Minolta AF 80-200 xi F4.5-5.6  reviews

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: derekw   review date: November-22-12  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Beercan
Tamron 80-210
Sigma 70-210 UC f4-5.6

price paid:

20 GBP used

positive:

Sharp, even wide open
Minolta colours
Well built

negative:

MFD
Flare - needs hood

comment:

Cannot understand the mediocre reviews for this lens.

Sharp at max aperture and sharpness improves with stopping down to f8/9. It id disappointing that from being sharp wide open it never achieves 'razor' sharpness as one might expect. Still, it is a nice sharp lens.

No issues on colour - Minolta!!

Build is only compromised by the plastic mount, but it is still solid after 20 or so years.

No noticeable distortion.

Needs a deep hood to combat flare.

For the price a bargain lens, but no Beercan. Way better than the Sigma.

sharpness: 3.5 

color: 3 

build: 3 

distortion: 3 

flare control: 2 

user: devilzero   review date: July-22-10  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

price paid:

150 HKD(Used)

positive:

Lightweight
Cheap Price

negative:

Hard to use MF
Plastic mount

comment:

The design is good and fun but really hard to use in MF.

sharpness: 4 

color: 3 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 2 

user: ffrolvaag   review date: December-31-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

70-210 F4 (beercan)

price paid:

5 USD

positive:

Lightweight
Compact
Nice Zoom Range
Price

negative:

Large Hood
Prone to Flare
Akward Manual Focus

comment:

O.K., not rated the highest of the lenses I own and I prefer the beercan overall. However, this lens can be had for a song on ebay. Despite the fact that there is no fine manual control due to the power zoom/focus, it is light, compact, and easy to use in AF mode. Both the power zoom and power focus do lack fine control. If you plan on using it as a point and shoot lens it is a perfect addition to the 18-70mm kit lens. For those that are financially challenged, this lens is a no brainer. I spent more on a replacement rear lens cap than I did on the lens.

sharpness: 3.5 

color: 3 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Robbie   review date: February-07-07  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Sony DT 18–70,
Minolta AF 35–105

positive:

lightweight, compact, well made

negative:

manual focusing, sharpness under difficult light conditions disappointing,
plastic mount

comment:

I got this lens with my Dynax 5xi in the early 90s and I thought it a fine performer.
On my alpha 100 I´ve got very different results, under bright conditions the lens renders quite sharp pictures with good colors; but in situations, light isn´t that good, pictures get a bit "washed out" colors, loss in sharpness and they are noisy too. In general sharpness is less in the long end up from approx. 160 mm to end. No issues on distortion or flare (with lenshood).
Manual focussing and zooming is quite challenging because of these functions are motorized.
Despite it´s an old lense it works very well with the alpha. AF works reasonable quick and accurate.
If you get a cheap one, it´s okay, but I won´t spend more than about 80 € for it.

edit: I rated down color to 3 because of the described issues, I would give a 3,5, but that´s not possible.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 5 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: Callam9774   review date: October-31-06  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

Tokina 28-70 ATX Pro. Sigma 75-300 APO.Minolta 135 2.8

price paid:

L16

positive:

I love the power zoom; light & compact.Well made.Good travelling lens to go with a wideangle zoom.Cheap!

negative:

Manual focusing difficult;manual zoom next to impossible - no power zoom with tele converters.

comment:

A surprisingly fun to use,cheap lens. Ideal to take on holiday to supplement wide angle zoom as it is light and compact. Very well made.

sharpness: 4.5 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 4 

flare control: 4 

user: dktrident   review date: September-20-06  

tested on film camera:

tested on APS-C:6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP:; 16MP:; 24MP:

tested on full frame:24MP

compared to:

28-105xi
17-35(D)

price paid:

EUR 200

positive:

Powerzoom
Build is excellent
Overall sharpness and crisp colors

negative:

Manual focus sucks especially with teleconverter applied.

comment:

I got this lens for my Dynax 7xi, a friend purchased it in Singapore but it did not work on his Minolta 7000 camera (no surprise). I loved this lens and still find it great - now with my Dynax 7D. Downside is the xi lenses manual focus....that is quite a challenge for mind and patience especially if a teleconverter is applied and the AF is lost.