Advice on Telephoto zoom lens.

[weishengg]

Hi,

I am currently shopping around for a telephoto zoom lens after selling of my sony 55-200mm.
My budget is from $300-$1500 as I don't mind forking out $1k+ for a lens of good quality and if it meets my desires. My main dissatisfaction with the 55-200mm was its autofocus speed and constant hunting for focus. Image quality and build quality was very commendable for its price.

For this telephoto zoom lens, i'm looking out for good build quality, very-quick autofocus (preferably with the autofocus limiter) and excellent sharpness. Flare and chromatic aberration MUST be well controlled for the price I'd be paying, but I can live with some amounts of vignetting and barrel distortion. Also, I don't care about it being a FF lens at the moment, I use the A100.

Intended use will primarily be for event photography, animals/pets and candid street shots from "safe" distances :b

I've shortlisted a few lens that i would consider

1) Sony 70-300mm G
2) Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8
3) Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 (way out of budget though)
4) Tamron/Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 (1:2 macro function and pricing are attractive. The Sony version is more expensive and no macro function )

I'm actually leaning heavily towards toe 70-300mm G, mainly for its build quality and fast autofocusing (according to reviews. going to test it out soon). However, I'm not sure if i should hold out the purchase until the ALpha-mount version of the Tamron 70-200mm arrives.
Btw, is there a tripod collar with the 70-300mm G?

Any comments/advices from fellow bros and sis around?

[mysilentkaopei]

70-300 G no tripod collar as far as i know.

[s2s1]

I will buy cheap 2ndhand Beercan, there are few selling now. If not, I consider these base on your budget,
1) Sigma 50-150mm f2.8 (not sure A mount out already)
2) Tamron 70-200mm f2.8
3) Sony 70-300mm G

[stvc11]

I will stick to minolta or Sony lens. worry the 3rd party spoilt the motor...
Beercan is good choice but have to be careful the CA.
70-300 seem goot at this moment..didn't heard any bad comment yet.

[zcf]

For indoor or bad lighting events, I recommend 70-210mm f/4 beercan, 70/80-200mm f/2.8 lens or Sigma 75-200 f2.8-3.5.
Or if you love challenge, 85mm f/1.4 or 135mm f/1.8

For outdoor, 70-300mm SSM will be a good lens.

[boombox]

Originally Posted by stvc11 I will stick to minolta or Sony lens. worry the 3rd party spoilt the motor...

3rd party lenses... may have their focusing gears sheared off by the motor (as it has happened to some sigma lenses)

[Galdor]

You can consider the Cosina/Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm f2.8-3.8 too. This lens is pretty cheap.

[unimatrix]

Originally Posted by boombox 3rd party lenses... may have their focusing gears sheared off by the motor (as it has happened to some sigma lenses)

juz thinking out loud..

that might happen to a sigma lense, but would this happen to tamron lenses?
i thought sony has some shares in the company?
it doesn't make sense to create a tamron lens that can be easily broken by alpha motors, and hence keeping all alpha mount camera from getting tamron lenses.

[LQ235]

Originally Posted by boombox 3rd party lenses... may have their focusing gears sheared off by the motor (as it has happened to some sigma lenses)

i think tamron and other lenses should be ok except for sigma's..

[Shin Howard]

Tamron 70-200 2.8 will be a good choice as Sony DSLR Body comes with SSS. Almost the cheapest 70-200 2.8 around, with a tripod mount.

If not can go for the Sony 70-300 SSM G as you mentioned. Shd be really good for outdoor with sufficient light. No tripod mount & a little heavy for hand-held.

I personally will prefer to wait for the Tammy! Cos I think the image quality is good.

[weishengg]

Hi, i read a lot of comments about the sony alpha motor spoiling the sigma lenses. Does this phenomenom occur with every sigma lens? or just a few particular model?

[Rashkae]

Originally Posted by weishengg Hi, i read a lot of comments about the sony alpha motor spoiling the sigma lenses. Does this phenomenom occur with every sigma lens? or just a few particular model?

Only a few models, most notably the popular 75-300.

[ryosae]

if price isnt the issue, then i guess go for the G lenses
beercan is good for IQ, but not sure you're gonna happy with the focus speed indoor
although im still very happy w it

[Jazz]

The best telezoom focal length is 70-200mm, you can choose :
1.Sony - AF 70-200 F2.8 G SSM
2.Minolta - AF 70-200 F2.8 APO G D SSM
3.Sigma - 70-200mm F2.8 II EX DG APO MACRO HSM
4.Tamron - SP AF 70-200 F2.8 Di LD IF MACRO

or the old
-Minolta - AF 80-200 F2.8 HS APO G
-Tokina - AT-X PRO AF 80-200 F2.8

[godzilla60]

Originally Posted by Rashkae Only a few models, most notably the popular 75-300.

is Sigma 70-300mm F4-5.6 and/or Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 included in this list?

if the gears get sheared off by the motors then is it covered by warranty by Sigma or Sony?

[liveescape]

Get the beercan 2nd hand if you can lay you rhands on one.

[mahojazz]

weishengg, i guess going for the tamron 70-200mm f2.8 is the best choice which will fit your budget. its a fast lens. review is gd. and best of all, A mount version is coming in real soon. although another lens i think is very gd is the sony 70-300mm G SSM. think both lenses are priced abt the same. haha, helped u narrow down to just 2 choices,

[synapseman]

I am also in the same situation, thinking of moving up from my Sigma 70-300DG APO.

After considering a great deal on a Minolta 100-300 APO and even the 70-300G, I realise that they're not that much of an improvement over my Sigma because ultimately they are small-aperture lenses.

So, anybody have opinions on the Sigma 70-200? Price? How much does the Tamron version cost? Thanks!

[weishengg]

Originally Posted by mahojazz weishengg, i guess going for the tamron 70-200mm f2.8 is the best choice which will fit your budget. its a fast lens. review is gd. and best of all, A mount version is coming in real soon. although another lens i think is very gd is the sony 70-300mm G SSM. think both lenses are priced abt the same. haha, helped u narrow down to just 2 choices,

yeah precisely, i'm more or less set on either the 70-300G or the Sigma/Tamron 70-200 f/2.8.
but the problem is the weight and bulk of the 70-200 leh... i might find it a put off to take it out with me all the while @@

[stvc11]

Originally Posted by weishengg yeah precisely, i'm more or less set on either the 70-300G or the Sigma/Tamron 70-200 f/2.8. but the problem is the weight and bulk of the 70-200 leh... i might find it a put off to take it out with me all the while @@

I got the 70-200, I cant get any sharp image in the 1st 2 week due to it heavy load. But it give me damm sharp image after that, no regret for me. ps..my is sony version, not sure how good is tamron version..anyway it is F2.8 good for low light..