Minolta AF 85mm F1.4 G D Limited A-mount lens review by macronut
 macronut#14228 date: Apr-20-2015 | |
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| sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
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| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Everything else I've ever used. |
| price paid: | many dollars! |
| positive: | Bokeh, Bokeh, BOKEH! Colors! Build Sharpness |
| negative: | Price Rarity Scared to use it for fear of the slightest damage to my baby! |
| comment: | As we all know, 85mm lenses are traditionally known as portrait lenses. As a portrait lens on FF, I assume this lens is in a league of its own. I do not have a FF body to verify this. It is abit long on apsc for portrait work. This lens, the fisheye, and the STF are reason enough for me to buy a FF camera in the future. I LOVE THIS LENS. Colors are classic Minolta all the way; rich, warm and inviting. I assume Minolta's other 85's deliver pleasing color as well. I do not have comparison shots. All i can say is that this lens delivers the best colors you will find. Sharpness is very good. No reason to score this baby less than a 5. Some say Zeiss is sharper. That may be true. But the difference is likely negligible and you would be trading that meaningless sharpness by giving away superb colors and bokeh. In my opinion this lens is the ultimate portrait lens. If your intended use is portraits and the Zeiss is marginally sharper, who cares? Bokeh is a homerun! This is a real cream machine. Nothing more need be said. It is a G lens and a Limited Edition at that. Naturally, the build is absolutley fantastic. AF is accurate. Nothing to complain about really. With the right background and distance behind subject, ive seen some beautiful images with that "3D pop" people like so much. I bought this lens for a price that would have bought me several other lenses I would love to own. It is definitely hard to justify the cost. But having used this gem, any other 85mm would somehow feel second rate. There are so few of these to go around, so it is a collectors piece just as much as a lens to actually use. Mine is in %100 mint condition with all the original box contents. A true joy to own. Sadly I do find myself very reluctant to use it often, for fear of an accident. For all intents and purposes, the non-LE version of this lens will deliver all you need. The LE version isnt a lens that any person truly needs. This is a want! **UPDATE** I have used this on FF now, after buying the A900. To summarize, it’s a match made in Heaven. |
; 12MPrating summary
- total reviews: 4
- sharpness: 5.00
- color: 5.00
- build: 5.00
- distortion: 5.00
- flare control: 5.00
- overall: 5.00