Minolta  AF 100 F2.8 Soft  reviews

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 4 

user: jerome   review date: September-19-09  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

100mm macro f/2.8

positive:

IQ, size, weight.

negative:

None

comment:

This is a very peculiar lens. As noted, it is very sharp at the zero setting. The "soft" settings give a "dreamy" look, a bit in the David Hamilton style. The effect depends on aperture, full open the smallest setting (1) may already be too much. OTOH, you can select settings between 0 and 1, the ring moves continuously.

Bokeh is good, but not as good as the STF. Similar to the 100 macro.

The lens is very compact, the length is smallest at the softest setting.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Jeff Pittman   review date: June-23-08  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

price paid:

500 USD (NOS)

positive:

Soft feature is unique

negative:

None

comment:

I just picked up this lens from a dealer that had a few new old stock Minolta lenses "in the back." It is sharp as a tack at "0" and creates beautiful images with degrees of softness at +1, etc. Side by side it appears to be as sharp as the 100mm macro Minolta without the soft feature engaged. Well built, classic Minolta glass. A great lens.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: LO   review date: December-05-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

Minolta - AF 85 F1.4 G D
Minolta - AF 28-75 F2.8 D
Minolta - AF 70-210 F4 (beercan)

price paid:

520 USD

positive:

Variable Soft effect, sharp, compact.

negative:

None.

comment:

One of my favorite lenses. Extremely sharp at soft 0 and creatively inspiring at wide open. Real multi-purpose lens: good for both arty portraits and moderate telephoto shooting. It's compact and relatively light to choose it quite every time packing for travels. Bokeh is not so tasty as 85/1.4 but much better than 28-75/2.8 and the beercan. BTW the last one was never used since I bought 100/2.8 Soft :)

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: DANX   review date: September-29-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

price paid:

610 USD

positive:

sharp, light

negative:

none

comment:

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Eclipse   review date: February-25-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

70-210 beercan
70-210 3.5-4.5
100-300 4.5-5.6

price paid:

499 GBP new

positive:

Very sharp, colour very authentic

negative:

None yet

comment:

Only just got this lens- new as shop had had it in stock for a long time. Very impressed with it so far on test films against the above lenses, (it is much sharper on my test strips than any of them) and the colour is absolutely spot-on- noticable in neutral greys where the beercan has them rather purple-y- and sharpness and contrast are both excellent with no sacrifice of subtle details- clearly very much better than the other lenses when negs scanned at 5400dpi are compared. I will post again when I've used it more thoroughly.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Vitaliy M.   review date: February-05-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

135/2.8
70-210/4

positive:

All

negative:

None. Maybe (a little bit) to much contrast at soft 0.

comment:

A great lens. Just my number one

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: minoltaclubuk   review date: January-20-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

85mm MD Varisoft
Minolta Portrayer S and P sets
Zeiss Softar I & II
Rodenstock Imagon S
A drawerful of assorted Cokin, Cromatek, Hitec, and other SF filters
100mm f2.8 Macro AF
135mm f2.8 AF
most other AF lenses including 70-200mm f2.8 SSM

price paid:

100 GBP

positive:

Extremely good soft fous effects, good build, and the sharpest knife in the box for short tele work.

negative:

The cost, and the temptation to overdo the seductive SF effect.

comment:

This lens has no focusing issues with 7D, 5D, A100 or 7 and is critically sharp - exceeding the sensor resolution - from f4 to f11 on the A100. It has high contrast and luminous colour with excellent bokeh. The soft focus quality is, I think, superior to the 85mm Varisoft for the MD system and the SF effect is not removed at f5.6 as one review has stated. Close examination of images using a small light source shows that SF at strength 3 has a worthwhile effect at f5.6, still visible at f6.3, almost absent at f7.1 and completely removed by f8. With SF at 0, and the lens at f8, very few lenses (apochromatic, G, or otherwise) come close to matching this. The deeply curved rear element helps eliminate any trace of sensor reflection problems. The hood is not as ineffective as suggested and the clip-on design avoids some of the needless strain placed on front focusing units by bayonet hoods (as introduced on later lenses). Comments on the lens body being plastic are unfounded; it's the same material as used for the 135mm f2.8, just matt finished instead of gloss, with a plastic control ring for lightness. The fitted hard case for this lens is labelled with its contents (not many cases are) because it is custom fitted with a retainer in the top for a 55mm NDX4 filter. This was not supplied with the lenses when sold, but was an optional extra. The 4X ND filter allows use of the optimum soft focus aperture - f4 - with studio flash or outdoor synchro-sun fill in. I would argue that an NDX8 woud be better for digital users, but KM/Min never made one except for rear filters of tele/mirror lenses.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: pacorro   review date: January-19-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

Minolta 200/2.8 APO HS G,
Minolta 24-85/3.5-4.5
Minolta 50/1.7

positive:

Very nice picture

negative:

comment:

It's a great lens at all. It has a very good picture quality, it's extremly sharp (by F2.8 it seems to me better than the 200/2.8 G, but the 200/2.8 is a little sharper on the other aperture values). A soft focus effect can be a very nice creative tool, but not usable in every shooting situation.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: arpictures   review date: January-17-07  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

price paid:

600 USD new

positive:

Sharp
soft focus 3stops
perfect for portraits
great on film/digital

negative:

lens hood too short

comment:

This lens is my favorite lens in my kit. I use this for weddings and portraits. This lens is so sharp its unreal. A slight turn of the soft focus ring and you have an level 1 soft focus which is perfect. Weight and build of this lens is great. I bought this lens in Singapore and used it on my Dynax 7 camera. The response from wedding shots was unbelievable. I then used it on a 7D and was once again suprised by the sharpness and quality of the pictures. As a result my Canon 10D has been used as a backup and my Sony A100 is now my main body used. I strongley reccommend if you have the chance to pick up this lens you will not be dissapointed.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: steem21   review date: November-05-06  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

Tamron 90 2.8 SP
Minolta 28-80 & 70-300

positive:

Sharp Lens, lovely soft effect, size and handling

negative:

Naff clip on hood, lens cap

comment:

Bought this lens on the basis of the reviews here and didn't know really what to expect. I was amazed at the lovely crisp images that came out - and the background was a fantastic swirl of colours. Compared to my Tamron, the colours are better and more "natural".
Fantastic lens! - my first of Minolta's gems and it's got me looking for more! Very, very pleased with this one.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: gobs   review date: October-13-06  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

positive:

Soft Focus, sharp

negative:

None

comment:

This is one nice piece of glass, set at "0" soft focus will give you a very sharp image even at wide open. Setting the soft focus from 1-3 will give you a very nice effect. No need of post processing.

Certainly this is a keeper.
Get one if you can.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: Anssisa   review date: October-06-06  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

50mm Macro for sharpness.

positive:

Nothing to complain, its light, sharp, soft if needed.

negative:

Flimsy clip-on sunhood.

comment:

Only had this for a few months. I think its the sharpest lens i have owned. Im not much into the soft side, did not find out how to use it for great pictures, but this lens left me a craving for a sharp 85-135mm prime. If i had not got a great deal to change it into an ultrawide id still be using it with the softfocus set to 0.

I agree with the other reviews that this is a really great lens.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 5 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: colorsound   review date: May-04-06  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

Sigma 105/2.8 ex - 28-75/2.8 D

positive:

outstanding character! - 3 soft settings - 2.8 - is also a very sharp 100mm lens!

negative:

let's see - none...i'm really trying to come up with one?

comment:

this lens, along with my 200/2.8 APO G, is my favorite lens on the planet!...i am a big fan of soft focus, as i am also a sharp fanatic...you know, it's funny...this lens has the ability to produce photos with amazingly stunning character, but it is also a secret weapon!...not many people realize how darn sharp this puppy is on the '0' soft setting!!...Razor sharp!!!...sure, the lens is made out of plastic, but not the weak, cheap type of plastic, but so are many of the parts on the body of your car!...nothing wrong with high grade plastics, in fact, this lens feels more sturdy than most metal-built lenses i have owned in the past, so i will give the build a five (unlike most), i just don't find anything to be wrong with it...i will also give sharpness a five, because at '0', it is razor sharp...it could split hairs!!!

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: jEECHA   review date: April-15-06  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

positive:

very sharp when "softness" set to 0
variable "softness"
fast focus (even with softness on)

negative:

comment:

Excellent for portraits with or without soft focus. Very sharp even wide open when softness is set to 0 - good as general tele.
Personally would prefer bayonet hood mount instead of clip-on mount this lens uses.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 3 

user: Mark_k   review date: April-15-06  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

85/1.4 G

positive:

Super sharp lens,

negative:

Build quality

comment:

My first prime lens came as a rather surprise, sharp, fast and very useful

sharpness: 4 

color: 4 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: dCap   review date: December-29-05  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

Minolta 85/1.4 G, Minolta 135/2.8, Canon 135/2.8 soft focus, Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX (CAF and Min AF), CAF 85/1.8, CAF 100/2

positive:

Can be used as a normal 100mm lens, with softness set to zero

negative:

build only a 4/5 due to the 135/2.8's type of solid 5/5

comment:

The whole lens group moves forwards as you dial from 3 to 0 on the softness ring. Its a sharp 100mm on its own.

For nice subtle softness effects you can set to Number 1 at f2.8, or number 2 at f4 (same thing).

Basically softness 3 at f4 is the same as softness 2 at f2.8.

Very strangely the depth of field increases with the softness number! Very odd.

By f5.6 the softness settings are cancelled out.

I think this is an often over-looked lens due to it being viewed as a portrait only lens. But the softness setting can be set to zero and it can then be used as a normal 100mm. It has a perfect circular aperture to f5.6 which is great for the bokeh.

Probably a little sharper than the 135/2.8.

sharpness: 5 

color: 5 

build: 4 

distortion: 5 

flare control: 5 

user: former member   review date: January-08-05  

    tested on film camera:

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

    tested on full frame:25MP

compared to:

80mm Pentax Soft (Minolta much more versatile as softness not linked to aperture);
various 100mm macro (softness management is a real plus);
all sorts of Softar filters and similar (no more worries about finding the "ideal" filter).

positive:

Excellent "standard" short tele at setting "0";
Useful management of spherical aberrations for "atmosheric" imagery;

negative:

No D chip;
Would have been even more useful with f2 aperture;
"Plasticky" feel (though solid construction).

comment:

This works as a standard short tele, with sharpness/contrast equivalent to 100mm f2.8 macro (according to CI tests) !! It has a nice 80cm minimum focusing distance, which makes it quite versatile.

On top of that it has a 4 step "softening" feature, managing the lens's spherical aberrations (0-1-2-3), with all intermediate settings accessible. You can see the effect at shooting stage.

This allows fine management of "atmospheric" rendition for portrait sessions, wedding pics, new born babies and mums, landscapes, etc. The feature works very well, but could be seen as a gimmick, depending on fashion, photographer's habits or customer's wishes.

Works perfectly on 7D.