Minolta AF 35mm F2 RS A-mount lens review by backstein

backstein#11844 date: May-22-2014
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 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:	Minolta AF 50mm 1.7 Minolta AF 50mm 1.4 Sigma AF 28mm F1.8 Sigma AF 24mm F1.8 Minolta MD Rokkor 35mm F1.8 Voigtländer Nokton 40mm F1.4
price paid:	€450 (used)
positive:	+Color Rendition +Focus Accuracy +Sharp Wide Open +Contrast +virtually no distortion +build quality
negative:	-extremely rare -high price for a 35mm f2 but absolutely worth it
comment:	If you're a PJ or documentary photographer you will love this lens. It's very sharp from f2 and has very nice, softly graduated tonal contrast rendition when wide open that gets more punchy as you stop down to f4. There is almost no distortion. It's hard to beat this lens in terms of color, tonal contrast and sharpness. Nice "front bokeh" rendition as well. It's a mystery why Sony has not yet released a successor to this wonderful lens. If you find one below €400 you should go for it.