Sony AF 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 G SSM A-mount lens reviews
 rwrh3#45720 date: Jun-13-2021 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 24mm F2 Sony 16-50 f2.8 Sony 70-400G SSM Sony Zeiss 24-70SSM and many minolta lenses |
| price paid: | 350 |
| positive: | high sharpness beautiful color lightweight |
| negative: | ugly Bokeh sometime not very fast focus |
| comment: | in general, it is a good lens either in color or sharpness, I believe it worthy of a G label. I used to have its big brother 70-400G SSM, which is slightly better in focus speed on Sony a77II and a99II. but the color and sharpness are on a par, for travel purposes I will definitely carry the 70-300G. |
| A68noob#45638 date: Jan-29-2021 | |
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sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 2 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 3.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 70-210 F4 Tamron 70-300 USD |
| price paid: | 325€ used |
| positive: | +warm colours +can provide stunning pictures +best sharpness at 300mm compared to any consumer 70-300 +i can NOT remember CA +fast and accurate AF |
| negative: | -awful zoom creep (no zoom lock) -huge, especially with the hood on and extended to 300mm.. -and the hood is also prone to get scratched (tamrons 70-300 USD has a much better one) -not weather sealed -regular 1:4 magnification @ 1,2m -very expensive (for what you actually get) -sharpness at lower FL |
| comment: | Considering the price this is the worst dog of a lens I ever owned. I had high hopes in legendary G glass.. as others have claimed. I expected the pictures it delivers to always blow you away.. and oh boy, i was wrong.. Awkward and very annoying to carry as a walkaround lens due to size, weight and zoom creep. Considering the high price the features you get are poor: No zoom lock, a very cheap looking and easily scratched hood, no weather sealing (prone to collect dust between glass elements), no OSS, slow aperture like all other 70-300, nothing special aswell (maybe a useful macro mode? lower MFD?). Something positive to note? Sure. AF is quick, pretty silent and accurate. Remarkable job on removing purple fringing.. i cannot remember ever seeing some. Compared to other 70-300 lenses it is pretty sharp at 300mm + colours are pleasing which can result in some epic pictures.. Regarding the legendary G status: Yes, in perfect light you can get stunning shots.. but think again: Which lens does not deliver in such conditions? The great AF is one thing, but once we think about the optics again and the weather is getting cloudy after some time.. you will find yourself just with another regular, slow aperture lens. Low contrast and dull looking pictures incoming.. good amount of image editing needed. At lower FL i did some testing and the beercan did really deliver crispier images. Sick, but true (with MF, to ensure best focus ofc). The cherry on top: I used this lens on my A68 and noticed some heavy backfocus at lower focal lenghts after some time.. I also bought TWO infamous silver 75-300 Minoltas soon after that and guess what i noticed? All three lenses had this exact same issue. This is a camera issue and the lens is not to blame, but the Tamron 70-300 USD and also the big beercan 75-300 do not have this issue. Maybe the 70300G is sharing the same lens ID with the cheap and poor silver minolta resulting in the shared problem.. which makes me laugh and think that the G is basically a silver minolta with the ridiculous CA removed and an SSM strapped onto it. Some additional rant: The Sigma 100-300 F4 would be a good alternative to this lens, but it is plagued with the infamous plastic gears.. the newer FE version on the other hand is looking interesting tho: lower MFD resulting in ~3,1 magnification and zoom lock. This lens would need a big amount of improvements/features to be worth the price and therefore: I will now call it the Silver Creeper and not recommend it. |
| Harm vb#44300 date: May-19-2019 | |
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sharpness: 3 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Used to have also the 55-200DT (on my A77I), compared both but my 70-300 is less sharp. |
| price paid: | 800€ |
| positive: | Color, reach of 70 to 300mm, usability of both rings |
| negative: | Tends to be sharp only at f8-f11. At other diaphragms this (my?) lense is not as sharp as can be |
| comment: | Mmm, I'd rather have a sharper lense. Would love to compare with someone in my region. Sold this one and replaced it by the FE-type of this lens. |
| Dotsch#44296 date: May-17-2019 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 24/2,8 Minolta 28/2,8 Minolta 50/1,7 Minolta 100/2,8 Macro Sigma 300/4,0 Minolta 28-35/3,5-4,5 Minollta 35-70/4,0 Minolta 70-210/4,0 |
| price paid: | unknown |
| positive: | - Sharp - Good (solid) build quality, except zoom creep |
| negative: | - High price - Zoom ring will move out while walk around (zoom creep) - Sometimes a little bit nervous bokeh - Strong contrast reduction against direct sun |
| comment: | Good quality and build. |
| tekwizard#44233 date: Mar-9-2019 | |
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sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
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| 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. |
| z3144228#44066 date: May-24-2018 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron - SP AF 70-300 4-5.6 Di USD Sigma - 70-300 F4-5.6 DG OS |
| price paid: | 500 usd (used) |
| positive: | Sharpness, price, weight, color, Autofocus |
| negative: | why not f2.8 or f3.5 |
| comment: | used it on A55 and A6500 (with LE2) great images and lightweight compare to 70-200 during the daylight, its quality is not second to 70-200. The price is affordable for those who just start to learn photography. with 760 g, you can carry it for the whole day. |
| SineQuaNon#38900 date: Jul-11-2017 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 3 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | SAL55300 |
| price paid: | 600 USD (used) |
| positive: | - impressive IQ throughout almost entire zoom range - decently quick/accurate focusing - relatively low cost (G lens on a budget) - lightweight and relatively small - focus hold button |
| negative: | - less than impressive build quality (but you're getting G quality for far less than it usually costs) - slow lens (but again, budget G lens) - no zoom lock |
| comment: | G purists might like to bash this lens, but for me, it is the perfect combination of things I look for: Great IQ, a highly useful zoom range, full-frame capable for my upcoming switch, far smaller and less heavy than its 70-200/70-400 G brethren, and relatively easy on the wallet, especially if you find a used copy in good shape. Would I say it has the same level of IQ as the aforementioned 70-200/70-400 G lenses, no. But it does blow the SAL55300 and similar lenses out of the water, IMO. It is respectably sharp wide open, and stop it down to f8 and it truly is impressive. Now on to the zoom range, which I find to be essentially perfect. 70-200 is too short for my uses, and the 70-400 is just a bit of overkill. Your mileage may very, but for the type of images I shoot, it just works. For me, the primary advantage is that you get that legendary G quality, but in a much smaller and lighter package than ever before. The 70-200/70-400 G lenses are just massive beasts, and heavy as hell in comparison. The 70-300, however, has never once made me regret having it on my camera, and with some skill and decent light, you can hand-hold out to 300mm. Don't believe me? Check out some of the sample images I recently posted, all hand-held. ;) And finally, on to the cost, which is more than reasonable for what you get, as far as I'm concerned. I got my used copy a couple years back for $600, and I considered it a steal even at that time. So, maybe it doesn't have the fancy silver/white coat of paint, and it isn't built quite like a tank, and it isn't the fastest lens out there, but aside from those details, it is an awesome piece of glass. |
| streets#20405 date: Nov-1-2015 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | My Minolta 50mm f3.5 Macro |
| price paid: | $490.00 used |
| positive: | Very light considering performance. Zeiss-like sharp throughout the zoom range. Beautiful color rendition. Mechanically smooth. Lightening fast focus. |
| negative: | You're kidding; right? |
| comment: | I tested this lens against my Macro, which I thought could never be bested in sharpness, and the "G" won: Not by much, but it won. For the money paid, it was a steal. The "G" must stand for Godly. I would recommend this zoom to anyone looking for the best of class. The bokeh of this lens is absolutely gorgeous. It makes every photo pop. |
| Ant#16322 date: Jul-20-2015 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 70-300 usd |
| price paid: | 660€ new |
| positive: | Very sharp, great colors, no flare, speed. |
| negative: | Build quality (for a G lens), weatherproofing. |
| comment: | Great lens, not as sharp or fast as the 70-200 G, but has more reach and your kit will not need tripod-monopod support. Because many users here and in dpreview suggest the Tamron equivalent, I tried it before buying and it goes nowhere near the Sony. Focusing speed is much slower, tracking speed is light-years behind. Sharpness, color and flare are also worse in Tamron. Get the Tamron if you are on a Budget but do not be fooled that you bought the same thing paying half price. A77ii users will not believe the combo outcome, particularly when shooting fast moving subjects. |
| Wanliem#13214 date: Apr-1-2015 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | 75 - 300 big beercan |
| price paid: | 400USD (used) |
| positive: | light weight no CA on Wide open aperture |
| negative: | n/a |
| comment: | if you have fund just buy it and feel the different |
| Bob J#12175 date: Mar-10-2015 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | KM 75-300 D, Minolta 70-210 f4.0 |
| price paid: | £399 new |
| positive: | Sharp, reliable, great image quality, good reach. SSM, lots of focus-hold buttons. |
| negative: | Hefty in comparison to cheaper alternatives (75-300 D). Reversing petal hood is ridiculously large (so that it can reverse). No tripod mount. |
| comment: | All you could ever want in a tele-zoom (if you don’t need something longer or faster ;-). I’ve yet to find a hood solution that really suits (the reversing petal hood is ridiculously large so that it can reverse), but a smaller srew-on metal hood makes the whole lens a bit long for my bag with it in place. Good value for money if you can pick it up below £500 (which it has been on general offer for at times). |
| Terrysmwu#12039 date: Nov-23-2014 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta AF 100-300mm F4.5-5.6 APO D and 200mm F2.8 HS APO |
| price paid: | 700 |
| positive: | Both color and sharpness are very nice! Light weight! SSM! |
| negative: | I just do not satisfy the bokeh and construction. |
| comment: | I've owned this lens for a year, and it replaced my older Minolta AF 100-300mm F4.5-5.6 APO D. It outclasses the 100-300mm, and is quickly becoming one of my personal favourites. I highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a light portable zoom for the A-Mount. |
| bobbyg50#11941 date: Aug-9-2014 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta Big Beercan |
| price paid: | 650 used |
| positive: | Great colors Fast and silent focus |
| negative: | None |
| comment: | You get the quality that you would expect from a G lens. I am very impressed with this my first SSM as it is truly fast and silent. Colors are great and so far I have had very little PP to do. Love the reach at 300mm. Recommended. |
| BRWAT#11925 date: Jul-29-2014 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | 70-200mm G2 75-300mm G 70-400mm G 28-75mm 16-50mm 18-135mm |
| price paid: | $699.99 |
| positive: | This lens is very sharp, and its colour rendition is excellent. Even thought its construction is plastic it feels robust. Its very light. Its SSM seem very fast on both the A850, and A77. |
| negative: | It isn't weather-sealed, and any lens bearing the G-Series badge should be. Its not as sharp as either the 70-200mm or 70-400mm, but is only a third of the weight. |
| comment: | I've owned this lens for a year, and it replaced my older screw driven older Sony 75-300mm. It simply outclasses the 75-300mm, and is quickly becoming one of my personal favourites. Its combination of sharpness, colour rendition, and fast AF speed makes it a must for any A77, A77II, A850 or A900 owner. Its not as sharp as the my other G-Series zooms (70-200mm or 70-400mm), but its light weight more than compensates. I can use this in combination with the A77 all day, and never once feel fatigued. I highly recommend this lens to anyone looking for a light portable zoom for the A-Mount. |
| keith_h#11863 date: Jun-10-2014 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.1 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | 100-300 APO |
| price paid: | aud $500 sh |
| positive: | Beautiful images, fast focus, nice build. |
| negative: | None really at the price. |
| comment: | Not too big, works as expected, reliably delivers beautiful images. A good companion to the 16-105 on the a700 and well suited to my needs. |
| ing.arellano#11627 date: Jan-22-2014 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 75-300 Minolta 300F4 Minolta 100-400 Minolta 100-300 |
| price paid: | 700 |
| positive: | Cheap Great Image Super Fast focusing Build Great Image |
| negative: | Aperture 5.6 |
| comment: | Really fast when focusing, image is super sharp and has no CA anywhere. it is definitely worth the money from the 75-300. this was my first G lens, after seeing what a G lens could do, i started to buy only CZ and G lenses. The image at F/8 is amazing! |
| Ralf B#11610 date: Jan-15-2014 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | SAL 70-400G Minolta 70-210/4 Beercan CZ 135/1.8 |
| price paid: | 500 EU new (lucky) |
| positive: | Light weight (but see cons) Overall IQ is a great combo of high sharpness, contrast and low CA/PF |
| negative: | Low weight makes lens pick up mirror slap |
| comment: | I bought this in the U.K. when a Sony retailer cleared stock to replace my beercan (which found a good new home with a friend who still uses it) and before I bought the a55. Use case was a light but long and good telephoto for handheld shooting when not bringing the tripod. On a700 and a900, focus was spot on, but the last "bite" in IQ was strangely missing. Once mounted on the a55, the final step in IQ was made. I assume that the combination of the well built, but light housing of the 70-300G and the mirror slap of the a700/a900 caused some ringing which the a55 does not trigger. The a55 with Tamron 17-50/2.8 and the SAL 70-300G now join me when travelling light or rough with no regrets in IQ. |
| rajneesh#11375 date: Oct-8-2013 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.1 | tested on:
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| 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. |
| Effstop#11335 date: Sep-12-2013 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.3 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sigma 70-300 DG APO Tokina 75-300 (push-pull) |
| price paid: | 750 AUD (new) |
| positive: | relatively lightweight image quality sharpness SSM |
| negative: | zoom creep (though not too bad) |
| comment: | My first "G" lens, purchased after wasting money on inferior 70-300 zooms. A very impressive lens, although not sure it rates the "G" moniker due to it's plastic, albeit quality, build. I eventually purchased both a 70-200 G & 70-400 G which rendered this lens pretty much redundant so I sold it. I do miss it's compactness and relatively light weight, though. Impressive colours and image quality, I have no hesitation in recommending this quality, mid-range zoom. |
| whisperer#11256 date: Jul-16-2013 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 75-300 Minolta 85 1.4 |
| price paid: | 550 EUR (new) |
| positive: | Sharp at 70mm (but not tack sharp) Amazing colors Good bokeh SSM AF-D on A99 (although I don't really use it much) Looks great with the petal hood |
| negative: | Not sharp wide opened at 300mm but gets better stopped down (although you lose the bokeh) |
| comment: | Miles ahead of my old Minolta 75-300. Wanted something light to replace it that I could take with me everywhere but with pro quality, this was a no brainer. It's still heavy, but not excessively. Great quality overall, the zoom felt a bit too long on the A700 but it's great on the A99. The micro contrast and colors are amazing, it's the G glass magic I suppose. Now one bad thing about it: if once fell from a very low height inside a protective case and stopped focusing. Sony in the UK was rubbish so had it fixed in Portugal, no questions asked as it was still in the warranty. Good Sony service in Portugal, bad resistance to falls and knocks for a professional graded lens - or any lens for that matter! Otherwise the build is the best of all the plastic lenses I have. If you've got one, treat it like a newborn! |
| Minnhog#11221 date: Jun-30-2013 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta Big Beer Can... |
| price paid: | 999.99 |
| positive: | Very nice handling. |
| negative: | Heavy.... Expensive.... Focus/Zoom rings are made of rubber and collect dust and dirt easily. |
| comment: | Very nice lens.... Much sharper at all ranges than what I expected.... Very nice, fast, and quiet focus motor. A sure joy if a lens..... |
| shadowfax001#11118 date: May-15-2013 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 3 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 75-300 SAL70200g SAL70400g |
| price paid: | 799 USD |
| positive: | Overall sharpness Very nice colors/contrast Focal Range No too heavy Focus hold button SSM |
| negative: | Build quality (e.g. very plasticky) Rather "slow" lens No access window on lens hood Value at retail price |
| comment: | In good lighting this lens take beautiful shots on an A99. For example, a trip to the zoo and a beautiful summer's day will turn out nice pix (e.g. good colors, sharp) of animals, people, and flowers. Does not seem as sharp as the Sony's 70-400g — a lens that I no longer own. I'm not sure if it's head-over-tails better than Sony's much cheaper 75-300 economy telephoto. A $999 asking price, new seems a bit steep for a lens that is rather plasticky in nature and includes a lens hood with no access window (e.g. adjusting a polarizer). I'd feel better if this lens was priced at around $850. |
| onehorseal#11070 date: Apr-25-2013 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | 490GBP |
| positive: | Sharp through range. Well built |
| negative: | None so far |
| comment: | Bought new and has been on my camera 90% of the time. |
| psychni#11044 date: Apr-16-2013 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | SAL16-80 zeiss MINOLTA 24-85 3.5-4.5 Tamron SP 90 macro |
| price paid: | 900 euro (new) |
| positive: | Fast AF Sharp Silent Full Frame |
| negative: | My copy micro adjusted to -6 with my A900 |
| comment: | I took this lens together almost with my A700 with the vision to upgrade to Full Frame some time. This time arrived. Now I have a A900. I was happy but not as now. Because this lens saw the quality with the A900!! Now the AF is more accurate and really faster! Consider of course that (thanks to A900) micro adjust option my copy calibrated to -6 !! Highly recommended!! |
| StuBlight#10956 date: Mar-1-2013 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 70-400 g |
| price paid: | $900 AUD |
| positive: | missing |
| negative: | missing |
| comment: | This is my goto lens for just about everything. It's relatively light, very crisp sharp lens on a a99. Auto focus is fast and accurate. Fantastic flare control . 4.5 min aperture is no problem on a99. It's still very fast. Surprisingly good portrait lens even compared with 85 and 135 primes. This lens should be in every kit bag. Especially for its reasonable price new. |
| joestealthmode#10553 date: Oct-3-2012 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | 85mm f/1.4 ZA 24mm f/2 ZA |
| price paid: | 450 USD (used) |
| positive: | Very sharp SSM is quiet and fast! Brilliant, vibrant colors Inside focus ring |
| negative: | f/4.5-5.6 Made out of plastic 62mm filter |
| comment: | I got this open box used for $450 so I really can't complain. I am a person who loves prime lenses so Zoom lenses are a bit foreign to my style. I have a feeling I will be using this more at 70 and 300 than anything else. This is an ISO 400-800 lens unless it is a perfectly sunny day. The colors are magnificent, definitely worthy of the G designation. The lens is blazing fast to acquire and super quiet. I wish it was 2.8, but I can't complain as it was very inexpensive. I do like the short focus distance and I really like the inside focus ring. Can't wait to test on the A99. Updated on 10/12/2012 to reflect testing on A900. This lens is amazingly bright on the A900 and the background smoothing is quite nice, even at f/5.6 on the longer lengths. My favorite part about this lens is it is sharp wide open. Most zooms need to be stopped down to be sharp corner-to-corner and this lens delivers out of the gate. Updated on 1/4/2013 to reflect use on A99. I sold this lens in lieu of the Minolta 200mm f/2.8 HS APO. I just didn't use it as much as my other lenses. That being said, the lens served me well enough. Had it been AF-D enabled, it would have been harder for me to get rid of. The main reasons I got rid of the lens was the way it extended when it was zoomed out and the 62mm filter. |
| Flying Fossil#10501 date: Sep-10-2012 | |
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 70-200mm G, Sony 70-400mm G |
| price paid: | 800 (used) |
| positive: | Build, quiet SSM, Exc. Iq, Easier to handle than 70-400, more reach than 70-200, Full Frame or APS-C, works with tele converter. |
| negative: | None |
| comment: | Great lens on the A-580 and A77. Well balanced, quick to focus, easy to get sharp photos of still and or motion shots. Main use is for Soccer and birding but find that it is on my camera most of the time. Money well spent for a great outdoor lens that should last a long time. Big plus is that I bought this lens (used)?? however it was brand new unopened in the box. |
| Wingco#10500 date: Sep-10-2012 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.9 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 100 Macro Minolta 100 300 Xi |
| price paid: | £599 new |
| positive: | Range Close focus distance Build quality SSM (near silent) |
| negative: | Length Lack of cpl adjust window |
| comment: | Another fantastic lens paired with my A77 and KM 5d it's difficult to fault, less sharp wide open and long with hood on and the lack of a window on the hood to adjust Cpl is a minor annoyance. As an aerospace engineer I have no concerns about the sensible use of composite materials to save weight. Well deserving of the G title. Have yet to test on my Dynax 7 film camera. |
| StefB.#10411 date: Jul-29-2012 | |
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | SONY 70-400mm Minolta Big Beercan 75-300mm |
| price paid: | 501 Euro (New) |
| positive: | - relatively lightweight and compact - Good range - Fast, silent and accurate AF. |
| negative: | All in plastic |
| comment: | I had the SONY 70-400mm. Even if this lens is very good, the 70-400 is very big and very heavy. That why I bought the 70-300mm. My big beercan was heaviest, very noisy, slow AF and strong CA. No regret. |
| HiDesert#10010 date: Mar-9-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta AF 100-300 F4.5-5.6 |
| price paid: | $900 |
| positive: | Very high image quality Well built SSM is great! Not too heavy |
| negative: | A bit slow BIG lens, especially with the hood in place No zoom lock |
| comment: | This is the most expensive lens I've ever owned, and it's worth it. The feel and build quality of the lens are great. No, it's not a metal body, and I don't care; it's very well built. It's heavy enough to help you hold it steady, but not so heavy that it needs a collar. The image quality is great. Very sharp all the time if you do your part, virtually no chromatic abberation; all the image quality one would expect from a G lens. I've gotten some very pleasing bokeh out of it, too. I love pulling this out of the bag. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 168
- sharpness: 4.69
- color: 4.81
- build: 4.25
- distortion: 4.78
- flare control: 4.78
- overall: 4.66
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