Minolta AF 300mm F4 HS APO G A-mount lens review by H20boy

H20boy#2313 date: May-14-2007
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5	tested on: film camera: APS-C: 6MP; 10MP; 12MP; 14MP; 16MP; 20MP; 24MP full frame: 12MP; 24MP; 36MP; 42MP; 61MP
ownership:	I used to own this lens
compared to:	80-200 APO black & 400/4.5
price paid:	$600 new
positive:	Sharp, handholdable, front thread size, bokeh very nice
negative:	High Chromatic Abberation from f4-f5.6
comment:	You have to really like a lens that performs as well as this one, can be handheld with the help of AS, takes an 82mm filter on the end, so the dedicated CPL isn't absolutely necessary...buy an aftermarket one! Compared to the 400, it's just as sharp, but the 400 doesn't have the chromatic abberation at the open end that the 300 produced. I noticed alot of purple fringing using the 300 from reflections, and that was probably the biggest downside to it. Other than that, the only reason it left my bag was because I tried a 400 and loved the extra reach it gave me...for the same IQ. It was a GREAT lens!