I've bought myself a Big White Lens!

zackiedawg

zackiedawg

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Staff member
Oh yeah, hide the kids, alert the ladies...I've got me a big white lens now. ; I know that's what the pros buy them for...to walk around showing off their big white lens which makes other men jealous and women swoon. ; I can blend in on the sidelines at a football game now in the press section.

Now, for those who know I do not shoot Canon, you might be wondering why I'd go out and buy a Canon L lens. ; Ah ha! ; Did you know someone ELSE made Big White Lenses? ; Indeed...several manufacturers have churned them out...rumor is some BEFORE Canon did! ; Yes, mine comes from the Mind of Minolta:

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If you couldn't tell from the photos, it's a 300mm F4 APO...a classic big prime. ; The thing is built like a piece of military hardware - unbelievable construction, weight, heft, precision, and thickness. ; It's a lovely beast with lovely bokeh...it's going to be fun adding this one to the wildlife shooting duties with the big Tamron. ; Maybe I'll even haul it up to Pixelmania on AK day!

I haven't gotten out to shoot with it yet...I picked it up yesterday, so I only had a chance to stand outside the front of my house and snap a blue jay that came to feed:

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Nice and sharp, even in the harsh light of late afternoon...and lovely creamy background blur.

Can't wait to get out and shoot with it some more! ; Just wanted to share with my fellow addicts, who surely understand that I'm fighting with this horrible affliction of Lens Lust, and how hard it is to kick the habit.
 
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Congrats Justin...I just saw that lens the other day...didn't realize that Minolta made an 300 f/4....know about the 400/4.5 though!


How is the focus speed on the A550 with it?
 
congrats Justin. I have been eyeballing the nikon version. I think that will be my next lens with a 2x tele. I know I will lose AF but the 2.8 is way outta my budget
 
Thanks Jeff. ; Sad but true Dave...there are those who love to judge the brand and not the results. ; I could always try electrical tape to cover the name! ; ;)

Roger - it's quite quick, and significantly quieter than my other lenses. ; Focus is accurate and superfast to lock. ; What's better is that it has a full variable focus lock that can be set at any point throughout the focus range, either on the upper or lower end. ; That should really make it nice to focus on birds, especially in flight, without having to worry about missing and having to cycle through the whole focus range. ; It has focus lock button as well on the lens, and drop in filters.

Howie...I probably won't bother with the 2x - I don't think I'd get much use out of it with manual focus because of the types of subjects I typically shoot - I like shooting birds in flight, and fairly quick handheld shots with no setup, so time to grab manual focus would probably miss the shot. ; I may pop for a 1.4x, as it retains AF.

And thanks Mitch!
 
wow.. imagine the possibilities... of course now you have to get more accessories for your new lens!
 
Thanks all. ; I'm hoping this weekend gives me a few holes in what is forecast to be rain and thunderstorms...I'd like to get out and shoot in earnest with this one.
 
What is the crop factor for your SONY? ; Is it 1.5x like Nikon's? ; If it is, that's a 450mm f/4 lens you got there. ; Nice and the bokeh is perfect for your wildlife photography pursuits.

Congrats and hit the gym. ; I know my teles are heavy and give my arms a workout.
 
now that I think about it more you are right Justin. a 1.4 makes more sense and that would make it 630mm at f5.6. not bad at all and still have AF
 
Yeah, Sony crop factor is the same as Nikon at 1.5x. ; I had run an EXIF analysis of the focal lengths used most often in all my photography, adjusted to 35mm-equivalent, and there was a very large spike around 400-450mm. ; Another spike at around 300-330mm and a little curve up at the end at 750mm (all of those are primarily from my Tamron 200-500). ; So I figured if I'm using the 400-450mm range the most with my Tamron 200-500, then a prime lens which is at least a stop faster (the Tammy is F5.6 at 300), and technically even more since it can be used wide open at F4 and still be razor sharp, then that justified the not-cheap purchase. ; Plus, these old Minolta APO G lenses are pretty much an investment - like Canon's L glass, they actually maintain their value if not accrue a bit. ; So likely I can get much or all of my money back if I decide to sell it someday. ; And it's full-frame compatible in case I decide to go that route in the future. ; Basically, a whole bunch of plusses and not too many minuses (heavy, wee bit of PF in super-bright conditions since it's an older non-digital coated lens).

I agree on the 1.4x. ; I'm keeping an eye out for an older Minolta APO 1.4x as they are said to be a little faster geared than the newer Sony versions...but they're in high demand and hard to find on the used market.
 
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