jerica Loc: Tennessee

I just bought the Sony Alpha A7 ii. I bought a 55-210 mm lens but am honestly looking for anything that will zoom into 200 mm because I am wanting to do sports photography. I meant to say this but that lens didn’t work with my camera. It had like a black ring and wouldn’t focus when I looked into the eye part to take the picture. Do y’all have any recommendations on where to buy lens that are cheaper? The one from Best Buy is $2000 and I can’t spend that much on it right now.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Forgive me if I am missing something here but doesn't 210mm come very close to 200mm? It sounds as if you have already reached your destination.

Dennis

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Ahhh You already have a 55-210 zoom

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Since he already has the 55-210 lens, maybe he means 300mm.
There are lots of lenses that will fit that camera that cover 300mm that may be found with a simple Bing or Google search. Many of which are not at all really expensive. My advice to the OP, since we don't really know what he's looking for, is to use Bing or Google to do some searching and some research. There's lots out there, it's up to him to decide...

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Maybe people ought to read what they have written before they post

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

I'm trying to figure, what you said, out. You have a 55mm-210mm and you want a 200mm Typing error?

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

I totally agree. I'm sure a large percentage don't.

jerica Loc: Tennessee

I meant to say this but the lens didn’t work with my camera. It had like a black ring and wouldn’t focus when I looked into the eye part to take the picture.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Ahhhhhhh. A completely different matter than you wanting a 200 mm lens. You need a lens that works. Have you taken it to a camera store to ask someone to take a look at it? Have you maybe called Sony to ask what they think? Surely there must be some simple explanation as to why the lens will not work on the camera IF it is made for that camera.

I wish you well,

Dennis

jerica Loc: Tennessee

I did. I took it to best buy and another camera store and they told me that it should work before i bought it. im sorry for sounding kinda dumb, it’s my first time with the camera and im honestly a bit clueless with it. thank you for not being mean lol.

jerica Loc: Tennessee

Yes. I meant to say that it did not work even tho it is said to. It has a black ring around the photo part and won’t focus.

jerica Loc: Tennessee

I am new and i thought i said what i was trying to say but I fixed it. Sorry.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

A couple of things first if I may. If you click on Quote Reply before answering we will all know who you are talking to. Believe me it helps a lot in keeping the thread going in the right direction.

Next, as we hear more information about what is going on you are not dumb at all. We had no idea of your experience with cameras before this post so forgive us for not being more helpful. You will find an infinite number of people here who own that camera and who can probably set you off in the right direction. I do not recall if you mentioned the exact lens you have. If you look at the side of the lens it should state the exact description right there. Much information will also be on the very front of the lens you can give us.

Did you purchase the camera and lens at a camera store? If so then I would take it right back to that store and ask then to show you what is going on with it, why it is not working. I just had a thought about my own Sony, different than yours but a Sony none the less. I was using it last week and went from aperture mode to shutter mode. Instantly the camera screen became dark and was really hard to see through. My problem was that in shutter mode the camera was set up where the lens aperture was closed all the way down limiting the light coming in. I suspect that may be your problem or something similar. I don't think your problem is very serious and hopefully something simple where a person who knows that camera can take a look at it and take care of it with a simple answer.

Does your lens have some type of filter on the very front of the lens?

Please keep us advised so we can get you going.

Dennis

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

The Sony 55-210mm lens is designed for use on their APS-C format "crop sensor" cameras.

Your A7II is a full frame camera. You're seeing heavy vignetting because that lens is designed for smaller "crop" sensors only.

Here's a list of currently available, full frame capable, telephoto zooms that will work on your camera:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/products/ci/17912/N/4196380428?sort=PRICE_LOW_TO_HIGH&filters=fct_lens-format-coverage_3332%3Afull-frame-lenses%2Cfct_lens-mount_3442%3Asony-e-mount%2Cfct_lens-type_3446%3Atelephoto-zoom

I haven't used any of those lenses personally, so you should research any of them you consider more carefully.

I do shoot sports and can tell you that for many sports 200mm is simply not long enough telephoto. I use a 70-200mm... but I use it on a crop sensor camera where it "acts like 112-320mm" and I also use 300mm and 100-400mm lenses a lot.

You also need to consider the any lens' "brightness"... What's its maximum aperture? In some lower light conditions I use f/2.8, f/2 and even faster lenses. Other places I can get by with f/4 and even f/5.6. Of course outdoor, daytime sporting events are little trouble. Where it gets tricky is at night games "under the lights" and indoor sports such as basketball. Large apertures also can be useful to strongly blur down backgrounds, so that subjects stand out against busy backgrounds such as stands full of people.

Note: Some of the lenses listed above are Canon mount with an adapter that allows them to be used on Sony cameras. I don't recommend those for sports photography, because autofocus won't be as fast with adapted lenses. Quick, good tracking AF is important when shooting sports.

willaim Loc: Sunny Southern California

The lens is for a crop sensor mount and using on a full frame camera will give you a dark circle. Now I understand your problem. You need a full frame lens. There is an adaptor, but you lose the MP's. See if you can exchange the lens for a full frame zoom to 200 or 250. Good luck