Minolta AF 80-200mm F2.8 APO A-mount lens review by QuietOC
 QuietOC#45712 date: Jun-2-2021 | |
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| sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I have experience with this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 28-200 RXD Tokina AF 35-200 SD Minolta MD 50-135 F3.5 Sigma 50-150 F2.8 EX DC HSM II Sony DT 55-200 SAM Vivitar 70-150 F3.8 Tamron 70-180 F2.8 VXD Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Sigma 70-200 F2.8 EX DG APO Sony FE 70-200 F4 G OSS Canon EF 70-200 F4 L USM Vivitar S1 70-210 F3.5 I & II Minolta AF 70-210 F4 Minolta AF 70-210 F3.5-4.5 Tokina 80-200 F2.8 AT-X Pro Vivitar 85-205 F3.8 Minolta AF 100-200 F4.5 Minolta AF 135 F2.8 Canon EF 135 F2.8 Softfocus Canon EF 200 F2.8 L USM Minolta AF 200 F2.8 APO G Minolta AF 200 F2.8 HS APO G |
| price paid: | 249 USD (used) |
| positive: | Black Internal zoom Corner performance Blunt, heavy weapon |
| negative: | Size and weight Extending/rotating front focus Plastic focus ring Build/survivability Non-removable tripod foot 1.8 meter minimum focus |
| comment: | This was an eBay auction win and came with an Sigma 1.4X teleconverter. This was worn, dirty copy in poor condition. At least the glass was clear. Somehow the gold accent was completely missing from the groove ahead of the focus control. The white printing on the barrel was worn off in many spots. The metal barrel of the hood was bent and its edge very rough. The zoom and focus mechanisms were both stiff and uneven. I didn't feel like taking a risk using it as an AF lens and returned it. "JAPAN" The hood bayonet doesn't extend or rotate, so the lens can seem like an internal focus design with the hood installed. This example came with an aluminum barreled hood like the other early telephoto zooms. The hood barrel was dented and the edge torn up. The rough zoom and focus throws were combined with increasingly poor alignment at the long end of the zoom range. I suspect a less worn example would be better optically. Only considering this example I would have to rate the build rating as a 2. I will assume this particular copy is an outlier and give a 3 rating. It is not clear what this copy had to endure. Others may overestimate the build quality based on better cared for examples. I am happy to have tried this lens, even with such a poor example. I am also happy to have a much lighter modern alternative that may or may not hold up as well. |
rating summary
- total reviews: 44
- sharpness: 4.85
- color: 4.89
- build: 4.86
- distortion: 4.82
- flare control: 4.55
- overall: 4.79