Sigma 70-300mm f4.0 - 5.6 APO Macro (Gold Ring)
Versus
Minolta 75-300mm f4.5 - 5.6 (latest version)
Versus
Minolta 75-300mm f4.5 - 5.6 (latest version)
Ok, so I had the Minolta lens for quite a while and it did serve me well over the year with my Alpha. It was the first lens I picked up after getting the Alpha kit last year. A second hand but in brand new condition lens. Now I have another similar lens that costs twice as much second hand compared to the Minolta version but still cheap because the Minolta one was unbelievably cheap.
The Sigma I got may not be the latest version with the digital coating and macro at 200-300mm but it's still quite a performer on my Alpha. And here's the photos for comparing the two lens
The not so controlled home tests with the classic undergrad text, the Feynman lecture series collectible hardcover with tips on problems version.
At this point, I noticed that the focusing speed and accuracy of the Sigma is much better than the Minolta at low light. The f8.0 shots that I got from the Minolta were soft and so I retook them.
All shots were taken indoor with built-in flash with no post-processing done to the raw files. Care was not taken to ensure that other factors are controlled. I don't pretend that I'm doing an objective assessment of the lens. I'm just trying to figure out with lens to keep and at the same time share some of my findings here.
Let's face it, we get telephoto lens mostly for the telephoto range and would use it at 300mm more than the 70/75mm end. That's why I only see what the lens are capable of at 300mm. Its performance at 300mm is the deciding factor in which to keep.
Comparing the 100% crops. There isn't much difference in both lens at 300mm. The Sigma may have the edge in image quality that I have in these batch of shots but I have another batch that may proof otherwise. For this round, I guess Sigma is the clear winner, especially in the focusing speed and accuracy part. I just don't understand why the Sigma could focus on the spot most of the time without the flash assist strobes while the Minolta tend to miss a bit even with the flash assist strobes on. But I know the Minolta is a good performer outdoors, the situation where we use such lens most of the time so it's not that bad but clearly Sigma is better in this aspect.
Hopefully I will have the time to share my 2nd batch of test photos...
Only with in-body stabilization can you spend about a $120 on a el cheapo telephoto lens with stabilization...
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