What lens gets around?

[DonSchap]

This may be an odd question, but just for grins, what lens do you "normally" (more than 50% of the time) have on the front of your camera?

Please feel free to explain why and if necessary, what you would prefer to have, that you do not.

[Elisha]

50mm F1.7 80% of the time just cause most of what i shoot is indoors in low light.
waiting on my Minolta 28-135mm to see how it fares.

[GotToyota?]

I've had the kit lens on 90% of the time but not be choice (it was the only lens I had). Now that I have the 50 hopefully it will stay on for awhile, I know I haven't taken it off since I got it.

-Matt

[DonSchap]

On the A100: The TAMRON 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3

I can just snap that puppy up and deal with just about any immediate situation. It is my "Grab&Go!"

On the A700: (Toss up ... really) the 17-50mm f/2.8 or the 28-75mm f/.8

[DonSchap]

Waiting on my Minolta 28-135mm to see how it fares.

Just a little tidbit on that lens ...

Rear Focusing System

The Minolta AF 28-135mm f/4-4.5 zoom lens is the first zoom lens in the world to use a unique rear-focusing optical design. Three major design benefits are- faster autofocusing since the moving mass of lens elements is greatly reduced; reduction. of overall size and weight; closer minimum focusing distances.




AF 28-135mm f/4-4.5
Construction: 16 elements in 13 groups
Angle of view: 75°-18°
Minimum focus (macro): 1.5m (0.25m)
Maximum magnification: 0.25X
Minimum f-stop: f/22-27
Dimensions: 75 x 109mm
Weight: 770 g (27 oz)

That Minimum Focus Distance will probably really be the aspect of this lens that makes you move to something else. Five-feet, indoors, is a pain in the ... almost crippling. Frank can 'splain it to ya, after using the TAMRON 28-200mm f/3.8-5-6 lens, that also has a long MFD ... 6.9 feet.

[dr4gon]

Well with two main lenses (till recent with the 50mm) it was the 17-50mm and the 70-200mm (didn't use the 70-300mm) and the 17-50mm was on ~75% of the time!

[Peekayoh]

You won't be surprised at my favourite; the Minolta AF 28-135mm f/4-4.5
It's heavy (metal and glass), the MFD is 1.5M and there is no hood but do you know, I DON'T CARE. It is a fantastic lens which I bought new a loong time ago.
It is sharp wide open and maintains it right through the focal range. Best at f5.6 maybe.
It has fast AF with only three screw turns.
It has beatiful colour and contrast.
Why on earth Sony chose not to re-introduce it I have no idea.
Yes the MFD is not so good indoors, but then neither is f4. At that point I simply reach for a fast prime.
The crop factor makes it a less usefull 42-202mm on A700. Can't wait to try it on an A900.

[laydros]

The kit stayed on when it was all I had, then when I picked up the 4/35-70 they split about 50/50%. Once I got the package deal on the 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 and the 50mm f/1.7 they have pretty much split 50/50%. I'm not sure if I have put the kit lens back on more than once or twice in the past several weeks. I do hit that 28 sometimes, and wish it went wider. Theres another lens in my near future, I've just got to decide on which one.

[DonSchap]

Peter,

I believe that the new AF 24-105mm f/4 G SSM is their compromise. It's MFD is a lot closer.

[laydros]

Peter,

I believe that the new AF 24-105mm f/4 G SSM is their compromise. It's MFD is a lot closer.

If they do that, and release a rebadge of the Tamron 10-24... it will be a very sweet kit upgrade pair on APS.