Minolta AF 70-210mm F4 (beercan) A-mount lens review by bill_bly_ca
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sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.3 | tested on:
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ownership: | I own this lens |
compared to: | 70-200G 55-200 SAM |
price paid: | 75 CAD Used |
positive: | Constant 4 Cheap Solid build |
negative: | (Relativly) heavy vs 55-200SAM CA |
comment: | This is my second Copy. Bought the first in 2008 and it had regular use until I bought the 70-200G in the fall of 08. After that the BeerCan only came out for the odd film shoot on the 700si or when the G was at risk of being damaged. Sold copy #1 for close to the (overpriced) $200 I paid for it in the first place in Jan of '10. Now I am going on travel where the G is overkill and I needed a simple equivalent. All told I would rather carry a 55-200SAM (which I typically borrow from my sister in these sort of events) but a visit to a local camera shop reveled a hoodless copy for $75. Surprisingly I never did try it on the a850, which ownership of the first beercan overlapped by 3 months, and I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. While the lens is not up to the myth that precedes it, it is quite satisfying at the $75 price point. Personally I would not pay more than $125 for a copy as you would be better off with the 55-200 SAM - But below $125 you are getting good value for the money (Especially if you still run a roll of film from time to time) CA is too obvious under high back illuminated items. |
rating summary

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