sony lens opinions

bungle29

bungle29

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colin
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hey all just wanted you opinions on this lens just wondered if it would fit my sony a200? and also is it any good for motor sports for the money and will if look through a fence because wtih my 300mm lens i still get a bit of fence on my pics. any help would be great :)
 
If you want to get a shot of something on the other side of a mesh fence, the 'trick' is to

a) Have as little of the mesh in the shot as possible (IE position the lens so the centre lines up with the centre of the 'hole' in the mesh) - obviously this is only practical with a relatively static subject
b) Have the mesh as out of focus as possible.

Getting (b) right depends on the depth of field, and where the subject and fence are is in relation to the camera.

Try to keep the depth of field as small as possible (while keeping the subject sharp), and you want the fence as close and subject more distant.

The Sigma you have lined to is OK, but like Scott I would probably opt for the 70-300 Tamron (make sure it is the new USD version) as it is much better optically.

Always worth checking Dyxum Lens Database for info and reviews on lenses you are considering for Sony cameras.
 
Faldrax said:
If you want to get a shot of something on the other side of a mesh fence, the 'trick' is to

a) Have as little of the mesh in the shot as possible (IE position the lens so the centre lines up with the centre of the 'hole' in the mesh) - obviously this is only practical with a relatively static subject
b) Have the mesh as out of focus as possible.

Getting (b) right depends on the depth of field, and where the subject and fence are is in relation to the camera.

Try to keep the depth of field as small as possible
Click to expand...
this basically means shoot with aperture wide open
 
heidfirst said:
this basically means shoot with aperture wide open
Click to expand...

wide open and long is the way to go, I didn't have much success with my a700 and 70-400 while was I waiting for the A77. I ended up with the A77 and Minolta 400mm f/4.5 which worked quite well through wire, it was hard to stop the lens hunting though:(

You really need a fast lens, I guess if you are on a budget you haven't many options I'm afraid just make sure you shoot wide open and long for minimum DOF.

These were from Donington SBK all shot through wire.


DSC08256 by Nick Railton, on Flickr


DSC08993 by Nick Railton, on Flickr
 
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i understand you have to stand as close to the fence as poss but places like donnington theres usally a fence in front of the fence so you cant get close to it. i just wonder if its worth getting a lens like this for my sony a200 or just sell it all and get something better with more options, because it doesn't seem like theres alot of options for my a200?
 
There won't be many more (if any) affordable options available for Canon or Nikon either. Possibly the Canon 400/5.6 is the only one (but no IS) & it's £1000.
A more modern body will give you better AF & high ISO but you'll still have the same limitations for glass.
 
possible thought, maybe a faster lens, but shorter length, with a teleconverter, as a teleconverter wont effect the depth of field.
it might be worth trying it out with cheap m42 gear first, pics may not be that good but the theory might work
 
Stay away from the sigma 70-300. I'm on my second because the first one broke. Auto focus failure. I sent it off under warranty and they fixed it but it soon broke again. Now it sits in my camera bag broken. I occasionally use it with manual focus.
 
Andyvalver said:
Stay away from the sigma 70-300. I'm on my second because the first one broke. Auto focus failure. I sent it off under warranty and they fixed it but it soon broke again. Now it sits in my camera bag broken. I occasionally use it with manual focus.
Click to expand...

Is that the dg os £300 ish one that was brought out in 2009? Hope not as I've just bought one!
 
bungle29 said:
hahahaha school boy error :bonk:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141032398756?ssPageName=STRK:MEBOFFX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1427.l2649
Click to expand...

I actually own one of them but stopped using it quite a few years ago as the coating on one of the internal elements decayed. The comments about it on dyxum are pretty fair.

It will struggle to autofocus through a chain link fence in my experience so I tried to find my way to the top of the grandstands, the extra reach from being 400mm is helpful for this.
 
cheers for the replies :) onomatopoeia can you recommend a 400mm lens?
 
the Sony 70-400 G SSM or the new II version are excellent but you won't get one for £250 ...
Same with the Minolta 400/4.5.

You might be better looking at the Sigma 150-500 or the 50-500 if you can afford them (just make sure that you get an HSM version not one with screw drive).
The Tamron 200-500 is also worth looking at if you don't mind the long short end focal length.
 
sorry newbie question whats HSM and Screw drive? and whys screw drive better?
 
HSM is Sigma's version of an ultrasonic motor for AF (Sony's is SSM, Canon's is USM) where the AF drive for the lens is within the lens.
Screw drive is where the AF drive is within the camera body & it is transmitted to the lens via a mechanical link.
There are pros & cons for both types but with regard to certain Sigma lenses (& certainly incl. the 50-500) the non-HSM versions are known for regularly breaking their AF gears when used on Sony bodies (which have some of the most powerful in-body AF motors).
The Tamron 200-500 is screw drive but isn't known to suffer from the issue that may afflict the Sigmas.
 
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