I think I'm going to do it ...

[DonSchap]

I decided to begin breaking down the Canon-collection and turning it all into the SONY-collection.

First to change, the TAMRON SP AF200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD. It's going up as a "dealer-consignment" lens (@ Alpine Camera (http://www.alpinecamerausa.com/)). Hopefully, it'll find a great home with someone's long-glass needs.

Here's a good article/review of it (http://www.photozone.de/8Reviews/lenses/tamron_200500_563/index.htm)

By changing it over to the SONY-mount, I will get the "Anti-quake" that I need, when hand-holding the camera on the river, stalking eagles. Right now ... I have none. If the boat vibrates or moves ... blur. Since the SONY A100 had not been released until after I acquired this great lens, with the new camera-body, I'm now going to try and minimize that. :o

It is a great lens ... but I'd rather it be great on my SONY, and right now, I can only afford one.

[Riley]

are you piling out of Canon all together Don
or just funding a wider Sony experience

[DonSchap]

After reviewing my investment in the Canon-system, I believe I'm going to hold onto the shorter lenses (<200mm) and the multi-flash systems. There is just too much invested, there, for now ... and SONY isn't quite ready ... yet.

I suppose a couple lenses might be available to reduce from inventory, but it's a tough call ... they are all great (other than the EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III, LOL) and I still have the EOS 20D and the EOS-3 to use with all of them.

Like I said, the 200-500mm is merely a swap of mounts. It's the same great glass. I already know I'll get the results I seek, using the SONY "Super SteadyShot" with that one. I mean, if I didn't have the SONY A100 or plans to expand on it ... I would have kept the Canon-mount lens. I bought it for a reason. It does a nice job with the Canon (with a tripod or higher shutter-speed/ISO) and I'd probably figure something out.

Using it on the SONY will allow me to lower my Shutter-Speed and ISO, for a better and cleaner image. Call this a "tweak" if you will, but that's all part of playing with your craft.

There also is the added attraction of carrying BOTH the Canon EOS 20D w/ the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM and the SONY A100 (w/ "Super SteadyShot") w/ SP AF200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD into the field for use, w/o having to struggle with swapping lenses. Just raise and fire. It's like having the best of both worlds. I kind of like that, too. ;)

If I do go back to Canon for a long-glass solution, it'll probably have to be with the EF 400mm f/4 DO IS USM ... thereby getting the most expensive "image stabilization" cost with a base f/4-aperture out there. I am convinced this lens would be the proper replacement for the 200-500mm on the Canon, but at $4000 ... it's going take a while to peddal up to it.

In that time, though, there may be a chance ... a little remote, but still a chance, that TAMRON could add "VC" (Vibration Compensation) to the 200-500mm lens. Oh, wouldn't that just bust some chops? LOL :D

[Riley]

can you get different mounts for the Sigma glass you already have
Ive not heard of that done before, but it 'sounds' logical

[DonSchap]

TAMRON has a series of lenses called "Adaptall". These usually come with some reduction of capability for the various mounts. The various Adaptall mounting rings are an additional charge.

I have always gone with "dedicated" mountings, to maximize the capability of the lens, so the SP AF200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD will require an entirely new lens to do this. I did call TAMRON to find out if they could modify the mounting on the lens for use on the SONY, but they said that was effectively not possible, due to the electronics and mechanics involved.

I don't believe (and I would not doubt that I could be wrong on this) SIGMA ever devised an "Adaptall" solution in their lensing. But again, do not hold me to this. It is worth a phone call to SIGMA's customer service, if you are interested. Just remember, an "Adaptall" solution usually means the loss of something (usually AF) in the lens. Frankly, I'm not interested, at this time. :)

[DonSchap]

can you get different mounts for the Sigma glass you already have
Ive not heard of that done before, but it 'sounds' logical

Aparently the lens companies are not interested in rebuilding the bottom of their lens offerings. They simply will sell you another lens. The price of owning two different lines of cameras. You get to purchase one of these for this camera and the same one of these for that camera.

Admittedly, the electronics or mechanics are different. The Canon requires the focusing motors be in the lens, whereas the Nikons take their lens drive from the camera itself. Weird part is ... the motors must be cheap, because the darn lens cost the same!

Anyway, just changing the actual mount wouldn't work, in this case. Also, the lens mount on a Canon is quite a bit larger than that of a SONY. The new SONY-mount has eight contacts, where the older Minolta AF-mount has only five. The 5-contact lenses work just fine on it, though.

So ... as I stated earlier, the Adaptall-mount from TAMRON crosses these lines, but usually with a cost (loss of AF). As far as I know, they are the only camera company doing so.

[DonSchap]

I found out quite quickly that most existing brick & mortar camera shops do not like to trade in consignment lensing. They are looking to make nearly half of the profits from the sale, and to me that's...


22688

NO DEAL!



So I have the TAMRON SP AF200-500mm f/5-6.3 Di LD lens back and will attempt to find a buyer on my own. Otherwise, I keep it and just go on using the tripod, but I am not going to be swindled by profiteers ... with my own glass.

[rawpaw18]

Is that the same store you have always raved about? Not the way to treat a good customer, I am sure some of the gear on your list has past through their establishment.

[DonSchap]

Is that the same store you have always raved about? Not the way to treat a good customer, I am sure some of the gear on your list has past through their establishment.


Obviously, someone has the "greed" mode on ... and I am seriously disappointed in this. I would have thought $50 above my price would have been plenty of incentive to sell the lens, especially when there wasn't another one in stock ... but no, he want's to make $150. No one is going to pay that much over what I wanted out of this relatively new lens, especially in light of buying the very same one for the SONY. And I'm not tossing in $100 bucks extra to sell it. Good lord ... where does it end? :mad:

The deal was: I wanted $600 for the Canon-mount lens to put toward the SONY-mount version, to be sold to me at $879. That means I would have to cough up $279 plus tax, for the new lens. He tried to nip some poor schmuck for $750 and when the "prospective mark" bauked at it, he got mad. I asked him why he had jacked it up so high and he went into this tirade of having to pay his staff, the cost of his business and all this other stuff ... where he would have had $50, free and clear, with NO REAL INVESTMENT in the stock. The lens is in nearly perfect shape, except for a mark on the bottom of the tripod foot. I just don't get it. At $650, this is a give away and probably would have sold right then and there, AS IS. Heck, it has a six-year warranty in effect.

Now, I have the lens back, he has nothing ... not even the prospective (even go so-far-as guaranteed) sale of the new SONY-mount version. Where's the value in that?

This is a very strange business ...

Edit: Now that I think about it a bit more, I should have had him order the SONY-mount first ... and let him sit on it. Then there would have been sure-fire incentive to move my lens and sell the inventory lens, with no hanky-panky in pricing. DOH - I could have had a V-8! Okay, next time. If the mountain won't come to ... hmmm, business is business, right? :cool:

[VTEC_EATER]

Ive heard this site (http://www.ebay.com) is pretty good about selling stuff. You could probably sell it pretty fast too.;)

[DonSchap]

You know .... I have bought from this site ... but never sold on it. I will give it some consideration and see what happens.

Thanks.

[VTEC_EATER]

It would probably only run you $20 MAX to sell that lens on there. Of course you always risk either 1) not getting what you wanted for it, or 2) setting your reserve too high, and it not selling. Of course if you dont sell it, you still have to pay for the auction, so you will have to be reasonable with your reserve price.

Good luck.

[DonSchap]

It would probably only run you $20 MAX to sell that lens on there. Of course you always risk either 1) not getting what you wanted for it, or 2) setting your reserve too high, and it not selling. Of course if you dont sell it, you still have to pay for the auction, so you will have to be reasonable with your reserve price.

Good luck.

My reserve is still $600 plus shipping for this beauty. I really would like a quick and efficient transaction. :D If it goes to auction, I'll have to kick it up to $650, which is what I really wanted to avoid.

[T06]

Don I've done the buy & sell thing on ebay, it's easy, just don't get your reserve wrong.;)