I admit I forgot to report about this 🙂 Our reader SurfHawk (Thanks!) noticed that the newest 70-300mm II A-mount lens is now in Stock and shipping in USA at BHphoto (Click here) and in Europe at Sony Store DE, UK, FR, IT, ES, AT, CH, NL, BE, PT, NO, SE, FI.
Two more “updated” A-mount lenses should be released soon (I guess on April 23).
23 Responses
@Admin: It looks like the love for FE has made you blind for other mounts 🙂
I’d definitely take 1 in e-mount (with oss)!
I use the A-Mount on E-Mount, works very well IMO. Haven’t missed OSS at all on the A7S. Also is well sized IMO and about the same as the 70-200mm f4 G, a stop slower on the long end but 50% longer reach. I think the G has better bokeh though, but the Tamron tracks way better on my A7S than the G does.
I think Sony wants to make the larger lenses on A mount and rely on the good ol’ LAEA adapters for E mount. Let’s be honest here, this lens would still be massive on (F)E
only 150 more than the old version http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/545867-REG/Sony_SAL70300G_SAL_70300G_70_300mm_f_4_5_5_6G_SSM.html
I am wondering how much better that lens is compared to a Tamron 70-300 USD. Price-wise it’s more than twice the Tamron with same specs on paper… beside in-camera correction…
Anyone here who has/had both lenses?
You can rent the 70-300G and compare them.
Thank you so much for this very useful comment….
You’re welcome.
I had the opportunity to try them side-by-side for an after noon and shot mostly children playing under good lighting conditions. Once files were corrected, processed and prints made I could not really tell which is which. You pay more for the Sony but it’s a bit better built, a bit faster to focus, a bit quieter, a bit smoother and it adds all up to make the Sony a far better lens to use and, of course, it offers focus limiter and focus hold which can make a world of difference. I do not think you would regret either.
I don’t think that there are any major differences between Tamron and Sony 1st version other than AF speed and build quality.
But this 2nd version from Sony they claim that AF speed is 4 times faster than the older version, you can check this video to see the difference in AF speed between Sony 70-400G and 70-400G2
https://youtu.be/jQK0WmWtFow?t=80
for image quality I don’t think it would a major issue , both will do well IMO
I have had both the MkI and the Tamron, I think my Tamron is sharper but is most likely more due to sample variation. I got an excellent deal on both, but the tamron was still half what the Sony was and I sold the Sony and made some money on it (nearly the amount paid for the Tamron).
Sony has the focus hold button and works with the DAF on the A99 where the Tamron doesn’t, though I don’t have an A99. The focus limiter is available in body on the A99 and A77 II anyway.
Build and AF speed are the same, but build is ‘different’ not better or worse.
The 1st version is very sharp for a zoom lens , this image is %100 crop taken with the 1st version 70-300mm with Sony A99.
%100 cropped RAW file unedited
A-mount is alive!
Sony is going down the drain fast. This is horrible news! It started really well with the A100, but they never really built upon that success. Now Sony has become the laughing stock of the entire camera industry. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Ricoh, Leica, they are all outclassing this Playstation-manufacturer-posing-as-a-camera-manufacturer. Oh, how sad! What have you become, my precious? Stop the madness now! Let’s play the game no more. One two three boom! It ends now Sony!
Hahahaha did you see what I saw? A foolish departure from the path to photographic glory. Repent! There is still hope for you Sony! No, I cannot believe this!
What advantage does this have over the old one and the tamron 70-300 vc
This has improved AF both acquisition and tracking. IQ should be similar though this one has improved coatings so maybe slightly better flare resistance.
The Sony is native, so I think the IBIS would work better. Also sony’s SSM is very very good.
I just got a really good deal on the first version bundled with the A77II. I’m pretty happy with it so far.
Sony is going down the drain fast. This is HORRIBLE news! It started really well with the DSLR-A100, but they never really built upon that success. Now Sony has become the laughing stock of the entire camera industry. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Ricoh, Leica, they are all outclassing this Playstation-manufacturer-posing-as-a-camera-manufacturer. Oh, how SAD! What have you become, my precious? STOP THE MADNESS NOW!
Let’s play the game no more. One two three BOOM! It ends now Sony!
Hahahaha did you see what I saw? A foolish departure from the path to photographic glory. Repent! There is still hope for you Sony! No, I cannot believe this!
After the version II of the SAL1635Z and SAL2470Z, Sony should consider seriously bringing back the Minolta 300mm f4, 200mm f2.8, 28mm f2, 35mm f2, 100mm f2, and making a set of 16-35 f4, 24-70 f4 or 24-120 f4, and 70-200 f4.
Don’t forget the legendary 135
if its the same speed as the g2 70400 which is increadibly fast, then thats the biggest difference, coatings barely mattered on other lenses