Hi all,

Here are some photos I took over the weekend whilst I was covering the Mopar Euro Nats at Santa Pod. I took the A300 and 5D along, but never touched the 5D. The A300 performed perfectly and got me some really nice shots. I was using the Beercan and Sigma 24-70mm for these shots. Let me know what you all think, C+C welcome as always.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/2708827677_859c089513_o.jpg

Because Sigma is in love with the flowers, Beercan decided to love the birds. Here's few from today, C&C more than welcome, thanks for watching, hope you like them. All with minimum PP, a bit sharpening used with some pics + contrast added a bit/highlights decreased, because some got too much light from the sun.

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/Birds-26.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/Birds-5.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/Birds-21.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/Birds-25.jpg

Well, Sigma loves them a bit too, 2 pics with that. =)

Hi all,

Here are three of my favourite drifting images taken at the weekend at Santa Pod. If you think normal panning is hard, just try to catch a speeding drift car that is constantly changing direction- easy it isn't :-)

I'm quite pleased with how they turned out and was surprised at the difference the A300 makes to the beercan's focusing, I'm not sure the 5D would have coped so well here. Anyway feel free to C+C.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3062/2678978295_9291910e13_o.jpg

Hi all,

Here are three images taken a couple of weeks ago (only just got around to PP them) at a local butterfly park. I used the A300 and 70-210 beercan for these images. They were also the first images taken with the BG 30AM battery grip-what a difference that makes to the handling...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/2668511763_7c2e64643d_o.jpg

Hi all,

Here are two images I took last month with the A300 and Minolta 70-210mm 'Beercan' lens. These were taken with the camera low down to the ground on a tripod, as such I made good use of the live view on the A300.

I have processed them lightly in Aperture with the main alterations being the crop in the first image with a slight reduction in vibrancy and a small vignette added. The last image is pretty much a straight conversion.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2651176610_cb7c35303a_o.jpg

Hi all,

I haven't posted any images for a few days so thought I should add another image. Anyway, this was taken a week or so ago with the A300 and Beercan. I was actually out looking to take some landscape images when I spotted these dragonflies.

I made good use of the A300's live view as the camera was about a foot or so off the floor on a tripod. I was quite pleased with the performance of both the camera and lens. I would have preferred it if the camera could have focussed a little bit closer though :-)

Anyway, here's the image...

Carl, I love your approach to reviewing an item and the SAL18250 lens is no exception.
I am thinking of getting it to use as a walk around lens for my A-700. I see several advantages to it over my beercan which I have been using.
The wider range 18-250 vs. 70-210 and the more compact design, less weight appear to be major pluses.

I know you have used both, so I ask, how does the picture quality compare between the two.?

I know the SAL 18250 will not be great indoors without a flash, but 90+ % of my shots are outdoors in daylight for soccer, swim meets, some nature, and a lot

After a hard working week, had to get out there and shoot with the Beercan and the Sigma, first the Sigma -photos:

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/ropes.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/seacloud2.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/audi.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/highiso.jpg
Tested High-ISO here, ISO3200 and shutter speed 1/4000 F6.3

Beercan -shots:

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/beercan.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/beercan2.jpg

http://blackmike.wippiespace.com/alpha/beercan3.jpg

I picked up a 70-210 beercan today. It was a package deal for 170 I got a Minolta 7000 Sigma super wide II 28mm, Minolta AF 28-85mm with macro a few filters a big camera bag and a Minolta Maxxum 2800 AF flash oh and the beercan :-)

Im only planning on keeping the 70-210 and flebaying the rest to recoup some of the cost. Is the flash worth keeping and getting a hotshoe adapter so I can use it on the a300? I need a flash if this one is desent it would be nice to use it for a while I can get an adapter for about 10 bucks.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2540706618_8ba5a768bb.jpg