I don't know anything about paintball but I would just go get the 70-300G SSM and be thrilled:) Of course I'm partial to this lens:) :) This 300 mm is equivalent to a 900 mm film camera/lens if you do live view and 2X setting. If you need more "light" then just bump up the ISO number a little until it hurts. It has a reasonable minimum depth of field due the the maximum f4.5 aperture... more pixels here (a larger percentage of the overall picture/shot) will be in focus than an f2.8 lens... so the whole ~person will be in focus instead of just a nose.

(Buy extra battery too.)

Good luck.

The 70-300mm G SSM wont have slower auto focus because it's only f4. I have no proof but I would guess it that the 70-300G must focus faster than the screw drive Tamron 70-200mm f2.8. It is true that f2.8 lenses get a boost in AF sensitivity from the center cross sensors when the lens is opened up to f2.8, though. A f2.8 lens will get you the ability to keep shutter speeds higher or ISO settings lower when shooting in low light. At f2.8 the out of focus areas will look nice and creamy. Sony also makes a 70-200 f2.8 G SSM lens, but it costs quite a bit more than the 70-300G or the Tamron 70-200. It sounds like you'd be fine with the 70-300mm G.

Hi and welcome to the site.

You've got lots of helpful advice so far, so there isn't too much that I can add. However I think the 70-300G is probably your best bet. It has the best reach and great optical quality yet doesn't cost the earth. The Tamron is reportedly a great lens (very sharp) but from the reviews so far, it seems to have slow focus (this may change on the Alphas as they use slot driven AF instead of a micro motor in the lens like the Canikon versions). It will also be louder when focusing which may or may not be an issue- depends what you're photographing.

I know you are limited on time, but is there any chance you could rent the lenses to see how they perform before splashing the cash and buying them?

Lastly, as Brian says just because it's not an F2.8 lens won't automatically mean it will focus slowly, that will depend on light levels amongst other factors.

Hope that helps.

Time being an issue.....the 70-300G is possibly the only option. The Tamrons seem like they're difficult to find and the f2.8 G series 70-200 is expensive.

I don't find focusing slow on my Tamron 70-200, and I can track, focus, lock on and shoot my retrievers running flat out on a 160 acre farm with this lens and the shots are amazing. Perhaps the Sigma version of this with SSM will be easier to find? Although something tells me that too will be difficult?

so im 99% sure im gonna get the Sont 70-300G. with a 1% chance i still might go with the sigma 70-200 f/2.8

any ways that brings me to question two i got. i need a low end zoom lens, my goal is to have basically 2 lenses to cover it all. at least for now. i definatly want a 2.8 lens since i will be using it indoors alot and in dim light settings.

the only sony/CZ lense that fits this is 1700$ and way to much. so that leaves me with Tamron and Sigma

here are the lens ive found so far

Tamron:
AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II LD Aspherical - $450
AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical - $400 (like this one more as it wont leave me a zoom gap between the two)
(also not sure if the Tamron has any special high speed focusing motor like the sigma has the HSM and Sony has SSM. any one know?

Sigma: Standard Zoom Lense 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM - ???price??? the sigma site doesnt have it listed, not evne sure if it hit stores yet
Sigma: DC Lenses for Digital SLR Camera 17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC Macro HSM - $610
(not really sure the difference between standard zoom and the DC lenses for DSLR.. hoping you guys could clear that up)

any help would be great, thanks! (this lense i got alittle more time to decide on so time isnt an issue)

I hope you arn't getting your camera tagged by paintballs...that would suck...

I would roll with the 70-300G myself. I have a 17-50 Tamron & it's a great lens minus the distortion at 17mm. I consider it a 22-50, but it's very sharp + 2.8.

I own a Tamron AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical and have no complain so far for general walk around, if you do get this lens make sure you use the rebate form ($10 for mail in and $30 for Education rebate).

Since you are going to do some indoor shoot , may be the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM is better for you.

I loe to own the a G-lens and personally will not use the Sony 70-300G lens in paintballs game.....because I am sure I will use my body to douche the paintballs from the camera + G-lens .

Price Tag for
Tamron AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di LD around $360 after rebate
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM around $799
Sony 70-300G around $799

I will leave the rest for you to decide.

where did you find the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM for 800? ive only seen it for 1200.

also using your body to "douche" the paintballs.. not sure i follow...

The price tag for Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM can be found on BHphoto or adoroma.

That lens is not available yet at B&H. they are taking orders for a waiting list.

oh nice, yea its not in yet hopefully it comes in soon, but i think it be worth waiting for for that price you cant beat it. is that a reliable site? cuz thats like a whole 1/3 of the price off from what sigma lists it as. if it is though im definatly gonna get that one.

ill just pick a lower zoom lens to get first.

B&H is extremely reliable. My office is right down the street from them.

does any one here own the 70-300G or the 18-250 sony lense? how does the focus speed compare to the kit lense? i think im leaning towards the 70-300G lense agian (my one friend keeps telling me just to save the money and get the 18-250, but i keep reading it focus's so slow and that would render the lense useless for me) does the 70-300G focus fast in bright light? (any one with personal experience with it) focus speed is pretty much my number 1 concern with getting a lense. there is just something about having the extra zoom in the 70-300G that gets me really wanting it, and the fact that it gets amazing reviews on all lengths for image quality. and it does have a SSM motor so as long as it focus's alot faster then the Kit lense in bright days and at least decent in lower light, im gonna get the 70-300G

ive also read that for the 70-200 lenses to get nice sharp pictures you have to stop up the camera from 2.8 to at least 4. so that brings it on the same playing field as the 70-300G any ways.

I have the 18-250, and I don't find it very slow focusing, but slow/fast can be subjective. On any body except the A100, it is quite quick.

According to the review here, it is quicker than the Tamron 18-250, and about half the screw turns.

-Apollo

yea i got the a300. when i wa spicking out a camera i got to caught up in comparing sony alpha vs canon xs/xsi vs nikon d40/60/80 i forgot to compare the a300 agianst the a700, and if i woulda knew how much faster focusing the a700 was i woulda definatly got that. what you gonna do though, i still love my a300 and money i saved can go towards a killer lense.

but any ways Apollo, how would you say the 18-250 focus speed is compared to the 18-70 Kit lense? same? slightly faster? sometimes faster? day and night faster? noticable but not to much? how would you rate the speed for taking sport action shots.

Money is always a show stopper and a key factor in purchasing a lens
I own a 70-200g ssm 2.8 lens from sony with a 2x tele converter.
yes it expensive but worth the money when you save up...
Even with a teleconverter and without, I'm able to shoot high speed F1 races here in Europa post in this forum

The lenses when used properly will last you a life time.. and out last a few bodies ...

Renting would i think help you decide on which one is the one for you.
And then save up for one your self, I would save up for some quality lenses

Just my two cents

You can also wait for the soon to come 70-400G for deeper zoom. It seems that price is not so much of a concern for you since you have the Sony 70-200 in your lists also? Do you need the Images to be tack sharp or slightly soft lens would be ok? If slightly softer will be ok then try the 70-200 SSM with a Tcon. 70-300G is a good option but when it gets cloudy or darker then ISO has to be cranked up. I think it's a good idea to have the 2.8 while also being able to reach to 400 with a Tcon.

I would fancy the 70-200mm f2.8 tamron myself, people are saying the optics are good, and of course it is fast.

Price is pretty nice too. Not sure about the AF, but I doubt it would be a problem for my needs. But it depends on what you do. I admit I spend most time at WA to short tele, only the odd time do I go to 300mm. Even then the tamron 70-300mm would be fine for my needs.