Which Lens to Keep for my A77

Hi
New to digital, apart from a P200 Cybershot.
So far all my plans have gone wrong!
Plan was to Buy:-
1]Sony A77 [picked up a new one on Saturday; still untouched as I discovered I need a memory card! 16GB Pro HG Duo HX ordered on Amazon (is that the quickist? big enough? to start off).
2]Try my 1992 Minolta Xi 28-105 f3.4-4.5 489g and Sigma 75-300 F4.5-5.6 APO 710g [both heavy steel lenses] and see how they worked, and either keep or upgrade either.

I was offerred a good deal on the lens kit version a77VQ with [16-50 F2.8 SSM] so went with that ref 'good' reviews. Thinking I'd sell the Minolta 35-105 and run with the new Sony 16-50 [as it's SSM] and the Sigma 75-300.

My dealer kindly gave me an option to sell the Minolta to him for L50 in the future. But he thought there was a 'shadow' in the Sigma so wasn't interested in that one [NB both have only had very minimal use, take nice pictures etc. and have had Skylight filters on from day one!].

OK so, I thought I'd just get a new SIgma 70-300 APO DG Macro for L185 on Amazon as I'd been happy with my Sigma bearing in mind the price. Then I read all the reports about Sony's stripping the focus gears on new Sigma's. So I looked around and the only Lens I like is the SAL 70300G SSM for L650. So I'm now over budget L1150 [remember the SAL 1650!]
Had I known about the Sigma problem? In hindsight I'd have saved the L500 on the SAL 1650, and just got the 70300G SSM and stayed with my Minolta Xi 35-105.

Hence I need some advice [especially from those with any of these pieces of kit.
Do I sell the SAL1650 before I 'touch it' [NB still in the kit box]and would I get L450 for it? It was L567 from Sony but looks like it went to L744.99 tonight on Sony UK online!
Any advice on what is a reasonable price - much appreciated.
Alternatively:
If I tried the 1650 with say 10 pics and the Minolta and couldn't see the difference, what could I ask for the SAL1650 then? [nb I got an invoice to show it's days old] would it make a difference to the price if I'd used it? You guessed it I won't lie about stuff, hence my need for advice.

Or do I push the boat out and buy the 70-300G and keep the SAL1650 (i.e. selling the mint Minolta for L50, and the Sigma for say L25-30 but 'declaring the "possible" problem to any buyer [NB I can't see a shadow and the pictures were fine last time used on Dynax 7xi, and seemed OK for me and a Jessops salesman on a demonstrator A65 last week]

Sorry for such a long post; but if it's essential I don't try the 1650 i.e. to keep the best sale price i.e. 'totally unused new etc' if it makes a big difference; I'd really appreciate if anyone knows these lenses, and the A77.

I guess the sort of advice I'm really looking for is for example:-
1. "Don't risk your new a77 with any lens that is susceptible to gear stripping"
or
2. "you have have one of the old gem Sigmas 'built like a tank' steel 710g models, thats why you don't see reviews of this model with stripped gears,relax you won't have problems; however if you get an SSM SAL70300G you won't be happy with the Minolta as it will seem very slow and noisy in comparison".
3. "The Minolta won't be as fast as the SSM lenses, but it is a good lens optically and beautifully built; so overall not much of a difference other than a marginal difference in focus speed so put your money into the 70300G.

NB I mainly take photo's of horse-riding, holiday stuff, when we are at the beach/ on the boat and portrait stuff usually I used a 100mm [old film SLR settings] and of course the new kitten. So the 70-300 may be my most used lens. Hence my dilemna looks like I need the 70300G more than the 1650 but will the xi 28-105 minolta be OK?

Also it's weird have Sony just put up the price of the SAL1650 or is it a web maintenance issue. On Friday it was L567 or so and now it's L744!. Maybe I should keep it in any event.

...ooh, and welcome to Dyxum

Also, the gear stripping and QC problems with Sigma lenses seem to come from their consumer class glass. Their EX lenses have much better build quality, image quality, quality control, and reputation. That's been my experience at least.

Hi,

Welcome to a new world....
I think you have made a great choice with the A77.

I believe you should keep the 16-50mm for three reasons:

+ it is reported to be an excellent lens, like a "G", and likely to be visibly better than your 28-105, especially at larger apertures (smaller f numbers);

+ you really need now to have wider glass than "28mm" because on the A77's APS-C sized sensor your "28mm" gives you the field of view of a 42mm lens on your old film camera;

+ the 16-50mm with SSM focus is likely to have quieter and more accurate focus than your 28-105mm;

(I don't have the 16-50mm myself because I already had the Sony Zeiss
16-80mm and couldn't justify another similar range lens to the Finance Committee)

All the best,
Terry

halrui wrote: Keep the 16-50 wt your A77 and you will be very happy :)

+1
True Story... Until the 70-200 G comes along. Then it's a love triangle

There is a lot of debate over the relative quality of the tamron 17-50 versus the sony 16-50mm. The sony probably has a faster focus and better build than the tamron but is not a lot sharper.

I am going to assume you are not an experienced and talented trader so you are going to loose value, if not quality, in swapping to the tamron. Also you should try your sony. If it is a good copy you take a real risk of swapping it for a bad tamron which are not exactly unknown. If it is a bad copy then take it back and demand your money back or a replacement.

My advice is to sell your Xi and keep the minolta 35-105 (which is a cracking lens) and also stick with your sigma 75-300mm for now. Time will tell you what you really want for an upgrade. A zoom is not the only solution to the long end. There are fast primes and long macros.

Think before trading anything in with a dealer. Ebay will usually give you more and you can always start the bidding above what the trader is offering.

Adding to Tricky's good advice. BEWARE OF MISDESCRIBED LENSES. I have seen any number of sony 75-300mm lenses described as 70-300mm. Make sure the picture matches the description and if in doubt, ask.