Looking for a 200mm lens

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m18nye

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Right so I am looking for a ...-200mm lens. Any suggestions Sony fitment obviously. Looking at the minolta beercan lens any good? or the Sony DT 55-200mm 4-5.6?

Thanks
 
The 70-210 f/4 is very good as is the 100-200 f/4.5

Can't comment on the 55-200 DT.

The 100-200 f/4.5 is tiny and very sharp, I have a strong liking for this lens due to its size for travel. The Beercan is very good, its twice the size of the 100-200 f/4.5. Both work with Kenko TC's if you want to go to 280mm.
 
m18nye said:
ok and what about the 35-70 F4 beercan is that anygood?

Thanks
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no idea. Did you check Dyxum reviews?

BTW the only "Beercan" is the 70-210 f/4. Its not a generic term for a Minolta f/4 lens.
 
Richard.T said:
I know nothing about sony glass or cameras, But I'd recommend getting some f/2.8 glass it's very handy compared to f/5.6, And imo has a lot more uses! :)
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Well I agree on principle, the Minolta 80-200 f/2.8 is stunning but thats a £600+ lens.

Beercan is a £125 lens.

A large f/2.8 lens isn't useful if its left at home 'cos its too big :)

Constant f/4 lenses, which Minolta has always done are an excellent compromise between f/2.8 and variable aperture f/5.6 lenses.
 
I'd agree on 2.8 getting left behind. We have both Canon 70-200 IS lenses (f/2.8 and f/4) and the lighter one gets used an awful lot more...
 
m18nye said:
Yeh I know F2.8 is better and faster but its VERY expensive.
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As I just happen to have a few Sony fit lenses, here is the 70-210 f/4 compared sizewise with the Minolta 80-200 f/2.8 APO HS and the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 HSM II. Its the weight differential, rather than size that is the biggie between f/4 and f/2.8 (and price!)



DSC09817-web.jpg


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The Sigma looks huge and heavy. My 18-55mm 2.8 sigma is heavy and thats only small. I think the 70-210mm beercan is the one ill go for as I have read and heard alot of good reviews about it. I am not sure if i need the 30-70mm as I have the 18-55mm but then it would be a good walk about lens for when im on holiday.
 
m18nye said:
And would the 70-210mm beercan be better optically ect than my Sigma 70-300mm 4-5.6?

Thanks
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A lot better but bare in mind these lenses were £40 mint when the Sony A100 came out and thanks to some very clever internet marketing by certain individuals on Dyxum who had stockpiled loads of minolta lenses the price went quickly to around £140 for an average copy.
They are good, but not as good as people would have you believe, technology has surpassed them.
 
It is quite good to be honest. I think it will be best to have a good play with the Sigma 70-300mm before I make my mind up on weather to sell it and get the beercan or not.

Thanks
 
m18nye said:
It is quite good to be honest. I think it will be best to have a good play with the Sigma 70-300mm before I make my mind up on weather to sell it and get the beercan or not.

Thanks
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Put up some 200mm crops at f/5.6 from 10 yards away and I'll let you know how it compared to the Beercan.
 
I have never owned a beercan (BTW, the only lens known as the beercan is the 70-210 f4 - lots of people try to tag the name onto other lenses when selling), but by all accounts they are very good, although a little heavy.

One lens definitely worth looking at in the 200mm range is the Tamron 55-200. I believe that it is the same as the sony SAL55-200, but for some reason it seems to be thought of as a sharper lens. I have the Tamron, and it is far better than the price would suggest - picked mine up on special offer for £60!!

It doesn't feel particularly well built - it is very light though, as a result of being mostly plastic, although I've never heard of this being an issue.

http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Tamron-AF-55-200-F4-5.6-Di-II_lens242.html
 
billybob99 said:
I've got both the beercan and the 70-300 sigma I'll have a play in a bit and stick up some comparisons
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have had a quick play will post up results later one thing I will say though is at 200 there isn't much in it the beercan seems to be richer in colour but sharpness about the same, but the beercan is at full stretch wheras the sigma is midrange but the sigma does drop off at 250+. What length are you looking at shooting ? If it's 70-180 then I would say the beercan is richer in colour and overall "nicer" but if your up around 200 and want the ability to go more stay with the sigma
 
I keep going back to my beercan after trying a sigma them a 70 to 300 minolta as the beercan just gives me better photos.
It works well with extension tubes as well providing a good macro facility that is sharp.
It feels well made and is good to handle.

Just my thoughts obviously.:thumbs:
 
These are straight out of the camera all taken within seconds of eachother no PP whatsoever converted from raw and resized no sharpening etc as you can see the beercan produes a much "richer" image than the sigma in my opinion
1. beercan F8 70mm 2. Sigma F8 70mm 3. Sigma F5.6 210mm 4. Beercan F5.6 210mm

f8beercan70.jpg

sigmaf870.jpg


sigmaf56210.jpg

beercan56210.jpg
 
billybob99 said:
These are straight out of the camera all taken within seconds of eachother no PP whatsoever converted from raw and resized no sharpening etc as you can see the beercan produes a much "richer" image than the sigma in my opinion
1. beercan F8 70mm 2. Sigma F8 70mm 3. Sigma F5.6 210mm 4. Beercan F5.6 210mm

f8beercan70.jpg

sigmaf870.jpg


sigmaf56210.jpg

beercan56210.jpg
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you can certainly tell the sigma is a brighter image, was a different shutter speed used?
 
I had the 70-300 sigma on an A100 and it was ok as a starter len, but I craved a faster lens as it wasn't up to the job of zoo photography that I'm into. I bought a beercan and loved the deeper colours and having the faster glass was important in capturing animals, as was the constant aperture. I now have the sigma 70-200 f2.8 HSM II but cant bring myself to get rid of the beercan, though the cheaper siggy was given to an alpha user just starting out.
 
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