What is your NEXT lens?

[DonSchap]

Survey says...

We have not had one of these for a while, in SONY-town. So why not?

What is your next lens purchase?

Sorry, if your wanted a MACRO, you are going to have to stipulate that in the thread, below ... although, MACROs are "near-sighted" PRIME lenses.

Thank you for your participation

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by DonSchap

MACROs are "near-sighted" PRIME lenses.

umm, what?

[DonSchap]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

umm, what?

...and the blind shall lead them.

[DonSchap]

Please be effusive about why you might what the particular lens you selected in the survey.

Information such as:

• Manufacturer
• Specific lens name
• Price you are looking to pay (realistic, not fantasy)
• Retailer you are considering as a source for your lens
• Subject matter you are planning to frame with this particular lens
• Lenses you may be retiring
• Years you have been using what you already have
• Have you ever dropped you camera/lenses (if so, how many times?)
• Are you expecting to treat this new lens better?
• If you are not considering a new lens, what is it that you have that is so darn great that you do not have to? 'Fess up

Just for starters...

2032mm-on-gimbal.jpg

I mean, c'mon... you have to begin somewhere!

[S3000]

I am thinking of getting a Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM lens for wild life. I have seen good reports about this lens. It`s a bit expensive but then again if you want quality then you have to pay for it.

Is there someone with first hand experiance with this lens?

I got the Tamrom 70-300 DI LD now, but I am not impressed with it.

Dropped my lens? No, not even by accident.

[DonSchap]

I must say, in my selection of lenses, the SONY 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM is the one I routinely carry in my outdoor bag of goodies. I replace it with the TAMRON SP AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Di LD when I am doing indoor work. Admittedly, 400mm seems a little "extreme."

As a "nature" lens, it is very good, quiet and fast to focus. You need that to get moving wildlife. I also have a older Tokina 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6, which is from the film days ... and while it is tremendously lighter than the SONY ... it is nowhere near as sharp or as fast to focus. It's just a lot lighter.

I put a 'camo' cover on mine, because the platinum paint job, alone, tends to warn the wildlife of your impending approach.

70-400-w-skin-on-small.jpg

So, yeah, its got my vote. I am selling mine, with the skin, to move up to the new SIGMA AF 120-300mm f/2.8 DG EX HSM OS, which weighs an ungodly 5.7 lbs and costs twice as much as the SONY. That's the price of light.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by DonSchap

... to move up to the new SIGMA AF 120-300mm f/2.8 DG EX HSM OS, which weighs an ungodly 5.7 lbs and costs twice as much as the SONY. That's the price of light.

Not that reviews are ever the final word...but that Sigma didn't get good marks for focusing quickly (and it has a built in motor). $3200 samolinans is a lot for only a "decent" performer.

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Review

[DonSchap]

Originally Posted by zona5101

Not that reviews are ever the final word...but that Sigma didn't get good marks for focusing quickly (and it has a built in motor). $3200 samolinans is a lot for only a "decent" performer.

Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens Review

Where are you going to buy light, when there is a "no-flash" ban in effect? Everything is a trade-off. Focus speed for wider aperture (heavier internal elements). You can always go to the fixed-focal length SONY 300mm f/2.8 G SSM and pay the 6200 samolians, I suppose. For a lens of this kind of weight, I certainly like having a zoom sweep -> less lens swapping.

I mean, if you are using a substantial flash with the SONY 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM ... you can get away with a lot. In fact, I bought the Metz 76 MZ5 mecablitz just to match up with the SONY

and Celestron 2032mm f/10 lenses.

You can run, but you cannot hide with that combo. Again, what good is a piece of the sun, if you simply cannot use it?

Not enough? Why not two?

I have images of the International Space Station with this rig. Okay, j/k .... but hey ... they know I'm down here!

[OsmosisStudios]

I dont care what you tell me, those flashes are NOT going to hit a target at over 2000mm.

[zona5101]

Ya , i guess i would get the OEM 70-200f2.8 and get usable, in focus shots then crop rather than miss shots because of an inadequate focus system.
And I like Sigma but the review of the new 120-300f2.8 didn't paint it in the best light...