Minolta AF 100-300mm F4.5-5.6 APO A-mount lens review by woodmen

woodmen#7529 date: Jun-5-2010
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I own this lens
compared to:	Minolta 70-200mm f/4 beercan Minolta 200mm f/2.8 G HS Minolta 28-135mm f/4-4.5
price paid:	250 CAD (used)
positive:	Small Light Sharp wide open at all focal lenght great Minolta colors Inexpensive No CA even wide open
negative:	Focus and zoom ring a little stiff
comment:	When I bought this lens it was because I had a great deal on it and wanted to sell it later with a profit.(because I own and love a really sharp and mint copy of the beercan) I did every possible test there is on this lens and to my surprise, it is even better than my beercan (even if I stop down the beercan to f/5.6). This was a great surprise and, strangely, that botherd me. I really wanted to love and keep my beercan but now I am begining to think that I must sell it and keep this lens. The only flaw with this lens is that it's not f/4 and only start at 100mm. Everything else is perfect. The image quality is as about the same between f/8 and wide open. The only difference is some vignetting wide open. Honestly, I don't believe the 70-300mm G or the 75-300mm can be any better than this on. Truly a gem lens!