Minolta AF 300mm F4 HS APO G A-mount lens review by Pirate
 Pirate#8443 date: Dec-23-2010 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 3 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 3.6 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sigma AF 100-300mm F/4 EX DG (IF) APO Tokina AT-X 300mm F/2.8 AF Pro Minolta AF 300mm F/2.8 APO/APO HS G Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro SAL 70-300mm SSM G SAL 70-400mm SSM G Tamron SP AF 70-300mm Di USD Tokina AT-X 300mm F/4 AF (AF 304) |
| price paid: | US $1033.00 (used) |
| positive: | IQ (when stopped down) Weight and size Bokeh Build quality Focus lock button Focus limiter |
| negative: | Lens hood fitting Course sounding AF motor CA/flare/ghosting (need to stop-down) - Unacceptable Sharpness is lacking unless stopped down Colour rendition isn't good enough for a G rated lens |
| comment: | A very well built telephoto/prime. Solid build and colour rendition is reasonably good. The AF motor sounds course and the lens hood fitting method is completely daft (similar to the Sigma AF 300/2.8 EX & EX DG series). It suffers with some lateral CA and flare/ghosting, though stopping down to F/5.6 - F/8 can cure these issues, though that negates the point of the constant F4 doesn't it? That said, maybe this is one lens that Sony should re-introduce which ought to get rid of any CA/PF which is totally unacceptable in a G rated lens. It's not in the same league as the Minolta AF 300mm F/2.8 APO/HS G, and frankly this is THE WORST lens I've ever owned (both my copies were equally as bad as each other for the same reasons). The Tokina AT-X 300/4 AF (AF 304) is smaller, lighter, vastly cheaper, no CA/PF and is simply a much better lens than the Minolta 300/4. I'm sure you can work it out. |
; 10MPrating summary
- total reviews: 34
- sharpness: 4.85
- color: 4.85
- build: 4.76
- distortion: 4.85
- flare control: 4.82
- overall: 4.83