Minolta AF 100mm F2.8 Macro D A-mount lens review by beautiophile

beautiophile#44340 date: Aug-1-2019
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:	Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro (72E) Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7 Sony AF 100mm Macro
price paid:	270USD, Used in 2015
positive:	Sharpness, colour, focus speed, creamy bokeh, AF-D compatibility.
negative:	Not so sharp and purple fringing at 2.8. Focus ring clutch. Recessed front element.
comment:	This is a very excellent lens from Minolta. It is versatile for both macro and portrait. It takes not-tack-sharp but usable photos at f/2.8. Closing a bit down to f/3.2 increases the sharpness and washes the purple fringing. It has a 'new' coating of Minolta D lens which makes more clarity & contrast; and reduces a little warmth & colour richness in comparison with other Minolta lenses. Still I am pleased with its colour & bokeh rendering. On the downside, its front glass stays so in depth to blow dust. The clutching mechanism on focusing ring doesn't give a very good feelings in macro manual focusing.