Minolta AF 100mm F2.8 Macro D A-mount lens review by MichelvA
 MichelvA#4514 date: Dec-9-2008 | |
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| sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 24-84 f/3.5-4.5 RS Minolta 17-35 f/3.5 G Minolta 28-70 f/2.8 G Minolta 70-210 f/3.5-4.5 Sony 70-200 f/2.8 G SSM |
| price paid: | € 400 (used) |
| positive: | Nicely build (not top) Great focus ring Very short minimum focus distance Usable from f/2.8 Bokeh |
| negative: | Slow slow focusing Focus hunts a lot Hood mounts bit heavy |
| comment: | After reading about this lens here on Dyxum i decided i wanted this one. Alternatives would be the Sigma 150 f/2.8 macro HSM, but it isn't available for our A-mount and the Sigma 180 f/3.5 macro seems not as good (see Photozone dot com). Sharpness is very good, so a straight 5. Getting the right DOF needs practising; i use mostly f/8-f/13. Hunting on the 5D is annoying sometimes (on the 900 this is much better), especially getting towards 1:1 and low light. Colors are Minolta like, perfect. Also contrast is first rate even with large apertures - which i don't use often with this one. The build is less good than the 24-85 RS (my copy was new), it's a bit more plastic. No comparison to the G's here. Focusing by hand works very nice with this lens, it is a bit stiff on my almost new copy, but i like that. The hood (same as 75-300) goes on a bit stiff. But it is the macro IQ that counts, think it is a little sharper than the 24-85. Focal length is good for small insects like butterflies, flies, spiders, bees and flowers. I make photo's of jewelry, modelcars and other "bigger" stuff in a phototent and found the focal length (on a cropped APS-C sensor) too large for this use. So next addition is going to be the 50 macro D.. If i don't need to go up to 1:1 (like bigger items as engine parts, hydraulic gear for work, etc) i prefer the 24-85 RS which has the advantage of zooming and is almost as sharp. I use the 100 macro with a Sony Carl Zeiss UV protection filter as sometimes towards 1:1 the front element can get very close to the subject and i don't want to damage it. Photo's other than macro don't have the 3D look of the G's but this is not what the lens is made for. Wide open f/2.8 still extremely good. Bokeh is just wonderful. Lens fits nicely -if tight- in the LH-1044 case. |
; 10MPrating summary
- total reviews: 63
- sharpness: 4.95
- color: 4.98
- build: 4.70
- distortion: 4.98
- flare control: 4.89
- overall: 4.90