Sony AF 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM A-mount lens review by rajneesh

rajneesh#11375 date: Oct-8-2013
sharpness: 4.5 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.1	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Tamron 70-300 Di LD Minolta 75-300 Minolta 100-300 Minolta 400 f4.5
price paid:	500 USD (used)
positive:	Sharp (get soft at the long end but much more than expected) Colors (Not Minolta good but Sony good) Light Fast and quiet focus DMF IQ
negative:	Price MFD Battery hog (My first SSM lens so compared to non-SSM lens) Plastic build (for the cost) Clumsy hood
comment:	This lens was never on my list, looked too plasticky to justify the G label. Was saving for a 70-200 for shooting Mammals but then there was one available cheap and I picked it on impulse. I finally ended up using it for Herps also as the range makes up for the MFD. And have not regretted it. Its got a plastic body but feels sturdy and well built, not like the longer Minolta primes but decently so. The image quality is excellent and far beyond my expectations, one quality that justifies the G label. The image is decently sharp even when fully open and stopping down a couple of stops improves it further. Colors are pleasing. The manual focusing is excellent and there is the DMF, joy to use. By far the best lens I have used in this range, only question one would needs to ask if its worth the price.