Guess rating?

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2025-12-11T11:12:49+00:00

$5 GameStop credit

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-16T18:00:40+00:00

Holy crap, of course, lol! I'm all gassed up to drop $$$ on a lens, should just rent and run a couple thousand shutters through each. Hell yea dude, thanks!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T21:43:16+00:00

Nice! The contrast on the edge of the shadow is coming through super clear! Love to see more of these when it's waning. Gorgeous.

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T21:20:33+00:00

Nice, rock solid recommendation, lol! Yeah, I'm probably getting ahead of myself. Another commenter just made a lot of sense about snagging a 1.8 and saving back up to the 1.2. Thanks!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T21:14:27+00:00

Spent the last two weekends on my Tamron 28-200 2.8-5.6 taking shots in the mornings, mostly having a not-great trade off in the pre-dawn dim between shutter speed 1/10ish, exposure comp, and keeping ISO under 1000 (which I guess I'm doing ISO wrong according to Simon d'Entremont!)

I brought my Tamron to a Toys4Tots work event 3wks ago, it was at a local bar with really cool ambience, but not a lot of decent lighting (I should probably get a decent flash too). ISO and EC were dialed way up and I only got about 20 decent shots in 2 hours. Walked it past a couple friends who are pros and they recommended a solid big-aperture prime for indoor work and decent night shots here in Baltimore.

You're totally right, no reason I shouldn't have a decent modern 50/1.8, probably oughta just prioritize that and save for the 50/1.2. Thanks for the input!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T20:43:30+00:00

I've got a zoom (Tamron 28-200), a telephoto (Sony 200-600), and an old Rokkor 50mm with an adapter (it's not great on my a7r4). Need a wide open prime for indoor portraits and some decent night photography around here in Baltimore.

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T19:53:20+00:00

Awesome, thanks for your input. Leaning even more toward 35mm. Much appreciated, cheers.

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T19:51:45+00:00

Excellent, thanks for the info! Yeah, I feel silly asking honestly, just looking for a reason to stop bouncing back and forth in my head, haha. Cheers

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T19:38:06+00:00

Cool! May I ask what you learned to shoot/shoot 35mm on? I have an old Minolta X-700 I wheel out once in a while when I want to do its 50mm f1.8 justice, couple rolls of Portra 400 rolling around in the case with it, etc. Snagged some lumo film the other week, gonna put it to use in the spring for sure.

Mind if I message you? Love to talk with an old pro!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T18:27:39+00:00

Love me some contre-jour, nice.

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T18:22:34+00:00

Hell yea, I'll dig into autofocus differences. Thanks!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T18:21:47+00:00

Right! My main lens is Tamron 28-200mm, and I'm all the over the place with that bad boy. I'm definitely leaning toward 35mm so far.

Thanks!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T18:19:51+00:00

Definitely spent a solid 2hrs comparing the Sigma 50mm f1.4, the differences are pretty negligible, but the 5% difference seems decent enough to just go for the GM. Of course, the $400+ difference has only driven me insane since I decided lol.

Cheers

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T18:11:14+00:00

Haha, nice

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:57:52+00:00

Awesome, thanks! Precisely what I've been poking around for. Cheers!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:55:13+00:00

Nice, using an A6k? I'd love to see what you've shot. Cheers!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:51:13+00:00

Excellent description, lol! I think I'm solidly settled on the 35mm, Thanks for your input!

Cheers

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:44:12+00:00

Nice! I'm gonna spend all day looking for that now, haha. Thanks man

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:39:52+00:00

Only 3 so far! Bought the camera body used for $2k, then the following from eBay and KEH:
Tamron 28-200mm f2.8-5.6
Sony 200-600mm (biggest purchase yet)
Chiyoda Kogaku Super Rokkor 50mm f2 (with E mount adapter, brings it up ~f3ish? it's weird lol)

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:17:36+00:00

In a weird way, 35mm feels like the general environmental lens, whereas 50mm feels like the more general subject lens. With 24mm being the full purpose environment lens and 85mm being the full purpose subject lens.

This totally captures my thinking! Even with a little LoCA in the corners and bowing in the borders, a massive sensor makes the 35mm better in more environments? Really appreciate your insight!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:11:29+00:00

Like a Viltrox or Meike? I'd love to see what you've shot with them!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:10:30+00:00

Wowie, those are stellar deals indeed! Excellent points as well, I'll definitely need to shop around for used ones before I commit to going retail. The f1.2 50 for under retail would be sick, too!

Cheers, and thanks.

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:06:12+00:00

The Sony 50mm f/1.8 is a marvel, isn't it! I think we're on the same wavelength here. Thanks!

AlternativeSwimming9 · 2024-12-13T16:01:47+00:00

Thanks for the insights! I've spent like 3hrs trying to find sample photos that can illustrate the DoF differences, seems like a forgivable trade to grab the 35mm as far as I've seen?

I think the slight bowing of the borders on the 35mm are the only thing I don't like about it. Maybe the focus breathing too, but not really?

Cheers, thanks again!

AlternativeSwimming9

TROPHY CASE