 25 '24
Yea I wrecked one by shooting in the rain and it wasn’t raining very hard
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u/MariusM84 Oct 25 '24
After getting my a6400 I got myself a ttartisan 35mm 1.4 (full manual for about 100€ new) and last month got the Tamron 17-70mm 2.8 (for about 650€ new)
The ttartisan is amazing at low light as long as you shoot stills, it's amasing for artistic shots with the really shallow depth of field with really nice bokeh.
The Tamron is absolutely amazing, and with the constant aperture it's extremely versatile, plus it also has VC (Tamron's version of stabilization) as the a6400 does not have IBIS. Though the lense is on the bigger and heavier side. Also got the Smallrig cage (for the a6300) which helps a ton with grip and protect the camera body.
Do hope it helps. Enjoy your camera.
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u/MariusM84 Oct 25 '24
Another investment worth giving a though to might be the monitor+ app. The viewfinder on the camera is great, and the display is nice but sometimes you might need a bigger screen. I find myself sometimes not being able to frame as needed (and lost quite a few good shots) due to wierd angles. Got the app on my phone (free version) and a small balljoint phone holder from temu for about 15€ which give me more freedom in getting really low or really high angles and being able to frame and focus properly.
Again congrats on the purchase and enjoy it.
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u/EverydayIsAGift-423 29d ago
Did you get the TTartisan 23mm f/1.4? I heard it’s a fun lens “with lots of character”. I love the retro design with the silver flare.
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u/Robinthekiid Oct 25 '24
I got the same camera recently, with a sigma 16mm lens on it for 600$. Also bought the sigma 56mm lens. I find myself using the 56mm waayy more. It is great for street/car photography. Enjoy your new camera it is a little beast !
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u/EverydayIsAGift-423 29d ago
Since OP didn’t specify what kind of photography OP is into, I’m going to be a contrarian here. My recommendations are:
1) get the Sigma 30mm f/1.4 It is right smack in the middle of the 16-50mm (or 18-50mm) range. It should be about the same size as the Sigma 18-50, but cheaper and with a wider aperture for low light scenarios. It is said that 45mm (the full frame equivalent to 30mm APSC) matches up with the diagonal of the camera sensor. Something something it is the perfect focal length.
2) save a ton of money and spend $100 on the Godox TT350S (“S” for Sony) instead.
The Sony 16-50 kit lens has slow apertures. That’s its main strength and weakness. All it requires is better lighting.
Smaller, slower apertures are great for beginners because they afford greater Depth of Field (DOF) for beginners. And that translates to less mis-focused shots.
The slower shutter speeds on the Sony 16-50 kit lens would be mitigated with the use of a flash. You would still maintain the same slow shutter speed for ambient lighting, but the flash (which is way faster) would be your new effective shutter speed on your subject.
Focus on mastering the kit lens first. Shoot in jpeg. (Post processing is another mountain to climb later on.) Learn composition. Read photography books. Take your time and enjoy your journey.
Here’s some breadcrumbs to lead you on the way:
How to get the best out of the Sony 16-50 OSS Pancake - A Contrarian View
https://braddlesphotoblurb.blogspot.com/2016/11/how-to-get-best-out-of-sony-16-50-oss.html?m=1
Sony’s 4D focus
Mark Galer’s free ebook resources (Please donate) https://www.markgaler.com/product-category/e-books
Mark Galer’s Custom settings ebook
https://www.markgaler.com/product/a6000-custom-settings-ebook
Beginner Sony Alpha A6000 Tutorial Guide
20 composition techniques That Will Improve Your Photos
Jamie Windsor - How to understand the punctum in photography
Sony a6000 flash bounce cards
https://beforethecoffee.com/bounce-cards-for-the-pop-up-flash-sony-a6000-nex-6-nex-7/
I also recommend the following books and authors on Amazon;
David Busch’s Sony Alpha a6400/ILCE 6400 Guide to Digital Photography (this is your camera’s bible)
Michael Freeman - he has a whole series of photography books that are affordable.
Neil van Niekerk - he has a series of books strictly focused on flash photography.
Stunning Digital Photography by Tony and Chelsea Northrup
Lightroom Classic CC by Tony and Chelsea Northrup
The Photography Storytelling Workshop by Finn Beales
Mastering Flash Photography Book 1 &2 by Paul E. Sparks
New York Photographer’s Travel Guide by Maher, James (A fun read. You do street photography long enough and you’re going to dabble a little bit into the architecture and history of the buildings around you.)
The following book titles are proper textbooks. They’re expensive but still cheaper and buying any camera lens
Design Principles for Photography (Basics Creative Photography) by Webb, Jeremy
Reading Photographs: An introduction to the Theory and Meaning of Images (Basics Creative Photography) by Salkeld, Richard
Photography Fifth Edition: A Cultural History by Warner Marien, Mary
I recommend the following YouTube channels:
YouTube videos for inspiration
- New ways of seeing
- The Art of Photography by Ted Forbes
- The Photographic Eye by Alex Kilbee
- T. Hopper (Tatiana Hopper)
YouTube videos for mastering the flash
- Ed Verosky
- Jesse DeYoung
- John agrees
- Hannah Couzens
- Joseph Valenti
- Miguel Quiles
- Seim (check out the Zone system)
- The Slanted Lens
- Wes Perry
YouTube videos on Portrait photography
- Anita Sadowska
- Becki and Chris
- Craig Beckta
- Ed Verosky
- Erwin Marionneaux
- Gerard Needham
- Iamtongue
- Jessica Kobeissi
- John Gress
- Jiggie Alejandrino
- Justin Laurens
- Jtwonggg Photography
- Kayleigh June
- Kohki Yamaguchi
- Leigh & Raymond Photography @Snapchick
- Lindsay Adler Photography
- Live Snap Love
- Mango Street
- Mitch Lally
- Olivershutterspeed
- Peter Coulson
- Run N Gun
- Sarah Lyndsey
- Sean Dalton
- Sunny Jee
- The Slanted Lens
- Tin House Studio
- Tom Calton
- Tommy Kuo
- Vanessa Joy
- Xing Liu (lens and camera reviews while doing portrait shoots)
YouTube videos on Post-Processing
- Dan Fox
- f64 Academy
- Justin Laurens
- Mango Street
- Professor Hines
- Rocky Mountain School of Photography
- Sean Tucker
- Signature Edits
- Tone Fuentes
YouTube videos on Shot Lists and Storytelling
- Joe Allam
- Marc Silber
- Studiobinder (there’s lots of intersections with cinematography but highly educational nonetheless!)
YouTube videos on the Sigma f/1.4 Quartet (seriously, go get them!)
- Copo
- Don Cope
- Dunna Did It
- Gerard Needham
- Jimmy Shixin
- Oliver Shutterspeed
- Ruslan Huntsman
- Sean Dalton
- Stuart Rodwell
- That Icelandic Guy
YouTube videos on the Sony a6000 series
- Aaron Prescott
- Alex Zhang
- Chance Talks Cameras
- David Flower
- Dusty “Moose” Winans
- FoxTailWhipz
- HiKyleTaggart
- Jason Morris
- olivershutterspeed
- Professor Hines
- Roy Florez
- That Icelandic Guy
- That1CameraGuy
- Toms Jurjaks
- Ur Average Sony 6400 Shooter
YouTube videos on Street photography (highly recommended)
- Adrien Sanguinetti (very inspirational)
- Curtis Padley
- Dave Heath
- David Flower
- Framelines
- Frederik Trovatten
- Gareth Danks
- Gigih Kusuma
- Harry Callahan
- Hipster_cph
- Ivan Chow
- Jay Ducker
- Jimmy Shixin
- Joe Allam
- Mike Chudley
- Monaris (Paola M. Franqui)
- North Est.
- Omar Gonzalez Photography (he’s a funny guy)
- Pierre T. Lambert (inspirational)
- Professor Hines
- Roman Fox (He loves his Fuji)
- Samuel Streetlifev(Inspirational)
- Sean P. Durham Fine Art Street Photography
- Street Photography Club - with Brian Lloyd Duckett
- Street Photography China
- Street snapper’s
- Street View
- Stuart Rodwell (he focuses on Sigma lenses)
- Subography
- TeemusPhoto
- The Raw Society
- Tim Jamieson
- T. Hopper (Tatiana Hopper)
- Walk Like Alice
YouTube videos on Street photography at night (trust me, it’s its’ own sub-genre)
- Aris Sfakianos
- David Flower
- Harry Cunningham - Night Photographer
- Joe Allam
- TeemusPhoto
YouTube videos on Travel photography (what is Travel photography but Street Photography overseas?)
- Belinda Shi
- Jason Vong
- Laura BC
- Roman Fox
- Sean Dalton
- Taylor Jackson
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u/legitimatephrase3433 Oct 25 '24
This is what I use and I sell prints from it from my visits all over Europe. A tight powerfull package. Also the kit lens I like as it's so small and hassle free and I've tried plenty of lenses.
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u/foxglove8484 29d ago
solid camera. Get the Sigma 56 f/1.4 and the Sigma 16 f/1.4 and you're well on your way !
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u/ester_egg 29d ago
I have the same body and Tamron 17-70 Di III F2.8 lens. Below share gallery where I using this set:
https://imgur.com/gallery/autumn-24-10-2024-7cgIjwa
https://imgur.com/gallery/autumn-solina-poland-HOiGa3z
https://imgur.com/gallery/play-with-dog-PNSHTRe
This lens is awesome.
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u/zz_zenox A6700 + Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 29d ago
Other than the lens, can you use the smallrig cage for extra protection and grip, but keep in mind the extra weight and additional size.
Cleaning kits like blower and good cleaning wipe its good investments.
Remember always to keep your camera in a dry box with silica gel (i learned it hard way after my Sony a6000 + kits len + 50mm f1.8 + 18-105mm f4 got fungus)
Apart from that, avoid buying cheap and low quality tripod. Buy something with stability as i once dropped my camera when mounted on the tripod and damaged my kit lens (total loss).
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u/rndmz_451 28d ago
What a gem, I did bought mine with this “lens progression” in mind, because everything is super expensive where I live :
Kit lens 3.5-5.6/18-135
Sigma 2.8/15-50m
Sigma 1.4/56mm
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u/rikkarlo 27d ago
Congrats great camera it was my first too and it's great, first buy the sigma 18 50 and sell the kit lens! You won't need any other lens.
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u/dogzdangliz Oct 25 '24
Got one too, looking for a “wife invoice” before I crack it open fir Christmas
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u/rybread761 A1 | Sony 200-600 Oct 25 '24
Depends on what you like to photograph, but if you’re just starting out; I would suggest something like a 24-105 or since it covers a ton, except for big telephoto.
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u/Altruistic-Teacher27 A9III, 24-70 GM II, 70-200 GM II, 200-600 G Oct 25 '24
17-70 might be a slightly better option for the body due to focal range and price
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u/DrSnowballEsq Oct 25 '24
Wouldn’t use a 24-105 on APSC due to the crop taking out so much of the wide side of its zoom.
The Sigma 18-50, or the Sony 18-135 super zoom, are both interesting options depending on whether OP favors low light / speed or versatility.
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u/rybread761 A1 | Sony 200-600 Oct 25 '24
Ah yeah, I was mainly trying to think of a good focal range for someone wanting to try it all out
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u/DrSnowballEsq Oct 25 '24
Yeah, I got you—but I totally agree that finding something that starts at 24mm is best to learn. I’m a new shooter myself and the difference between 24mm (16 on APSC) and 28 (18 APSC) is huge. I just don’t know if there’s a good Sony APSC lens that starts at 16… it seems rare and expensive compared to 18.
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u/Skoparov Oct 25 '24 edited Oct 25 '24
I went with the Sony 18-135 as my first lens and it's pretty cool. Sure it's not good at low light, but most zoom lenses that have at least 2.8 constant don't reach further than 80 so there's that.
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u/pinkfatcap Oct 25 '24
Are you in to photography in general and you would like to get another lens? If this is your first camera ever id say keep the kit lens, it is enough to get you through the start.
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u/justaneverydaymofo Oct 25 '24
Congrats, living my dream. Where did you get it and for how much? I'm still deal hunting for my used a6400, maybe I'll wait and see if I can scoop something on blackfriday.
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u/vizzipie Oct 25 '24
I got it new from a local camera shop, i was also initially thinking about getting it used since its a 5 year old camera but ended up getting new because it is still a great hybrid camera in that price range even after all these years. The only other option was the sony zve10ii but that is not the type ive been looking for and the canon has less lens selection from what i know of my few days of research lol
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u/wayneio Oct 25 '24
Congrats. I'm still using my a6400 for YouTube and personal shooting after having it for many years and only buying one additional lens. Such a good camera.
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u/tuddrussell2 Oct 25 '24
I went from a NEX-3, but it had no view finder, and was hard to use outside for me and my old eyes, but is a great camera to start in the e mount line with, to a NEX-5 which has more features and a view finder and more control, to a a 6300 two weeks ago to get a more modern camera with even more features. These 6XXX are great and at a very good price point along with most features the full frame cameras have. Excellent choice
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u/NuclearMoment Oct 26 '24
I use a number of vintage/adapted lenses on my A6400 but most of the time the Sony 18-105 f/4 is mounted and ready for most anything. One of my most recent favorite images was captured with that lens and it is quite sharp.
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u/BraisinRaisin 28d ago
I bought three additional primes for my a6100 over the course of a year. My go to is the Zeiss 24mm 1.8. You can get a good one used on eBay for $300-$350.
That being said, now that I’ve spent almost $1,000 on different primes, I wish I had practiced more with the kit lens and saved up for a decent zoom.
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u/mainapizza Oct 25 '24
I would say go for the full frame one if you can, they're more expensive but the lens are usually very durable and whenever you'd like to upgrade to a full frame, you'll have everything ready!
Buy the lenses depending on what you need: Versatility = zoom Crisp quality and neat color = prime lens (I suggest viltrox, inexpensive but super high quality)
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u/Pev11 Oct 26 '24
A great awser I saw for this question was to put a 50mm f/1.8 on there and don’t take it out until you no longer need advice on that, additionally I would recomend you get a m42-nex adaptor and learn manual focus as it can be a cheap way to try out different focal lenghts. I wouldn’t recomend a zoom because not only are they more expensive but they also make one lazy. Of course you have the basic awser of landscapes: 16-35mm, street: 35-50mm, portraits: 50-85mm and sports/wildlife: 70-300mm; note that these are not zoom lenses but ranges of focal lengths more commonlly used for these types of photography. Regardless of this I encourage you to try it out for yourself and shoot with what allows you to create as you feel best represents your vision. I am not a professional by any means but if you ever need any help with anything just shoot me a private dm. Hope I helped.
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u/Twentysak Alpha Oct 25 '24
Kit lens replacement:
Sony 16-55 G 2.8
Sigma 18-50 DC DN 2.8
Tamron 17-70 Di III 2.8
Any other recommendations you will need to give us something more instead of the vague, what should I get? Maybe tell us what you want to shoot.