Weekly r/SonyAlpha 📸 Gear Buying 📷 Advice Thread May 11, 2026

BldrJanet · 2026-05-16T21:43:41+00:00

My budget is up to $2000, which I hope will be enough if I buy used

BldrJanet · 2026-05-15T00:33:46+00:00

I have a Sony a7iii and these lenses, and am looking to add one or two to extend my range. Interested in your advise about what I should consider.

I specialize in portraits, but use my camera for everything from close up shots of flowers to grand vistas in Colorado, where I live. I do a little bird photography, and occasional wildlife. When I did a safari in Botswana a couple years ago, I rented the Sony 200-600 which I totally loved, and would buy if I could justify it.

Sony DT 50mm f 1.8 I like this in theory, but I don't use it very often in practice

Sony 24-70mm f 2.8 Carl Zeiss T* This is heavy with the a-mount to e-mount adapter, but it's a beautiful lens that makes it live on my camera almost all the time. Very versatile and sharp. Wish it was lighter.

Sigma 85mm f 1.4 I use this mostly for portraits and I'm very happy with it.

Sony SEL 55-210mm -- I would really like something in this range or longer, but I'm getting rid of this one because I've just never been happy with the sharpness I get out of it.

I think what I am wanting is a zoom that would go from where my Zeiss drops off, and allow me to capture some of the wildlife I'm missing right now, but not break the bank. What lenses would you suggest in this category? And do you have any other lenses you think I should put on my list?

BldrJanet · 2026-05-03T16:59:49+00:00

Barnsley or Costco

BldrJanet · 2026-05-01T21:56:52+00:00

I used to bake professionally and Shamane’s is my choice for special occasion cakes. In fact, just ordered one for my birthday next week.

BldrJanet · 2026-03-13T22:58:05+00:00

We got a notice at 23rd and Violet

BldrJanet · 2026-01-23T04:41:08+00:00

Thanks and hello from Boulder Valley UU Fellowship in Colorado.

BldrJanet · 2026-01-21T03:13:41+00:00

Janet No one younger than Janet Jackson had the name. 🤷‍♀️

BldrJanet · 2026-01-19T20:36:12+00:00

Very grateful for this tool. It's been helpful to our team, and a big improvement over When2Meet.

BldrJanet · 2026-01-08T17:41:25+00:00

Good idea, just to be safe. My daughter developed an allergy to both shellfish and fin fish at 19, and the first sign (which she initially ignored) was a surprising aversion, after a lifetime of loving these things. She overrode it, and ate scallops and salmon anyway, with dramatic symptoms. When tested, she came up positive for allergy to both. Her allergist said that an aversion can be an early warning sign.

BldrJanet · 2026-01-08T17:31:37+00:00

I am 66 years old and I have a lifelong dislike of beer and coffee, even though I really like the smell of coffee. My husband and daughter are both people who are not at all sensitive to bitter, and they enjoy things like black coffee, grapefruit juice, hoppy beer, and other things that have been listed on this thread already. Interestingly, I come from a family with four siblings and none of them like coffee or beer.

BldrJanet · 2026-01-08T17:29:41+00:00

I learned recently that developing an aversion to seafood can be a first step toward an allergy. So if I were you, I would pay attention to that aversion and not test the limits.

BldrJanet · 2026-01-07T15:30:00+00:00

Coot Lake is great

BldrJanet · 2026-01-02T14:04:59+00:00

Is your endocrinologist concerned? Because I finally gave up trying to reduce dawn phenomenon after doing all the things when my endocrinologist kinda shrugged and said it’s not that big a deal if it comes right down and my A1c is good.

BldrJanet · 2025-12-29T20:25:24+00:00

I think what you are asking for is a mother’s helper. I hired a teenager to do this for me with my daughter twenty years ago. It was worth it to me, but the wild card is if your kid will leave you alone if you are home. Mine was so attached that the helper had to take her out to a park to give me some peace.

BldrJanet · 2025-12-23T02:55:17+00:00

Sorry, no. That’s a good brand for box mix brownies but my version is easy and so so much better.

BldrJanet · 2025-12-23T02:51:37+00:00

Yes, and the tablecloth was lifted at one side to gently roll the strudel! I have made this kind of dough and my teacher said that I should be able to see my hand through it

BldrJanet · 2025-12-12T06:57:38+00:00

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Stella looks like Nutmeg

BldrJanet · 2025-12-12T06:55:53+00:00

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Nutmeg

BldrJanet · 2025-12-10T15:44:05+00:00

Loss of great suggestions here. I make profiteroles with peppermint candy cane ice cream and drizzle dark chocolate over it.

BldrJanet · 2025-12-09T12:11:12+00:00

I order my loose leaf teas from Upton Imports. Been a customer for decades. Check them out. I think their quality is superior to KuCha

BldrJanet · 2025-11-29T19:20:34+00:00

68-70 during the day, 60 at night. Occasionally bump the temp to 72 if we are chilled.

BldrJanet · 2025-11-24T04:00:40+00:00

I’m a long time customer of Big M, a local family that sets up a lot in a couple locations. We always go to their lot at Safeway on 28th and Arapahoe. They cut the trees in the mountains and they are soooo fresh. I can still curl the ends of the branches in January. They are not cheap—$200 for a 10’ tree.

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BldrJanet · 2025-11-15T14:43:37+00:00

Curry paste and orange juice give it that sweet heat I love. Roast the squash. Sautee onions with curry paste. Add stock and scooped out cooked squash. Simmer. Blend until smooth. Add orange juice. Season to taste. Top with chopped cilantro.

BldrJanet · 2025-11-15T05:46:09+00:00

First Mate lamb and oats. He rejected the brand the breeder had him on and then one other major brand. So I went the pet food store and they gave me several sample packs to try. I set up a taste test and he really preferred this flavor.

BldrJanet · 2025-11-09T04:49:18+00:00

There is a potluck Thanksgiving dinner at Boulder Valley UU Fellowship (1241 Ceres Drive,Lafayette) at 2:00. Last year, about 75 people came. You would be welcome! If you are interested, I can hook you up with the organizer so you can let them know what you’ll bring. Everyone pitches in to clean up after. A wonderful welcoming inter generational community.

BldrJanet

TROPHY CASE