New wide angle lens

[TMG1961]

The camera i am using is a Sony a7rii and at the moment i only have the Samyang 35mm f/1.8 AF lens as a full frame lens. There is so much information to be found online and sometimes it is confusing, one says the lens is great and another says it is just ok or wouldnt even use it if given for free.

I am looking for 2 more lenses. One a tele lens and a wide angle lens. I am not sure if i want to go for a zoom lens for the wide angle or a prime lens. Maximum focal length of 28mm for prime lens, for zoom lens it should have at least a minimum length of 24 mm.

It probably will be a used lens, budget is around €1000. Not sure if anyone uses sony full frame a7r cameras. What lens do you own and can you recommend?

 

[Chavezshutter]

Hi TMG,

I have the Tamron 17-28 f2.8 and more recently the Sony 20mm f1.8, the tamron is decent, not amazing but still pretty capable and quite affordable, I have used it for about 2 years in landscape and astro and it perfoms pretty well. The Sony 20mm is very impressive, specially for astro, its a better quality lens all around , I researched it for a while before buying it and have recommended it to others who bought it and are happy with it. For me 20mm is about as wide as I want to go in most cases. If you're not interested in astro or need wide apartures there is f2.8 lenses or even f4 which are more than capable for most landscapes. As for zoom or primes for a wide, it's a hard choice 😆. I personally prefer primes for wides, better value for money in my opinion. Tamron and Sigma have some good options, though admitedly some of the Sigma art lenses are getting up there in price, they are making some very good glass lately. Tamron too has started going upmarket with their newer releases. Give me a bit of time to have a look around (lots of new lens releases to check out) and see what other recommendations I can make.

 

[Andy Smith]

Hi TMG1961,
Just to throw in a couple of options.

I have a few friends shooting Sony and hear good things about the Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G lens as a good wide angle lens which is around $600 new
there is a nice review here:

Sony FE 24mm f/2.8 G Review

or for a zoom option there is the Sony Zeiss FE 24 - 70mm f/4 which is around $900 new I think.

Zeiss FE 24-70mm f/4

Both are decent lenses from what I hear.

For teles I think it is hard to beat the Sony FE 70-300mm G FE OSS f/4.5 - f/5.6 for around $1,000 new also

Sony 70-300mm FE G OSS Review

As you are aware, glass is very important and your choice is a tough one as it is a decision you should preferably only make once, we all go through the process should I /shouldn't I etc but ultimately you should have a gut feeling as to which focal length you really prefer, so go with your gut feeling.

 

[Jack]

Hi TMG1961 .

I'm not a Canon user and can't say much. But I do own Canon wide angle lenses,

• Canon EF 24-70mm f.2.8 L II
• Canon EF-S 10-18 mm f/4.5-5.6 IS

Most of the time I'm using EF 24-70 as is sharper and is a premium lens.

Are you planning to shoot landscape or properties?

 

[TMG1961]

Hi TMG1961 .

I'm not a Canon user and can't say much. But I do own Canon wide angle lenses,

• Canon EF 24-70mm f.2.8 L II
• Canon EF-S 10-18 mm f/4.5-5.6 IS

Most of the time I'm using EF 24-70 as is sharper and is a premium lens.

Are you planning to shoot landscape or properties?

I am planning on using the lens for landscape and the occasional architecture. For the 2 canon lenses you mention i would need an adapter to fit them on my Sony a7rii.

 

[Jack]

I am planning on using the lens for landscape and the occasional architecture. For the 2 canon lenses you mention i would need an adapter to fit them on my Sony a7rii.

I would definitely recommend to buy Sony lenses if you don't have Canon. Otherwise will be waste of money in my opinion.

There are Sigma lenses available for Sony as well you could look at. If you planning to save some money.

Have you checked Sony 16-55mm f2.8?

 

[Jack]

I believe you'll get better advice from C Chavezshutter on this question, since he is a Sony user, he would have more experience here.

 

[TMG1961]

I would definitely recommend to buy Sony lenses if you don't have Canon. Otherwise will be waste of money in my opinion.

There are Sigma lenses available for Sony as well you could look at. If you planning to save some money.

Have you checked Sony 16-55mm f2.8?

The sony fe 16-35 f/2.8 is well over my budget, it is around €2300-2400 here in The Netherlands.

 

[TMG1961]

I believe you'll get better advice from C Chavezshutter on this question, since he is a Sony user, he would have more experience here.

Thanks, will wait what he has to say about what lens is the best.

 

[Jack]

The sony fe 16-35 f/2.8 is well over my budget, it is around €2300-2400 here in The Netherlands.

Wow. I've checked here in UK and is around £1100

Have you considered checking eBay?

 

[TMG1961]

Wow. I've checked here in UK and is around £1100

Have you considered checking eBay?

Are you sure it is the f/2.8 lens and not the f/4? The f/4 is around €1100 here.

 

[Jack]

Are you sure it is the f/2.8 lens and not the f/4? The f/4 is around €1100 here.

Yes. Just checked now.

 

[Jack]

Obviously will be more in euro as the price shown is in pounds.

 

[TMG1961]

Wow. I've checked here in UK and is around £1100

Have you considered checking eBay?

I have no experience with eBay.

 

[Jack]

I have no experience with eBay.

Then I would say to cross this option. I have never purchased photography equipment from ebay. But sold a lens😅

 

[TMG1961]

Yes. Just checked now.

View attachment 131

That is the aps-c version. The full frame version is over 2200 euro. As the a7rii is a full frame camera i need the full frame lens, otherwise i will be going from 42 to 18 MP in aps-c mode.

 

[Jack]

That is the aps-c version. The full frame version is over 2200 euro. As the a7rii is a full frame camera i need the full frame lens, otherwise i will be going from 42 to 18 MP in aps-c mode.

Alright, that makes sense then. Sony has different system of lenses.

An other option is grey market TMG1961

 

[TMG1961]

Alright, that makes sense then. Sony has different system of lenses.

An other option is grey market TMG1961

I heard of grey market but i would not have a clue on where to find it online. I normally buy either new or used depending on what the price of it is. My sony a7rii came as a used one with just 1500 clicks on it and was €1099 when i got it last year. Looked as new and came with a 1 year warranty.

 

[Jack]

I heard of grey market but i would not have a clue on where to find it online. I normally buy either new or used depending on what the price of it is. My sony a7rii came as a used one with just 1500 clicks on it and was €1099 when i got it last year. Looked as new and came with a 1 year warranty.

Alright, my last lens I purchased from grey market as first time, and very satisfied.

The lens came brand new and got warranty for 2 years. So if something goes wrong. I'm covered.

Check on Google :
Panamoz
Einfitity
HDEW

You'll find them there very cheap and brand new.

 

[Morexp57]

Hi TMG1961,
Have you tried the small independent photo stores?
In my town, there are several of these stores that sell used equipment. The one where I buy my equipment is tiny but at prices often lower than the big stores with the advice of a professional as well.