Phoenix 650-1300mm Telephoto Zoom Lens with 2x Teleconverter (=650-2600mm) for Sony Alpha DSLR SLT-A35, A37, A55, A57, A65, A77 Digital SLR Cameras

Just got my lens and decided to test it around my window. I wasn't expecting much, but it really surprised me. I'm amateur photographer and I like it my equipments to be good ones, and decided to give it a try, totaly knowing what it was all about, and my intention was to have fun, not to spend much $$, or to freeze an action or catch a bird on flight.It is not fancy, it is not automatic, it is not light weight, and it is really hard to focus. Slide to zoom... very incovinient, but again, small price for the fun. The converter that came with is not great, and I think it is not even good. I'm using the 2x converter that came with alpha 330, seems to work much better. I got some good moon shots (cliche), but tried some street shots at day too, with good sun light and it was very nice, working better around mid range, but not too disapointing at 1300 also. Just have to be patience to get the focus right.Another thing, is that due the weight you have to use a VERY good tripod or 2 of them. I have one so so, and a crappy one, and I only got a good 2600 shot using both, one for the lens and other for the camera. I don't have a remote for the shutter, so using the 10 second timer is a very good deal too.The case barely fits the lens with the tmount, other than that, it is ok.

I just received my new lens the other day and couldn't wait to try it out. Though my 2x converter was on back order I still couldn't wait to try it out on my Sony A100. Well just so happens last night was a full moon. The lens worked great and the resolution is pretty impressive...though one small problem...I discovered two tripods will need to be used next time cause even with the wireless remote there was too much shake...with my camera hanging on out in the middle of no where teetor totering from the attached lens it was so unstable that when I pressed the remote to fire the camera, the shutter made the whole thing bounce. So please note if you don't have a second tripod then you most likely should buy another when purchasing this VERY LONG lens. Good thing is I don't have to worry about being mugged while using the Phoenix cause all I have to do is beat the mugger with the lens.

I have to say... I took my new lens outside tonight for the first time, with, as the previous reviewer had, a full moon. I couldn't find my tripod anywhere, so I rested the tripod mount of the lens on a fence and handled the rest the old-fashioned way. I focused manually (not used to doing THAT anymore!) and snapped two frames. Back inside, I downloaded the memory card onto my laptop and voila! Darn good shot of a VERY big moon. Not as sharp as the Corrie Everhart photo that was uploaded to the product page, but considering I was sitting on my own heels with no tripod and no remote shutter button, I thought is was pretty decent. I actually had to remove the 2x convertor and shoot without it, because with it I was still too close to the moon! Go figure! So far, so good. This is gonna be buckets of fun!