Minolta AF 70-210mm F4 (beercan) A-mount lens review by Kaishi
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sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
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ownership: | I own this lens |
compared to: | Minolta AF 28-85 F3.5-4.5 Minolta AF 50 F1.7 Sony 18-70 (SAL1870) Sony 75-300 (SAL75300) |
price paid: | $150 (great condt) |
positive: | Very sharp. Internal zoom (no length change). Solid construction. Constant aperture. Inexpensive! |
negative: | External focus (length change during focus). Front element rotates during focus. AF is a slow and noisy. One stop slower than the 70-200 F2.8, but 5-10% the price. Element coatings are dated. I wish Sony would remake this lens at a reasonable price. |
comment: | The beercan is a very respectable lens. I initially thought there were some color issues but some more shots taken tonight have confirmed that something else must've been a problem in my first few batches. No problems now. Build quality is very high. The lens has all metal-construction, smooth operation, and is very durable. Little to no distortion from what I've observed. Less than that of my favorite lens, the 28-85 F3.5-4.5. I have observed no CA. Flare control can be a bit of a problem from what I've seen and heard. If you get one that includes a lens-hood, you'll have less trouble. Very good for taking portraits. |
rating summary

- total reviews: 397
- sharpness: 4.49
- color: 4.78
- build: 4.84
- distortion: 4.56
- flare control: 3.98
- overall: 4.53