Sony SAL70300G Lens Review and Sample Photos

Sony announced the SAL70300G SSM lens during PMA 08 together with Carl Zeiss 24-70mm F2.8 SSM earlier this year. It is now up for delivery at the retail price tag of USD799.99. As compared with Sony’s competitor, Canon has EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM selling at USD538 while Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR is selling at USD479. For a lower priced alternative to this lens, Sony has 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens, Tamron AF70-300mm F/4-5.6 Di LD Macro Lens and Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom.

Impression

Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 SSM
Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 SSM Packaging (Credit:HonhKongHooey)

At 800g, the SAL70-700G looks long when added with the supplied petal hood. The lens hood supplied is deep and shall be able to do the job. Along with the lens, Sony generously bundles a pouch for the lens so that you can store it in your backpack without the need to buy a lens case. This lens uses 62mm filter and has a distance scale on it.The Sony G-Series 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 Telephoto Zoom Lens is a brilliant performer for a wide range of medium-distance and long shots, with SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) design for fast, silent auto-focus, ED glass to virtually eliminate chromatic aberration, focus hold button and more. Minimum focusing distance of about 4 feet (1.2m) lets you move in close to your subject—and even at full zoom extension it captures sharp, clear images thanks to the benefit of Super SteadyShot image stabilization built into every Sony Alpha system DSLR. (35mm equivalent: 105-450mm).

Because the aperture blades form a near circle at the wide openings used for low-light shots, spot-light sources have a pleasing circular defocused effect.

Sample Photos

Here are some sample photos taken at various settings. The contrast and sharpness of this lens is good. With SSS on, Sony’s Image Stabilization
Technology, photos taken handheld are sharp. Photos are taken using Sony Alpha DSLR-A700 in JPEG format.