In the hands of a nature, landscape or sports photographer, the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G-Series telephoto lens rivals any of the other manufacturers similar lens products. With its 450mm equivalent focal length in 35mm format and a fast f/2.8 aperture, this lens will capture distant wildlife action or the subtle details of a face in the crowd from across the street or square. Read real customer reviews of the Sony 300mm here.
- Optical performance begins with 13 glass elements in 12 groups, including 3 ED, or Extra-low Dispersion, glass lenses. They eliminate chromatic aberrations that are a natural byproduct of a long telephoto lens, which, in turn, results in sharper images, accurate colors and professional contrast ratios.
- Third-party tests report a near absence of color fringing, or chromatic aberration. At the widest aperture, barely recognizable, axial chromatic aberration is visible, but only with 100% crops of test images. Tests for barrel distortion were also conducted, and none appeared on APS-C. Full frame produced minimal pincushioning that is only visible if you actually search for it.
- Complete with its own metal carrying case, the Sony 300mm f/2.8 gives you the heft (5 lbs. 1 oz. [2.3kg]) that helps to keep it steady on a tripod or monopod. Sony built this lens with a magnesium barrel, which makes it both lighter and stronger. This reduces the fatigue factor of carrying and shooting handheld for any period of time. For most uses, this kind of lens, combined with a pro DSLR body, requires the support of a monopod or tripod. Most major sports photographers shoot with a monopod, which is often attached to the long telephoto lens.
- The lens’ internal focusing system also help to support and balance the 300mm f/2.8, as the internal elements do the moving, not the lens. Its 9 3/8” (242.5m) length remains constant.
Just as important to the handling and operational quality of this lens is its Super Sonic wave Motor (SSM). This is the technology that gives the Sony 300mm f/2.8 a very quiet and very fast auto-focus system.
Four focus-hold buttons and an electronic slide controller to select the focus range enhance the use of this lens. Depending on your camera model, the purpose of the focus-hold buttons can be switched to depth-of-field preview (or pre-focus position). - Return to the manual focus mode whenever you need control by simply twisting the manual focus ring. With just a 1/3 turn for the entire focus distance, this lens was designed for the pro who must work quickly.
- Another feature pros demand in a lens of this type is a tripod collar that can be removed and adjusted, as needed. The collar on the Sony 300mm f/2.8 makes the transition from handheld to a tripod and back into your hands quick and easy.
- Third-party tests also confirm a very attractive bokeh created with the 9-bladed aperture.
- Make no mistake, the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G-Series telephoto lens is a pro lens, at a pro price. For those photographers who use Sony DSLRs, such as the Alpha 65, 77 and 2012’s 99, this is the lens to choose if the kind of photography they shoot demands it. In the end, each photographer must judge its purchase based on his or her professional need and style and its comparison to Nikon, Canon and other lens’ brands.
- The Sony 300mm f/2.8 G-Series telephoto lens is available from B&H Photo Video for $6,299.99. B&H has a special offer until January 7, 2012, reducing the price of this lens by $500.00 to $5,799.99. For more information, visit http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Sony+300mm+f%2F2.8+G+lens&N=0&InitialSearch=yes.
Feel free to check out any of our other photography reviews, have a look around the camera store or just go into any of our forums to share your opinion.
Photo from www.bhphotovideo.com © 2000-2012 B & H Foto & Electronics Corp.