On Feb 6, 2006, at 10:27 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Reportedly even better than the F 100-300 and just as inexpensive
is the FA 80-320/4.5-5.6. I shot Mr. Bear with that lens at 320mm.
He's here:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=3113513
Great shot!
I did test comparisons between the FA80-320/45.-5.6, the A70-210/4
Macro and the F100-300/4.5-5.6. Both the FA80-320 and the A70-200
were better performers wide open. By two stops down the differences
were small, beyond that they were effectively identical down to the
start of diffraction.
Of the two AF lenses, I prefer the F100-300 for its internal zooming
mechanism. I feel that it is more likely to stay in alignment due to
the weight of the 80-320's telescoping section. The F100-300 stays a
fixed length other than for the focusing operation of the forward
lens group, which I also find more convenient. F80-320 prices have
typically been closer to $130-140 vs $85, but both are so inexpensive
for their focal length range as to be inconsequential.
It's horses for courses. I rarely use lenses over 100mm (have the
FA135 for most of that!), and when I use the F100-300, it's usually
stopped down and on a tripod. The F80-320 would be better for hand-
held work wide-open.
Godfrey
