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SAL70-300G or Minolta 100-300APO

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emmanuelg

emmanuelg

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Hi everybody,

I am thinking to buy either the new Sony 70-300G or used Minolta Maxxum AF100-300 APO. I contacted one person selling his used 100-300APO for $320. Or save some more money for the 70-300G for $799.00

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Emmanuel
 
Hi,

Thanks. Do you have either of the two?

Thanks.

Emmanuel
 
emmanuelg said:
Hi everybody,

I am thinking to buy either the new Sony 70-300G or used Minolta
Maxxum AF100-300 APO. I contacted one person selling his used
100-300APO for $320. Or save some more money for the 70-300G for
$799.00

Any suggestions?

Thank you.

Emmanuel
Click to expand...
I don't have the newer lens, but I do have the 100-300 APO. It is a great lens. I see no reason to replace it at this point in time. In fact I don't think I have ever seen anyone say anything bad about the 100-300. You could look it up on the lens reviews on Dyxum.com.
Russ
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quietrvr/
Gear=A camera with a lens.
 
Optically the new lens is superior to the 100-300 APO (see, for example, David K's review in Photoworld, which might also be posted at the photoclub alpha site. Photozone's review also suggests the new lens may be or is the best optically in its class. But, other than being more expensive, the new lens also is much larger and heavier. This may or may not make a difference to you, or other's considering getting it. The new lens has SSM focusing which is, to my knowledge, faster (perhaps considerably faster) than the older APO lens.

Are the improvements in the new lens worth the added expense, and size and weight? That's a personal decision nobody else can make. If you don't plan on going larger in print size than perhaps 8x10 you might never see the optical differences (unless you also do significant cropping of an image to get a portion of the original to 8x10). What MP camera are you using, or planning to use in the future? The higher the MP, and the sensor's resolution, the more you may see the optical differences.

Lots of things to consider. If it was me? The new lens without a doubt.

--
Mark Van Bergh
 
Russel,Mark and Kminolta,

Thank you for your input and suggestions.
Mark or Russel, do you have any sample pictures of the 70-300 G?

Thanks. I used to work for Minolta and I had the 100-300 APO before the advent of DSLRs or digital cameras. I used it on film SLRs and I liked the colors and bokeh.

Thanks

Emmanuel
 
Mark,

I'm sorry. I have the Sony A700 and A200. I have only three Maxxum Minolta lenses now - the 28-70 2.8 G , 80-200 2.8 G and the 100 2.8 Macro D lenses.
Maybe, I will consider the Full Frame when the price will go down.

Emmanuel
 
Also consider:

Sigma 50-500 (Bigma) and Sigma 100-300 F4.
--
Mark (aka Pirate!)
 
Here are some with my A700.





















--
Direct your eye right inward, and you'll find a thousand
regions in your mind Yet undiscovered. Travel them, and
be Expert in home-cosmography.
-H.D. Thoreau
 
H.D.

One word on these images- WOW!!!!!

Thanks.

Emmanuel
 
Leon,

I am convinced to buy the 70-300 G rather than the 100-300 APO. Excellent colours on your trip to Iceland.

God Bless.

Emmanuel
 
Mark,

Do you have sample pictures of the Sigma?

Thanks

Emmanuel
 
Well, lets say, I HAD both. I sold my 70-300G when the 70-400G was leaked as it was only two weeks old and I was able to get most of my money back.

The 70-300G is a cracking lens but it doesn't really resolve more detail than the 100-300APO - the sharpness gain is almost entirely in contrast.

I can put up comparison shots if people want.
 
That would be nice if you post a comparison pictures.

Emmanuel
 
--
Brighteyes

Mint or used that is the question. If you can get a "mint" Minolta it's the one to buy. If the 100~300 is a pig in a poke (unknown), then a new Sony SAL-70300 G is the right choice. But only if you can afford it (avoid lens lust). I have the 70300 G, and it stays on the A700 (my other lens is the Minolta 50mm 1.7). The less one switches lens, the less likely hood of getting the camera sensor dirty.
 
---

IMHO if money, size and weight are not issues, the Sony may be a better buy due to its modern optics and faster AF. Anyway, I think both are a bit slow ( light-wise ) for my taste ( f4.5-5.6 ), I'd expect the Sony to be at least a constant aperture ( f4.5 ? ). As far as I know ( having used it many times ) the Minolta 100-300 has excellent optics, is very compact and light and yet robust. As another poster suggested, if the one available to you is in mint condition and you are well aware of what you want to shoot, it may be worth a better look!

I for one, would consider more a Sigma 100-300/f4 - a bit more expensive, heavier and bigger than the Sony, but the f4 constant aperture seduces me!

... Lucas
--
You're welcome to: http://www.pbase.com/lucaspix/root

Always having fun with photography ...

 
emmanuelg said:
Mark,

I'm sorry. I have the Sony A700 and A200. I have only three Maxxum
Minolta lenses now - the 28-70 2.8 G , 80-200 2.8 G and the 100 2.8
Macro D lenses.
Maybe, I will consider the Full Frame when the price will go down.
Click to expand...
No need to apologize. That's a pretty good three lens combination, though the 28-70 is not very wide on the A700 and A200. Given that you have the 80-200/2.8, which is "only" 100mm shorter at the long end than the two zooms we're discussing, you might want to consider getting something that gets you wider than the 28-70, unless you don't do much wide angle shooting and do know you need/want the extra 100mm on the long end.

Given the three lenses you have, and their generally high optical quality, if you do decide to go for the longer zoom I would think the newer SSM lens would be a better optical fit with what you already have. And you should love the SSM focusing.

--
Mark Van Bergh
 
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