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

erix#2801 date: Sep-29-2007
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6	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:	18-70/3.5-5.6 35-70/4 28-85/3.5-4.5
price paid:	175$ (used, 2007)
positive:	Good range and speed good af speed relatively small sharp 24-70 mm
negative:	slightly soft at 70-85mm when wide open odd bokeh
comment:	After reading good reviews here, I decided to replace my trusted 28-85/3.5-4.5 with this one. Lens I got looks like new. Build quality is better than I expected, zooming works fine, lens does not zoom in/out when in vertical position. Distortions at 24mm are not as bad as I expected, Actually, my old 28-85 distorts more at 28mm than this lens at 24mm Sharpness is good at all focal lengths and apertures, except 70-85 range wide open - you will notice "dreamy" bokeh CA. At F6.3 it is good again. Lens is extremely sharp from F7.1 Regular CAs are almost non existent for this lens. Colors are saturated and contrast is high. After all I wrote here, I have to admit, that I still use 28-85 more often - it's not that sharp, but it has better bokeh, images looks like from beercan.