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

MikeRG#8948 date: Apr-19-2011
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8	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:	17-35 f2.8-4 24-85 f2.8-4 35-105 f4-4.5 Beercan Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro
price paid:	200 GBP
positive:	Sharp Colour Build Secret Handshake 'look'
negative:	MFD
comment:	My copy of this lens has a few minor marks on the front element but nothing serious enough to adversely impact image quality. It's heavy, has a minimum focussing distance longer than a football field, noticeable distortion, dark corners and a comedy macro mode. But I love it more than any other lens in my collection. On my A900 I 'get it' now. In terms of sharpness it knocks the 35-105 and 24-85 into a cocked hat (my 35-105 has never been especially sharp but my 24-85 is stellar). The distortion and vignetting are easily corrected in LightRoom with a suitable lens profile. The colours are wonderful and the secret handshake magic is there in abundance, it's impossible to describe exactly what it is but it's there. I can't think of better walk around lens for full frame, my 35-105 is totally redundant now and will soon be heading for eBay.