According to a photo magazine, this is a cosmetically re-labelled Konica Minolta 75-300 (D) zoom telephoto, which is a lens that I own (it certainly looks exactly the same as the KM 75-300 lens, but with the 'Sony' name). In which case, I have the following review:
(1) Excellent construction quality, this is a very nicely made lens, excellent finish, not too heavy but solid and without the 'plastic' feel of many medium-priced lenses;
(2) Excellent optical quality, with good sharpness even at the longest 300mm focal length where most zooms begin to show poor quality;
(3) VERY UNUSUAL: near-zero distortion throughout the entire range of focal lengths (very different from some Sigma zooms that I own, which have conspicuously visible pincushion distortion). This may well be the lowest-distortion 75-300 telephoto from any maker.
(4) ONE CAVEAT: AUTOFOCUS IN LOW LIGHT: on my Minolta Maxxum 7 film camera, whose autofocus system is apparently quite similar to the Sony Alpha 100, the camera has difficulty autofocussing the 75-300 lens at the 300 mm setting (where the aperture is only f/5.6) in light weaker than direct sunlight. This is probably the same with any f/5.6 or slower lens. I have found myself switching to manual focus at the 300 mm setting if the subject is not brightly lit.
NOTE: the Konica Minolta 75-300 (D) lens is still available, for about $140, and reportedly will work with Sony Alpha cameras just as well as the similar lens labelled Sony.
UPDATE, January 2013: the new Sony SLT-A37, SLT-A57, SLT-A65, SLT-A77 cameras have firmware called `Lens Compensation' which corrects several lens aberrations for certain specific lenses. The aberrations corrected are: Chromatic Aberration (color fringing), Corner Shading (vignetting), and distortion. The Sony 75-300mm (D) lens was designed by Minolta before low-dispersion (ELD) glasses were widely used, and would benefit from Lens Compensation for color fringing.
Unfortunately, Sony's `Lens Compensation' firmware does not cover the 75-300mm (D) lens as of January 2013. To see the list of Sony lenses covered by Lens Compensation, go to Sony's `eSupport' page, choose `Alpha NEX and DSLR Cameras' and enter `Lens Compensation' in the search box at the top. Lens Compensation is programmed for 22 Sony lenses as of January 2013, and for 31 Sony lenses as of August 2013.
The 75-300mm (D) lens is by far the most popular Sony lens on Amazon. Sony recently introduced a new 55-300mm lens, but far more people currently own the 75-300 (D) lens. If Sony cares about its customers, Sony should update Lens Compensation firmware to cover the 75-300 (D) lens. Owners of Sony SLT-A37, SLT-A57, SLT-A65, SLT-A77 cameras may want to contact Sony to urge them to provide Lens Compensation for the 75-300 (D) lens.
UPDATE, June 2013: Sony now makes a newer and more modern lens, the Sony 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6 DT Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras for APS-C (not full-frame) DSLR cameras, which include all Sony DSLRs other than the new full-frame SLT-A99 and the earlier A900 and A850 DSLRs. To compare the optical performance of the Sony 55-300mm lens with the Sony 75-300 mm lens, see: kurtmunger.com, LENS REVIEWS, where one can find tests of both lenses.
The Lens Compensation firmware (see above) on the SLT-A37, SLT-A57, SLT-A65, SLT-A77 cameras also covers the Sony 55-300 mm lens. The 55-300 mm lens offers better optical performance for APS-C cameras.
For full-frame cameras such as the Sony Alpha SLT-A99V Full-Frame 24.3 MP SLR Digital Camera with 3-Inch LED Body Only (Black) in addition to the Sony 75-300 mm lens, Sony also offers a considerably more expensive Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED G-Series Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens with superior optical performance. The Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di USD XLD for Sony Digital SLR Cameras offers similar superior optical performance, at a lower price. Both of these lenses can be used on all Sony DSLRs, both full-frame and APS-C. The Sony and Tamron 70-300 mm lenses are twice as heavy as the Sony 75-300 mm lens.
0 comments:
Post a Comment