Question on lenses

[bruced]

I've recently decided to try to get back into photography. I was given a great deal on a Sony Alpha 300 with a 55-200 lens and a 18-70 lens. I was looking on Kijiji and found a deal on a 75-300 macro lens. Not sure if I should go for it. Would I just be replacing the 55-200 that I already have? Any thoughts or suggestions? The asking price on the 75-300 is only $50.

I should have included that it's a Minolta 75-300mm 1:4.5-5.6. Sony A-mount

 

[Derrel]

Seems reasonable for a 75-300mm lens. Be aware that the use of the word "macro" is more of a manufacturer's deception; the lens will NOT get into true macro magnification ranfge, but will focus closer than one might expect for a 75-300 zoom lens. Is it a real Sony lens? If so, $50 seems totally acceptable to me as long as it is autofocus and modern.

 

[bruced]

Thanks for the reply. It's a Minolta 75-300mm 1:4.5-5.6 and it is autofocus. Will this replace the 55-200 lens I already have?

 

[Derrel]

Well, it would "supplant" or "augment" the 55-200. It will be longer, 300mm vs 200mm, but the shorter end of 75mm is less-handy than the 55mm short end of the other zoom lens. You will get more reach with the 75-300mm lens however. So...I dunno...I like a 70-300mm zoom for my Nikon, for weekends and stuff. MANY 70-300 or 75-300 lenses are not super-great lenses at their top zoom range, and there might be some softness say from 250 to 300mm, but maybe not.

The way I look at it is one does not replace lenses as much as one simply keeps accumulating them over time, in the same lens mount family.

 

[greybeard33 5]

$50? go for it.

 

[loonatic45414]

You can't go wrong for $50. See if there's a return available & take some comparison shots at similar magnifications.

I like prime lenses because they're optimized at that particular focal length, zooms are often a compromise at extremes. Not saying they're bad, there's some great ones out there, but if a zoom shows its deficiency anywhere, it's at the extremes. Good luck.

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