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Real novice needs help
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Apr 14, 2019 15:32:36   #
Jimmer
 
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.

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Apr 14, 2019 15:38:33   #
PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)


Have a good trip. I would bring both lenses. You should be all set. No need for a 3rd lens. I assume you just want to document your trip. The 16-50 would be my walk around lens. Buy extra cards and batteries and a voltage adapter for your US charger plug.

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Apr 14, 2019 15:54:46   #
G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK
 
1. look at unclicking auto ISO in menu. It allows you to get the right apperture /Speed for any shot without it deciding for you.
2. Set up camera to shoot Raw + Jpeg. You may find that this disables 'some' programes like auto panorama...you can briefly go back to Jpeg only....Raw files allow you to tweek some of your images when you get home should the light look a little flat.
3. Shoot in full auto.
4. buy extra memory cards....
5. Look at (and buy) postcards. they are a great source of inspiration and site sources.

A holiday is a holiday - not an excuse to curse the camera....KISS works!
have fun

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Apr 14, 2019 15:56:39   #
MT Shooter Loc: Montana
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)


If you don't take both you will really miss the one you don't have. They are small so space really shouldn't be a big issue, the 16-50 easily fits on a pocket.

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Apr 14, 2019 16:10:33   #
BebuLamar
 
I don't think you need to buy anything right now. Just learn how to use the camera. The Sony A6000 is a great camera but Sony manual isn't all that good and the way the camera operates takes some serious learning.
Bring the 16-50 if you only want to bring 1 lens. Otherwise bring both.

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Apr 14, 2019 16:21:22   #
JD750 Loc: SoCal
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)


Take your camera out and go for a walk every day, or after work, carrying the camera with the 16-50 mounted. Shoot at least 5 pics with it every day for 5 days. Switch the lens to the 55-210 and do the same with it for 5 days.

You will learn you camera and you will know which lens you prefer and you will can get a feel for what 35mm and 50mm will give you in terms of framing (just set the the zoom for 50 or 35 mm and shoot with it).

The advantage of a prime is it is smaller, lighter and faster than a zoom. All good things. But if you only want to carry one lens the the zoom will be your best choice as it will give you the most flexibility.

If you want to consider two lenses the 35 and 55-210 might be a good combo.

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Apr 14, 2019 16:25:47   #
rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania
 
I'd guess the most asked question here at the UHH is, what lens should I take on my vacation to... You have two lenses, neither of which weigh all that much. What is the "normal" lens focal length of the average 35 mm or equivalent camera? Most likely the answer is 50 to 55 mm. Of your two lenses, one goes up to 50 and one starts at 55. You say you've been shooting for a couple years now so you should know the kind of photographs you usually take. Are they usually in the wide angle range, normal range, or mild telephoto range? Personally, I'd go with the 55-210 but that's my preference, I don't know what your preference may be. My "walkabout" lens, or as I prefer, utility lens, is my Canon EF 28-300L and my Nikkor 28-300.
I don't know what your financial status is but if you want to take only one lens, I'd get another lens. There are good deals to be had on both new and used 18-300 or 28-300 lenses. I'm not going to do the work for you but, Amazon.com, Adorama, B&H, and others have Sigma, Sony and Tamron lenses listed for decent prices. So, to me it's a no brainer, take both or get a third lens that covers wide to telephoto. And don't be all consumed by the max aperture. Sure, 1.8 is nice but 3.5 or 4 is ok. If you're in a low light situation, up the ISO. You're not talking about a camera that was made 20 years ago. You don't have to shoot everything at ISO 100. I have no problems going up to 6400 or higher if needed and still getting perfectly usable images.
Enjoy your trip...

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Apr 14, 2019 18:35:21   #
SS319
 
May I offer one suggestion for your trip:

Every picture tells a story - Only if you find the story before you randomly shoot. Pictures are like a sentence - every one must have a subject. When you set up the photo, make sure you can answer the question - what do I want to say about this scene?

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Apr 14, 2019 19:14:34   #
le boecere
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)


Hmm...only one lens, huh? Boy...for me, that would be difficult, as I tend to shoot so many indoor and low-light images, sans flash. So, unless I could conclude for certain that I'd be satisfied with the low-light capabilities of the 16-50, I think I'd have to ditch both the zooms and just go with a 50mm f/1.8 and then stand by and enjoy watching others take the closeups and the faraways. At least I'd know that I can get some images in most any and all light.

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Apr 14, 2019 19:24:17   #
rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)


With a Crop sensor camera, you have, with both lenses, the functional equivlant of a 24-70, which is ideal for street, wide angle landscapes and a 70-200ish for longer reach.

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Apr 15, 2019 06:05:43   #
sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey
 
If you can get a lens like an 18-135 mm and a 35mm 1.8 mm for low light. Going to Israel I hope you go to to the Negev. Changing lenses in a desert be careful. Take cleaning supplies with you.

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Apr 15, 2019 06:23:22   #
ELNikkor
 
16-50, no need to buy another. If you wanted a fast prime, the 35 would be much more useable than the 50, but not necessary for this trip.

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Apr 15, 2019 06:30:55   #
billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)


Narrow streets and church interiors scream for the 16-50 mm. I believe you will be pleased with that choice.

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Apr 15, 2019 06:32:13   #
BebuLamar
 
le boecere wrote:
Hmm...only one lens, huh? Boy...for me, that would be difficult, as I tend to shoot so many indoor and low-light images, sans flash. So, unless I could conclude for certain that I'd be satisfied with the low-light capabilities of the 16-50, I think I'd have to ditch both the zooms and just go with a 50mm f/1.8 and then stand by and enjoy watching others take the closeups and the faraways. At least I'd know that I can get some images in most any and all light.


I shoot a lot of low light with the 24-85mm lens (on a FF) at f/8.0. No flash of course.

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Apr 15, 2019 07:01:37   #
traderjohn Loc: New York City
 
Jimmer wrote:
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years but never posted anything. For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble. First of all I am a real, real novice at photography and I'm not too proud to say that I need a lot of help. A couple of years ago I bought a Sony a 6000, but I only used it a couple of times and didn't take the time to learn how to use it. Now I have a real need to learn how.
I bought a kit that included a 16-50 and a 55-210 lens. I would like to take just 1 lens on our trip for weight and convenience issues. I want to enjoy the historic significance of what I am seeing and not be fussing and worrying about the photos that I am taking. I have also thought about buying a 35 or 50 mm F1.8 lens for a good walk around lens. If I should buy another lens, where is the best place to get one, local or online?. I live in the Portland Oregon area.
From my reading of the Hog, I know the members offer excellent advice. Any and all will be greatly appreciated. I leave in about 3 weeks. Thanks for you help.
I have been reading the Hog for a couple of years ... (show quote)

"For Christmas I gave my wife a trip to Israel and I thought I would tag along to keep her out of trouble."
So this is not her present. Of the two, I would think the 55-200 would be the better choice. I hope your wife has a nice time on her vacation.

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