Excellen review...

Nice review. I'm very interested in this lens, but am not sure if it's worth to buy. I have beercan and a minolta 100-400apo. The latter is just to heavy for walking/day trips. So I'm thinking to replace both with this lens. Again but, I tested my fathers minolta 100-300apo lens and was surprised with the sharpness. Although bokeh isn't as nice as the new sony.
How would you compare the new sony to the minolta 100-300apo?

Hi Carl,

Once again a thorough and well written review. You and Eric are a credit to the world of Alpha mount shooters.

Cheers.
Andrew

Carl,

....I bought the Tamron 90 based on your review, the Tamron 70-300 DI based on your review, and the 70-300G based on your initial impressions. It's all good by the way.

Know that the work you do is having an effect. Keep up the good work...and don't forget to take some photos along the way.

Until last month I would have never considered the a900 or whatever the name will be... I woiuld like to see A1 or Alpha 1.

Great review.

The explanation for the infinity focus "range" was clear, and concise. Canon's L telephotos have a similar range even though they are white.

The placement of the focus, and zoom rings is a bit strange, but I assume that the construction of the lens requires this placement.

This lens should prove to be popular due to the zoom range, and price point.

Thanks again for the time, and effort to prepare this review.

Martin

David Kilpatrick has both and I think did a comparison on www.photoclubalpha.com. Good read on the 70-300G as well. Looks like we agree.

Carl

I appreciate the wind from behind, helps us continue on :)

Vois, I hope you are happy with all those purchases. In addition to new product, Eric and I discuss what we think hold good overall value for performance, when considering reviews etc. before deciding to do a review here.

Again thank you!

We just got back from a turn around trip to the Sierras, big hike into the Minaret Mountain range. Shot lots of pictures, maybe ill get around to checking them out today (if my stiff back and legs will let me).

Cheers!

Carl

Glad you liked the review. Although we lack the high priced laboratory testing facilities needed for a much more thorough review, I try to really give the nuts and bolts (so to speak) of a product that I think will be most important to all. Feed back helps me achieve that goal.

Thank you again,

Carl

I really like the results that I am seeing posted with this lens...

I have a really good copy of both the Beercan & Big Beercan. I am keeping the pristine copy of the Beercan that I have...

Would you sell the Beercan & Big Beercan to get the money for the 70-30SMM G? I am also considering holding on to these lenses until the FF comes out since I can only imagine that the value is going to increase...

Your thoughts?

Hapster

They are really different lenses altogether imo. Old first generation f4 lens vs. a new generation SSM. One reason I opted not to do a comparison in the review of the 70-300G. Since they are so different it was hard to come up with a common ground they could be evaluated on, and I thought it best to do them individually.

On the big beercan, well thats sort of a collectors lens, isn't it? Hard to let go of? :) Your call on that one, range is the same as is basically the aperture range (at least min aperture), and I think the 70-300G SSM has better image quality. Off hand I suppose I'd keep the f4 beercan, and opt out of the 70-300 Big beercan unless I wanted to collect.

Have one from the old, and one from the new in my stable, if it were. :)

Looks good Carl..

And the price is decent too. Stock shortages though.
I think this will find a place in the market, for those looking for better optical qualities, withouth wallet denting prices. Not everyone needs the super fast lenses, and for good light shots, this looks good. Now all we need is an f4 70-200mm SSM, and a few tele primes, also at f4..to open up those who dont need/want to pay for the speed.

Thank you carl, For your very nice review i really enjoy reading it.

Do you mind if i translate your review into thai language for another local sony system forum as a refference.
The forum is Photohobby.net which is thailand forum, As some of us having hard time of trying to read your review in english, So i think it's a good idea to help them on this, It's also good to help publish Alphamountworld.com to the people in this forum. (Most of people in this forum are using sony system).
I will credit to Alphamount world and you as a usual good habit.

Thanks
MeeN

Very nice review Carl. I'm wondering if this is a worthy replacement for my BBC - at an extra $500. I really appreciate all the sample images. Nice variety there. Looks like the IQ is at least as good (especially at f5.6) and the CA/PF is much improved. Not sure I'll be able to get used to that Supersize lens hood though.

I think it might be in my future. Maybe I can get the wife to spring for it ;-)

Chatting with my friend working at Jessops (Canon owner, so according to DPR, we should be brawling!) when he asks, "Have you seen this beast?" Intrigued, I follow him to the Sony display. Only a 70-300G SSM! So I send him off to get the keys and we have a play with both it, and the A200. Er, WOW! Forgot about eyestart (have switched it off on our A200) and scarily, the focus beeped as it reached my eye. And not a sound either. Mark is impressed - so much so he sneered at the Canon equivalent. But he loves the feel, speed and accuracy for the G lens.

Worse for me, is, the fact that I do too!

If I needed that length in my collection, it'd be the only consideration for me....

How come there's suddenly no stock/supply of this SAL-70300G lens here in the entire US? Anybody knows when it'll be available?

SAL70300G supply does seem to be down now you are right. I couldn't tell for sure if Adorama had one, looks like you need to phone to confirm. I did find one listed as new on ebay, do a search for SAL-70300G and do another separate search for SAL70300G I found a total of three.

Looks like the SAL-70300G is back in stock again. Circuit City Online has it since ~Friday last week, and Sony Style Online posted this (no backorder) in their shopping database earlier today. Ebay (overseas stores) went from 3 listings ~two weeks ago to 7 listings in the past few days but unfortunately these are priced higher than the MSRP. I'm waiting for B&H though... so that I can order a filter while at it.

Is there a reason why I should _not_ get a Sony UV filter?? Everyone seems to be recommending the Hoya Pro Digital UV thin/slim filter. I already have this thin Hoya UV filter (blue box) for another other lens with the same 62 mm size... is there something bad about a Sony/CZ UV filter that I should avoid it? Or should I be getting the other Hoya UV (black box) filter? Thanks.

You should be ok with any of those filters. Hoya is very popular. I have had Sony filters in the past and found them to be of the utmost quality (surprisingly good).

Carl

It's a case of "you get what you pay for", Hoya stuff is suprisingly good and has a loyal following. The Sony stuff is also pretty good, and wouldn't be a bad choice. One thing to remember is that it's another optical element on the end of the lens. With lenses such as the G, there really is no point in skimping on the filters as that would just lower the quality. If you want the best then the B+W stuff is pricey but very good.

Andrew

Thank you Carl and Andrew for your feedbacks. Also thank you Carl for the review - after reading it many times over the past few weeks, it's like I can't live without it:) I think this lens is a nice balance between performance and price. I have just ordered this SAL-70300G from B&H as it came into stock there today. I figured I should grab this lens before it runs out of stock. It ran out of stock at Sony Style in less than a day a few days ago. However I did not order a filter yet because I'm still undecided. Looks like the Hoya Pro1 Digital, Sony/CZ and B+W filters are all very good choices... which makes it more difficult for me to decide. So I think I will take a few more days on this filter but had to order the lens first. I did order a new shoulder strap though (well, I figured I'll be hurting if I don't:)). Thank you very much again for your help and I'm very excited to start using this new lens soon.
Phil

A good strap will be welcome for all day use with this lens. Cant wait to see some pics through it here! :)

Carl

I currently use the 24-70 CZ as my walkabout lens on my A700, and am looking into adding a zoom with a longer reach with great IQ to partner with the 24-70. I'm also a fan of fast AF capabilities. I was saving up for the 70-200G, and keeping my eyes open for reports on the Tamron 70-200 f2.8. But then I've been reading the rave reviews of the 70-300G.

I live in the NW, where there are a lot of gray/cloudy days, as well as occasional walks into the forests. I currently have no need for taking indoor sporting events, and so don't really plan on using a long zoom indoors. I do like to take "nature" shots of plants, animals (birds-in-flight included), and occasional zoomed-in shots of landscape.

I do have the Tamron 200-500mm for taking in birds-in-flight shots, and have been happy with the outcome on sunny days. For spur of the moment type short trips and walks, I'd want to take couple of lenses max, and unless I'm specifically looking to take bird photos, the 200-500mm has too long of a reach at the low end to really fill in the gap left by my 24-70 CZ.

So for my purpose, I'm starting to wonder if the 70-300G is the better fit for me than the much more expensive 70-200G (especially if the reports of having to step down from f2.8 to get great IQ is true, while the 70-300G apparently has good IQ wide-open, which closes the f-stop gap some)? Plus the extra 100mm of reach for the 70-300 would give me a little versatility.

I know that I don't want to end up purchasing both the 70-300G and a 70-200 (either the Sony or the Tamron).

So I guess it comes down to this -- If I were to purchase the 70-300G, instead of the 70-200G, what possible "regrets" could you think of that I might have down the road?

Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

as you so I can't give advice. I'm feeling my Tokina 80-200 may not stand up to the A900 sensor so I'll be following the responses to your question keenly.