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Please consider buying your photo (or other) goodies through
my B&H link! It won't cost you any more money, and it helps me to continue adding to the site. I've been buying
from B&H for years, and have been very pleased with their service. They have the most efficient and convenient return
policy, along with the best prices. Thanks for your
support! For UK and European Union buyers; B&H can automatically calculate the "to the
door" delivered price of your item including VAT, customs and tariff charges etc. |
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You probably clicked on this page
because you're trying to find the right Sony camera and related equipment to help you take better pictures,
but may not really know what to choose. Below is a list of items that I find particularly useful,
and personally recommend, because I own most of them. This isn't my personal wish list, it's stuff
I use on a daily or weekly basis. I also find the products below
offer a high degree of value---price vs performance, both for the novice, and photographers at the intermediate and
pro levels. This page will be updated often,
as newer and better cameras and equipment are released, and older models are discontinued.
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The Canon G1X is the best pocket zoom camera period. I bought my review copy, and use it for everything except
professional work, well actually I have used it for paying photography, such as Real Estate, and find it really works well,
as good as a DSLR, although the 28mm equivalent starting length is a little long sometimes. This camera would be perfect
for people wanting to learn the finer points of photography as it works great in 'auto' mode, and has a sharp lens, low noise,
and beautiful colors. No need to shoot RAW and waste time fiddling with settings that won't make the picture any better.
Spend your time on composition and lighting, and let the camera make the other decisions. Check price Review |
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The Sony A77 is currently the only intermediate level camera Sony has to offer. It has a 1/250
flash sync, 1/8000 shutter speed and AF micro adjustments, those features are important if you use a camera for people shots.
If you want the same image quality as the A77, but don't have the money, get the A65, it's just a no frills A77. I bought
the A77 for exclusive use as a Real Estate photography camera. The swiveling screen makes it easy to see the composition
when the camera is against a wall or in a corner of a small room. The higher flash sync speed is useful for lighting interiors
with small camera flashes without blowing out the window exposures. Body only With 16-50mm F/2.8 SSM lens A65 body only |
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The Sony A58 is a good basic model for someone just starting out. This camera is very small and
light, and easy to carry all day. If you're stepping up from a point and shoot camera,
you'll notice a huge upgrade in image quality and resolution. A58 body only A58 with kit lens |
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The Sony NEX-7 is an excellent camera, with only a few lenses available right now good enough to match
the 24mp sensor; I've listed all the lenses I think are worthy below. I wouldn't bother with the 18-55mm kit lens, you'll
probably be disappointed if you look closely at your images. The NEX-7 is arguable the best performer of all current
Sony cameras, and is the hottest selling camera in Sony's history; but Sony desperately needs to bring more high quality lenses
to the line up. Body only with kit lens |
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The Sony NEX 16mm F/2.8 is a super small lens, and allows you to put the camera in your pants pocket.
It's not tack sharp at any aperture, but it does a good job considering the size. There are a couple of neat accessories
for this lens too, like the fisheye adapter, and wide-angle converter, which covers 12mm, or the equivalent of 18mm. If you just want a pancake wide angle lens, get the much sharper 20mm F2.8. Review More info |
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The little Sony CZ NEX 24mm F/1.8 is a top notch lens, probably the best performing Sony lens I've ever
reviewed. This one is a must for your NEX-7, with an equivalent focal length of 36mm (in 135 film format), it makes
a great landscape or low-light walk around lens. At $1100, this lens is almost always out of stock nine months
after it became available---it's worth it. Review More info |
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The Sony NEX 50mm F/1.8 OSS is another top quality lens for your NEX camera, it will handle 24mp better
than Sony's full frame 50/1.4. The CZ 24/1.8 and 50/1.8 OSS are currently the only two Sony NEX lenses that are optically
good enough for the NEX-7. Hopefully, more will come soon. Review More info |
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While the NEX 55-210mm can't bring out the best in the NEX-7, it is a good lens, check out the shots I took at a PGA event using both. It does a good job if you aren't extremely picky. A good choice for the money. Review More info |
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This NEX fisheye lens is the best I've ever tested period! The mid-sections and corners are quite
sharp even when used wide open, which is great---most fisheye lenses are mushy outside the centers unless stopped down hard!
It's a manual use lens, but read the review to find out how easy it is to use. For NEX system only. Review More info |
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The Vivitar 7mm F/3.5 is my favorite fisheye lens, after I reviewed this lens, I bought it, and prefer it to the much
more expensive full frame Sony 16mm f/2.8 fisheye because the Vivitar is for APS-C cameras only, and it makes no sense to
use a full frame fisheye on an APS-C camera as the "fisheye" effect is lost. Image quality is very good.
This is a manual use lens, so you have to set the aperture and focus, however, this is easy; outside in good light, just stop
the lens down to F/8-11 and use infinity focus. You'll have to adjust the exposure a little using exposure compensation.
The Vivitar brand pictured is no longer available. Review $249-$269 Bower Rokinon |
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The Sony DT 35mm F/1.8 is my favorite prime lens period. If you only have enough money to get one
good lens for your APS-C camera, this is it. This lens is so good it would be a bargain at twice the price. Review More info |
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The Tamron 17-50mm F/2.8 is an excellent performer, and would make a great choice for a person on a tight
budget. Personally, I'd try to save up for the Sony 16-50mm if at all possible, but the optical qualities are very similar
between the two. Review More info |
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The Sony DT 16-50mm F/2.8 is my number one pick for a medium zoom, and may be the only lens you'll need
if you're not a big zoom person. Excellent image quality, and fast F/2.8 all the way. A great alternative to the
more expensive (and slower) CZ 16-80mm F/3.5-4.5. The differences between the CZ 16-80mm and the 16-50mm
are very small, the only real thing is the longer focal length for the CZ. For me it's a toss-up as to which one a person
should get. If you do some low-light shooting, and like wide to medium focal lengths, I'd recommend the 16-50mm.
If you mostly shoot in daylight, and like the longer end, get the CZ 16-80mm. Review More info |
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The Sony CZ 16-80mm has a great focal range, and is very sharp at nearly all apertures. I use this
lens quite often for paying jobs, including outdoor Real estate shots. It's not as fast as the new Sony 16-50mm above,
but is noticeably longer in zoom range. Review More info |
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The Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6 is a very nice super wide zoom, and I'd prefer it over the Sony 11-18mm.
It has minimal ghosting and is quite sharp in the corners stopped down some. It also makes a great interior and Real
estate lens, just try not to use it at 10mm-11mm with straight lines near the images edges, as the distortion is hard to manage.
I've used this lens for many low-end to mid range (price wise) real estate photo jobs for years, and don't plan on switching.
Review More info |
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The Sigma 10-20mm F/3.5 would be my first choice for a super wide zoom, assuming I didn't have one.
It has the same focal range as the lens above, but it's noticeably faster at the long end of the zoom, and has a really nice
build quality. It's very sharp in the centers at all focal lengths, and has an evenly curved distortion signature, which
is easier to correct than the "mustache" type with the lens above. If you already have
the older Sigma 10-20mm F/4-5.6 above, and won't be doing a lot of low light shooting, I wouldn't bother upgrading, there
isn't much difference in optical quality. Review More info |
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The Sony DT 50mm F/1.8 provides very good image quality, is small and light, and most importantly, inexpensive.
If you look at your images all day on the computer blown up to 100%, go with the more expensive Sony 50mm F/1.4, as seen farther
down the page. Review More info |
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The Sony 100mm F/2.8 macro is excellent for real macro use. I use this lens for almost all product
shots on the site. The working distance at 1:1 is about 6.2" (157mm) which is plenty of room for light to reach
the subject, not so on the shorter 30mm F/2.8 macro, where you have to be super close to the subject at .75" or 19mm.
If you're looking for a fast telephoto lens around this focal length, I'd look at the Tamron 70-200mm below, it's sharper
at larger apertures, and about the same price. Review More info |
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Here's a lens that performs (optically) as good as the Sony version, for half the cost! You don't
get the focus hold and limiter switches, but it does have a quiet ultra-sonic (SSM) type focusing motor. If you're on a budget,
this lens is far more economical than Sony's 70-300mm G SSM, a result of Sony pushing the lens price envelope a bit too much
in my opinion. Also, I've been hearing from readers that the SSM system on the Sony 70-300mm may cease to function
for no reason at all. I can confirm that as my brand new review copy worked all of five minutes before it broke!
Buy this lens from a reputable dealer (allows returns) and I'd recommend it over the Sony with no reservations. Review More info |
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The Sony 70-400mm F/4-5.6 "G" is my favorite super telephoto zoom lens period, and is far superior
in image and build quality to any other Sony zoom lens, bar the Sony 70-200mm F/2.8. It is expensive, but worth every
penny in my opinion. Review Original version Version II |
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The Tamron 28-75mm F/2.8 may be inexpensive, but the image quality is equal to the very expensive Sony
Carl Zeiss 24-70mm F/2.8. If you're using this focal length zoom all day, I'd prefer the Tamron to the Sony Carl Zeiss,
even if the prices were the same. Review More info |
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The Sony 20mm F/2.8 provides excellent image quality and will out perform the Carl Zeiss 16-35mm,
when focused properly. Another valuable use is interior photography as it has very good ghosting control, and the entire image including
the corners is very sharp stopped down. Review More info |
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The Tamron 70-200mm F/2.8 is a super alternative to the more expensive Sony 70-200mm F/2.8. Image
quality is about the same on each lens, although the Sony has a better build quality and faster focusing. If you're
interested in optical performance only, the Tamron is a great buy, and will save you a bunch of money. Review More info |
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The Sony 50mm F/1.4 makes a great landscape or walk around lens, and is the least expensive full-frame
fast lens in the Sony line-up. A classic that should be in every photographer's bag. Review More info |
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The Sigma 50mm F/1.4 is much bigger and heavier than the Sony above, but much sharper at large apertures.
If you require very sharp centers at F/1.4-2.8, the Sigma is your lens, it's stunningly sharp in the centers at F/1.4.
If you're a landscape shooter, and will be using smaller apertures, there isn't much difference between the Sigma and Sony.
Review More info |
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The Sony 85mm F/2.8 is small, light-weight, and easy on the pocket book. Don't be fooled,
this cheap lens provides excellent image quality, and would be a welcome addition to your bag of goodies, either full-frame
or APS-C. Review More info |
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