alan_rymer
Well-known member
I have a Sony a65 ( and love it ) and have been using a Tamron 200-500 and a Sigma 400mm 5.6 APO. My a700 busted the autofocus, on the Sigma so I have been using it manual focus ( its a nice lens ). After unexpectedly recieving 24 days holiday pay ( I was a contractor and didn't realise I was being paid it, and never invoiced for it! ) I decided to splash out on a new Sony 70-400 f5.6 SSM II G lens. Its arrived and I love it, but its new, not waterproof and "my precious baby" ( I'm thinking of buying it a baby blue lenscover ), so it comes out in its bag and is only fitted when I feel the urge and the weather is fine and bright.
Anyway, to get to the subject lens in the title.
I had read on Dyxum how good the Minolta 200mm F2.8 G lens was and saw a reasonably low priced one on the well known auction site, and bid on it ( I didn't expect to get it as my bid was low ), I won the action. Anyway its arrived. I didn't realise how short and light it was!. Anyhoo, With a x2 converter giving me 400mm and stopped down to F8 it seem as sharp, or sharper then the 70-400, the autofocus isn't bad ( it hunts in dull conditions, is noisy and I havn't worked out how the focus limiter works at the long end ), its nowhere near as heavy as the sigma 400. It is a fantastic lens not even taking into account it was made in 1986, I think its going to get a lot more usage than the Sony 70-400.
I now have to sell my Tammy and Sigma! to help offset the cost
Anyway, to get to the subject lens in the title.
I had read on Dyxum how good the Minolta 200mm F2.8 G lens was and saw a reasonably low priced one on the well known auction site, and bid on it ( I didn't expect to get it as my bid was low ), I won the action. Anyway its arrived. I didn't realise how short and light it was!. Anyhoo, With a x2 converter giving me 400mm and stopped down to F8 it seem as sharp, or sharper then the 70-400, the autofocus isn't bad ( it hunts in dull conditions, is noisy and I havn't worked out how the focus limiter works at the long end ), its nowhere near as heavy as the sigma 400. It is a fantastic lens not even taking into account it was made in 1986, I think its going to get a lot more usage than the Sony 70-400.
I now have to sell my Tammy and Sigma! to help offset the cost
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