sony 70-300g ssm (black)

a converter would help but it will make the aperture smaller by what converter you use eg.

f2.8 + 2x converter = f5.6
f2.8 + 1.4x converter = f4

so if you brought the tamron you would theoretically be buying the same thing but the tamron can have three long reaches, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm, and should have faster autofocus etc.
 
snapsnap said:
Hi just reading a thread and i read that the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 would be better but ent quite got the reach. Will a tele converter be the right idea or will it make the lens rubbish??

Cheers
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I'm speculating here but I suspect the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 with a Kenko 1.4x / Tamron TC at 280mm f/4 would not be quite as good as the 70-300 SSM @ 280mm, but stopping down 1 stop with the TC (280mm f/5.6) I suspect it would be better by a fair margin.

My observation across a few lenses that a decent f/2.8 lens with a 1.4x TC can usually do better than a "consumer" level 70-300 zoom. Its certainly true of the Nikon 70-200 VR, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 and Minolta 80-200 f/2.8 APO....
 
snapsnap said:
Hi i am looking for a good lens to 300mm for birds in flight. So has to have good af.

Jessops has it for £499 is it good or is there a better option to take. It will mainly be hand held. http://www.jessops.com/online.store/products/74819/show.html

Many thanks Dan
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aparently,it's a very good lens,but according to some..not worth the price tag and is more od a £350-£400 lens.having said that..it out performs any of the cheaper options by far[sony,sigma or tamron offerings]and is only really bettered by the sony 70-400 G SSM,which is really good,but not cheap[around £1100 new].i have the latter,and it's a fantsatic lens,but rarely gets used,so i may be selling...
 
stan the man said:
i have the latter,and it's a fantsatic lens,but rarely gets used,so i may be selling...
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If you decide to let me know, as I could really do with a wildlife lens.

I'm holding onto my Nikon 300mm f/4 even though I have no body for it which is silly :nuts:
 
Sony's 70-300mm and 70-400mm G lenses are optically superb, and better most of the independents because you don't have to stop them down to get sharp results. The SSM AF drives on them are quiet and accurate but may struggle with initial lock on birds in flight because they're not lightning fast. Once you get there then they'll hold onto focus and you can rattle off shot after shot. But it can be frustrating if they miss and cycle through the focus range before locking on, by which time the bird has gone.
If you can afford it and are prepared to buy second hand, look out for the Minolta 200mm F2.8 HS G, or the 300mm F4 HS G. Both are fast and very sharp.
I have the 200mm HS G and often use it with a Sigma EX 1.4x TC for birds in flight.
Japanese Ebay sellers Matsuiyastore and Ian Hobday often have them. They're first rate genuine sellers, although you have to factor in UK duty and VAT. They often pop up on the Dyxum website as well.
 
eccles said:
If you can afford it and are prepared to buy second hand, look out for the Minolta 200mm F2.8 HS G
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I've got one a 80-200 f/2.8 APO HS G - I'll swear that the focusing (when driven by my A900), is significantly quicker than SSM (certainly quicker than the 70-300 SSM).
 
I think all the Minolta G series primes are first rate. The HS versions are later and faster focussing but I don't think they're optically better. They're also more expensive so if AF speed isn't an issue then you could save money by getting the earlier type. For birds in flight you need the AF speed. I'm not saying you can't get birds in flight with the Sony SSM zooms - I've got some nice flying swan shots with the 70-400mm but I caught them early so that I had a lock when they were flying past.
The Minolta 80-200mm is fast and sharp but is limited by the teleconverters that you can use with it. You can't use Sigma or Minolta/Sony TCs due to interference with the real lens element. If 200mm is sufficient then you might even consider a s/h beercan (Minolta 70-210mm F4). Beercans struggled with AF speed on the A100 but with the A700 and later bodies they're actually quite quick, nippy enough for chasing dragonflies in flight.
 
andy...here are some shot i've taken this afternoon...

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eccles said:
The Minolta 80-200mm is fast and sharp but is limited by the teleconverters that you can use with it. You can't use Sigma or Minolta/Sony TCs due to interference with the real lens element.
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The answer to the TC question is the Kenko Pro 1.4 300 DG.


DSC09196-2.jpg

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Mounts just fine.
 
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