Posted by Jay Ryser on February 27, 2008 at 1:09 PM
I'm hoping I can get some recommendations about a big lens purchase. I'm looking at getting a good telephoto lens (Sony/Minolta mount) in the area of 500-600mm. I'm currently using a Sigma 100-300 f/4 with a 1.4 TC but want something with a little more reach.
I'm wondering about:
1) A Sigma 500 f/4.5
2) Minolta 500 or 600 f/4
3) Sigma or Minolta 300mm f/2.8 with a x2 TC
I think the 300 with a TC would be a little more versatile, but I'm interested in opinions either way.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Posted by Don George on February 27, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Jay,,,I owned a Minolta 600 f/4 for many years before switching to Canon. If you can find one I would certainly recommend it. Since your IS feature is built into your body its a great combination. The 600 f/4 also had a front filter that protected the lens which the other mfg. didn't have.
A recommendation depends a lot on what your intended use is. All of these lenses will be very sharp, so that won't be an issue. Will your body be FF or will it have a ~ 1.5X multiplication factor?
I was in the same boat a few years ago and started with a Tokina 400mm f5.6 for my first "big glass". It was very sharp and I still have some of those images in my files. I graduated to a manual focus Nikon 600mm f4, which was great, but manual focus just killed me with anything that was moving.
I now have a 600mm f4 auto-focus Nikon that I bought on Ebay five or six years ago. The lens weighs 14 lbs and I don't carry it very far. It is extremely sharp and I get 900mm with the Nikon 1.5X multiplication factor. I get 1260mm when I use a 1.4x TC. Personally, I don't think the 300mm f2.8 is the best option - big glass is all heavy, so why not carry either a 500 or a 600? I use all of that focal length for big mammals as well as birds - I can't get very close to a bison on foot and it gives me that extra buffer.
So, my suggestion is a 500 or a 600 and AF and don't be afraid to buy used.
Good luck!
Posted by Jay Ryser on February 27, 2008 at 6:54 PM
Right now it'll be on a 1.5 crop factor, but with the new Sony 24.8mp full frame sensor coming out soon . . .
The lens will mostly be for wildlife - fox, coyote, elk.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Posted by Dan Walters on March 1, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Jay, I have the Sigma 500mm f4.5 lens and have been very happy with it. The images are sharp and it is pretty light weight for a prime lens.
Discussion
4 repliesI'm wondering about:
1) A Sigma 500 f/4.5
2) Minolta 500 or 600 f/4
3) Sigma or Minolta 300mm f/2.8 with a x2 TC
I think the 300 with a TC would be a little more versatile, but I'm interested in opinions either way.
Thanks in advance for your help.
A recommendation depends a lot on what your intended use is. All of these lenses will be very sharp, so that won't be an issue. Will your body be FF or will it have a ~ 1.5X multiplication factor?
I was in the same boat a few years ago and started with a Tokina 400mm f5.6 for my first "big glass". It was very sharp and I still have some of those images in my files. I graduated to a manual focus Nikon 600mm f4, which was great, but manual focus just killed me with anything that was moving.
I now have a 600mm f4 auto-focus Nikon that I bought on Ebay five or six years ago. The lens weighs 14 lbs and I don't carry it very far. It is extremely sharp and I get 900mm with the Nikon 1.5X multiplication factor. I get 1260mm when I use a 1.4x TC. Personally, I don't think the 300mm f2.8 is the best option - big glass is all heavy, so why not carry either a 500 or a 600? I use all of that focal length for big mammals as well as birds - I can't get very close to a bison on foot and it gives me that extra buffer.
So, my suggestion is a 500 or a 600 and AF and don't be afraid to buy used.
Good luck!
The lens will mostly be for wildlife - fox, coyote, elk.
Thanks for the suggestions so far.