Minolta AF 400mm f/4.5 HS APO G

A great alternative telephoto zoom for Sony cameras This is a sharp lens. I was probably lucky to get one that looks and feels like brand new. Obviously it hasn't been used much. It compares very well to more modern lenses. It is certainly a lot smaller and lighter than the Tamron 150-600mm lens I used to have. The focus is fast and the slight motor noise is not a problem with me. The only issue is lens creep when the camera is held downwards. Otherwise this is a great value for the $189 I paid for it. The bird photos I have taken with it are very sharp. That's mostly what I use it for. If you need a long lens for your Sony camera, you should get one of these. It was made for full-frame 35mm cameras, so with the 1.5X crop factor on my APS-C sensor camera, this makes the lens a 150-600mm lens equivalent. There is no tripod mount but I use it with a monopod. You could also hand hold it but I recommend some sort of mount.Read full review

A Smart Choice for Sony A-mount Bodies The 100-400 APO Minolta A-mount is one of the best values available for a Sony A-mount DSLR. I bought this (from Japan) to use with a 24MP Sony A65 crop-sensor body, where it functions like a 150-600 on a full frame body. I've used it for for several long-lens assignments now, also shooting the same subjects with my Nikon D3x and a Sigma 150-500 (my usual option, also 24MP but full frame). The in-body stabilization in the Sony works very well with the 100-400, and the focus is fast enough not to be a problem. There's some hunting if there is anything near your target, but the focus-lock button on the side of the lens is very useful. I generally shoot at f8 whenever possible, and the 100-400 on the D65 is sharp enough at that aperture to produce results very similar to the Sigma 150-500 on the D3X. I use them both handheld, and was pleasantly surprised at the Minolta 100-400 performance. Color and contrast are very good, the lens is well constructed, and the size of the lens is much smaller and lighter than a current design with VR or IS. The flare isn't bad for coatings from 25 years ago, and the cost is a small fraction of the price of the current Sony 100-400 G lens. I am tempted to try the Minolta 100-400 on a full-frame Sony A-mount body to use the lens' full potential. Read full review

Excellent inexpensive alternative I bought this lens to use on current model Sony cameras, one full frame, the other APS-C. To adapt it, I bought the Sony LA-EA4. It is proving to be an excellent set-up, focuses quickly on both bodies, provides sharp, contrasty images, and costs a fraction of the current Sony 100-400 lens.