Minolta AF 24-85mm F3.5-4.5 RS A-mount lens review by havoc315

havoc315#11625 date: Jan-20-2014
sharpness: 3.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 3 flare control: 4 overall: 3.9	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 35-105 3.5-4.5
price paid:	$110 used
positive:	Minolta colors. Useful focal range on full frame. Solid build. Nice size and weight.
negative:	Bad distortion. Not sharp, soft corners even stopped down.
comment:	I was hoping to find an affordable "kit" lens to use with the A99 while saving up for something better. I already owned the 35-105 which is very good, but isn't quite wide enough and has a horrible minimum focusing distance. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed in this lens. The focal range is very useful, going from wide enough for landscapes, to long enough for decent portraits. But the distortion is very noticeable at all focal lengths. And the lens simply is not super sharp when compared to the 35-105. Corners are weak through out. Center needs stopping down. That said, it's still a useful lens for the price. Without spending 5-10 times as much for a used Sigma model, I doubt there is a zoom lens that would allow me to shoot in the 24-28mm range. Thus I'm debating whether to keep the lens or sell it off.