Minolta AF 70-210mm F4 (beercan) A-mount lens review by glencraig59

glencraig59#8027 date: Sep-28-2010
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:	Min 100-300 APO D, Min 75-300 BBC
price paid:	200 USD (mint)
positive:	Sharp across the frame wide open; constant aperture; solid enough for self-defense.
negative:	Be sure to use that hood!
comment:	I tested for sharpness as follows: I compared tripod shots at all focal lengths and apertures, looking at 100% on screen at an area one-third in from the left and bottom edges. I find my copy to be acceptably sharp wide open at all focal lengths except 210 mm. By "acceptably" I mean one can really only detect slight softness at 100%. All focal lengths except 210 mm were tack sharp by f/5.6. At 210 mm, sharpness was acceptable at f/5.6 and tack sharp at f/8, a loss of only one stop over the rest of the range. Color is first-rate Minolta: why we are here. I got a screw-on ABS hood from Mennon, a big improvement over the included clip-on. My copy has shown it to be worth its reputation. The only reason I would spend more is for faster or longer; for what it does it is a gem.