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

pulsar#5866 date: Aug-17-2009
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 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:	- SAL 1870 (kit)
price paid:	missing
positive:	- Compact size - Longer reach - Good looks - Bright - Sharp - Flower petal hood (though not much use on APC-S) - Build
negative:	- Little heavy (about Tamron 17-50/2.8) - Slightly loose when extended (as much as the kit)..maybe due to its age. - Flare (it's a film-era lens) - Not wide
comment:	Compared to the kit, - Bit heavier, but similar length - Better build with metal mount - Brighter & more bokeh In general, - Very good range for general outdoor and home studio photography (36-128mm eqv.) - Not much zoom creep despite its age & weight - Step down a notch, it gets quite sharp Had it for a couple of weeks and loving it. Update: Had it for a few months now and still like it very much for mainly for its range and compactness. It's bit soft wide open. Not a negative point, but colour is bit yellow as well compared to Tamron 17-50.