What are the best budget-friendly lenses for a Sony full-frame setup that wont absolutely kill my wallet? I just finally bit the bullet and grabbed a used a7III and I am so stoked to start shooting with it but man, full-frame glass is expensive lol. I have about 500 bucks left in my gear budget for the next few months and I really need something versatile for street photography around Portland and maybe some shots of my golden retriever at the park.
I did some digging and everyone keeps mentioning the Sony 50mm f1.8 because its so cheap but then I read a bunch of reviews saying the autofocus is super hunt-y and loud which makes me nervous for taking pictures of a dog that never sits still. I also looked at the Tamron 28-75mm since people say its the gold standard for budget zooms but even used ones seem to be pushing 600 or 700 lately which is over my limit. Is there some hidden gem I am missing? Maybe some Samyang or Viltrox stuff that actually holds up? I really want something sharp but I just cant justify spending a grand on a single lens right now...
> autofocus is super hunt-y and loud Saw this earlier and had to jump in. Honestly, skip that Sony 50mm. I have been super happy since switching to the Samyang AF 35mm f1.8 FE. Focus speed is light years ahead, so catching your dog at the park wont be a total nightmare. Its tiny too. Basically perfect for walking around Portland. You can find them new for way under your 500 buck limit.
> Honestly, skip that Sony 50mm. I have been super happy since switching to the Samyang AF 35mm f1.8 FE. Late to the party but to add to the point above: if you can find a used Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 Di III RXD G1, grab it! It is seriously amazing for street and dog photos. I see them for around 500 bucks on marketplaces all the time. The autofocus is way better than the Sony 50mm and having that zoom range is just fantastic for a one-lens setup!
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> I read a bunch of reviews saying the autofocus is super hunt-y and loud which makes me nervous for taking pictures of a dog tbh those reviews are totally right. That 50mm uses a gear-driven DC motor that just wont keep up with a dog or modern eye-af tracking. Since you have 500 bucks, you should look at the Sony FE 85mm f1.8. It uses a double linear motor system so the focus is basically instant and silent. It is honestly one of the best value lenses in the whole ecosystem, and you can grab one used for like 400 bucks without much trouble. For the street photography side of things, the Samyang AF 35mm f1.8 FE is probably your best bet. It weighs almost nothing and has decent weather sealing for those drizzly Portland days. The optics are sharp enough that you wont feel like you are compromising, and it stays well within your budget. Either of these will perform miles better than that cheap 50mm.
