A little help needed with a new purchase.

CBA100

CBA100

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Chris
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After receiving a nice birthday cheque from a relative yesterday im looking at getting afew new prezzies for the A700.

A Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 is a definite buy, priced at £245 from OSD.

Im also looking at getting a zoom lens. I had a budget lens for my previous A200 and want to now try some 'bird' & 'motorsport' photography, but i'm unsure which lens to go for and which would be more ideal for what i'm looking to use it for.

OSD have:

Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 II EX DG APO priced at £514.21
Sigma 120-400mm f4.5/5.6 DG OS HSM APO priced at £534.74
Sigma 150-500mm f5/6.3 DG OS HSM APO priced at £615.41 (slightly over budget)

B&H have:

Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro AF priced at £469.18
 
If you can - have a word with Andy (Puddleduck) as he's a Sony user & may or may not be able to shed some light on your questions...

I've found him to be a good fella - well he has been to me with advice etc etc when I've asked him stuff :$
 
Snipet said:
If you're interested in the 500mm, ive seen it for £584 here: http://panamoz.com/index.php/lens/sigma/sigma-150-500mm-f5-6-3-apo-dg-os-hsm-for-canon-digital-and-film-slr-cameras.html

Would be my personal choice, for just a little extra saving.
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Cheers for the link Gareth, but i've read afew 'iffy' reviews regarding 'Panamoz' in the past.

Trig's said:
If you can - have a word with Andy (Puddleduck) as he's a Sony user & may or may not be able to shed some light on your questions...

I've found him to be a good fella - well he has been to me with advice etc etc when I've asked him stuff :$
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Thanks Steve. I'll have a word :thumbs:
 
The Tamron 17-50 f/2.8 and the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 are superb lenses.

I've had a Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 for a while, and its a superb lens.

I've not used the Tamron 17-50 in Sony fit (I'm full frame basically) but I always loved that lens on Nikon.

I'm not keen on any of the long Sigma lenses - they are cack tbh. The 70-200 f/2.8 is good, but the Tamron is sharper wide open at 200mm.

The Sigma 50-500 (not OS, not HSM) is decent on the A900, I only used it on my A350, never on an A700.

The Tamron 200-500 is better than all the Sigma 400 to 500mm lenses, if you can live with 200mm at the short end.

HTH
 
Oh...I'm not sure what your budget is but the Sony 70-400 SSM is a stunner. I bought mind used from here a while back, and its a top lens. I've seen them on import from HK for under £900 (you need to factor in tax). If money is no object..that is the one to get.
 
Cheers Andy. :thumbs: :thankyou:

Although the Sony 70-400mm looks a cracker, it'd eat up my whole budget which would mean not being able to get the 17-50mm.

Out of all of the above mentioned lenses, your personal preference would be the Tamron 70-200mm then (not including the Sony)?

When it comes to focal length, would 200mm be any good for bird/motorsport photography? How would the Tamron 70-200mm handle, being coupled with an extender/converter? and how much would a extender/converter cost if i wanted the extra length?
 
200mm is too short for any sort of birding really. But then for that you need the longest lens possible.

The Tamron 70-200 works well with the Kenko 1.4x, and gives good IQ at 280mm f/4 - still too short for birds, unless you are shooting huge things like ostriches or swans!

Motorsport I don't really do - but when I've done it on occasion I've always found 200mm too short.
 
Well i think im going to struggle getting both lenses on a £1000 budget. I'd have £700-£750 left to spend on a zoom lens after buying the 17-50mm. After looking over the internet, a 200mm lens certainly isnt long enough for what i'd intend on using it for. Secondhand Sony 70-400mm 'G' dont seem very easy to come by :(
 
CBA100 said:
Secondhand Sony 70-400mm 'G' dont seem very easy to come by :(
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I'd definitely get the 70-400 SSM first, and get a Tamron later. Remember with VAT increase the 70-400 SSM is going to go up another £25.. whereas the Tamron will go up about £5.

I think the Sony 18-55 kit lens is very good - no its not f/2.8 but optically its a very good lens. Surprisingly so. Actually I think the only ASC-C Sony lens I have is the 18-55.

If you can't do both at once, get the 70-400 SSM. Everyone raves about it - its the best x0-400 from ANY manufacturer.
 
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