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Portrait Lens for Sony A700

I'm taking primarily portraits at this point - of my two young boys and of my family and friends. Given most of my focus is on portraits of children, I am having some challenges in using a fixed 50mm - it's not wide enough when I want to capture a group or my two kids playing together without backing up too far, and it doesn't zoom in if I'm outside and don't want the kids to know I'm photographing them, or if I'm at a BDay party and want to sneak shots without getting right in someone's face - or if the kids are across the park or beach and I want a shot but don't want them to notice.

Another note, I love the wide aperture with my 50mm. I don't necessarily need 1.4, but a minimum of 2.8 seems like it would be nice so that the lens could still perform well when taking portraits. I'm feeling like a minimum of f/3.5 won't be nice enough for portraits.

Could anyone recommend the range I should look for, the ideal or minimum f stop and brand of lens? I'm not in the market financially for a Zeiss len nor s high-end Sony lens at the moment. I think ideally I'd like to spend less than $500 if I can get something really nice for the A700 that will do nice job. Otherwise, I'll save and buy something later.

Thanks for your suggestions!

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December 27, 2010

I have used the 16-105mm and it's very good. (Wide angle to moderate telephoto) but no, it does not have very wide apertures.

Sony AF DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6(D) Autofocus Lens $600.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/520931-REG/Sony_SAL16105_SAL_16105_AF_DT_16_105mm.html

The f/2.8 zooms are far more expensive. Honestly, I don't think you need a wide aperture lens.

P.

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January 27, 2011