I have the 70-210. I like the distance, but sometimes wish it was lower...like a 55, because I find it difficult to use in doors in a regular room. My opinion the Sony 55- would be more usable. I hope to have a 300mm some day. But, the price was affordable, and I like the lens. Make sure if you get it off of ebay it can be returned. Can never tell with a lens, it could have dirt in it or something wrong with it. I got mine from a friend, so I knew it was in excellent shape.
I have the Sony A55.
Are you talking the Beercan 70-210 F4? If so, don't even think twice between the 2 lenses....the 70-210 is far superior in terms of resolution, sharpness and how fast it is. It is also built like a tank. I dearly love mine.
Dude, minolta 70-210 f4 all day. Why buy a crap lens that has variable aperture and costs more when you can save a ton and get better specs and build. Get you a Minolta 50mm f1.7 too. You can get both of them for what the 55-200 costs. Personally I opted to skip the minolta 70-210 f4 and found an old sigma 70-210 f2.8 with APO glass. The sigma cost more (like 3x as much) but the bokeh is like butter since it has 9 aperture blades as opposed to the 7 that Minolta uses.
Your welcome, I don't think mine is a beer can. It is 3.5-5.6mm. How do you know if it is a beer can lens. Anyway, it does take much better photos than my kit lens. I don't want to spend too much money, because found out my lens will not fit an A99. My flash will if I buy an adaptor. Bummer I know in a one to two years I will upgrade to a full frame.
Minolta AF a mount lenses work on the a99. Also the a99 has a standard shoe now but there is an adapter included to use your older flash. No need to buy one.