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

teejay#11382 date: Oct-11-2013
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 overall: 4.5	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:	- Sony 50/1.4 - Sony 50/2.8 M - Minolta 50/1.7 RS
price paid:	150 E
positive:	- Image quality from F2 onwards - small, light, unobtrusive - quick focus - Minolta color
negative:	- bokeh wide open is harsh - flare and loss of contrast when shooting against the light
comment:	Compared to both sony lenses cited above, this lens has less contrast and doesn't work as well in back light situations, due to the 1985 coatings. At f1.4, veil hazing gives a dreamy look to pictures, contrast is low, while bokeh is harsh (the same can be said about the sony 50/1.4). However, used from F2 onwards, images are very nice, bokeh is smoother with heptagonal highlights (this gives a 'vintage' look to photos), and color and contrast are pleasing. While pixel-peeping at landscape apertures f5.6-f11 at infinity focus, the image centers seem softer than the image periphery on aps-c, this may be due to some field curvature issue. Overall a very nice portrait lens for APS-C shooters, which can be had for less than any other AF 50/1.4.