Lenses for Sony

[dxqcanada]

If you are looking for a cheaper, pretty good IQ, telephoto zoom ... look for the Minolta Maxxum 100-300mm APO D (or non-D) f/4.5-5.6.
This is a pretty good lens. Small size. Can be purchased for under $300.00 US.

 

[dxqcanada]

Yea, all our lenses and bodies are pre-Maxxum.

Ah, should be a

We love shooting film ... have more film cameras than digital.

Hmm, maybe I should have kept the Maxxum 28-135mm (one of the best zoom lenses I ever had) for my Maxxum 9000.

 

[DiskoJoe]

The Sigma 100-300mm f4 is a great lens ... and you can sometimes find it cheap, as many Sony shooters may pass over a Sigma. This was recommended by a number of Dyxum people.

I would love to get some Sony G telephoto zoom lenses ... but I have not won any money recently.

So far I have no had any gear issues with Minolta Maxxum lenses that I have put on my A100 or A55.

I really like that one cause it has constant aperture. I get peeved at variable aperture. I dont like the lens switching things up on me automatically. And F4 is very usable for lots of situations. Plus I do lot of street so all that extra zoom on my Aps-c would be awesome.

 

[dxqcanada]

Plus I do lot of street so all that extra zoom on my Aps-c would be awesome.

Large lens, it is ... you will not look very inconspicuous with it.

 

[ryanparker]

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[dxqcanada]

Hmm, a thought has popped into my mind:

Sigma 70-300mm -> Sony 70-300mm -> Maxxum 100-300mm APO -> Sigma 100-300mm APO f/4 -> Sony 70-400mm G

... now that the G2 is out, maybe upgraders will be dumping their old ones (I hope).

 

[dxqcanada]

Well, only 9 months after my great idea ... I own a G.
I got it from someone who got a deal on a G2. I was really hoping to see much dumping but it appears that this lens is just too good to give up for the difference in price of the G2.

I hope to get out to use this thing. The test shots that I have taken tells me that I have to change the way I shoot.
This lens is crazy sharp. I noticed that while doing wide-open shots, if I miss focus this lens really tells me that I have missed focus.
I think that it will be the replacement for my Sigma (which is a great lens).

 

[jfrabat]

Just a thought... I am guessing you had the Sony 75-300mm and not the 70-300mm, as you mention you would love to get G lenses but could not afford it (the 70-300, called SAL70300G, IS a G series; while the 75-300, called SAL75300, is a kit lens that was replaced by the 55-200). I have had both, but the 75-300 does show barrel distortion and chromatic aberration, while the 70-300 is quite sharp. I also own the Zeiss 16-80 (again, retty darn sharp in my opinion, but it is not FF) and an old Minulta 50mm 1.7 that I bought off eBay (that one is OK, but not as sharp when wide open - but I guess that's to be expected of any lens).

 

[dxqcanada]

Ah, you are correct ... typo on my part.

Sigma 70-300mm -> Sony 75-300mm -> Maxxum 100-300mm APO -> Sigma 100-300mm APO f/4 -> Sony 70-400mm G

I do recall that my old Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 was pretty good wide open, a lot better than the Maxxum 50mm f/1.7 ... I have never seen how the Minolta/Sony 50mm f/1.4 performs.

 

[dxqcanada]

Our current lens round-up:

Minolta 24mm f/2.8
Minolta 50mm f/1.7
Minolta 100-300 f/4.5-5.6 APO
Sigma 50mm /f2.8 EX macro
Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG OS HSM macro
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 II APO EX DC HSM
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF
Tamron 200-500mm SP Di LD
Sony DT 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM
Sony DT 16-105mm f/3.5-5.6
Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 SSM G

I think we are finally done upgrading ... unless we win the lottery.

Any other Sony/Maxxum users with lens lists ?

 

[vimwiz]

I do recall that my old Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 was pretty good wide open

Literally the best lens I ever owned. Still got a mountain of FD kit, myself.

I *think* you can mount them on some mirrorlessMicro 4/3 bodies such as the Sony NEX, with a non-optical adapter. Maybe worth a try?

 

[Stevepwns]

I have had -

Maxxum
28mm 2.8
50mm 1.4
28 - 85mm F4
35 - 105mm F4
70 - 210mm F4
75 - 300mm F4

I currently own

50mm 1.8
35 - 70mm F4? or 3.5
100 - 200 F4? or 3.5

I used and enjoyed every single one of these Maxxum lenses. I recommend them on a regular basis. I am also always looking to get the newer ones I have not tried yet. Personally I think Minolta had a great line with the Maxxum design.

I also have the

70 -200 Tamron F2.8,
Sony 18 - 135,
Sony 16 -50 F2.8 (love this lens),
Rokinon Fully Manual 85mm and 35mm F1.4, these are 2 of the sharpest lenses Ive used.

 

[nzmacro]

I do recall that my old Canon FD 50mm f/1.4 was pretty good wide open

Literally the best lens I ever owned. Still got a mountain of FD kit, myself.

I *think* you can mount them on some mirrorless Micro 4/3 bodies such as the Sony NEX, with a non-optical adapter. Maybe worth a try?

Basically any mirrorless camera you can with no added optics in the lens path. All I use on the NEX-7 is Canon FD lenses. It means no OIS or AF, but some of those legacy lenses are darn sharp !!.

For the NEX, Sony does have the PDAF adaptors with fast AF but without stabilisation of course. Then you can mount any A mount Sony lenses with fast PDAF. It does however have a translucent mirror which does cost a small amount of light getting in.

Danny.

 

[dxqcanada]

OK, I have concluded that the Sony 70-400mm G and my Sigma 100-300mm f/4 are fairly equal in IQ.
I will have to let the Sigma go as I want the extra reach ... though it is a faster lens wide open ... I don't feel right that it is just sitting around.

Anyone interested ?

 

[dxqcanada]

Going back to my last conclusion from two years ago (and since this is a discussion thread about lenses for Sony/Minolta) ... the Sony 70-400G1 is much better overall than my old Sigma 100-300 f4. Now I have to think about possibly upgrading to the G2 ...

I am also taking back my statement about not done upgrading ... that is a complete lie and all photographers know this ...

I picked up a Sony 16-50mm f2.8 and it has replaced my 16-105 ... though both are kit lenses, the 1650 is much better (though the longer reach was handy) IQ.

I added the Minolta 80-200mm (black) f/2.8, just because I always liked this lens ... and 2.8 is handy.