Are there no more 70-300mm options?

[Kvn]

I recently bought an A7IV and I'm looking for a zoom lens that hits hits around 300mm. I shoot a lot of indoor events where the stage is well lit. I was using a company camera (Canon) with a 75-300mm f4-5.6 Canon lens for a while and the 250-300mm range was really perfect for my farthest shots. Trying to find something similar that fits my Sony setup has been a struggle.

Initially, I was looking at the Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G, but I wasn't really excited about the quality, etc. So then I was just going to bite the bullet and go with the new Sony FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II, but I just think I'm really going to be missing that extra 100mm. I was also considering buying the 100-400mm, but I shoot near and far in these events so being able to pull out to 70mm quickly is a necessity. I don't really have time to swap lenses in these instances. I'm not really sure if the Tamron 70-300mm f/4.5-6.3 Di III RXD is the quality I'm looking for, plus the f6.3 could make things a bit harder indoors.

I am fairly new to having my own gear, so I'm just wondering if there's anything I'm overlooking or if anyone can speak of a lens in a similar range to the 70-300mm that they've been happy with (professionally). I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

Edited January 26, 2022 by Kvn
typo

[Pieter]

As far as I know, the only 70-300 options are the Sony and the Tamron you mentioned. The 70-200 F/2.8 does take a 1.4× extender, making it an effective 100-280 F/4. If you need reach, use the extender. If you need large aperture or wider angle, leave it off. Both with and without extender this option is faster than the Sony and Tamron 70-300 options, plus the Tamron lacks OSS.

[Kvn]

10 hours ago, Pieter said:

As far as I know, the only 70-300 options are the Sony and the Tamron you mentioned. The 70-200 F/2.8 does take a 1.4× extender, making it an effective 100-280 F/4. If you need reach, use the extender. If you need large aperture or wider angle, leave it off. Both with and without extender this option is faster than the Sony and Tamron 70-300 options, plus the Tamron lacks OSS.

Thanks, Pieter. I didn’t realize there was an extender. I’ll check it out.

[XKAES]

I have no idea what you mean by quality, but there are lots of 70-300mm zooms out there.  I have a Sigma and a Quantaray -- they are actually the same lens, but Tamron also has one.  These have evolved over the years, so they will have differences, like close-focusing distance, etc.  Some or all of these may not have the features or "quality" that you want, but that's your call.

[Pieter]

None of those lenses mentioned by Xkaes are native E-mount though. In my reply I assumed you want to benefit from fast autofocus. Also, you mentioned you were concerned by the optical quality of the - pretty decent - Sony and Tamron. If those two criteria are not relevant, there are indeed a zillion options you can adapt to E-mount.

Edited January 27, 2022 by Pieter

[bnapa]

On 1/25/2022 at 4:56 PM, Kvn said:

I'm overlooking or if anyone can speak of a lens in a similar range to the 70-300mm that they've been happy with (professionally)

I am new here. Just joined the forum. I do own the Tamron 70-300 and use it with my Sony A7RIV. I bought all Tamron zoom lenses for my Sony system.

The reason for the 70-300 is that I owned this lens when I shot Canon system back in 2009. I did a shoot for a client and needed a star image for the cover of a brochure I did for them. I used the Tamron 70-300 (the Canon version) and ended up with one of the most iconic images I have ever created. I shot wide open as I needed shallow depth of field. The lens delivered the goods big time.

So, when I switched to Sony, I decided to get the Tamron 70-300 for my Sony. I have not done any assignment work with it yet but the few landscape images I have shot with the lens are fantastic. There are a few reviews out there comparing it to the Sony 70-350 and the Tamron comes out ahead. For the price, you cannot go wrong. All the other Tamron zoom lense I bought are of the 2.8 variety and much more expensive. But this "bargain" lens holds its own against the more expensive glass. Hope this helps you.