Calling all Sony Alpha users! (Part 3)

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Sony do an official one. I tried modifying a spare iPhone one I had but it came off within hours :-( I think the plastic was too thick.
 
traff22 said:
i want to know what they were thinking when they decided that it would be silver :thinking:
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I guess they were probably thinking "We need a colour that will reflect the suns rays and reduce expansion whilst also providing a corporate identity which distinguishes our product from all of the other white lenses on the market"
 
fabs said:
Will it be long enough for motorsports? You may want to look at the Sony 70-300 G lens. Not as fast as the 70-200, but a very good lens with a better reach and less dosh than the Sigma 70-200.
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cheers marc, i looked at the 70-300 SSM, but really wanted the f2.8?
the 70-200 should be fine for motox, get right upto the trackside most times. and for times when needed, mabie get the 1.4x convertor.
i know the tamron isnt rated, but hows the sigma? i was wana stick to the sony lens, but if it cant be done, would the sigma be worth investing in?
 
PAS said:
cheers marc, i looked at the 70-300 SSM, but really wanted the f2.8?
the 70-200 should be fine for motox, get right upto the trackside most times. and for times when needed, mabie get the 1.4x convertor.
i know the tamron isnt rated, but hows the sigma? i was wana stick to the sony lens, but if it cant be done, would the sigma be worth investing in?
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Some say the sigma is great value for the money, but I have also noticed quite a few people selling them on so I really don't know to be honest. It may be a case of getting one and then, if you're not happy with it, selling it on and savng the pennies for the Sony G. One of the good things about lenses is the thriving second hand market. If you do get the wrong one, at least you won't lose too much of your investment.
 
I have been wanting to have a play with this for a while, no where near a technical test.
Found a spare hour this morning and a pack of batteries !!

Overall I am pretty please with the results, the only lens that seems to be slightly
front focusing is the Sigma 70-300 at 90mm, the second 70-300 was taken at about 240mm.
The rest seem OK to me.

All taken at the largest possible aperture and spot auto focused on the middle battery.

50mm



35-105mm



100-200mm



70-300mm 1



70-300mm 2

 
Part 3 here I am.

My flashgun came today very pleased just got to work out what all the buttons do :(

Hello to all that are new :wave:

:woot:
 
Like many before me my alpha was back focusing. I became positive about this when using my 30mm f/1.4 wide open. At closest focus distance it was focusing about 5mm behind. Anyway, i took the bottom sticker off, 1/8th turn clockwise on each of the 3 nuts and bingo! Everything's spot on. Took 5 minutes max. Sony's quality control is shocking!
 
bradleysmith said:
Like many before me my alpha was back focusing. I became positive about this when using my 30mm f/1.4 wide open. At closest focus distance it was focusing about 5mm behind. Anyway, i took the bottom sticker off, 1/8th turn clockwise on each of the 3 nuts and bingo! Everything's spot on. Took 5 minutes max. Sony's quality control is shocking!
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... and your other lenses also are still focussing okay?
 
bradleysmith said:
Like many before me my alpha was back focusing. I became positive about this when using my 30mm f/1.4 wide open. At closest focus distance it was focusing about 5mm behind. Anyway, i took the bottom sticker off, 1/8th turn clockwise on each of the 3 nuts and bingo! Everything's spot on. Took 5 minutes max. Sony's quality control is shocking!
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Interesting statement about Sony's QC. :thinking: I have never had a problem with a Sony product, and I'have had a LOT of Sony products.
 
bradleysmith said:
Like many before me my alpha was back focusing. I became positive about this when using my 30mm f/1.4 wide open. At closest focus distance it was focusing about 5mm behind. Anyway, i took the bottom sticker off, 1/8th turn clockwise on each of the 3 nuts and bingo! Everything's spot on. Took 5 minutes max. Sony's quality control is shocking!
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not a Sony lens that you were using was it though?
You'll find that back/front focussing varies by lens & it's certainly not something unique to Alphas - go to any brand (Canon, Nikon, Pentax etc.) DSLR forum & you'll find mention of it.
if there was 1 perfect adjustment for it why do the bodies that have micro-adjustment have memories for multiple lenses (e.g. Nikon D300 will store 12 settings)?
 
The sony kit lens, a tamron 55-200 and sigma 30mm all back focused. Obviously the Sigma highlighted the pronlem more. All lenses are now spot on i think. With rehard to my qc comment: my olympus e300 had no issues and none of my canon film slrs did either yet i hear about this all the time now.
 
front/back focusing wasn't an issue on film slrs.

if you Google " DSLR front focusing" Sony is the 10th hit with Pentax taking up the first few slots followed by Canon, Olympus & Canon again with Nikon appearing shortly afterwards.
If you Google "DSLR back focusing" yes, Sony is the 1st with Nikon 2nd then a mix of Canon & Nikon with the 2nd Sony entry about 18th.
In short as I said it's common across all manufacturers.
 
rogprov said:
... and your other lenses also are still focussing okay?
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They all back focused, now none of them do. All spot on. So, either every lens had an issue or the camera did! Obviously I used the f/1.4 to do the adjustments as that was the most critical.

I didn't realise this was a general problem with DSLRs. Fair enough that Canon, Nikon etc. are just as bad but that doesn't excuse Sony. I'm a bit of a Sony fanboy myself and don't usually have any problems with them.

Anyway, I'm happy now. This system is fantastic. I'll post some shots later.
 
bradleysmith said:
They all back focused, now none of them do. All spot on. So, either every lens had an issue or the camera did! Obviously I used the f/1.4 to do the adjustments as that was the most critical.

I didn't realise this was a general problem with DSLRs. Fair enough that Canon, Nikon etc. are just as bad but that doesn't excuse Sony. I'm a bit of a Sony fanboy myself and don't usually have any problems with them.

Anyway, I'm happy now. This system is fantastic. I'll post some shots later.
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I'm very glad your problems are resolved now. I think you must have been unlucky ... I have 3 Sony dSLRs and a bunch of lenses and not found any problems so I've been lucky :) I was, in a perverse sort of way, looking forward to using the micro-adjust facility on the a900 .. but I was thwarted as I can't find anything wrong that would benefit from an adjustment :lol:
 
Well I got my Slingshot 100, very impressed with the quality and it seems a nice size for the equipment I have, easily takes my A300, kit lens and all the accessories (cables, etc) plenty of room for my iPhone, Mobile and Wallet and will easily hold any additional kit I will get in the short term.
I'm looking at zoom lenses and I've noticed the Sigma 70-300 mm APO Macro DG Lens is this a good lens for the price?
 
rogprov said:
I'm very glad your problems are resolved now. I think you must have been unlucky ... I have 3 Sony dSLRs and a bunch of lenses and not found any problems so I've been lucky :) I was, in a perverse sort of way, looking forward to using the micro-adjust facility on the a900 .. but I was thwarted as I can't find anything wrong that would benefit from an adjustment :lol:
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I guess only the people who have problems bother to post. Such is the way of the internetz. I do have to wonder though how many people moan about the quality of the kit lens when in fact they have focus issues. My kit lens now appears to be much better than I originally gave it credit for!
 
Just got me a Minolta 50mm AF f1.7 prime for a quick £49 today. I had no intention of getting one of these, but when I seen it in my local camera shop, couldn't help it :) Its only my second lens and wow its soooooo sharp.
 
Gazbag said:
Just got me a Minolta 50mm AF f1.7 prime for a quick £49 today. I had no intention of getting one of these, but when I seen it in my local camera shop, couldn't help it :) Its only my second lens and wow its soooooo sharp.
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You got a bargain. I've seen them go for almost £100 on ebay! :thumbs:
 
a Minolta 300mm f2.8 went for £908 on eBay yesterday, I'm kicking myself for not bidding as I expected it to go for much, much more than that.
On the other hand a 400/4.5 went for £1400 which is pretty much top dollar - it's a strange world ... :shrug:

bradleysmith said:
My kit lens now appears to be much better than I originally gave it credit for!
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whilst it's now having it's flaws more easily noticed on 10/12Mp bodies rather than on 6Mp I don't think it's really that bad either (more a case of adequate rather than good) although I'm sure that there is also some sample variation.
 
I only have the kit lens atm :(

I get paid on friday and was hoping to get a new lens maybe a 70-300 lens but the missus has decided she wants to go away for valentines which means any cash for me is gone now :(

I am keeping my eye on ebay but all the decent lenses *** talk about like the beercan and the 50mm 2.8 are going for crazy money
 
Gazbag said:
Just got me a Minolta 50mm AF f1.7 prime for a quick £49 today. I had no intention of getting one of these, but when I seen it in my local camera shop, couldn't help it :) Its only my second lens and wow its soooooo sharp.
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Yes that was a great deal. I got mine from ebay the other year and it cost me about £56, that was before the popularity of Sony Alpha's pushed the prices up.

kopite said:
I get paid on friday and was hoping to get a new lens maybe a 70-300 lens but the missus has decided she wants to go away for valentines which means any cash for me is gone now :(
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That's women for you, always putting a spanner in the works.
 
70-400mm G SSM now staring to appear on a few more retailer's sites so I guess that it's probably due for release any day now - cheapest so far is RGB at £1020 (which makes it cheaper than a Canon 100-400 L IS).
 
I've preordered at RGB :bonk:

Sigma prices are going up ~40%, Canon has announced another price increase so how long do you think before Sony goes up again - buy now & save £££s:naughty:
 
says the man with a Sony 70-200 F/2.8 G (now dearer at RGB than the 70-400mm) ... :p
 
heidfirst said:
says the man with a Sony 70-200 F/2.8 G (now dearer at RGB than the 70-400mm) ... :p
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ah yes,but i had to get rid of my P+J to get it though.....

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:'(
 
As long as the focal & aperture range suit you can't knock it for the price as it punches above it's weight.
 
Well from what i`ve read all the 70-300 lenses out there get soft above 200 unless u spend 500+ on the ssm one.
I found myself wanting a lot when I was at the zoo lately so the extra 130 mm should give me that extra zoom I need for now :D
 
kopite said:
Well from what i`ve read all the 70-300 lenses out there get soft above 200 unless u spend 500+ on the ssm one.
I found myself wanting a lot when I was at the zoo lately so the extra 130 mm should give me that extra zoom I need for now :D
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I only ever use tend my 70-300 when I need the extra reach, i.e. Airshows etc. I now find day to day that I very rarely need to go above 200mm
 
Just been on Ebay this morning and Beercans seem to currently be going for 150+.

The tamron lens is 60 quid.

This raises a question for me. is the Beercan really worth the 100 quid more you pay for it? I know build quality is immense but is the actual picture quality going to be that much better than the tamron offering?
 
kopite said:
Just been on Ebay this morning and Beercans seem to currently be going for 150+.

The tamron lens is 60 quid.

This raises a question for me. is the Beercan really worth the 100 quid more you pay for it? I know build quality is immense but is the actual picture quality going to be that much better than the tamron offering?
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MAF lens prices have have risen quite dramatically over the last year or so - I suppose that's testimony to the popularity of Sony dSLRs. The "beercan" in particular has been picked up as a cult lens and the name is banded about by sellers on all sorts of other lenses - "small beercan", "little beercan", "beercan build" and many more.

I've had several "beercans" over the years and, yes, they are a nice lens but they're often over-praised by folk who have never had better lenses. The main attraction is the constant f4 maximum aperture, the quite short close focus distance ... and, of course, that substantial build! However the actual performance is not really that special - it's failings become quite noticeable when used on FF - compared to modern lenses.

Over time I've wasted a lot of cash buying older second-hand lenses to try (usually on web recommendations) - none really lived up to expectations and ended up being resold.

More recently I've (with difficulty) curbed my buying/testing/reselling of older lenses and save up for a new G or Zeiss ... I've only a few lenses now but those I have leave little to be desired :)

A year ago I would have said all Minolta/Sony dSLR owners should try a "beercan" ... but at current prices I'm not so sure.

Roger
 
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