I find myself gravitating to nature photography. My “long” lens used to be a Sony G 70-300, A mount that worked (via adapter) with all my previous E mount Sony cameras.A supurb lens. Until I got to the A7IV series, that is, same camera as yours.
I tried to replace it with a Tamron 70-300 but the image is missing something. The Tamron does workman like images, see image below, but it is missing the “pop”, I don’t know how to describe it, the something special that I got with the Sony. I go back through my photos and am really surprised at how many of my very best came from that lens.
I’m now lusting for the very new, now really released yet but heavily reviewed Sony 70-200 F4 GII lens. Apparently it also takes incredible images through a 2x converter or I could also shoot it through my ASP-C sensor A6400, which would change it to a 105-350 mm in case I need something taller. It seems to have the same, how do you say, ‘glow” as my 10-year-old lens does/did.
In the meantime, my Tamron is sitting dejected over in the corner saying, “What am I, chopped liver?” No, actually pretty damned good for the price but when you’re reaching for the stars—–
Tamron Shots below
Pretty good lenses don’t have to cost a lot. Here’s a 30mm f2.8 Sigma on my Sony A6400.
Another Tamron
So Tom, the Sony G 70-300 is an A-mount lens?
And it will not work with the LAEA5 on the A7IV but it did work on the earlier A7 cameras?
Why would they do such a thing?
I guess the answer is because they’re Sony.
“Why would they do such a thing?
I guess the answer is because they’re Sony.”
Bingo! Now, if you want the lens, you have to buy it again! New versions have the exact same optics.
And it worked on the A6000 series.
Isn’t the F4 a macro lens too?
Yes, 1:1 with a 2x converter, .5:1 otherwise. It will focus as closely as 10″, a BIG change from either the Tamron or Sony 70-300, which are both more like 5 feet at 300mm.
I took the photo below as a joke, contrasting the minimal size of my Sony 6000 body with the Sony 70-300 and the LA-EA 4 converter. (My 70-300 Sony lens is an A mount)