Minolta AF 70-210mm F4 (beercan) A-mount lens review by paulofessel

paulofessel#2643 date: Aug-20-2007
sharpness: 5 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.6	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:	Sigma 100-300 f:4.5-6.7
price paid:	200 USD (mint)
positive:	- Constant aperture - Sharp wide open - Great bokeh and colors - Not expensive
negative:	- Excessive CA - Size - Weight
comment:	What else to say, this is the famous beercan. It has a range that matches perfectly to Sigma 17-70 or even the kit lens. It is sharp wide open througout its entire range, and has great color rendition and bokeh. However, you may have lots of CA, particularly at 210mm when you shoot high-contrast subjects in color (mine has) which are really difficult to get rid of. Also, its size and weight don't make this a "discreet" lens in no account - if you paint it white you'll be taken as pro-photographer, no doubt about it. Anyway, this is a great lens for the money in any way. Think about it: Canon has 70-200 f:4 L, which is much like the Minolta version, costs around US$ 600.00 and has no image stabilization; on the 5D/7D/Alpha you spend like 1/3 of the money, have the same coverage AND still have AS/SSS for stabilizing the lens - something the Canon version does not have. If you don't have neither the money or the access to the more expensive 80-200 f:2.8 G or the 70-200 f:2.8 G SSM, go for it. You won't be disappointed.