Here're some sample images taken with the Alpha 700 and RAW-converted via CaptureOne v4.
Click on a thumbnail to view the original file (opens in a separate window). Please note that the originals are FULL SIZE samples
(=several megabytes) thus requiring a significant amount of bandwidth so please take care of the limited resources here.
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
70.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/8.0 @ 1/500s
Size
2848x4272
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
200.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/7.1 @ 1/1000s
Size
4272x2848
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
135.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/1000s
Size
2848x4272
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
200.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/640s
Size
4272x2848
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
200.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/500s
Size
2848x4272
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
200.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/1000s
Size
4272x2848
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
90.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/1250s
Size
2848x4272
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
130.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/640s
Size
4272x2848
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
200.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/1250s
Size
4272x2848
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
180.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/500s
Size
2848x4272
Make
SONY
Model
DSLR-A700
ISO Speed
200
Focal Length
75.0mm
Exposure Data:
f/2.8 @ 1/800s
Size
2848x4272
Verdict
The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 SSM G is a very good lens that certainly deserves its "Gold" class designation. It is very sharp and contrasty across the board and vignetting, lateral CAs as well as distortions are generally very well controlled. Die-hard Sony users may not like the thought but the quality of the bokeh is debatable - out-of-focus highlight don't seem to be rendered overly well at f/2.8 in the low to mid portion of the zoom range. The bokeh seems to improve at f/4 and it's generally better towards the 200mm setting. Longitudinal (Axial) Chromatic Aberrations (LoCA) may also be visible in very critical scenes at large apertures.
The build quality of the lens is excellent and it's a joy to experience the fast and silent AF (SSM). During the early phase of the Alpha system the lens was significantly overpriced but Sony did obviously realize the market reality and reduced the price down to ~1700€/US$. That's still fairly steep compared to the -say- Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 USM L but acceptable relative to the overall quality of the package.
