Canisdirus

Oh...he has some issues...lol.
Don't hold your breath.

Canisdirus

A modern nifty fifty is hard to beat optically or price wise ... get one.

Viltrox is doubtful as being able to compete with her nifty fifty either.

You can pick up your best bet for about $500-600 bucks...the Sony 85mm f/1.8
Very sharp...wonderful bokeh...probably the best deal out there for Sony at that focal length...in quality vs cost ratio.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

I see that the 18-105mm you reference is an APS-C E-mount lens.... therefore I assume your camera is one of the APS-C models.

For pet portraits, you need autofocus. Fast autofocus!

To get good separation of the subject from the background, you need a large aperture.... f/1.4, f/1.8, f/2 (yes, f/1.2 as well, but those are pricey).

And for portrait work in general short telephotos tend to be desirable for their minimal perspective distortions and ability to blur down backgrounds.

On APS-C the "ideal portrait" lens focal lengths typically fall between 50mm and 85mm. (Full frame equivalent approx. 75mm to 135mm).

Yes, there are other possibilities... but these are the most affordable, reasonable size and weight, and able to work in a lot of situations. Prime lenses give you the largest potential apertures, too... without the high cost or large size that's involved with big aperture zooms. Longer focal lengths require a lot more working space... even 85mm can be pushing it. Shorter than 50mm can put you too close, where subject features will be exaggerated by perspective distortion.

My portrait kit for APS-C includes both 50mm (f/1.4) and 85mm (f/1.8), as well as a 24-70mm f/2.8 that comes in handy for more active subjects.

If you will only be buying one lens, I'd be inclined to recommend a lens closer to 50mm than to 85mm.... just because the latter requires more working space and that may not always be available.

I don't have the Viltrox 85mm lens... but I do have some other Viltrox products and have been quite impressed with their quality. There are a number of reviews of the lens you should read and watch.

The Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 looks to be quite affordable at $250. There also is the very affordable Yongnuo 50mm f/1.8 ($120). And for just a little more money there is a Viltrox 50mm f/1.8 ($300). And for a bit more money there is the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS with image stabilization ($400), which might be handy in some situations, but doesn't help with subject movement.

A lens I do use and am very impressed with is the Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN (currently on sale for $429). It's very well made and fast focusing, excellent image quality, while still being quite reasonably sized. Unlike some of the other lenses, this is an APS-C specific lens and that's probably one of the reasons it can remain so reasonably sized. Also note that this is an f/1.4 lens, rather than 2/3 stop slower f/1.8. Between the slightly longer focal length and larger max aperture, it will have stronger background blur effects than the 50mm f/1.8 lenses.

I also see there's a Rokinon/Samyang AF 75mm f/1.8 available (currently on sale for $350), if you wanted a bit more reach without going all the way to 85mm. While I don't have this particular lens, I have other Rokinon/Samyang and have found them to also be quite well made and very capable. In fact, there is also a Rokinon/Samyang AF 50mm f/1.4 that's selling for $400. Both these are full frame capable, so will not be as compact and lightweight as some of the other lenses above.

There isn't much choice in affordable zooms. The best without breaking the bank might be Sigma or Tamron 28-70mm f/2.8 which cost $800 to $900. That's roughly the same as you might spend on two of the above primes.... but the zoom will be 1.3 to 2 stops slower (smaller aperture) than the primes, so won't be able to blur down backgrounds as strongly... Plus a zoom will physically be a lot larger and heavier, especially since both of these are full frame designs. Still, sometimes the versatility of a zoom can be very helpful.... especially when shooting active kids and critters.

I would suggest you pick and choose some candidates, then do extensive online research about them. There is a lot of info available about many of these lenses.

Just for example, here are a few of the Youtube reviews of the Sigma 56mm I mentioned above (from reviewers I recognize and have referenced a lot in the past):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9a7KXvboNI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz3hVGZC0lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BtEiAgvJfo&t=12s

Here's a video that compares the Sigma 56mm with the Viltrox 56mm (by a reviewer I don't know):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcnlfQXWKXo

User ID

Ok. I thought a Bassamatic was a Voigtlander film camera .....

(Download)

azted Loc: Las Vegas, NV.

Finally someone analyzed the situation and gave great advice. There is a difference between the Bokeh that you get with an APS-C sensor and a Full Frame sensor. Apparently the woman he is envious of uses a Full Frame camera and he uses APS-C. As far as lenses go, a more wide open lens with more diaphragm blades will give the best bokeh. But again, the referenced reply above is well done!

hrblaine

[quote=Canisdirus

>You can pick up your best bet for about $500-600 bucks...the Sony 85mm f/1.8 /quote]

I started with a Canon 85mm 1.8. Don't have the slightest notion of what I paid for it (mid '60s) Got it and (I think) a Rebel at a local camera shop. D^mn nice lens for theatre/dance but I used it for everything: birds, animals, landscapes, portraits, you name it. Harry

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Sharpness does matter.

Dennis

repleo Loc: Boston

newvy, the 18-105 G is a crop (aps-c lens) so you are hardly comparing apples to apples with the FE 50 / 1.8. It is my favorite lens on my A6000 but it is not going to stand up to a FE lens on a FF camera. I have the Sony FE 50 f1.8 for my A7Riii but it is my least favorite lens. It is plenty sharp and very light and compact but it is noisy and slow to focus. It is worth its price, but that's all. I only ever use it when I really need the f1.8 aperture for the bokeh. Do yourself a favor and swap the E 18-105 for the FE 24-105 f4 G. You will have no complaints about the sharpness.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

In most (but not all) genres - yes - and then by extension, equipment matters .....
.

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

I was just editing/finishing a long reply and discovered that I must have hit the wrong key on my laptop. Full communication ..... gone!.

So, here is not as large or complete, without apologies. You chose a Sony camera, good camera. But more limited in what will fit it, including 3rd party lenses. That is your decision.

To look for the best lens/lenses, you might want to follow what I do when seeking a new camera lens. I go to dxomark.com and look up my camera brand/model for lenses they have tested. I can choose only the expensive Sony or also include the 3rd party brand lenses that fit my camera. I choose all brands. The response you will see on a spreadsheet can be sorted by sharpness, which I do by clicking that column. I want the highest sharpness/resolution/contrast/acutance from any lens I can get whether prime, 2x or 3x zoom at a reasonable price. You will see the results. (It is rare or non-existent to find a wide zoom range and state of the art resolution.)

If you ask an opinion of a dozen people here or elsewhere, you will probably get at least 15 different opinions. Here in the South, we say, "Bless your little heart" (not a compliment). The opinions will be all over the target and far across the wall it is on.

Try to find an impartial third party (I chose dxomark) for an impartial tester of different models/brands.

Choose a source of new or used lenses that allows you to receive and test a new lens for a week or two. You want to return it if it does not give you the results that you expected. (Lenses do vary from lens to lens in a production run.)

Yes, I used to be in this business. But, that's not a story for here and now.) Best to you!

Paul Diamond Loc: Atlanta, GA, USA

And, your instincts are correct. Keep striving for doing better. Buy the best you can afford. And work to learn using them from practice in the field, shooting pictures, trying different settings, learning from using.

There is no replacement or alternative to practical use of your gear and developing you craft/skills. No one can do it for you.

Best,
Paul

cfbudd Loc: Atlanta, Georgia

Before you buy more glass, make sure you are maximizing what you have with Topaz software, DeNoise and Sharpening. Maybe that's what she is doing?

newvy

Thank you Paul and cfbud. Best responses. I knew before writing the responses would be all over the map. To all the trolls “bless their little hearts”! I’m expecting an 85 f1.8 with great reviews. I’ll have to post some images after I get it. Have a great day everyone.
Newvy