Sorry so long to reply. Out for a day and things get way behind :)

Hard to compare these two but ill do my best.

Since they are really night and day from each other, the Sony being a do it all lens that does almost all of it, and does it very well, and the beercan being more of a niche lens capable of stunning characteristic images in comparison....

I can say the Sony would keep up mostly to the beercan and in some areas exceed it, and the same can be said for the beercan. I would give an edge to bokeh and low light shooting to the beercan. Focusing speed and versatility/weight in the direction of the Sony.

Sharpness is hard to say. Without imatest examples of the beercan it comes down to impressions. I'd have to say they are very close, with maybe the Sony edging slightly in early portions of the beer cans range, and falling off just a tad in the latter portions of the range (say about 70-130 to the Sony and 131-210 to the beercan but only slightly).

I can tell you that both lenses are really good and both suprise. I've shot a lot with the Sony and I still find myself amazed at how well it does being that it .. shouldn't .. do that well.

The beercan is an interesting fellow. It is simple and straight forward. More of an artists lens imo. Great for portraits (soft at f4), and sharp enough for excellent flower shots or anything else you want to shoot.

The Sony has vignetting issues until you stop down to F8 (but I am pickier than most about vignetting, I simply hate vignetting), and the Beer can does not. Both can CA but the Beercan rids itself a bit sooner than the Sony, but not by much... say F7.1 for the can and F8 for the Sony (even then trace amounts exist).

For me, when I feel like a freaky deaky artist dude, I grab the beercan. When I feel like I want a lens to CMA (cover my ass) I grab the Sony. :)

I hope that helps! (laughing at my own joke)

Carl

If I had to get a lens to 'cover my ass' I would need something a lot wider than 18mm for sure!!!

Thanks Carl, for the response.
I am starting to get some really nice shots with the A-700/Beercan combo.
Got some last Sunday of my Grandaughter at a swim meet in Irvine and the family thought they were "stunning".
Not sure about the stunning part but I was very pleased with the color and sharpness. All were hand held which speaks well for the anti-shake feature on the
Sony. My only negative is that the lens gets a tad nose heavy after a day of walking around with it.

Guess I'll just have to get the Sony lens and see for myself. I am sure I will like it.

Jim B

Give the "stunning" part some time. I have seen some images from the beer can that have blown me away, and .. some that haven't (clears throat) but that wasn't the lens' fault. I agree on the nose heavy part, a bit long for me at times. Good though that it is an internal zoom lens :).

Yeah I think it comes down to trying stuff out to get a real opinion. I think reviews are good to know you are headed in the right direction (at least some reviews), then it is up to experience.

Interested in knowing what you end up thinking of it.

Carl

Now all I have to do is find one in stock.
Here are a few samples of the swim meet. What do you think Carl?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26685585@N06/

Opps, just saw your reply in my "Cool Down" post.

Thanks.