Sony 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Camera

by Sony

• 75-300mm telephoto zoom lens with f/4.5-5.6 maximum aperture for Alpha digital SLR cameras
• Ideal for taking close-up portraits and sports action without making subject nervous
• Gives light sources a pleasing circular defocused effect in the background for better results
• Minimum focusing distance of 4 feet, 11 inches; 7 aperture blades; 55mm filter diameter
• Measures 2.81 inches in diameter and 4.81 inches long; weighs 1 pound, 2 ounces

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 2 x 2 inches ; 1.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000DZH9H4
• Item model number: SAL75300
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #81 in Camera & Photo > Lenses > Camera Lenses
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com

Get extremely close to your subjects from a relaxing distance with this Sony 75-300mm super telephoto zoom lens. Great for taking incredibly close-up portraits without making your subject nervous, the compact, lightweight 4x zoom lens is a terrific value and an ideal choice for covering outdoor activities and sports action, even in large stadium locations. The lens offers a wide zoom range of 112.5 to 450mm (35mm equivalent) that handles both middle-ground subjects and portraits from afar, while still capturing intimate details and natural wonders close at hand. In addition, the lens gives light sources a pleasing circular defocused effect in the background, making the subject stand out beautifully.

• Focal length: 75-300mm (112.5-450mm 35mm equivalent)
• Maximum aperture: f/4.5-5.6
• Minimum aperture: f/28-32
• Filter diameter: 55mm
• Minimum focus distance: 4 feet, 11 inches
• Magnification: 0.25x
• Lens group elements: 10 groups 13 elements
• Distance encoder: Yes
• Blades: 7 aperture blades
• Asperhic elements: No
• Lens type: Telephoto zoom
• Dimensions: 2.81 inches in diameter and 4.81 inches long
• Weight: 1 pound, 2 ounces

Product Description

A compact zoom lens that brings you closer to action and portrait subjects. The compact, lightweight SAL-75300 4X zoom lens is a great value and an ideal choice for covering outdoor activities and sports action, even in large stadium locations. Its wide zoom range of 112.5mm to 450mm (35mm equivalent) handles both middle-ground subjects and portraits shot from a relaxing distance, so people won't be nervous. This lens even captures intimate details and natural wonders close at hand.

FEATURES:

• Compact Lightweight Design - Gives you a super telephoto lens you can shoot with comfortably all day.
• Long 4x Zoom Capability - One lens takes you from close-ups, to portraits, to super telephoto zooms -- covering a 35mm-equivalent range from 112.5mm to 450mm.
• Close Shooting - You can capture wildlife, faces and architectural details about as close as five feet to the camera.
• DSLR and 35mm Performance - Designed for superior performance with both DSLR APS-size CCD sensors and 35mm format cameras.
• Circular Aperture - Gives light sources a pleasing circular defocused effect in backgrounds.

SUPPLIED ACCESSORIES:

• Front and rear lens cap
• SH0007 solid-circular lens hood

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

171 of 177 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent lens, apparently a cosmetically re-labelled Konica Minolta 75-300 (D) Zoom lens August 21, 2006

By Reviewer

According to a photo magazine, this is a cosmetically re-labelled Konica Minolta 75-300 (D) zoom telephoto, which is a lens that I own (it certainly looks exactly the same as the KM 75-300 lens, but with the 'Sony' name). In which case, I have the following review:
(1) Excellent construction quality, this is a very nicely made lens, excellent finish, not too heavy but solid and without the 'plastic' feel of many medium-priced lenses;
(2) Excellent optical quality, with good sharpness even at the longest 300mm focal length where most zooms begin to show poor quality;
(3) VERY UNUSUAL: near-zero distortion throughout the entire range of focal lengths (very different from some Sigma zooms that I own, which have conspicuously visible pincushion distortion). This may well be the lowest-distortion 75-300 telephoto from any maker.
(4) ONE CAVEAT: AUTOFOCUS IN LOW LIGHT: on my Minolta Maxxum 7 film camera, whose autofocus system is apparently quite similar to the Sony Alpha 100, the camera has difficulty autofocussing the 75-300 lens at the 300 mm setting (where the aperture is only f/5.6) in light weaker than direct sunlight. This is probably the same with any f/5.6 or slower lens. I have found myself switching to manual focus at the 300 mm setting if the subject is not brightly lit.

NOTE: the Konica Minolta 75-300 (D) lens is still available, for about $140, and reportedly will work with Sony Alpha cameras just as well as the similar lens labelled Sony.

UPDATE, January 2013: the new Sony SLT-A37, SLT-A57, SLT-A65, SLT-A77 cameras have firmware called `Lens Compensation' which corrects several lens aberrations for certain specific lenses.... The aberrations corrected are: Chromatic Aberration (color fringing), Corner Shading (vignetting), and distortion. The Sony 75-300mm (D) lens was designed by Minolta before low-dispersion (ELD) glasses were widely used, and would benefit from Lens Compensation for color fringing.
Unfortunately, Sony's `Lens Compensation' firmware does not cover the 75-300mm (D) lens as of January 2013. To see the list of Sony lenses covered by Lens Compensation, go to Sony's `eSupport' page, choose `Alpha NEX and DSLR Cameras' and enter `Lens Compensation' in the search box at the top. Lens Compensation is programmed for 22 Sony lenses as of January 2013.
The 75-300mm (D) lens is by far the most popular Sony lens on Amazon. Sony recently introduced a new 55-300mm lens, but far more people currently own the 75-300 (D) lens. If Sony cares about its customers, Sony should update Lens Compensation firmware to cover the 75-300 (D) lens. Owners of Sony SLT-A37, SLT-A57, SLT-A65, SLT-A77 cameras may want to contact Sony to urge them to provide Lens Compensation for the 75-300 (D) lens.

UPDATE, June 2013: Sony now makes a newer and more modern lens, the Sony 55-300mm F/4.5-5.6 DT Zoom Lens for Sony Alpha Digital SLR Cameras for APS-C (not full-frame) DSLR cameras, which include all Sony DSLRs other than the new full-frame SLT-A99 and the earlier A900 and A850 DSLRs. To compare the optical performance of the Sony 55-300mm lens with the Sony 75-300 mm lens, see: kurtmunger.com, LENS REVIEWS, where one can find tests of both lenses.

The Lens Compensation firmware (see above) on the SLT-A37, SLT-A57, SLT-A65, SLT-A77 cameras also covers the Sony 55-300 mm lens. The 55-300 mm lens offers better optical performance for APS-C cameras.

For full-frame cameras such as the Sony Alpha SLT-A99V Full-Frame 24.3 MP SLR Digital Camera with 3-Inch LED - Body Only (Black) in addition to the Sony 75-300 mm lens, Sony also offers a considerably more expensive Sony SAL70300G 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SSM ED G-Series Compact Super Telephoto Zoom Lens with superior optical performance. The Tamron AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 SP Di USD XLD for Sony Digital SLR Cameras offers similar superior optical performance, at a lower price. Both of these lenses can be used on all Sony DSLRs, both full-frame and APS-C. The Sony and Tamron 70-300 mm lenses are twice as heavy as the Sony 75-300 mm lens. Read more ›

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars What A Bargain! June 24, 2008

By Method2Madness "Alex" VINE™ VOICE

Prequel: I am coming from a strict Nikon background and due to having my $4000 kit(D80, 3 VR, 3 2.8 pro lenses, etc) stolen out of my car, am starting all over again. That being said, I don't have $4000 to plop down at once, so I decided to get an "entry to mid-level" system and after many internal battles, decided to try something different and go with the Alpha system. My thoughts were if things didn't work out with this setup, I haven't spent that much and could use it for a carry-around camera. So far I see absolutely NO reason to go back to Nikon. Yes, this system is THAT good.

Sony 75-200mm f/4.5-5.6 Lens: Wow. I sincerely cannot BELIEVE this lens is only $229! As many reviews point out, this lens has virtually ZERO distortion from 75mm all the way up to 300mm and purple fringing(CA) is contained nicely. Needless to say, for a lens at this price point to preform this well is unheard of. This lens combined with the super quick AF of the a200 is a perfect marriage. I compared this to the super sharp Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VR, and although the Nikon is a bit sharper and performs better in low light, the IQ difference is surprisingly small. I can highly recommend this lens and the Sony Alpha system as a whole!

100 of 105 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Lens But Takes Some Getting Used Too! November 9, 2006

By Peter A. Czajkowski

Amazon Verified Purchase

Recently, I moved from the SONY DSC 707 to the SONY A 100 DSLR. The change in cameras from the Cybershot to the DSLR took some getting used to. I purchased the SONY 75-300mm Telephoto lens from Amazon and as soon as it arrived I attached the lens and began to use it.

I am definitely pleased with the lens, the price and it's capabilities.

Having used a SLR for almost 30 years, moving to the DSLR takes some time and patience. The SONY A 100 is a solid perfomer, and it is my fourth SONY digital camera.

For the avid photographer, the SONY 75-300mm Telephoto lens is priced well and will provide exceptional performance. Once you attach the lens you will discover when in maximum telephoto mode, the lens is quite long. If you attach the lens shade it's even longer and takes some handling considerations in tight spaces.

The extreme focusing speeds of the A 100 are rapid and vary as it adjusts to the optimim focus. The lens in AUTO mode is in constant adjustment. This focus issue takes some getting used to. The lens balances quite nicely on th A 100. As with most photographers, you need to find the best hand positions on the camera body and lens so you can feel comfortable while you shoot. The lens is ultra depth of field sensitive.

Having had the lens on the camera now for a month, I am beginning to adjust to its "sometimes hyper adjustment activity"! I am in no way disappointed in the lens because the telephoto shots I have kept and recorded are first rate with the SONY A 100 and the SONY 75-300mm lens.

As with all new cameras, it takes time to become familiar with the camera settings and lens activity. I highly recommend the lens with an awarness of it's sensitivity and length.... After hours of shooting I am pleased with the lens, and SONY's attention to detail in both lens construction and performance. If you own a SONY A 100 DSLR, or plan to invest in the SONY DSLR system, this lens will not let you down. You will review your photos and be pleased with the results the SONY lens provides you.

I intend to invest in other SONY lens in the future. As for now, the two SONY lenses fulfill my photographic needs quite nicely. SONY has entered the DSLR market with an outstanding camera and quality accessories. Read more ›

88 of 98 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid performer July 26, 2006

By Hiram Grant

This repackaging of the Konica-Minolta 75-300 is a solid performer, at a reasonably good price. If you like to stay with the camera manufacturer's own products, then you'll not be disappointed. Packaging includes the front & rear caps; lens shade & 1 year warranty.

Keeping in mind that the KM lenses came out well before any digital SLRs from that brand, you might want to check out the Tamron 70-300 LD Di zoom. It's a new optic that's "Digitally Integrated", has a 1:2 close-up mode, "Low Dispersion" glass, and a six year warranty.

Additionally, you might look around for one of the Konica-Minolta lenses at a discount.