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Rent NowThe Sony 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 is an affordable, compact super telephoto zoom lens designed for Sony’s A-mount DSLR cameras, giving photographers an economical entry into the telephoto zoom category. It’s aimed at photographers who want a versatile, budget-friendly option for outdoor activities, sports action, and general telephoto shooting, whether at close range or across a stadium.
Optically, the lens covers a 75-300mm focal range, and since it’s a full-frame lens design, it works without vignetting on both full-frame and APS-C Sony Alpha or Minolta Maxxum series DSLR bodies. On cropped APS-C sensors, this translates to a 35mm-equivalent range of approximately 112.5-450mm, giving substantial reach for distant subjects. The optical construction consists of 13 elements in 10 groups, delivering sharp, clear photos throughout the zoom range, and a 7-blade circular aperture design contributes to smooth, rounded bokeh, particularly pleasing when capturing spot-light sources or backgrounds out of focus.
Autofocus is driven by a standard screw-type micro-motor powered by the camera body rather than an internal ultrasonic motor, so focus speed and quietness depend on the host camera body; this design is fairly noisy and slower compared to higher-end SSM-equipped Sony G-series lenses. The lens lacks a distance scale and AF/MF switch, reflecting its design that’s oriented primarily toward autofocus operation. Focus and zoom mechanisms are simple rotary designs, meaning the front element rotates during focusing.
Build quality is solid for the price point and above average for a kit-level lens, with a metal mounting plate giving it a slightly more premium feel than Sony’s basic 18-55mm kit lens. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of approximately 4.9 feet (1.5m), yielding a maximum magnification of 0.25x (1:4), and accepts 55mm filters. It weighs approximately 460g and ships with a cylindrical bayonet-mount lens hood and carrying case. The lens does not include optical image stabilization of its own, relying instead on sensor-based in-body stabilization found in compatible Sony Alpha camera bodies.
As a full-frame-compatible A-mount lens, the 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 works across Sony’s full-frame and APS-C DSLR lineup, as well as legacy Minolta Maxxum 35mm film SLR bodies, though it is not compatible with Sony’s E-mount (NEX/mirrorless) system without an adapter.
Key Features
– 75-300mm compact super telephoto zoom for Sony A-mount
– Full-frame-compatible design (approximately 112.5-450mm equivalent on APS-C)
– Maximum aperture f/4.5-5.6 (variable)
– 13 elements in 10 groups optical construction
– 7-blade circular aperture diaphragm
– Screw-drive autofocus (camera body motor)
– Minimum focusing distance of approximately 4.9′ (1.5m)
– Maximum magnification of 0.25x (1:4)
– 55mm filter thread
– Metal mounting plate
– No optical image stabilization (relies on in-body IS on compatible bodies)
– Approximate weight: 460g
– Includes bayonet-mount lens hood and carrying case
– Compatible with Sony Alpha and Minolta Maxxum A-mount cameras (full-frame and APS-C)
