Minolta AF 70-210mm F3.5-4.5 A-mount lens review by flyingscot4
 flyingscot4#7183 date: Mar-28-2010 | |
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| sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 70-210 f4.0 Beercan Minolta 70-210 f4.5-5.6 Minolta 75-300 f4.5-5.6 Big Beercan Minolta 100-300 APO D |
| price paid: | 60 USD (used) |
| positive: | Sharpness weight (light) speed bokeh! convenience |
| negative: | hunts a bit in low light Slightly soft wide open at both ends |
| comment: | Every manufacturer, including Minolta, was in love with the 70-210mm concept and made a number of different versions, of which this one is the best. I feel that it is as sharp as the Beercans (I own 4) and much sharper than the f4.5-5.6 models of which I have one each. This lens has the lovely saturated colors of Minolta fame and the best bokeh of most of the lenses in this designation. I think that it is cheap because the poorer quality versions look identical to this version. I know that my lens is not just an isolated "good" copy as I have two and can distinguish no difference between them as far a sharpness, color, and bokeh are concerned. I carry this lens and my 100-300mm APO D whenever I travel to Europe and weight is is a concern. I own all four Beercans and they stay home. I am from the "old school" (so is the lens) that says that a lens is sharpest when stopped down 2 stops from wide open. That gives me one stop less light needed than with my 100-300 APO, and that is a big thing. I don't think that one can go wrong with this lens. Just make sure that it is the 3.5-4.5. Update: 08/13 - Having used this lens for some years now (I seem to be getting older, or maybe it's just my eyes), but I sometimes think that the contrast ratio in this lens is a little low. The colors reproduced are wonderfully subtle, but sometimes need to be "bumped up" a little in PP. |
; 14MPrating summary
- total reviews: 64
- sharpness: 4.27
- color: 4.69
- build: 3.98
- distortion: 4.34
- flare control: 3.89
- overall: 4.24