Some pro help is greatly needed!

[abbywalker]

Hi Guys!!!

I'm in need of some pro opinions as research has just confused me more.

Aside from the fact that I should've upgraded my body YEARS ago (currently still rocking a Sony A330), I'm looking for opinions in lens. I currently use a SAL-50F1.8 for portraits and family. My problem comes in when it's a rather larger family and I need to step back further than I have available OR for indoor newborn lifestyle photography where I often like to catch a large portion of the decorated nursery with the subjects, but the limited space doesn't make that possible.

I'm wondering, is there a better portrait lens that I can be using, still with a wide aperture but with a shorter focal length, that I can use as my primary lens? OR Would it be best to buy a wide angle lens for such cases and swap out as needed? If I should just buy a wide angles lens (I'm no where's near familiar with them as I am a portrait lens) which one, because I know distortion can be great.

Overview:

Photography style:

     Portraits/Family
Currently use:

    SAL-50F1.8

Needing:

    better portrait lens with wide aperture but shorter focal length to capture larger areas such as in a room or larger groups

    of families
A must:

    smooth and pleasing bokeh and sharpness

[Username]

`   

    

Quick reality check .... I hope that in the years passing 

since the birth of the A330 that you've come to realize 

that 50mm is slightly tele, not "normal", on APSC ?   

   

Either way, since you're feeling cramped for FoV using 

a short tele, you don't need too much of wide-angle FL 

to solve the issue. You could get a "normal" for APSC, 

which is anywhere in the 28 to 35mm span, and have 

the result you want. 35 is "normal", 28 is only just very 

slightly toward wide-angle for APSC. Typical kit zooms 

for APSC run 18-55mm which is from general purpose 

wide-angle [at 18] to the same-as-your-current lens [at 

about 50] ... just to put things in perspective [bad pun].    

     

  

--------------------------------------------------------------------     

 

     

One example of a solution is the old Sigma 28/1.8, a 

fast wide-angle for full frame 35mm but a mild-wide to 

"short-normal" for APSC. I use it on both formats. It's 

not a rare bird. A used one would be a very affordable 

compliment to your current 50/1.8 short tele. Thaz just 

my own familiar example. I've enjoyed it in 3 different 

camera mounts ... still in use for 2 of those. But there's 

other similar options if you shop around. There's a 24 

f/2.8 from the Maxxum line. I use that more than my 

28/1.8 Sigma. It's very compact and focuses very fast 

[for a shaft drive lens] cuz it has internal focusing. 24 

and 28 are long-time favorites of many users, so you 

should find plenty different choices. Faster than f/2.8 is 

less common, but certainly not hard to find. 

     

Your remark about bokeh suggests that you'll find fault 

with nearly ALL wide-angle lenses. So don't go wider 

than you absolutely need for your subjects. The Sony

SAM 35mm f/1.8 may be a great compromise between 

wider FoV and control of DoF. It's very affordable new:      

      

https://www.adorama.com/us%20%20%20%20921026.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq_byg_KF1wIVy1qGCh3ixACfEAQYAiABEgI3uPD_BwE     

    

Also relevant:    

    

https://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/07/26/review-sigma-28mm-f1-8-ex-dg-sony-alpha/    

    

  

   

`

[Guest Jaf-Photo]

I second Username's suggestion of Sony 35mm f1.8 SAM. It will give you a wider view and wide open it has good bokeh and decent sharpness considering the price. If you stop it down it's very sharp. Also, the A330 has a good sensor, so I'm sure you're getting nice pictures, regardless of the age of the camera.

[DirkB]

I would also agree with both gentlemen above. When started with primes on my first A mount camera (my beloved A550) the SAM 35/1.8 was the first one. Today I would say it is one of the most underrated lenses. It is "plastic-fantastic", but produces very nice images . Bokeh is ok, albeit a sometimes "nervous" transition area.

So, the SAM 35 is a very unpricy option.

 

I went a little bit wider during my APS-C time, and got the Distagon 24/2. Expensive, yes - but to my personal taste the second best A mount lens ever made. Although relatively wide it is able to produce a pleasing bokeh once you got used to the focal length.

Color rendition and contrast quality on the Distagon is of the top league.

[Taher Abouraya]

I would personally recommend the  Sony 16-50/2.8 SSM which is very practical, smooth and sharp. You may need to read its reviews.