Minolta AF 100-400mm F4.5-6.7 APO A-mount lens review by adam

adam#8207 date: Nov-8-2010
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.2	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:	Sony 70-300 Various Canon-mount lenses
price paid:	415
positive:	Compact. Great range. Fast AF. Sharp when accurately focused.
negative:	Needs good light. Noisy AF. No tripod collar. Vignetting wide-open even on APS-C.
comment:	I bought this lens as an inexpensive stopgap solution until I can afford a Sony 70-400. Good color and contrast. Backfocuses a bit on my A33, but sharp manually-focused up to about 300mm, acceptable past that. Nice build quality for the class...obviously no weather-sealing, but other than that it's built to last. Zoom and manual focus are smooth and well-damped. Could use a tripod ring. This lens is in an interesting class, since it used to be priced as a midrange lens and it can now be found for low-end prices. It's excellent for a low-end lens...reasonably sharp, great range, slow but it works fine in good light. I'd highly recommend it if you need 400mm, can't afford something better, and don't expect miracles.