httpwww.photo.netphoto1664882817

<p>Check out the deals available on the Sony A700. It has exceptional high ISO performance (I have used it at 1600 and higher for night football and works great! I have 70-200mm F2.8 and 300mm F2.8 Sony G lenses, which help (105-300mm and 450mm equivalent due to non full frame sensor)<br>

I purchased two A700 bodies new for about $1400.00, and that was when it was new. Check out Ebay, Amazon used, etc. <br>

In fine JPEG mode it shoots at 5 frames per second with continuous auto-focus. Sigma makes a very nice 70-200mm F2.8 with the HSM focus motor that can be had for around $800.00. They also have a 300mm F 2.8 lens as well that I have seen in the in $2000's (my Sony "G" 300mm was $6000.00 for perspective, and my 70-200mm was $1800.00)<br>

Take care, and good luck!</p>

 

<p>I found the answer. There is no protection filter available, protection is afforded, according to my reliable sources, by an extra tough outer coating on the lens surface, as well as a very deep and strong hood. The polarizer is a rear mounted 46mm (I believe) of which was delivered with this very expensive, but very nice lens (it should include more than that for the $6K price. In its defense, however, it is incredibly sharp at all apertures, and the focus speed is exceptional (fastest of all my lenses, including my Sony "G" 70-200mm F2.8 and my Sony/Zeiss 24-70mm F2.8!)<br>

Thanks for the polarizer suggestion, Peter. Much appreciated!</p>

<p> </p>

Is there such an article for this lens? I recently rented a Minolta 300mm APO with an integral twist-up and lock hood

that had a protection filter mounted on threads on the front. The new Sony G 300mm seems to have front threads as

well, and the diameter looks to be 105mm. Any info. direction would be much appreciated! I really would like to

protect the front element, BUT with the proper size, etc. as not to de-grade the image.

 

Thanks.

About wide apetures, 300MM F2.8 lenses, 500mm F4's, etc 70-200 F2.8s, a wise photographer told me once that,"Tom, if you aren't going to use the lens at the widest apeture, then don't spend the $ or the effort to lug them around. They exist for one purpose, and that is to allow you to stop action in the night or day, and to isolate and bring focus on your subject" When you look at spending, in my case, $6000.00 for a 300mm F2.8 lens, I had better be sure that F2.8 is a requirement. The same went for my $1,800.00 70-200 F 2.8 and my 24-70 F2.8. The nice thing is that with the 1.5x conversion with my Sony A700's I have the equivalent of 450mm F2.8, and if needed it, 630mm at F4 with the use of the Sony 1.4X teleconveter.

Are you guys discussing the use of a 300mm lens with a DSLR, where the 300mm, at least in the case of my Sony A700 becomes a 450mm F2.8. I think 300mm F2.8 full frame would be a bit short in some situations. I hand-hold the digital equivalent of a 105-300mm F2.8 (70-200mm) and have a 300mm F2.8 Sony on a Monopod (Dig. equix. 450mm F2.8). This combination with the 1.5X factor of the smaller sensor really has worked for me. I waon't be going out and getting two A900's until I can afford a 450 to 500mm f2.8. The other great advantage of the A700 is it ability tpo shoot clearly at very high ISOs as well as its Super Steady Shot stabilization system, which is profoundly improved in the A700 over the beginning A100.

There is another alternative. Especially if the newspaper wants good shots. I am shooting HS football right now and

I have found the combination of two bodies, in may case, Sony A700's which go up to 3200 quite well and higher

using noise supression (I don't like to shoot in Raw because of the bufffer delay) so I shoot in fine .jpeg and can

shoot at 5 fps as wll as continuous AF at 5 fps. I use two lenses, a 70-200 F2.8 G sony lens handheld (this is where

the internal image stabilization is very helpful) and a 300mm F2.8 Sony G on a monopod. Because of the conversion

factor for the smaller sensors, this gives me 105 to 200 at f 2.8 and 450mm at F2.8. Depending on the brand of body

you have, you can rent from many different places, like Calumet Photo, Adorama, B & H, etc. The last game I shot,

I rented a Minolta APO 300mm F2.8 from www.alphalensrental.com. I have since purchased the 300mm Sony F2.8

(gulp!) at $6000.00, but this, with the 1.5 x conversion factors of the apc sensor, and my 2 Sony G teleconvertors,

1.4X and 2.0X covers a lot of ground with just a few lenses. In fact, with the 1.5X conversion factor, I get a AF, Auto-

metering, super high quality 630mm F4. So , until I purchase my my first A900's, I have a 600mm + f4 for the

$449.00 price of the teleconvertor (or 900mm f5.6 using the 2.0X). The same goes for the 70-200, which is 104-300,

150 to 420mm F4, and 210 to 600mm F5.6. If you have good bodies, rent a 70-80-200, and a 300mm both at F2.8

and you will be a happy man.