Best products from r/SonyAlpha
We found 139 comments on r/SonyAlpha discussing the most recommended products. We ran sentiment analysis on each of these comments to determine how redditors feel about different products. We found 682 products and ranked them based on the amount of positive reactions they received. Here are the top 20.
1. Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
- Bryan Peterson, Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera, paperback
Features:
2. Sony - E 50mm F1.8 OSS Portrait Lens (SEL50F18/B), Black
- Built-in Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and 7-blade circular aperture for beautiful defocus effects
- Minimum Focus Distance : 1.28 ft (0.39 m), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.16x, Focal-Length : 50 mm and filter diameter (mm) is 49 mm
- Large F1.8 maximum aperture enables beautiful defocusing effects. Angle of View (APS-C) : 32°
- "Compact, lightweight mid-range telephoto prime with elegant aluminum alloy exterior.Diaphragm Blades 7, Rounded"
- In-the-box: Hood (ALC-SH116), Lens front cap, Lens rear cap
Features:
3. Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens
- Compact, lightweight fixed F1.8 lens.Angle of View (APS C) 44 °
- Minimum Focus Distance : 0.99 ft (0.3 m), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.15x, Focal Length : 1.38 in
- New optical design for excellent peripheral sharpness and contrast, Built in image stabilization
- Silent and smooth high speed focusing ideal for shooting movies. Superb focusing operation
- Lens group or elements is 6/8. If auto focus cant lock on or focuses on the wrong subject, step in and take total control with direct manual focus.Image stabilization (SteadyShot):Optical SteadyShot
- Format: APS-C, 35 mm equivalent focal length (APS-C): 52.5 mm
- Lens not zoomable
Features:
4. Sony SELP18105G E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
- High performance E mount lens with excellent contrast; Minimum Aperture (F): 22
- Minimum Focus Distance : 1.48 (Wide) 3.12 ft (Tele), Maximum Magnification ratio : 0.11x, Focal Length : 18 105 mm
- Versatile 27 158mm (35mm equiv.) zoom range. Angle of view (APS C): 76° 15°. Number of aperture blades are 7
- Constant F4 maximum aperture throughout the zoom range. Filter diameter (mm):72 mm
- It is recommended that you use a lens hood to reduce flare and ensure maximum image quality.Focal Length (mm) 11/16 4 1/8 35 mm equivalent focal length (APS C) 1 1/16 6 3/16 inches
Features:
5. Fotasy Canon FD Lens to Sony E-Mount Adapter, FD to E-Mount, Canon FD Adapter to E Mount, fits Sony NEX-5T NEX-6 NEX-7 a3000 a3500 a5000 a5100 a6000 a6100 a6300 a6400 a6400 a6500 a6600
Canon FD to E mount lens adapter allows Canon FD lens to fit on Sony E-mount mirrorless camera body.Infinity focusCopper Lens mount, solid, durable.There is no electrical contacts in the adapter ring. Automatic diaphragm, auto-focusing, or any other functions will not operated with using this adapte...
6. A6000, A6300, A6400, A6500 Flash Bounce Cards Sony
- Comes with three flash bounce cards, Clear, Amber and Translucent White, Cards are Acrylic. Each card is designed for a specific purpose.
- White Card creates softer light that compliments your subjects by bouncing light and adding filled light. Clear Card is true acrylic clear for maximum bounced light.
- Amber Card creates light matching Roscoe Bastard Amber - the choice of professionals.
- Flash can be quickly moved to front position for direct flash or behind the bounce card for softer light. Cards are compact and flat, easily pocketable.
- Made in USA. INTERNATIONAL orders can be placed here with very low shipping costs.
Features:
7. Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens for Sony E
SONY E-mountWith nine rounded aperture blades, a stepping ring motor, and compact designPerfect paring of high performance and pricing, Contemporary compactness, Art line Image QualityAccessories Included: Lens Hood, Rear and Front CapFor APS-C Mirrorless cameras including Sony E mount and Micro Fou...
8. RAVPower NP-FW50 Camera Battery Charger Set for Sony A6000 A6500 A6400 A6300 A7 A7II A7SII A7S A7S2 A7R A7R2 A7RII A55 A510 RX10 RX10II
More Power, More Photos: 2 pack 1100mAh rechargeable replacement batteries prolongs your camera's runtime to capture more photos and shoot longer videosHigh Charging Efficiency: Fully charges 1 battery in 2hrs and 2 batteries simultaneously in 3hrs with a 5V/2.1A inputMultiple Charging Options: Incl...
9. Sigma 30mm F2.8 DN Lens for Sony E-mount Cameras (Black)
2 ultra-low-dispersion (UD) glass elements and rear focusing systemUltra-sonic monitor (USM) for quick, highly accurate autofocusing4.9-foot close focusing distance; produces natural-looking background blurAngle of View 39.6 degrees(Sony E-mount 50.7 degrees)NOTE: Please refer the Compatibility Char...
10. Fotasy 35mm f1.7 Lens for Sony E-Mount Camera, 35mm 1.7 Multi Coated Manual E-mount Lens fits Sony NEX-5R NEX6 NEX7 a3100 a5100 a6000 a6100 a63000 a6400 a6500 a6600
- Compatible with Sony E-mount APSC Mirrorless cameras NEX-5R NEX6 NEX7 a3100 a51000 a6000 a6100 a63000 a6400 a6500 a6600
- Lens mount Sony E-mount
- Focus operation Manual aperture operation Manual
- Focus length 35mm aperture f/1 7 - f/16 - close
- Pls note this lens is good for portrait photography but it not good for landscape photography The sharpness in the center is fine but the border is soft It looks like a tilt shift lens
Features:
11. SanDisk 64GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Memory Card (SDSDXXG-064G-GN4IN)
- Ideal for professionals looking to maximize post production workflow
- Read speeds of up to 95MB/s; write speeds of up to 90MB/s
- Video Speed : C10, U3, V30
- Shock proof, temperature proof, waterproof, and x ray proof
- Records Full HD, 3D, and 4K Video
- Operating temperature 13ºF to 185ºF ( 25ºC to 85 ºC), Storage temperature 40ºF to 185ºF ( 40ºC to 85ºC)
Features:
12. Neewer DSLR Camera Shutter Release Wired LCD Timer Remote Control Intervalometer Time-lapse Photography Device Compatible with RM-VPR1 Multi-Terminal Plug for Select SONY Alpha Models
- Designed to brush loose hair, de-shed, and detangle
- Removes loose hair and tangles
- Soft touch grip
- Recommended for medium and long coats
- Safe for general everyday use
Features:
13. Understanding Exposure, Fourth Edition: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera
Watson-Guptill Publications
14. Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod, Black (MTPIXI-B)
- Mini tripod for Compact System Cameras
- Comfortable handgrip to capture great videos
- Push button locking mechanism for easy setup
- Lightweight, intuitive to use and easy to carry
- Attractive Italian design
Features:
15. Godox V860II-S High-Speed Sync GN60 1/8000 2.4G TTL Li-on Battery Camera Flash Speedlite Compatible for Sony Camera+LETWING Cloth+Softbox+Color Filter
- 👍【Build-in Godox 2.4G Wireless X System】Build-in 2.4G wireless transmission offers all-in-one functions. Optical transmission with even illumination and stable output
- 👍【Powerful & Convenient Li-ion Battery】High power rechargeable 2000mAh Li-ion Battery ensures better shooting performance. Max. 1.5s recycle time & 650 full power pop
- 👍【Fully Support TTL Functions】Functions include TTL autoflash, manual flash, 1/8000s High-speed sync, flash exposure compensation, flash exposure lock, second curtain sync, modeling flash, etc
- 👍【Master & Slave Flash】 Godox V860II-S speedlite as a master speedlite unit to control Sony camera flashes, e.g. HVL-F60M, HVL-F43M and HVL-F32M via wireless. As a slave speedlite unit under control of Sony camera flashes, e.g. HVL-F60M, HVL-F43M and HVL-F32M
- 👍【Advanced Functions】GN60 (m ISO 100 @ 200mm) and 22 steps of power output (1/1-1/128). Godox V860II-S supports TTL/M/Multi/S1/S2 modes and equips custom advanced options. Allow for USB firmware update. Godox V860II-S has overheating protection. If you encounter any problem or need support, please feel free to contact us
Features:
16. Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS APS-C E-mount Zoom Lens
7.5x high magnification zoom/ 27-202.5mm (35mm equiv.) focal length. Lens Groups / Elements : 12-16Outstanding sharpness from 1x aspherical and 2x ED glass elements7-blade circular aperture contributes to beautiful bokeh. Hood Type:Petal shape, bayonet type. Minimum focus distance- 0.45 m (1.48 feet...
18. Neewer TT560 Flash Speedlite for Canon Nikon Panasonic Olympus Pentax and Other DSLR Cameras,Digital Cameras with Standard Hot Shoe
- Vertical Rotation Angle: 0~90 degrees, Horizontal Rotation Angle: 0~270 degrees; Note: Don't support TTL and the camera menu setting Function
- Compatible with for Canon Nikon Panasonic Olympus Pentax Fijifilm and Sony with Mi Hot Shoe cameras,like a9 a7 a7II a7III a7R III a7RII a7SII a6000 a6300 a6500 (NOT compatible with Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D,Rebel T7/1500D 2000D,Rebel T100/3000D 4000D)
- Power Management: Switch to the ON, the flash will start charging (the charging indicator is dim)
- For a test flash, press the test button. After use, press the ON/OFF to OFF to power off.
- Red charging indicator lamp flickers in every 1s; it indicates low battery; The flash unit has 8 steps of power output control which indicated by 8 pieces of LED
Features:
19. Sony Alpha a6000 24.3MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50 mm Lens (Black) and Two 64GB SD Card Bundle (8 Items)
BUNDLE INCLUDES: Sony Alpha a6000 24.3MP Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm OSS Lens, two 64GB SD Cards, Battery and Dual Charger Pack, The Corel Photo, Video, and Art Suite v.3.0, 40.5mm 3-Piece UV, CPL, FLD Filter Kit, HDMI to Micro-HDMI Cable, and Digital SLR Camera Bag Bundle24.3MP EXMOR APS...
20. Pedco UltraPod II Lightweight Camera Tripod
- Lightweight and compact tripod with fold-out legs and non-slip vinyl feet fits any device with a tripod socket (1/4-20 female thread)
- Removable D-ring VELCRO brand cinch strap secures tripod to posts, tree limbs, railings, pack frames, or any sturdy object
- Unique ball and socket camera mount assembly positions camera and other devices at any angle
- Use with DSLR cameras, 35 mm cameras with larger lenses, compact camcorders, spotting scopes, and binoculars; Maximum Safe Load: 6 pounds (2.7 kg)
- Weight: 4 oz. (119 g); Dimensions—folded: 7 inches x 2 inches x 2 inches (17.8 cm x 5.1 cm x 5.1 cm); Made in the USA; Lifetime warranty
Features:
I'd say it comes down to your budget. If money isn't an issue, get the $699 one. It's a good deal, the 55-210 can provide some fun creative opportunities, and you can always sell the lens for a small profit if you find it's of no use to you.
If you need to stick to a budget, get the $599 one (I think Amazon even has a deal now where you can get the $599 one with a $50 Amazon gift card added in for free). Realistically, you won't be using the telephoto lens that much and it's not a must have.
I think the kit lens is good, it is what it is and gets the jobs done. For amateur photographers/newbies, I think it's also a good way to get acquainted with what kind of photos you most like to take and it forces you to get more familiar with the a6000 in order to take the best possible shots. You can take great photos with the kit lens, don't give in to the haters.
Some other things to keep in mind when thinking about budget:
You'll definitely want to buy extra batteries and an external charger. With the kit lens, it's also worthwhile to get a 40.5-52mm step-up adapter ring, a 52mm lens cap, and a 52mm circular polarizer-- adds some nice capabilities at a low cost.
If you don't want to spend too much money, I'd recommend getting the $599 one with $50 Amazon gift card and then buying the Sigma 30mm F2.8 for $169 (https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-30mm-F2-8-Black-Sony/dp/B00BQXL5CM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483033428&sr=8-2&keywords=sigma+30mm). It'll serve as a fantastic primary lens that you'll probably use a lot more often than the 55-210 lens -- but then again I don't know what kind of photos you like to take :) (you can also get the Sony 35mm f/1.8 which is a little higher quality and also has image stabilization unlike the Sigma lens, but at $400 it might really strain the budget :-O )
And of course, down the road you can buy an adapter for cheap and pick up some incredible legacy lenses (f/1.4, f/1.8) for under $100 if you buy them used. Those will require manual focus, but it's still pretty neat.
But more than anything, enjoy the new camera! It's an incredible piece of equipment that's insanely fun to shoot with, so good for day to day photography :)
Hello everyone!
Just got the a6000 recently with some christmas money and I freaking love it already. I've been doing some research and I want to try out an upgraded lens. The kit is fine, but I'm definitely seeing the benefits of a lower aperture prime (more bokeh effect, better in low light, etc.)
I've narrowed down my search to the Sony SEL35F18, SEL50F18, and the Sigma 30mm F2.8
The SEL35F18 definitely seems best to me overall, and I'm thinking it probably makes sense to just suck it up and go straight for that. However the Sigma is also attractive because it seems like a great budget alternative. The SEL50F18 is probably last on my list because at ~$300 currently, its just not a significant enough difference in price from the 35... Any advice is appreciated!
> RAVPower batteries, and the little charger unit. How do these compare to the o
2)you need SDXC , at least 64GB and it should say UH3 on it. I bought a lexxar one off amazon but it rated no where near the speed it should of been so returned and got a sandisk extreme. Which works great.
link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01J5RHD58/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
EDIT: It should be noted that memory card spec , is minimum for video recording in 4k XAVC, if your just doing photos then your fine getting something cheaper.
I thought about those Neewer tubes but decided to pay a little more and get the all-metal set. They should be here tomorrow and I can report back OCE I try them out. The cool thing about tubes instead of a macro filter is that you'll be able to use the tubes with any and all E-mount lenses.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JIJNMQM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdb_U8buyb8DNRWDT
Also, if you're new to E-mount and not wanting to spend too much, you might consider getting a Fujian(Fotasy) 35mm f/1.7 cctv lens. Super cheap, gives you a lens that has a shallow DOF, great bokeh, and I'm guessing it might be my favorite to use on the extension tubes once I get them
https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-N35-Mount-Mirrorless-Cameras/dp/B00KWNA1VS
Also, I thought it was nice seeing the various methods compared:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PFgg9zYzCYk
One last edit: from my research, I think the close up filters will reduce your effective aperture and require more light, but I don't think that's the case with extension tubes. Something to keep in mind if you don't have a flash (since I think it would be more necessary with the screw on filters)
You have an a6000. Invest in a decent flash and a diffuser and learn to use them. Since you're talking about portraiture, you need a flash, especially if there's no/little ambient light. Even in brighter light a flash can be very useful. There are a LOT of youtube videos on using flashes that can help you out.
Note, the video linked above is A: not mine, he's a guy who does a lot of good gear reviews for Sony APS-C gear, and B: is a decent, yet inexpensive, flash, you can go up in price from there.
Also, you never mentioned what lens you're using. Assuming you're just using the 16-50mm kit lens, invest in a good fast lens for the kind of photos you're describing. The Sigma lenses are fantastic and a great value for the a6000 series cameras. I absolutely LOVED the Sigma 30mm f/1.4. They also make fast 16mm and 56mm lenses for e-mount APS-C cameras that should be just as good as the 30mm is.
Finally, after all that, the a6000 isn't the best low-light, it's an older sensor, so it's not going to be as good as an a6400 or a6500, but it does do well. IMO it's only good up to ISO 3200, beyond that it gets grainy.
I thought the same, but I have fallen in love my used 2.8 with a polarizer on it (also, highly recommend). Mess with that and see what else you need. For instance, I use that and the 55-210mm zoom; I think those 2 lenses allow me to do everything I want, with the 30mm being on my alpha 92% of the time. Maybe a 12mm for wide landscape are in my future? Nonetheless, 30mm is a great start, then take your time to discover what focal length you need for what occasions!
Get a strap that’ll be comfortable for you, I got this 2-in-1 strap for casual carrying and I switch to the wristlet for when I’m actively shooting. A nice card, maybe a hot shoe cover, and maybe a Gorillapod hybrid
For $25 you can get this awesome little travel tripod which I carry everywhere. If you're looking for something a bit bigger but still light, the Mefoto series are all pretty good.
Not sure what you're looking for in terms of a lens, but your kit lens is probably your best bet for a travel lens. If you want a good, cheap lens with fast aperture, check out the Sigma 30mm f1.4 or the Sony 50mm f1.8 OSS.
Free Stuff:
Low Cost (Under $30):
Expensive:
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/SonyAlpha/comments/4zb5zt/what_are_the_things_i_should_know_read_about_my/
The 18-105 http://amzn.to/2iyRkxU is a considerably better option as long as you can do without 200mm. The 70-300 f4.5-f5.6 http://amzn.to/2jQMqND is longer and good for outdoors. The 70-200 f4 is a little shorter but has excellent image quality and bigger aperture http://amzn.to/2iyS5a1 . The 24-70 f2.8 http://amzn.to/2iyUdPn and 70-200 f2.8 http://amzn.to/2j0VKib are the top of the game, but also insanely expensive.
If money is tighter, the 18-105 is an easy recommendation - it gives you a lot for a reasonable price. If you need that extra reach and don't mind paying for it... either of the 70-200's are quite excellent.
Landscape and portraiture are completely different with respect to lens needs. Here's some thoughts, but get ready to open your wallet.
Landscapes will be the Sigma 16mm F1.4 DC DN Contemporary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0783J5BWP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_XKeHDbA4H058S
Portraiture would be good with with the 50mm F1. 8 OSS Sony https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EPWC30O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6MeHDbSH3FX9K
You'll be served well with the excellent Sony 24-105 G PZ OSS if you want a single travel companion. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ENZRQH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bIeHDbD47B6XM
You've got two options ... speedlights and studio strobes. Those are the light sources, obviously. For either option, you'll need to pick up light stands, light modifiers like softboxes, umbrellas, or reflectors, battery packs or other power source, and radio triggers.
The link I recently posted was a video of four different speedlight options. Speedlights are the most portable, although they do have less power than strobes. Lots of photographers use just speedlights. There are mounts you can purchase that hold 3 or 4 speedlights on one stand, giving you the option of more power when you need it.
What I use are strobes from Paul C. Buff. I'm completely satisfied with his products. I have two Einsteins, 1 AlienBees Ringlight, assorted stands, softboxes, and umbrellas. I use the Cybersync triggering system of his, and the Vagabond portable battery is top notch.
This is a good starting point. I love the PLM umbrellas, but those aren't as easy to work with outdoors as softboxes. If you do stick with the PLM umbrellas, I suggest getting the soft silver instead of extreme silver. And you can probably get away with just one vagabond power pack, since it has two outlets for strobes.
Also, this is the best single book I've found that teaches off-camera flash. It's all about speedlights and modifiers and is well worth the purchase price.
LOL the phone light trick does work, you can AF it too if you have adequate light and lock the focus with half push of the shutter button. Honestly the best way is to use the on-camera flash. I also use this nifty diffuser for my A6000. It's useful for indoors ceiling bounce for close-ups and the white one also works to help evenly distribute the light for less shadows. And it's cheap!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LEX4RW4?keywords=a6000%20flash%20bounce&qid=1451936770&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1
I found this comment over in the main photography subreddit.
In particular, the first 2 youtube videos were extremely helpful for me. They were long, but worth it to watch the entire thing. The Sam Abell one in particular is great since he will show a sequence of his photograph attempts leading up to some of his more famous work. For me this helped me understand what are the minutiae that can make a photo great.
These videos are on the compositional/artistic side. For the more technical side of things, I have been learning a lot from the book Understanding Exposure.
What's the best place to buy an A6000?
Right now I'm leaning towards this bundle for $500 on amazon https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Mirrorless-Camera-16-50mm-Bundle/dp/B01867UND2/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=a6000&qid=1559236644&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1
as it comes with a bag, external charger, batteries, memory card, which are things I'd like anyways....and it's the same price as just the camera and kit lens in store. I had been looking at used ones, but a lot of the ones I'm seeing aren't really THAT much cheaper (like $350 used body only, when I can literally buy a brand new body only for $400) and for that price difference, I don't know that I'd want to chance a used one...
Some people have mentioned BHphotovideo, but that's the same price as the amazon bundle but with only 1 spare battery, only a 32GB card, etc, https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1201894-REG/sony_alpha_a6000_mirrorless_digital.html
Any advice is appreciated...I've already checked craigslist and whatnot, so nothing I've seen local besides in store at best buy.
I have had the A6000 for a couple years now. Love it.
No matter what the camera you own the primary thing to get good exposure in low light situations is a lens designed for it. Don't get me wrong, the camera and it's sensor matters. Just not as much as the lens most times.
For the A6000 your going to want to use a super fast lens. I use either my Rokinon 12mm f2 or the Sony 50mm f1.8. The other advantage is to get some bounce cards and use your flash.
If you don't want to drop the money on a lens, the bounce cards are the cheaper route. If you want to spend the money on a lens, great, you can also afford the bounce cards. Get em.
Outside of that, you can shoot in shutter priority or manual depending on your skill level. The trick is to make sure your aperture is as fast as possible for the lens you are using. This will allow you to lower your ISO and keep your shutter speed as fast as possible as well.
As for the open box previous settings. Go into your settings and do a factory setting reset. From there, do a ton of research about the settings. If you don't understand a setting, leave it alone until you do.
BH photo video does a decent intro video on the A6000.
You can also check out Gary Fong on YouTube who works with the a6000 a lot.
I got Gary Friedman's Guide to the Sony A6500 at the same time as the camera and it was the best thing to get started. With about 40 pages of menu settings, there's a lot to go over and his guide has his recommended settings plus his comments on why he prefers them.
You can get the same for the A6300: http://friedmanarchives.com/a6300/index.htm
I like these lens reviews because they measure sharpness quantitatively, in LW/PH, and give you an idea of the strength/weakness:
https://www.ephotozine.com/article/sony-e-16-50mm-f-3-5-5-6-oss-lens-review-20667
For general tips on exposure and composition, I thought Bryan Peterson's Understanding Photography Field Guide was great, good tips on when to lock exposure for example:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0817432256/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I got a body from Amazon warehouse deals for $385 a few weeks ago. It said the screen was scratched but I didn't notice any issues. (Looks like prices went up a little though).
Lenses: I just bought an adapter for some old manual focus Canon FD lenses I had laying around. The adapter was $15 and the 3 lenses probably cost me $100ish on eBay.
So I just bought an SD card, 2 batteries, and a dual charger for another ~$50.
I do plan on getting newer lenses later, but so far I'm enjoying the manual set up. A lot of bang for your buck.
Focus peaking can make it easier to focus manually. It highlights what's in focus like this.
I don’t see anything about Sony compatibility for the Amazon Basics model. However, Neewer has this one with good reviews:
Neewer TT560 Flash
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LEAYXY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_npl-BbC5RFY29
Just to make sure you’re looking for the right piece of gear, what do you want to do with the flash that you can’t do with the built-in one?
External flashes are awesome, I just want to make sure you’re looking for the right tool!
Haha, yeah like other people are saying, if it's not a extreme pro card it's probably just not fast enough.
This will be perfectly fine for you I think:
https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-32GB-UHS-I-SDSDXXG-032G-GN4IN/dp/B01J5RHD58/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1R6F7L30PKCZ6&keywords=32%2Bgb%2Bsd%2Bcard&qid=1557341396&s=gateway&sprefix=32%2Bgb%2Bsd%2Caps%2C134&sr=8-5&th=1
>18-135mm zoom
Now, is that a very high quality lens (i assume you mean this sony lens: https://www.amazon.com/Sony-18-135mm-F3-5-5-6-APS-C-mount/dp/B078T2184C)? It looks expensive enough to hopefully be high-quality, but I'm not sure. Because I don't think I mentioned this, but obviously I'm looking to invest in a nicer lens even though it is mostly for learning. Like, I don't want to waste $500 on a "beginner lens" per say. Doesn't need to be the god of all lenses, but I want a lens that I can learn a ton from but also one that I could also use later for more legitimate reasons as a photographer.
I have a wasabi that came with my bundle as a spare. No difference from Sony.
I also bought a 2 port hub from RavPower on amazon to charge my batteries and it came with 2 more batteries. RavPower makes some pretty good power banks for my other devices and I figured for $30 I'd give them a shot with my camera. Those batteries work just as good as the original as well.
https://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-Replacement-Batteries-Versatile-Compatible/dp/B01JG54F3C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1496402313&sr=8-2&keywords=sony+battery+replacement
There are tons of discussion on this topic here, dp review forums, YouTube etc
Based on my experience I would recommend Wassbi batteries ( two batteries with charger). Been using it for almost 2 years now without any issues. Costs around 25$
Recently a friend of mine bought Rav Power dual battery pack. Which is said to be excellent
Check out these and the Amazon reviews of these
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01HFOJUCW/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1511952769&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=npfw50&dpPl=1&dpID=51-XPAAM0PL&ref=plSrch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01JG54F3C/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1511952769&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=npfw50&dpPl=1&dpID=41PVL8BPYqL&ref=plSrch
Picture info:
Flash trigger I used:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HVTSTI8
Flash that I used (On full power):
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LEAYXY
Setup:
All in a line:
Tripod with flash on top of it (pointed straight at model with no diffusion) -> trampoline with friend on it -> me with camera -> large wall behind me.
I had my friend (the model) stand where he was going to do the flip, and used the autofocus to lock on to him. I then set the camera to MF so that the focus wouldn't move around from there.
My friend then grabbed two handfuls of snow and did a backflip while letting go of the snow. I took the picture when he came between me and the flash. The light bounced off the wall behind me and lit him up. Without the wall, it would have just been a silhouette.
EDIT: Formatting
I got this $30 manual lens for my a6000: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KWNA1VS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FgHmDb2GMPRQ1
It's one of my favorite lenses for portraits. The bokeh is really good and it puts out amazing portrait shots consistently.
For $30 it can't be beat.
This was wide open 1.7 at 1/4000 (100 iso). Cheap tiny manual lens that is well worth the price. I'll be using it a lot for video. Does anyone know of similar manual E mount lenses in this price range? I know older lenses with an adapter can be had for cheap, but this was very easy to hook up and play with.
Just to clarify - "full frame" refers to the size of the sensor. It's a property of the sensor inside the camera. Your a5100 and your old Rebel both have APS-C (i.e. not full frame) sized sensors. Hopefully this will make it clearer.
Lenses can be designed for any sensor size, including APS-C and full frame. The APS-C sensor size is also known as "crop". If you use an APS-C (crop) lens on your a5100, the image will cover the sensor exactly. If you use a full frame lens, the image will be larger than the sensor, so it'll look more zoomed in than it would if you used it on a full frame camera.
"Crop" is not something to avoid; it doesn't mean you're losing part of the image or anything like that. Your camera is designed for "crop" (APS-C) lenses, and you should use those unless you have some special reason for wanting a full-frame lens which will be larger, heavier and much more expensive. FYI there is no Sony full-frame 50mm f/1.8 - do you mean the 55mm f/1.8? There is an APS-C 50mm f/1.8, however.
a7/a7ii route: Grab a Tamron 28-75 f/2.8 (all around lens for $880), The Sony 85mm f/1.8 (About $550 I believe). I'd personally go for the a7ii (i recently just gone one) bc the built in image stabilization is great :)
A6300 route: Any of the Sigma f/1.4's (16mm, 30mm, 56mm) are all around $300-400 and the Sony 18-105 f/4 (for an all around lens about $550 last i checked). I'd opt for the A6000 unless weather proofing is something you absolutely need
Video falls under the V category of card ratings. In this case, the A7riii will only shoot 4K at 30fps therefore UHS-1 rating will do fine. I recommend the Sandisk Extreme Pro. It offers a v30 rating and 95MB/s write speed which really helps with the new buffer speeds of the mark3's for photography. I've always used this and fine that it's the best bang for buck.
Correct. I take low-light music events photos with the flash straight up https://www.flickr.com/photos/heri_quebec/24599344602/in/dateposted-public/ Works great if the ceiling is white
To make it easier you could get one of these bounce gear: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-A6000-Flash-Bounce-Card/dp/B00LEX4RW4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1454252426&sr=8-5&keywords=sony+a6000+flash
I just bought myself an A6000 (should be arriving tomorrow). I initially had the same thought as you, such that "What if an A6100 or A6000II or something comes out?"
At the end of the day though, a new camera model coming out is not going to make the A6000 any less than what it is. I decided to make my decision solely on the A6000 and whether or not it will fit my needs. If another model comes out, it's likely going to run quite a bit more than the ~$600 I paid for the following kit on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/Alpha-Mirrorless-Camera-16-50mm-Bundle/dp/B01867UND2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1518612625&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=a6000&psc=1
You've gotta make the decision that best suits you. If you need to have the newest gear all the time, then sure wait for a 6700 model to come out. However, that feeling will never go away and when a new model that supersedes the 6700 is inevitably released, you're going to find yourself asking a similar question.
Yeah, it is sure looking like that. It now says delivery date pending which seems like Amazon's way of saying I should have just gone to a camera store.
The Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8, and Sony SEL16F28 16mm f/2.8 were delivered yesterday. Tomorrow I get the Sony VCLECF1 Fisheye Conversion Lens and Sony SEL90M28G FE 90mm f/2.8-22 Macro. Now they just get to taunt me as I do not have another E-Mount camera.
And as a further fyi, according to camelcamelcamel, $248 is the lowest it has ever been on Amazon (and Amazon is pretty good about price matching whenever someone has an item on sale)
http://camelcamelcamel.com/Sony-SEL50F18-Mount-Cameras-Black/product/B00EPWC30O?context=browse
And I typically match the color of the camera, but, that's just aesthetics at that point :)
I can wait and if it seems like it's worth it I can probably stretch my budget out a little. I didn't actually realise the A6000 was almost 2 years old! (Feb 12 2014)
Is this the lens you mean?
Thanks for the advice!
https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-MTPIXI-B-PIXI-Tripod-Black/dp/B00D76RNLS/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1487893767&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=manfrotto+tripod&psc=1
You can point this tripod about 75-80 degrees up without it flipping over. I've never used it for astrophotography but with a remote shutter release I think it will work pretty well!
thank you for your reply
I'm doing videos without really fast motions while the camera is on one spot all the time and the filmed person is also on one spot most of the time.
I've just seen a couple of videos which were made with the sl2/d700 and this cheap canon 1.8 lens but I'm not sure if there's a similarly cheap alternative for the A6000 that works as good as that in very low light (or maybe one which is a bit more expensive). On the german amazon canon lenses are sold way more often than sony and have better reviews. Any further suggestions?
what about this one https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL50F18-Mount-Cameras-Black/dp/B00EPWC30O/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1520713581&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Sony+1.8+sel50
I like to search ebay for FD lenses under $50 with a Buy-It-Now price. You can find perfectly good third-party FD lenses for dirt cheap. And FD - E mount adapters are about $13 a piece on Amazon.
i use one of these on my travels: https://www.amazon.com/Manfrotto-MTPIXI-B-PIXI-Tripod-Black/dp/B00D76RNLS
they're super useful and i've taken many long exposures with it.
Can I get away with just buying the flash? What exactly is a trigger? Would this one be good to start with? It has a rechargeable battery which is mainly what I'm interested in.
https://www.amazon.com/Godox-V860II-S-Speedlite-Compatible-HVL-F60M/dp/B01EJBAU6Y/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_13?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XEJCA9HYVD4Y9Y6HH47H
Without saying anything about lens quality here are some price comparisons.
[Nikon D3300 w/ kit] (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-Focus-S-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B00HQ4W1QE) $447, [35mm 1.8] (http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-AF-S-NIKKOR-Focus-Cameras/dp/B001S2PPT0) $177, [50mm 1.8] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Y1AYAC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cpc02-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004Y1AYAC) $197
vs
Sony A6000 w/ kit $650, 35mm 1.8 $450, 50mm 1.8 $250
I'm not trying to say one is better than the other, just making a comparison. On the Sony you get OSS with the lenses which drives the price up. If you are trying to save money though, OSS might not be that important.
Assuming you are in the US RavPower batteries have the most / best rating on Amazon. I have a couple of these. But actually the two Sony batts in my grip usually last me for whatever I am doing (a6500) so I have not used mine much.
In various forums, this one seems popular relative to price. I intend to get it soon, once I free up a little spending money in the budget (I probably need a new flash first, my Minolta 360PX isn't nearly as good when it can't get TTL metering from the camera).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NSE1F6I/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Check out the Monfrotto Pixi Mini if about $17 on amazon right now. I love this tripod for my A7iii.
I shoot for a tour & travel company and travel a lot (3 weeks traveling 1 week home, for the past 8 months). I originally had 5 batteries and that would get me through. I recently added two more because I bought an a6300 for my mother or gf to use when we went on a vacation together. I occasionally would use it as well as a second body to do video with. All of my batteries are Sony because I have never found an off brand camera battery that didn't become a paper weight after a few months of rigorous use. When I used to shoot Nikon I got burned a few times from this. I have been told they are better, but I refuse to go down that road again. You can if you like, but I urge you to read reviews carefully. If a reviewer says it works fine after a few charges, that is not long enough to have an informed opinion.
For charging I use this two battery charger. It feels cheap but it gets the job done. It comes with two off brand batteries. I did not even bother I just recycled them. I have 2 of the chargers and I usually rubber band them together and toss it in my suitcase. Those live in my hotel room usually. For when I am out and about I will keep one of these smaller one battery chargers in my camera bag so in an emergency I could be charging a battery. I usually only use it if the weather is very cold and I know my batteries will die faster. The good thing about it being USB is that I can plug an external battery bank into it and charge one of my already depleted batteries while I am shooting with another battery. For external battery banks I use this anker 13400mah one. The construction is solid, it charges things almost as fast as a wall outlet, the capacity is pretty accurate and it has two ports so I can charge a camera battery and something else if I need to. Overall it is a great battery bank, probably not the absolute best, but still great.
If you are going to be away from outlets for 3 days you might want to get a beefier battery pack. Depending on your shooting style of course. Anker makes a lot of sizes even up to having this properly named powerhouse.
Unless you have a full frame to mount it to as well I'd just go with the Sony SEL50F18 for the a6500. It's still an excellent lens for less than half the price.
I think this will do what you need; http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Intervalometer-Photography-Multi-Terminal-DSC-RX100III/dp/B00NSE1F6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1453162928&sr=1-1&keywords=neewer+remote+sony
 
I have one, but have only used it for long exposure, if I have a chance tonight I can try to play with it and find out for you. Or someone else might know.
https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-NAFD-Mount-Camera-Adapter/dp/B00EDBT440
Works great!
I was stuck on learning HSS. Pictures come out great and fun to do. Here's what I have.
Godox w trigger
Sony 50mm 1.8
Of course you'd shoot the flash through a diffuser.
Here is a shot from the first paid session I did after months of practicing.
HighSpeedSync
Exif:
Nex6
50mm
1.8
1/1600
HSS through umbrella
https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-NEX-VG30-NEX-VG900-NEX-FS100-NEX-FS700/dp/B00EDBT440
Fotasy is the best bang for your buck
Those are some awesome shots man.
Would this work or should I go for the fujian?
Fotasy N35 35MM F1.7 CCTV Movie Lens for Sony E-Mount NEX Mirrorless Cameras https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KWNA1VS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_DSIqyb3AQVG37
Sony 50mm F1.8 is supposed to be bokeh heaven and is $300.
If you want a wider focal length, you can get the Sigma 30mm for $289.
You can follow the photographer on Flickr, linked here to learn more about how he shoots and pay attention to the camera data to see what aperture and focal length he uses for each image.
For the first photo, linked here, you will see that he shot this photo at f/11.0 and 57mm. The wide aperture (f11) will keep both the foreground and background in focus. Zooming in (57mm) will compress the foreground and background, which is what makes the hills and mountains in the background more prevalent in his photo.
His photo also appears to have been taken at a low angle, probably on a knee, which will make the truck appear larger and more impressive. Finally, the composition will play a big part in the final image. Pay attention to how the photos that you like are framed, where the photographer was likely standing, and how the image was composed. This matters more than the equipment.
I would also note that he is shooting with a Canon 60D and a 18-135 f/3.5-5.6, which compares similar to your lens, other than giving him more range to zoom in. With the a5000 and your lens zoomed all the way in, you already have the equipment to get this same quality of image. I would just keep your setup and keep practicing and honing your skills before you worry too much about equipment upgrades.
If you are dead set on getting a new lens, I am very happy with the SELP18105G as an all around lens, especially for video use.
Sure. I have one for Canon and one for Nikon, both work fine on all the glass I have They are both Fotasy brand and ordered from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EDBT440/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Yep; just like this cheap guy:
http://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-NAFD-E-Mount-Camera-Adapter/dp/B00EDBT440/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457464973&sr=8-1&keywords=fd+to+emount
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-18-135mm-F3-5-5-6-APS-C-mount/dp/B078T2184C/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=sony+18-135&qid=1564230441&s=gateway&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SELP18105G-PZ-18-105mm-OSS/dp/B00ENZRQH8/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=sony+18-105&qid=1564230464&s=gateway&sr=8-3
These two lenses. They are out of your budget by a bit.
If $700 is a hard cap, I'd go with the A6000 with the kit 16-50 only and then spend $300 on a Sigma f/1.4 30 mm or Sony f/1.8 50mm when you get an extra $100 available in your budget. I think you'd benefit with a prime as a secondary lens over the 55-210 for your applications.
I have the a5000 with the kit lens and looking for an upgrade on lens. I am thinking of getting the 35mm 1.8: https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL35F18-35mm-Prime-Fixed/dp/B0096W1P5W
However, I heard the 50mm would be just as good? Or is there another lens I should look into?
I've been extremely pleased with the capacity of these - https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JG54F3C
Fotasy makes it. I have it, it's well worth the price. I use it on my a6000.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KWNA1VS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zR4DAbFDZKYYT
Okay that makes sense. What is the difference between these two lenses?
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL50F18-Mount-Cameras-Black/dp/B00EPWC30O/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1498159559&sr=8-3&keywords=sony+50mm+f1.8
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-FE-50mm-F1-8-Lens/dp/B01DLMD5O6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1498159559&sr=8-4&keywords=sony+50mm+f1.8
Is it that the more expensive one is 50mm for APCS while the other is 75mm for APCS?
I have these bounce cards which are a nice little tool: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LEX4RW4
https://www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPod-Lightweight-Camera-Tripod/dp/B000ANCPNM/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1487616740&sr=1-1&keywords=ultrapod+2
I use this tripod for a variety of things, including astrophotography. It's ability to strap to poles/logs is really handy!
Sure! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C3SCKI6/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_.DEKDbREA5EDY
The seller was PIXIBYTES.
Yeah not sure, here is the price history on Amazon.
something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Intervalometer-Time-lapse-Photography-Multi-Terminal/dp/B00NSE1F6I
I am not sure that the Sony 35mm that you linked is the proper one for the a6300. It think you need the SEL35F18:
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL35F18-35mm-Prime-Fixed/dp/B0096W1P5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498126305&sr=8-1&keywords=SEL35F18
It is the one I use in my a6000, and it is a great lens, but it is more expensive that they one you showed (yours is an A mount lens, whereas mine is a E mount lens). You can get it much cheaper, though (I paid less for it on Ebay).
Are flash bounce cards ever worth considering when using an A6000? Example: http://www.amazon.com/A6000-A6300-Flash-Bounce-Cards/dp/B00LEX4RW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1463593682&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+a6000+bounce+flash
Yeah I used one by Neewer. Each shot was 5 seconds apart and there were approx. 1200 pictures in total. This video is 60fps.
Link to the one I got last year: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00NSE1F6I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_E90sDbKYE7RF7
Quick question. Looking to upgrade my nex 5T to an alpha. I'm like the OP, not a professional just use for city and travel photography mostly and not a ton of video. Was thinking about the 6500 when it came out but do you think it's too much camera? I have these lenses
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 Lens for Sony E-Mount Cameras (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HNJWSDS/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_d6kfybS0DYE0Q
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096W1P5W/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_M6kfyb1SW4TC9
Sony SELP1650 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096W1PG6/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_G9kfybT37WK5M
Would you still go with the 6000 body?
I bought and traveled for a few weeks with an Ultrapod II and couldn't recommend it enough:
https://www.amazon.com/Pedco-UltraPod-Lightweight-Camera-Tripod/dp/B000ANCPNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484291467&sr=8-1&keywords=ultrapod+2
It carries very easy and so it was always with me, whether I intended to use it or not. The best tripod is the one that is always with you!
This inexpensive $14 mount will allow canon FD lens to be mounted to Sony emount cameras. And the lens is manual aperture and manual focus.
https://www.amazon.com/Fotasy-NAFD-Mount-Camera-Adapter/dp/B00EDBT440
I think the sigma 30 f1.4 would be a better choice. ( just my opinion)
Pros
Cons
Have you checked out the flash bounce cards? They're relatively unique to the NEX/a6x line because of the off-center flash design. It holds up the on-camera flash for you, and also acts as a diffuser. I found it very helpful for shooting indoors, especially if there's low ceilings.
If you don't already have extra batteries, I use these for my A6000. I really recommend them.
Only complaint is the status lights, if you're colorblind. There's one for each battery compartment and it's green or red depending on status, allegedly.
Sony SEL35F18 35mm f/1.8 Prime Fixed Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0096W1P5W/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NVsbzbX73A12F This? Just want to clarify.
https://www.amazon.com/Sony-SEL35F18-35mm-Prime-Fixed/dp/B0096W1P5W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1505092600&sr=8-1&keywords=sel35f18
got it on Amazon
In Germany it's 285€ https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00EPWC30O/ which is more than 300$
Edit: whoops. I meant this one https://www.amazon.de/Sony-SEL-50F18F-Vollformat-Objektiv-geeignet/dp/B01E7NGVEY/ which is still almost 300$
I'm getting this lens! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EPWC30O/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
angle the flash upwards or get one of these if you're shooting something close-ish
You can also use these http://www.amazon.com/A6000-A6300-Flash-Bounce-Cards/dp/B00LEX4RW4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00
Here you go
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NSE1F6I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_i_Do2bBb2MJ75YZ
Sigma 30mm F1.4 Contemporary DC DN Lens for Sony E https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C3SCKI6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_h7GrzbY92XXKK
https://www.amazon.com/Sigma-30mm-F1-4-Contemporary-Lens/dp/B01C3SCKI6
so this card would work? https://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-64GB-UHS-I-SDSDXXG-064G-GN4IN/dp/B01J5RHD58/ref=sr_1_6?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1494085798&sr=1-6&keywords=64gb+sd+card
I would spend $10 more:
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Extreme-UHS-I-Memory-SDSDXXG-064G-GN4IN/dp/B01J5RHD58/
Price differences really arent that big between card speeds, and you;re already spending $2K on a camera body.
SanDisk Extreme Pro
I just realized you said you just started looking into cameras.
I'll leave some reference links for the lenses for you.
This is the FE
This is the non FE
FE are for full frame cameras (a7, a7r, a7r2). They're a larger sensor size.
The a6300 is aspc or a cropped sensor so it has a smaller sensor. The non FE lens is designed for the smaller camera.
you need to set it to "BULB" mode and either use an intervalometer (https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Intervalometer-Time-lapse-Photography-Multi-Terminal/dp/B00NSE1F6I) or i heard you can use a wireless remote as well and just hold the button. Lots of tutorials on youtube if you're still confused
I'm in the same situation and unfortunately there aren't a ton of options, especially if your budget is $400. I think the only thing that fits your budget would be the SEL1855 18-55mm kit zoom. Brand new it's $300 but you can get a gray market / white box for a little over $100 on ebay.
Otherwise, you're looking at $600 for the Tamron or $750 for the Sony 18-200mm or $600 for the Sony 18-105mm.
Most of the reviews on amazon cite the Sigma 30mm 1.4 purple chroma fringing problem, so keep that in mind if you think you can tolerate that.
I'm in Ontario and I've had no problems getting Wasabi or Ravpower batteries shipped from amazon in the past two months.