Minolta AF 28-135mm F4-4.5 A-mount lens review by vangio

vangio#5021 date: Mar-12-2009
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.5	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:	AF 17-35mm 2,8-4 (D) AF 24mm 2,8 AF 28-75mm 2,8 (D) AF 28-85mm 3,5-4,5 AF 28-135mm 4-4,5 AF 35-105mm 3,5-4,5 AF 50mm 1,7 AF 70-210mm 4 AF 75-300mm 4,5-5,6 1st Tamron AF 11-18 4,5-5,6 Beroflex 400mm 6,3 1st
price paid:	100 € (used)
positive:	very sharp range very fast AF solid build
negative:	solid build weight size only f4-4,5 min. focus distance
comment:	A very sharp lens with a really versatile zoom-range and a good addition to the 17-35mm 2,8-4 (D). The very fast AF, only very little CA and the warm colors make fun. But only outside... Because of the min. focus distance of 1,5m and the slow f4-4,5 I use this lens only outdoor. There it is a very good performer when you stop down to f5,6. In my opinion this isn't a „must have“ lens, but a really nice, very good performing, luxury solid one. And this is one of his biggest disadvantages too. The weight is high and it is not really compact. I've bought this lens for low money in good condition with a little axial play at the zoom-ring and I decide to repair this (Thanks to Pete Ganzel). Wow... what an impressing lens construction! The build quality is exceptional. A fine example of a high-quality-full-heavy-metal-lens.