Yeah, it’s a lens I never thought I would have any interest in whatsoever. It’s sure a wonderful little lens and three great lenses in one.
Sony 300GM
- Thread starter sh1209
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TomRC
Member
That is the great thing about buying and selling at FM is that you CAN see buyer and seller feedback. And the single reason I think it is the best place to safely buy and sell used gear not to mention their classifieds get soooo much traffic. I bought my first used camera lens or body (can’t remember) on FM 20 years ago and have bought and sold a boatload since. Over 20 years I have never had a single......not a single issue but I always check feedback whether buying or selling. And if you are selling a high value item (or anything for that matter IMO) you are playing with fire if you use Paypal Family & Friends, you BETTER use PP Goods and Services and you BETTER make sure to ship to ONLY the VERIFIED PP shipping address of the person buying your gear. Follow this formula and you are covered if any issues, stray from this and you might just have a very expensive problem on your hands.
In terms of selling used gear I’ve always gotten more there than these other places I see mentioned here and on other forums that will buy your gear. Takes some time to establish positive feedback but once established your gear sells quickly most of the time and for prices a good bit higher than these places that will buy your gear.
Thank you for all the information like I said I’ve been a member on there for several years. I just haven’t interacted much.
uday592
Active member
I wish Sony comes out with a light weight (under 2kg) 600mm f4 lens. If you don't work with hides still need 600 plus 1.4tc for small birds.
That would be nice, but the current one really isn’t all that bad. I wish they could make the footprint smaller. I think if they did, it would sell like hotcakes.
A lot of sellers on there insist on PayPal Friends and Family or Zelle. So, you have to be willing to pay that 3.5% fee. Few sellers are willing to eat that fee, although it’s a hell of a lot better than eBay’s fees.
Yeah, eBay’s fees are out of control
ChrisM
Well-known member
If only the 400GM had a built-in 1.4tc....
TomRC
Member
If you sell something and use PP Family and Friends you have NO seller protection. There is a reason why reputable classifieds (photography or otherwise) say "DON"T USE IT". And equally important if someone does not have a verified PP shipping address I explain what they need to do to get one and don't deal with them until they have a verified PP shipping address.....no exceptions. People basically want to save 3.5% and avoid getting a 1099 from Paypal, primarily the latter IMO
You may get away with PP Family and Friends transactions for a while, maybe years, eventually you will get burned. I've never not sold something on FM in a relatively short amount of time and on other classified sites (guitars, whatever) requiring PP Goods and Services and I certainly don't mind absorbing 3.5% as a seller which isn't that much in the big scheme of things for piece of mind and essentially a guaranteed safe transactions. If you buy and sell a fair amount and are not 100% certain of who you are dealing with.....100% certain, PP Family and Friends will burn you at some point.
That would be handy but I’d rather have it in my 600.
O
Well-known member
Great comparison
I find In very good light usually a selection of lenses like your testing, the difference would be surprisingly smaller than when you’re in challenging conditions,
ie: outdoors low light low contrast busy back grounds or your wanting to dissolve the environment around the subject so it pops.
The ability to use the F2.8 as a tack sharp F stop in lower light is always handy, F2.8 with the diameter size of the lens along with the short length has a incredible ability to gather light, revealing amazing micro contrast and detail often not seen or revealed fully at F5.6 F6.3 in other lenses.
F2.8 brings out just a beautiful rendering, even at F4 using or not the TC.
I find my 28-300 performs so much better in Tasmania than in Queensland, the difference being quality of natural light at F2.8 you gather more of the available light that translates into more micro detail and micro contrast and exceptional rendering at any distance.
The different lenses are different tools for different purposes, each has a unique purpose, price versatility performance.
A bit like a car, they all go from point A to B but take them of road ! or hit a storm !
Night time soccer matches i find my 200-500 or 100-400 while it works the ISO levels are significantly higher as is the focus speed slower or stickiness than on my 300 F2.8 VR II at F2.8, same shooting or documenting Koala bears in tree tops during the day.
For myself In general the 300 F2.8 does very similar to what the 600 F4 does at F4, however outside in challenging light using the same settings I usually monitor iso levels to evaluate the difference. One could look at the MTF charts.
I think Sony has made a super impressive selection of tools covering all the bases to meet the sports action,
event, and even wild life subjects, you couldn't really want for more.
A 300 F2.8 with a built in TC being and being so small and light yet powerfully versatile would be amazing, Nikon has done it with the 400 which is simply my number one choice in the Nikon lenses, In Sony i would grab a 300 2.8 with a Tc all day preferably built in if ever available, add the 50 or 60 mp providing legs and reach to burn.
At the end of the day it’s all about Light, light that comes from the sun, a flash, or harnessing any available light by the lens.
I would be interested in your findings in the natural field in challenging conditions.
What about going into the garage open the door and shoot out side if the conditions are rough just now.LOL?
Only an opinion
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kybob
Member
I own both the 300 and 600/f4 on a recent trip to Africa I had to decide between taking only one of the lenses due to weight restrictions one the small planes. It came down to being able to take a laptop and another pair of pants or both lenses. Going I was very unsure if I had made the right decision but when once I got there I knew I made the right choice. The 300 was so easy to use in the trucks when others using the 400 and 600 primes struggled. I was also blown away with the image quality when combined with the teleconverters. My 600 and the 200-600 are collecting dust in the closet. I am thinking of selling the 200-600 I just do not like the image quality and the weight and balance when compared to the 300. The 200-600 also I find I have to run the images through Topaz to get the sharpness and reduce the amount of noise (caused by higher ISO) than the images with the 300 with teleconverters. I have posted images from my Africa trip on this forum to see some images taken with the 300. I am currently planning another trip to Africa and have already bought the smaller GuruGear bag (do not tell my wife, I have so many bags she did not notice the new one) to take just the 300 and my 70-200gmii and one more pair of pants! I took only 3 pair, I tore one pair getting out of the truck, snagged it and it ripped open the seat leaving me only 2 pair of pants to wear for 12 days. I was constantly having to wash pants.
andrewluke
Member
i can't understand how the 200-600mm has suddenly become a poor lens after a few years of being a very good lens??
FB101
Well-known member
It’s still a very good sub $2000 lens - I don’t think anybody can say the opposite with a straight face. But if you spend more with Sony or Nikon, you will get better lenses. When I got my A1, that was pretty much the only lens I could get for wildlife (or the 100-400GM but that was too short for my use).
‘But for 6x the price, the 600 f:4 is a better lens. It’s 1.3 stop faster, it’s sharper, has more micro contrast, is better balanced and focuses much faster. It better be all those things for the price. Same with the 300 f;2.8 with 2x. When I want to do stills, i grab the 600 f;4 - it’s simply better in almost every way.
But unlike others I still use the 200-600 a lot, mainly for video where the zoom range is useful (because I shoot the A1 in 4K 60p cropped mode for better image quality) - and for the occasional photo in the middle of video clips.
But Kybob is right - those files take more love and care in post to look their best.
But if all I could spend was $2000, I would still get the 200-600 because in the Sony universe it‘s still the best price/performance ratio to get to ~560mm (it‘s not really 600mm).
I agree and use my 200-600 often and find in good light it’s a great lens as well as being very versatile.
This has been another great thread where others have shared how they think about and use their gear along with how they prioritize. I always learn something. Here are my thoughts and what I prioritize: I made the decision to sell my 200-600 (I don't do video) to help fund the 300 and plan to use the 70-200 f2.8 II plus 1.4 TC if I need a zoom. No regrets for all the reasons others have named. It is a great option for hiking and the kayak even though I am good with the 600 with 1.4 in these situations. My fondness for those little birds will dictate keeping the 600 plus 1.4.
I don't think you will regret this lens - it is one of the best lens I have ever purchased. I see them over on FM for a good price. Use some of TomRC advice and you can't go wrong if Greentoe doesn't offer anything better.
I don't think you will regret this lens - it is one of the best lens I have ever purchased. I see them over on FM for a good price. Use some of TomRC advice and you can't go wrong if Greentoe doesn't offer anything better.
Thank you. It is definitely a fun lightweight lens with incredible image quality.
I had bought 300 f2.8 with 2 TC for my A1 last month & am thoroghly pleased with its performance (will post photos & videos later) both for stills as well as vidoes(since i do both extensively)
I am reminded of my D500 with 500 PF combo .It was very good for hand holding & the A1 with 300 f 2,8 feels the same
I did have one issue about focus shifting to water while shooting bird over water.I need to tweak the settings to get rid of it(it never happened with my 200-600 or 600 F4(which i used ot hire)
I am reminded of my D500 with 500 PF combo .It was very good for hand holding & the A1 with 300 f 2,8 feels the same
I did have one issue about focus shifting to water while shooting bird over water.I need to tweak the settings to get rid of it(it never happened with my 200-600 or 600 F4(which i used ot hire)
O
Well-known member
I like the fact that Sony really sets a standard, in this case the weight of the A1 compared to a Z8, weight is one thing that's not what i like in my current Z8 especially when i have lug lots of batteries. I am super strong and very fit that's not the issue, just hiking for 3 or 4 days, the Z8 and all the batteries becomes the single heaviest item. I wish it was about the A1 or Z7II weight with better battery life.
If you don’t mind me asking, what is the difference in weight between just the two bodies? Including the average number of batteries you need for each system edit: over the course of a 3/4 day hiking trip (otherwise I’d look it up myself; I’m assuming you need more Nikon batteries?).
I’m looking at one of these two cameras to purchase.
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Doug Herr
Well-known member
from B&H's website
a1: 737g with 1 battery & recording medium; each battery 2280 mAh, 85.03 g
z8: 910g with 1 battery & recording medium; battery weight not specified, about 90g for 2280 mAh (340 shots)
I suspect 340 shot spec for the z8's battery is a gross underestimate, unless the z8 is a battery hog. With the a1 and the same 2280 mAh capacity battery I've gotten far more than this.
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Not sure about the Z8 but I think the A1 battery life is great and I don’t use a grip. I can go out 3-4 hours with heavy stills usage and video in the mix and hardly ever have to change a battery. I think all of them are getting better for sure.
Perhaps I wasn’t making myself clear.
What I was trying to get at is if he uses, say, six Z8 batteries over a three day backpacking trip vs only four for the A1. That would accentuate the weight difference.
If he uses a power bank or maybe solar to charge, then that might even it out, as far as the number of batteries between the two systems.
Not sure if solar (edit: or power banks) are an option to charge these types of batteries.
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Re: battery charging in the woods
Apparently you can charge camera batteries with a power bank. See about 31:32 in this vid:
Apparently you can charge camera batteries with a power bank. See about 31:32 in this vid:
O
Well-known member
2 hours on average with steady still shot usage on the Z8, single shots, well in my use case and set up. I am certain others may get different results.
Depending on what the application travel situation is determines if the weight or carrying lots of batteries is an issue or not.
Batteries may rundown quicker doing one shoot compared to the other so its a constant gee i need to carry more batteries than i expect to be safe.
When i did a hike around Cradle Mountain in Tasi, i did just landscape nature shots 2 batteries just covered it.
Another time when the fawner was out i did a lot of macro shots on a tripod etc, using the back screen a lot i needed 4 1/2 batteries for a 7 - 8 hour day.
If the weather is very cold the situation is different again, but yes, in general the batteries could be better or the camera efficiency could be better.
Only a contrast, I can Jump a plain to the Gold Coast from Sydney with just a D850, grip 2 x D4s batteries, shoot 5-6 hours each day for 2 days and still not have touched the second battery.
Its understandable Mirror less cameras defiantly don't last as long on a battery compared to a DSLR, i wonder if it’s on the manufacturers radar to work on.
If go overseas on a holiday i take the D850 with teh small battery (no grip) or the DF as the batteries just last for days.
Happy holidays and festive season to all, stay safe and prey the world comes to its senses.