This high-value 55-300mm zoom lens covers a wide range of medium to long-distance telephoto applications -- and its lightweight design lets you leave it on-camera or carry it easily as an accessory lens for special purposes (35mm equivalent: 82.5-450mm).
A major reason for its compact, lightweight design is the benefit of Super SteadyShot® in-camera image stabilization, built into every Sony system DSLR -- and enabling accessory lenses to eliminate the extra weight and expense of in-lens stabilization mechanisms.
Sony α (alpha) lenses with the Digital Technology (DT) designation are ideal for use on APS-C size DSLR cameras and are not recommended for use with full frame DSLR camera bodies (such as the DSLR-A900). Although DT lenses can be used with full frame cameras, they can only realize a maximum of 11MP image size (when using the DSLR-A900), and are not guaranteed to provide accurate Auto Exposure performance.
With the ability to focus as closely as 4.5 feet (1.4m), this telephoto lens also lets you move in for dramatic shots of people, natural subjects and close-up details.
Because light of different wavelength (or color) bends at different angles when it passes through a lens, ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Glass is used to eliminate chromatic aberration by correcting certain wavelengths of light for sharp, clear images with well defined colors.
The SAL-55300 is specially designed for the APS-size CCD imager used in Sony α (Alpha) DSLR cameras. APS-size sensors are smaller than a 35mm-format film frame, so the focal distance to cover the same field of view can be about 2/3 shorter -- allowing a more compact lens design.
The SAL-55300 is designed with 12 lens elements in 9 groups, with precision focusing performance and smooth zoom operation.
