Minolta AF 35mm F2 A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#44046 date: Apr-21-2018 | |
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| sharpness: 3.5 color: 5 build: 3 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 3.7 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I have experience with this lens |
| compared to: | Sigma 30 F1.4 DC DN C & EX DC Sigma 30 F2.8 DN Art Sony DT 30 F2.8 Macro SAM Neewer 32 F1.6 Zeiss 32 F1.8 Touit Rokinon 35 F1.2 Neewer 35 F1.2 Sony FE 35 F1.4 Distagon Fotasy 35 F1.6 APS-C & Mini Kaxinda 35 F1.7 Samyang AF 35 F1.8 Tamron SP 35 F1.8 USD Minolta MD 35 F1.8 Sony E 35 F1.8 OSS Sony DT 35 F1.8 SAM Yongnuo EF 35 F2 7Artisans 35 F2 Minolta AF 35 F2 RS Tamron 35 F2.8 OSD Rokinon AF 35 F2.8 Sony FE 35 F2.8 Sonnar Minolta MC 35 F2.8 Vivitar T4 35 F2.8 Minolta 40 F1.7 Konica AR 40 F1.8 Sony FE 40 F2.5 G Canon EF 40 F2.8 STM Pentax-M 40 F2.8 Pentax-DA 40 F2.8 XS |
| price paid: | 200 USD (used) |
| positive: | Minimal distortion Non rotating barrel |
| negative: | Bulky for size of optics Not sealed--fungus Focus shifts |
| comment: | This is the most neglected lens I've seen. It was purchased from an individual eBay seller. The original hood was included but a chunk was missing from the mount side which was indicated in the listing. However I wouldn't describe the fungus as a barely discernible smudge. Minolta released the 35 F2 a year after the AF 28 F2. It seems to be a new optical design unlike the AF 28 F2 which borrowed from the MD III lens. It performs much better than Minolta's old 35 F2.8 design or the MD 35 F1.8. It reuses the body and hood of the AF 28 F2. The optics and body are similar in size to the Sony DT 35 F1.8 lens. "JAPAN" The optical construction is modular like the AF 50 F1.7. There is just a front and rear set of lens elements with the aperture between. The front group set on this copy is infected with fungus internally, and the assembly itself is not serviceable. But perhaps these fixed assemblies help reduce variation. The big patch of fungus in the middle of the backside of the front element causes some interesting behavior. There is some reduced contrast wide-open, but the contrast gets even lower as the lens is stopped down. Using a larger hood doesn't even help. The hood from Minolta AF 100 F2.8 Macro RS fits securely as does the smaller petal hood from AF 24 F2.8. The larger hoods from the 75-300D and 100-300D also mount but don't lock in place. This lens performs similarly to the Yongnuo EF 35mm F2--much worse than the 7Artisans 35mm F2 but somewhat better than the MD 35mm F1.8. The little Samyang 35mm F2.8 is much better optically. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 53
- sharpness: 4.93
- color: 4.98
- build: 4.70
- distortion: 4.85
- flare control: 4.55
- overall: 4.80