Minolta AF 50mm F1.4 RS A-mount lens review by Kakaku

Kakaku#4864 date: Feb-14-2009
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 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:	50/1.7 85/1.4
price paid:	175 USD (used)
positive:	Creamy Bokeh Sharp when in focus Compact Size
negative:	Major back focus on my A700 and A100
comment:	I got this lense a while ago but never really cared for it since I had many mis-shots. Then I realized that it was being caused by major back focus on my A700 and A100. In auto-focus, I was getting close to 30cm back focus at 3~5 meters. Therefore the subject will be soft even when stepped down. Once I realized this I started using this lens in MF and can finally understand what all the fuss is about. Now the dillema is whether to keep this lens until I get a new camera with microadjustments or sell this and try my luck with a new Sony 50/1.4. *Note the sharpness is 4 due to back focus. When it's in focus the lens is very sharp. (5) UPDATE - I was wrong about this lens having backfocus issue. I realized that it's in fact the camera that's having a hard time finding the right focus in low light situations. And since I mainly use the 50/1.4 in these harsh lighting conditions, I had incorrectly associated the bad focus to the lens. I have corrected my sharpness rating to 5 accordingly.