Minolta AF 28mm F2.8 A-mount lens review by Phil Wood

Phil Wood#45717 date: Jun-12-2021
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.7	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 AF 24mm f2.8 Sigma 24mm f2.8 Ultrawide II Minolta AF 28mm f2 Minolta AF 35mm f2 A wide range of zooms.
price paid:	25 GBP
positive:	Cheap wide angle prime. Decent performance
negative:	28mm (give me 24 or 35 anyday).
comment:	This lens came in a job-lot of 4 film cameras and 3 lenses for a grand total of £25. I'd have happily paid the price for the rest of items without this lens, so you could say it was free. Previous copies left me dissatisfied, they either weren't sharp or sit in my workshed awaiting iris cleaning (I really must get round to that). This copy is fine, a slight micro-focus adjustment corrected a rear focus issue and the lens turned in a fine performance - at last I can see how this lens achieves its Dyxum rating. However, it remains my least favourite Minolta prime - the 28 f2 is the obvious alternative and is sharper and faster. The 24/2.8 and 35/2 have focal lengths that are more to my taste and are sharper. The Sigma 24 has similar performance to the 28/2.8.