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

tekwizard#44233 date: Mar-9-2019
sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP24MP36MP42MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	- Tamron 70-300 USD - Sony 70-400 G - Minolta 300 2.8 HS - Minolta 200 2.8 HS - Beercan - Tamron 55-200mm F4-5.6 Di II
price paid:	800 Eur (new)
positive:	- small and light - well corrected - focus limiter and focus hold button - quite sharp until 180mm
negative:	- not sharper than a good copy of the beercan - at 300mm just acceptably sharp
comment:	I bought this lens to have more reach then with my Tamron 55-200mm and was quite happy with it for a while, until I got some of the other lenses for comparison. The positive: The lens is sharp in the lower focal lengths and the build is good. It easily beats the Tamron 70-300 USD in all focal lenghts. It also is a good combination with the Sony 16-50 2.8 SSM. The negative: At 300mm it is just acceptable and . The Sony 70-400, the Minolta 300 2.8 and the Minolta 200 2.8 with teleconverter are all singificantly sharper but maybe that comparison is a bit unfair. It is not sharper at >120mm than the Beercan but doesn't have the "magic"of the Beercan. However, it also doesn't have the CAs of the Beercan. I am bringing this lens with me when I want to travel light but need more reach, otherwise I prefer the Beercan.