Anyone using 70-300mm F4.5 -5.6 G SSM?

[SiaOLiaO]

Yeah my sentiments exactly.. I do not really need the video function yet, although it's really good, at least on paper.

And the main thing is that, it's going to be expensive.. >.< definitely double the current price that they are selling..

 

[Agetan]

I thought I will put you out of your misery.

When I first started photography, I somehow follow the same path.. but what you need now without factor in the future.

I will buy a better lens that the supplied kit lens. then upgrade to a better lens but deep down, I know I want the f2.8 zoom but wasn't ready to do so but every time I bought a compromise, I know I am not getting what I want and that feeling is killing me. I am sure most feel the same way but never admit it.

At the end after a while, I give up and just bought the f2.8 zoom and have never looked back. The thing is, it was expensive purchase but a lot cheaper if I buy it right from the start and save me lushing for it and always blaming my gear for my bad photography.

Once you have own the very best and if you still can't get good pictures, you can safely say to yourself that you are the one to blame and it is the fastest path to forget about the gear and concentrate on photography.

I have tried every single lenses that is available in Minolta MD range to Minolta AF range through last 5 years and I mean, every single one but sold most because I just "want it" rather than need it.

Nothing beats the feeling of using the best lenses for your work and get what you want from it and you can take full responsibility on your work.

Hope it make sense and you make your decision on your gear purchase.

Regards,

Hart

 

[lenrek]

I thought I will put you out of your misery.

When I first started photography, I somehow follow the same path.. but what you need now without factor in the future.

I will buy a better lens that the supplied kit lens. then upgrade to a better lens but deep down, I know I want the f2.8 zoom but wasn't ready to do so but every time I bought a compromise, I know I am not getting what I want and that feeling is killing me. I am sure most feel the same way but never admit it.

At the end after a while, I give up and just bought the f2.8 zoom and have never looked back. The thing is, it was expensive purchase but a lot cheaper if I buy it right from the start and save me lushing for it and always blaming my gear for my bad photography.

Once you have own the very best and if you still can't get good pictures, you can safely say to yourself that you are the one to blame and it is the fastest path to forget about the gear and concentrate on photography.

I have tried every single lenses that is available in Minolta MD range to Minolta AF range through last 5 years and I mean, every single one but sold most because I just "want it" rather than need it.

Nothing beats the feeling of using the best lenses for your work and get what you want from it and you can take full responsibility on your work.

Hope it make sense and you make your decision on your gear purchase.

Regards,

Hart

You are selling the lens right? Good price! If not because I already have Minolta 80-200F2.8, I would be bidding for it as well.

 

[Agetan]

You are selling the lens right? Good price! If not because I already have Minolta 80-200F2.8, I would be bidding for it as well.

Yes, but I what I have written has nothing to do with me selling the lens or not. Just sharing my experience.

The fact is now, I know what I "need" rather than buying what I "want" as I prefer to have the money in the bank for my kids' future education rather than sitting on my "gear collection".

I was going through stages and most people who is in photography for sometime ultimately go through the same process and denial process is something we all do as human...

So my advise is choose wisely and decide what is best for you.

In terms of using which lens to shoot what event, it is all relevant and it really depend on the skill of the photographer to work with limitation if the gear is limiting you.

Good luck and I think its time to clear my dry box.

Hart

 

[SiaOLiaO]

Hi Hart, I understand your point of view. I have had similar experiences in the past for my other expensive hobby.

I guess that is just how men are wired. Even now after deciding on which one to get, I still have to get my gf's approval.

Haha~ I guess that's what most men go through also~

 

[Agetan]

Hi Hart, I understand your point of view. I have had similar experiences in the past for my other expensive hobby.

I guess that is just how men are wired. Even now after deciding on which one to get, I still have to get my gf's approval.

Haha~ I guess that's what most men go through also~

hahaha... luckily, I don't have to... I just go and buy it as it is business tool right? that's my justification and since I am making money with it, there is no reason why she says no...

I always have mentality of "I only live once so why worry....."

Hart

 

[sulhan]

Hiee..

The 70-300mm F4.5 -5.6 G SSM, is a very good well designed optics that have a few key strengths that satisfy some of my personal "wanted" strengths. I personally owned this lens for a while till I moved to faster wider aperture 70-200.

1- Sharp wide open - at f4.5, this lens noticeably gives G-lens quality. Comparing to the standard 70-300mm non G lens.
2- The SSM works like a charm for tracking hand held - weight is balanced too.
3- Close focus distance - made is good for close-ups too & good for close range portraits too.

This lens is suitable for many shooting type and also low light ..if you are ok with using high ISO - for me I'm okay even to use ISO 1600. I personally used this lens for an event indoors concert setting at ISO with my then A700. The close focusing distance really is a plus. Where you can use on close and far subjects without having to change lens.

Haha Hart..you nailed it!! I totally agree on Agetan's comment about

Nothing beats the feeling of using the best lenses for your work and get what you want from it and you can take full responsibility on your work
If you are using the gear to earn a living.....its a tool and getting the best is an obvious choice.

I just shot a SGP couple's wedding shoot here a couple of days back and there are shots that are "good-as-it-is" with NO-PP required with the right set of tools. This eventually saves time and increase efficiency for the photographer.

rgds,
Sulhan

 

[SiaOLiaO]

Hi Sulhan, I do not have a good body now as I just entered the scene of photography not long ago. If not for the low price of a230, i would not have got on the DSLR bandwagon.
As you might already know, Sony lacks behind in terms of performing at high ISO and there is nothing to brag about my camera body.
Hence, I do not think my body will be comfortable with the high ISO needed for low light conditions while using this lens. Or would it?

 

[android17]

Hi Sulhan, I do not have a good body now as I just entered the scene of photography not long ago. If not for the low price of a230, i would not have got on the DSLR bandwagon.
As you might already know, Sony lacks behind in terms of performing at high ISO and there is nothing to brag about my camera body.
Hence, I do not think my body will be comfortable with the high ISO needed for low light conditions while using this lens. Or would it?

Sony doesnt lack behind in high ISO performance.

The A500 and A550 are excellent performer in high ISO.

 

[Hysteria]

Hence, I do not think my body will be comfortable with the high ISO needed for low light conditions while using this lens. Or would it?

First time i hear an alphaian complaining about noise from sony :bsmilie:
Sony's entry to mid lvls dslrs noise ctrl are comparable to pentax (i.e, better than the mainstream brand counterparts you see)

For a general purpose user like me, I do not hesitate to shoot from ISO 800-3200 (though i have to say that the 3200 yields inconsistent results at times). Of course for large professional wedding prints, I do not think that the alpha series is ready yet.

This was taken under ISO 1600.. one thing to note is that the lighting is super horrible (11.30pm at night with dimly lit orange light)

 

[teodesson]

There is egg-chicken dilemma for these 2 statements:
1. Why using flash if you can make use of high 'usable' ISO?
2. Why using high ISO if you can make use of flash?

For me, I seldom bringing my flash, so quite often I must shot on high ISO... got noise better than got nothing...
But for special events, I always prepared with my flash, and at the end, I never shot on ISO 800 above. Maybe not professional large print, but everybody including my clients (yes only my friend) are happy (and I&#8217;m using horrible high ISO A350).
Sure not every light problem can be handled by using flash...

 

[Agetan]

Of course for large professional wedding prints, I do not think that the alpha series is ready yet.

that's a big claim... are you experience with large print from wedding shoot at High ISO from Sony camera?

The higher the ISO the less mistake you can make, hence for in experience photog, all they do is blame it on the noise due to improper exposure. It happen on all camera... the problem is on the user not the camera.

I don't shoot with flash on any of my shoots, so I am questioning the validity of your claim.

Regards,

Hart

 

[SiaOLiaO]

Maybe it's just my camera that I cannot find usable ISO above 800 no matter what settings I try..

100% crop just looks bad. Maybe it's just me..

 

[Agetan]

Looking at 100% is not even practical in real life.

It is almost printing a poster size print and using a lupe to look at the individual pixel. You are trying to see the grain... but are you appreciating the image as it is?

How many of you actually print the photos and put it on the wall to view at a normal viewing distance?

The advancement of Digital Photography has clouded one's view in looking at a photograph and most prefer to focus on what the technology's fault because they can.

This is sad....

Regards,

Hart

 

[SiaOLiaO]

Well, for me sometimes when I shoot, I do not have the luxury to take a full shot of a subject.

I ended up having to crop sometimes and that's why ISO is important in this sense.

 

[torak]

My first telezoom is the minolta 75-300, and after that i bought sony 18-250 as my walkabout lens. But not satisfied with the sharpness of these 2 lens, i bite the bullet and bought the sony 70-300G, and its sharpness is so much better. Im very happy with the IQ taken with the 70300G.

But one day i got hit by the BBB virus and got myself the minolta 80-200 f2.8 (black), and i hv to admit the sharpness is one notch above the G. The 80200 also produce a better looking bokeh, not to mention a f2.8 aperture. The only problem is the weight...

As a walkabout lens, the 80-200 probably is a little too heavy for this purpose. But for events or portraiture shots, the 80-200 (or similar lens like 70-200 f2.8 from minolta or sony) will be the best lens available.

So imo its down to what purpose u need a lens for. If its for general walkabout, i will either bring a 70300G with my CZ1680, or just a simple sal 18-250. But when going for events, its definitely the 80-200

 

[SiaOLiaO]

Guys, you know what, after much contemplation...

I got the a700 and a CZ1680 from a nice fellow club snapper instead... hahaha.. I think the 70-200 or 70-300 will have to wait till year end haha..

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it..

 

[Galdor]

Guys, you know what, after much contemplation...

I got the a700 and a CZ1680 from a nice fellow club snapper instead... hahaha.. I think the 70-200 or 70-300 will have to wait till year end haha..

Thanks for all the advice, really appreciate it..

That's a solid combination. :thumbsup:
Keep shooting and hope to see you in our outings soon.