Minolta AF 28-135mm F4-4.5 A-mount lens reviews
 derekw#10787 date: Dec-15-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 16-80 Sony 16-105 Sony 18-250 Minolta 28-105 RS |
| price paid: | 197 GBP mint |
| positive: | Very sharp Colours IQ Build Bokeh |
| negative: | Flare - No hood MFD - 1.50m Weight |
| comment: | Great lens - but not sure it is worth double the price of the 28-105 RS. |
; 12MP| Ome Kees#10743 date: Nov-30-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | €200,-- |
| positive: | Color, focusspeed, macro, range |
| negative: | No original hood available MFD |
| comment: | Superlens ! |
| Vois#10636 date: Nov-1-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 3 distortion: 5 flare control: 1 overall: 3.6 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 18-135 Sony 24-105 Sony 24-70 ZA |
| price paid: | 300 |
| positive: | none really except there is no modern day focal length equivalent for FF |
| negative: | BAD Flare, MFD, no lens hood available |
| comment: | This lens just doesn't work well with modern SLT cameras and shows its age, not much choice for FF in this range, but if you have APSC and especially SLT just get the wonderful new little 18-135 Sony. i also have the Sony 24-105 which is a better all-around lens for me on FF and more enjoyable to use when going lightweight. It would be nice if Sony would make a modern day SSM 24-135 G rated f4 lens. Until then, I stick with the 24-70ZA for FF for anything where IQ is a concern. I enjoy using old primes, but never felt the "love" for this lens. Unfortunately the good does not outweigh the bad with this lens for me. |
| rockrom#10369 date: Jul-9-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | great lens, good range good macro setting |
| negative: | quite heavy but i do not mind |
| comment: | i was looking for this lens for a long time. I hear great things and they are all true. My copy is very good. have not noticed too much flare. |
| Bill73#10231 date: May-23-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.3 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony CZ 16-80 Sony 50/1.4 Minolta 50/1.7 Sigma 10-20/3.5 Tamron 90/2.8 MACRO Minolta 100/2.8 MACRO Tamron 18-200 Sony 75-300 Sigma 170-500 Sony 18-55 Sony 18-70 |
| price paid: | $300 AUS$ |
| positive: | Love the Build It's very sharp Colors are beautiful I just love the 'look' of this lens; there's something very reassuring about it Macro is actually pretty awesome (even if it is at the wide end) |
| negative: | It's very heavy Flare is hard to control Strange balance to camera with this lens fitted Autofocus, though fast, is strange. It seems to 'snap' into focus .... it's a little disconcerting. |
| comment: | Big, heavy, old-school lens. Love it. First time I used it I thought ... WOW. I know folk yabba on all the time about 'Minolta colors this and that', I must confess I was extremely skeptical, but this lens ... WOW. Colors really do come through much more saturated. Flare really is a shocker though and, apart from sheer heft, it's the only major issue with this lens. That said, it's easy enough to control as long as you factor it in when shooting. All-in-all a wonderful lens. Nice work Minolta!! |
| godsakes#10119 date: Apr-14-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 2 overall: 4 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 24-135mm CZ 16-80mm |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Sharp Minolta colours Decent AF speed |
| negative: | Bad flare Restrictive MFD Wish it started at 24mm Heavy |
| comment: | First of all this lens is sharp but I'm not convinced it's quite as legendary as some people claim. None the less the combination of sharpness, colour and bokeh means this lens produces a very pleasing image (more than the sum of it's parts, I suppose). The main downsides of this lens is it's extremely prone to flare made worse by the fact it doesn't come with a hood, it's actually has worse flare control than most wide angle lenses. The long MFD is restrictive and means this lens is really for outdoor use. Despite what some have said, I find the AF speed to be pretty decent (the tamron 24-135mm is far slower and if you want to know what slow is try lenses like the minolta 85mm). AF accuracy could be better however. The nearest FF rival is the tamron 24-135mm it has far fewer of the drawbacks, i.e. starts at 24mm has a much more usable MFD and isn't as prone to flare. However it's image quality isn't as good as the minolta and it's AF speed is annoyingly slow for a non-macro lens. There's no clear winner between the 2 IMHO both are flawed. APS-C users with the carl zeiss 16-80mm can be smug as the carl zeiss produces a sharper image than both lenses with none of the drawbacks (fast AF, flare resistant, good distortion control), maybe you would still prefer the minolta colours and build but it's no real contest the zeiss is easily the better lens. |
| JD Hoang#9877 date: Feb-3-2012 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.1 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Min 70-210 F4 SAL 50F1.8 |
| price paid: | 250 USD (Used) |
| positive: | Very good built Nice Colours Sharp |
| negative: | Flare could be a problem Heavy Min focus distance |
| comment: | I have big problem with its Min focus distance. It's too long to take a picture, and sometimes I must to stand away more than its Min focus distance to take a picture with right focus. Quite quick AF. Macro mode is very useful. |
| jcoffin#9676 date: Dec-6-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 4 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.2 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | 28/2.8 35/1.4 50/1.7 100/2.8 Macro 135/2.8 Tamron 70-210/2.8 |
| price paid: | 350 USD (used) |
| positive: | Sharpness. Resolution. Detail. Color. |
| negative: | Definitely flare-prone. The minimum focusing distance is sometimes annoying. Physically somewhat fragile, so some copies apparently aren't the best. |
| comment: | It's hard to say much that hasn't been said many times already. Yes, it would be nice if it was smaller, lighter, faster, would focus closer, and never flared or showed any distortion. At the same time, it's already barely short of violating the laws of physics for a zoom with this range to be this sharp, especially one this old. On the other hand, the age barely matters -- if it was brand new today, this would still qualify as an unusually good lens. |
| olegoo#9611 date: Nov-19-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | 125 € (used) |
| positive: | Very sharp Contrast Good zoom range Well built Quite quick AF Looks nice on 7D Cheap for a very good Lens |
| negative: | No hood |
| comment: | It's perfect. Without a hood, it can show some flare, but I love the way it flares. " The price and quality of this great vintage Minolta lens makes it a must have for the cheap lineup " --> I do agree. Highly Recommend. PS: in Internet I've seen that the focal length to Max Aperture figures - f4-28-40mm, and f4.5-41mm to 135mm, but in my copy, i still have f4 28 - 60mm, from 70 - 135 f4.5. |
| piano0047#9405 date: Sep-11-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 28-85, 35-105, Sony 50mm, Sony 135 STF, CZ 85mm 1,4 |
| price paid: | 200USD |
| positive: | Excellent colours, sharp at almost all settings,nice bouquet. Steadily built. Put it easy:gives stunning pictures...Not quite the results that the fixed focal length lenses gives, but not too far away, if you have enough available light.Balances perfect with a 850. Got mine cheap compared to quality it gives. Love this lens!!...but read the negative too.. |
| negative: | Focuses not close enough!! Especially at wide settings this often disturbs and demands backup lenses. Irritating!!!!And then the point with a widespanning,all-in-one 28-135mm lens is somewhat reduced... |
| comment: | My standard lens on my a 850. But more lenses have to follow,unfortunately. From time to time also on a500. Would have been even more frequently used if it had better close focus limit at all focal settings. Nice colours! Recommend this. Not perfect, but so near for me...At 135 mm the sharpness is somewhat reduced, unfortunately. At 5,6 it is excellent at all focus lenght except 135, where it is still good. |
| MichaelMeyer#9400 date: Sep-9-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 3 flare control: 3 overall: 3.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 50mm f1.4 Nikon 50mm f1.8 Nikon 55mm f2.8 Nikon 20-35mm f2.8 |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Wide zoom range Sharp throughout range Non-rotating filter ring during focus Well balanced on larger camera |
| negative: | Long minimum focusing distance Weight |
| comment: | This a great lens that I constantly find frustrating. It could be everything that I need except that it isn't. The range covers ever focal length that I use in a package larger and heavier than every other lens that I own. Sharpness is good throughout the range, though under 50mm the minimum focusing distance limits its usefulness for me. Great lens unless you need to get close. |
| jr7135#9258 date: Jul-25-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.3 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Big Beercan 75-300 and 50 prime |
| price paid: | 380.00 |
| positive: | Picture quality, good range, |
| negative: | Somewhat heavy |
| comment: | Took this lens to hawaii this summer and kept it on most of the time. Finished product is incredible. Not being a professional photographer and wondering what the pics would look like concern me. This lens beat out my 50 prime for sharpness. I will keep this lens and when it needs to be worked on, I will have a professional fix it. Great lens for the price. |
| Misiek#9221 date: Jul-10-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony AF 28-75 F2.8 SAM SAL2875 |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Sharpness, Bokeh, Universal focal length, Macro lens |
| negative: | Weight, focus ring, Long min. focus distance |
| comment: | Extremly sharp, beutiful bokeh. I use it often for photographying flowers at the Botanical garden. Slow focus is not so important as I use it on manual. Slightky too heavy but rigid construction makes it stable. I had some mechanical problems but short visit to the service makes it working perfect. |
| milan33#9173 date: Jun-23-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.7 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | MAF 24-105/3,5-4,5 MAF 28-105/4.0-4,5 Sony 18-55, Sony 18-70, |
| price paid: | 151 EUR (used) |
| positive: | metal solid build, very stabile in your hands, produce good sharp image, sub-Macro is very useful, IF almost solid light |
| negative: | a bit too heavy, no lens hood dedicated or built in, CA could be a problem, 72mm filer size rare, not produced anymore, expensive, |
| comment: | I love this lens, its a great walk around lens,. almost solid light, very good solid lens, well kept in my hands makes possible to be used in low light and stabile without tripod, . I've tested up to now 3 examples, and the most sharp is a third one, I keep it for daily use. Quite fast AF, Internal focusing, have focusing ring closely to camera, if you find it buy it, its worth to have it, very stable lens, good legendary lens, easy to sold, beercan generation, quite |
| lakrids#9129 date: Jun-13-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 3 flare control: 2 overall: 3.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | 270 euro |
| positive: | Sharp (for a zoom) when stopped down a little Heavy, nice build Good range on ff Intersting colors, not neutral as such Good focus speed |
| negative: | Heavy Some distortion Visible vignette fully open No lens hood Watch out for the sun ligth direction, flares Slight soft cornes fully open. Bokeh not better than ok. A little low in contrasr |
| comment: | Nice lens, for the price. Far from perfect, but if you can live with its weaknesses, is it a good lens with colors that I myself like. |
| alolio#9029 date: May-15-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 3 flare control: 3 overall: 4 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | MAF 50mm f1.4 MAF Beercan Sony Kit 18-55 |
| price paid: | 250usd |
| positive: | Sharp Bokeh Colors! Build |
| negative: | Flare (I suppose) AF Hunts |
| comment: | I was lucky enough to find a mint copy of this lens (with the "Passed" inspection sticker, love that) at a local camera shop. After many recommendations (and a few warnings) for this lens on Dyxum, I picked it up. First off, great purchase. I've ditched the kit lens, since this essentially fills that gap with a color profile more similar to my other lenses. MFD is long, as others have commented, but indoors, this has allowed me to get some great candids of my kids, as I've stepped back and zoomed in. It's heavy, but that isn't much of a concern for me. The colors are beautiful. Warm, detailed, distinct. Its ability to separate subjects from background, and the bokeh of that background are exceptional as well. For negatives: Chromatic abberration is significant, and my a330 has had difficulty finding and focusing on the correct subject with it. |
| Amateur Sony Shooter#8961 date: Apr-25-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 3.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 2 overall: 3.9 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Sigma 18-250 |
| price paid: | CAD $200 |
| positive: | Colour, AF speed, built, CA control |
| negative: | soft edge, weight, |
| comment: | I recently bought a used Minolta 28-135/4.0-4.5 lens, the famous almost-G "secrete handshake" lens. This lens has been extensively reviewed and praised (artaphot and dyxum here). I am using the lens on A55, with intension to go FF one day. My initial impression is very positive: big (72mm), heavy and well built, zoom ring is very smooth, AF is really fast, outdoor test shots (at f8) is really sharp, colour is so richly rendered, CA (PF) is surprised well controlled - it's still there but not worse than many modern lenses, correctible in PP. Upon further test (compare with my Sigma 18-250 travel zoom), its weakness revealed: 1) at 28mm, the edge softness at wider aperture is very noticeable, to achieve good edge sharpness I need to stop down to f8-11; 2) at 135mm end, center image is also very soft, again I need to stop down to f8-11. I also tested it on A850, the softness still there, actually more so at 28mm. Maybe I didn't get a great copy but even at f11, image is still not as sharp as my Sigma travel zoom. Likely I will sell it. |
| MikeRG#8948 date: Apr-19-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 5 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | 17-35 f2.8-4 24-85 f2.8-4 35-105 f4-4.5 Beercan Tamron 90mm f2.8 Macro |
| price paid: | 200 GBP |
| positive: | Sharp Colour Build Secret Handshake 'look' |
| negative: | MFD |
| comment: | My copy of this lens has a few minor marks on the front element but nothing serious enough to adversely impact image quality. It's heavy, has a minimum focussing distance longer than a football field, noticeable distortion, dark corners and a comedy macro mode. But I love it more than any other lens in my collection. On my A900 I 'get it' now. In terms of sharpness it knocks the 35-105 and 24-85 into a cocked hat (my 35-105 has never been especially sharp but my 24-85 is stellar). The distortion and vignetting are easily corrected in LightRoom with a suitable lens profile. The colours are wonderful and the secret handshake magic is there in abundance, it's impossible to describe exactly *what* it is but it's there. I can't think of better walk around lens for full frame, my 35-105 is totally redundant now and will soon be heading for eBay. |
| Mortenmb#8859 date: Apr-3-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4.1 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | CZ 16-80 Tokina 28-70 f2.6-2.8 |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Build quality! Sharpness! Focus |
| negative: | MFD Flare No hood Weight |
| comment: | This minolta lens is truly a "secret handhake". Though I have only tried it on APSC bodies, it gives amazing sharpness (detail), but contrast is lagging compared to the CZ. The MFD is not good, it's sort of deal breaker since you cannot you it freely indoors, at partys and so on. but for walkaround it's great, and it gives really nice colours. Did I mention that it's build from pure metal? it's quite heavy, but it's one af the best handling lenses I have tried. everything is smooth, and focus is fast, i just really like it. The bad: No hood.. this lens can definately flare, a hood would help tremendously here. there are workarounds though. Great lens, one i would love to try on FF, and one I also recommend! |
| blek#8848 date: Mar-30-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 3 flare control: 3 overall: 4.1 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I have experience with this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta AF 35-70 F4 Baby Beercan Minolta AF 75-300 F4.5-5.6 Big Beercan |
| price paid: | IDR 2.750.000 (used) |
| positive: | Sharp!!! Minolta Colors! Build like a tank Fast and accurate focus Nice odd range Macro switch No hood |
| negative: | Flare, but it is normal CA, easy, no big deal Macro @28mm No Hood |
| comment: | The Minolta "Secret Handshake" is the honorary name known internationally for this epic lens. In Indonesia and few other south east asia, people call this lens "Zeiss Killer". Both deserve its name. Sharp all range, Definitely Minolta Colors, fast focus, good for low light, and built like a tank. You can kill a person with it. :D F*ck the flare and CA. Flare is normal in all lenses, and you can sometimes include it in your composition. CA is easily avoided using good filter. The range is perfect for travelling. Heavy? Well, compare this to the Big Beercan, it is not a big deal. The tank build paid off. Talk about the macro mode, this lens sure have one like the baby beercan, but @28mm, thus, make the area wide. For me, it fits more to close up human portrait and other large object with nice bokeh than shooting ant. And about the hood, well, the only thing about hood is, it boost the appearance of a lens, make it looks more beautiful. Sure, it help fighting flaring sometimes, but your hands are better flare wall. Oh, and about the appearance btw, this lens doesn't need it. Its shape is manly enough. No need to bother mount and unmount hood anymore when you want to shoot. Few people dislike it. I dunno why, but you can use a rubber hood if you want. It flaws, yes. But the combination somehow make the pictures produced from this lens almost looks like magic. Believe me. Leave your creative style at 0 0 0 and feel the "From the mind of Minolta". |
| incatatus#8843 date: Mar-29-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 2 overall: 4.2 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tamron 28-75 f2.8 Sigma 105 f2.8 Macro Beercan |
| price paid: | 200 sterling |
| positive: | Colours Sharpness Focusing Speed |
| negative: | Noisy No hood, so lots of flare Some distortion (but not as much as my Tammy) |
| comment: | Bought a great example of this lens from a fellow Dyxumer and am absolutely astonished by the pictures I am getting. As a walk around lens it is the business, the quick rear focusing has let me get some shots that would have been impossible with any of my other lenses, and it is oh so sharp. It is also heavy and built like a tank, but I do not find this a problem as it is easier than carrying 3 primes around and it gets as good results. If you have full frame and can find a good example then do not hesitate to get it, there is nothing else like it. Now I just need to find a decent hood! |
| rtuss#8830 date: Mar-26-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | missing |
| positive: | Fast and accurate AF Colors Great range Solid build Macro mode |
| negative: | No hood |
| comment: | Flare isnt a problem once you are experienced with the lens and given the conditions flaring in a picture can add character. |
| DanXM#8764 date: Mar-9-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4.5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 28mm f2.8 Minolta 35mm f2 Minolta 50mm Macro 2.8 Sony/Zeiss 85mm f1.4 Sony/Zeiss 16-35mm f2.8 |
| price paid: | 450 NZD (used) |
| positive: | Beautiful minolta colours Fast focussing Great focal range Quality materials Good price |
| negative: | AF clicks on A900 Minimum focus distance |
| comment: | Totally impressive lens. I bought this lens for travel but it has slowly been taking over some of my other lenses. Have even started using if for gigs & it focuses like a champ in low light, and with improvement in ISO technology f4 actually works. Technically this lens has a lot of 'faults': vignetting, corner softness, distortion... especially when compared to lenses like the CZ85 & 35mm f2. But I've been continually blown away with the unique shots that come out of this lens, the downsides seem to just add to the character and when you look at the whole shot, not just the pixels, it's awesome. |
| anakin2178#8763 date: Mar-8-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 5 overall: 5 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | 300 |
| positive: | Build Sharpness Colors |
| negative: | No Lens Hood |
| comment: | I recently found this lens in EXCELLENT condition from a local seller. It focuses quickly, and takes some amazingly sharp photos. The lens is what I would consider in almost new condition. It doesn't look as if it has been used much. i LOVE the weight, feel and overall performance. To me the only major flaw was it's design to not have a lens hood, other than that I feel I got a wonderful deal on a superb lens. |
| dumbasadoorknob#8756 date: Mar-7-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 3.5 color: 5 build: 3 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 overall: 3.9 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Min 24105 Min 35105o Min 70210 Sony 70300G Tamron 28300 |
| price paid: | USD 269 used |
| positive: | Minolta colors Clarity Internal focus |
| negative: | Heavy No lens shade Old, hard used |
| comment: | My copy of this lens is perfect at both ends, but quite unreliable in the middle. It clunks when it is put on the camera and the screwdrive is engaged -- and I suspect that is an indication of the internal focus slide being loose or worn. I have also found this to a lesser extent with my beercan. So I suspect that all older Minolta zooms that clunk will have a similar outcome. When it is good, it is as good as the other reviewers report -- but it is inconsistent. I dropped my 35/2 and camera on hard stone this winter -- and the lens shade smashed, and saved the lens -- so I'll never buy another lens without a hard plastic lens shade. This lens doesn't have a hard shade, a defect, and it would've smashed -- or worse, my camera would've died. My Min 35105o is better overall. My 24105, an attempted replacement, is a weak lens -- and here I suspect plastic parts. My Sony 70300G is better in almost every way -- except that it does not focus internally. Even with its problems, the 28135 is a far better lens than my son's Tamron 28-300. It would indeed be wonderful if there were a modern replacement for the length and f-stop of the 28135, since it is a perfect tourist lens. Extra thoughts: I had forgotten to mention that, in using the 35105o and the 28135, I have really come to dislike the position of the focus ring on the 28135. My little finger ( and sometimes my thumb) naturally fits at the intersection of lens and body -- and every time I move for a new focus, the ring twists and crimps my finger, or jiggles the lens, and it is really annoying. This means that the 28135 (even if my copy were perfect) is unattractive to me. Can I take it all back?? I've just discovered that my 28135 was set (and not, I think, by me) at -7 microadjust. Now that it's at +3, the lens produces edible results. I still don't like the focus ring or the lack of a lens shade, but oh, do I like the images now. It and my 100400 are now inseparable. |
| speedlite#8687 date: Feb-21-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Minolta 24-105 3.5-4-5 D |
| price paid: | 230 € (used) |
| positive: | Excellent sharpness |
| negative: | Minimum distance focus Flare control |
| comment: | Exceptional definition. A little and heavy marvel. |
| JVPsights#8608 date: Feb-2-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 3 overall: 4.4 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I used to own this lens |
| compared to: | Sony 50mm f1.4 Minolta 70-210mm f4 "beercan" Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 EX HSM Sony DT 17-80mm |
| price paid: | 325 |
| positive: | Sharp Very rich colors Great range Macro is very cool Solid as a tank |
| negative: | Heavy as a tank! MFD (but very very worth it!!!!) |
| comment: | They call this lens "the secret handshake" for a reason. It's a diamond in the rough. The price/quality factor is really high on this lens. It has a great balance of sharpness and background bokeh. Colors absolutely pop out of the screen when I load them onto my computer. No color correction needed ever!! It difinately has that minolta saturated 3D effect. It's also built to last. Made of mostly metal and glass, it difinately feels sturdy in your hand. It has a military grade feel if that makes sense. It is quite heavy though. After a long shoot, you'll really notice it. Also it is very prone to lens flare. No stock hood is made for this lens. The macro feature is cool. Dispite the normal MFD, when switched into macro, the MFD is quite close. I've taken some very cool shots in this setting. There is no auto focus in macro, but come on guys, it's fun to manual focus every now and then. Plus I prefer manual in macro anyway Yeah, the 50mm is a bit sharper, but the shots I get from the 28-135mm are always more dramatic and larger than life when I'm at the 50mm range (for comparative reasons to the Sony prime). The beercan has a similar color effet (not as good though) and better bokeh, but the 28-135mm has a vibe that I can't put into words. Of course the beercan is a different range, I'm just compairing characteristics. The beercan is a great compliment to this lens. |
| andrewlamwc#8595 date: Jan-30-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 5 flare control: 4 overall: 4.8 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Tokina 270Pro 28-70 F2.6-2.8 Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG HSM |
| price paid: | 295 USD (Used) |
| positive: | Range, Fast focus, Great colours, Sharp at wide open |
| negative: | 28mm not wide enough Flare |
| comment: | Become my camera cover. I can't found any FF lens in the system can out perform it with similar range. Sigma 24-70, 24-70ZA and 28-75G will won it in picture quality. But look at the price, it got the greatest QP score. |
| JeffB95#8572 date: Jan-26-2011 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 5 color: 5 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 4 overall: 4.6 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | Haven't owned anything to compare it with! |
| price paid: | 250 GBP |
| positive: | Beautiful lens in all respects. Wonderful feel, with fast focus. Knock out colours. Deserves it's nickname! |
| negative: | Remember to keep your fingers away from the rear focus ring! No hood - use the Hand! |
| comment: | Most of the time it lived on my Dynax 7, and produced fantastic results, some were simply blistering! Range not that good on the A700, although I used it to good effect at my son's wedding. One bride & groom shot in late afternoon suffered the dreaded flare. However, it turned out to be their favourite shot, since the flare was crescent shaped & followed the curved sweep of the dress! |
| kaisar_didit#8440 date: Dec-22-2010 | |
|---|---|
sharpness: 4 color: 4 build: 5 distortion: 4 flare control: 3 overall: 4 | tested on:
|
| ownership: | I own this lens |
| compared to: | missing |
| price paid: | Rp 2,400,000.00 |
| positive: | Fast Nice color Solid sturdy body |
| negative: | Heavy (But understandable) |
| comment: | It is hard for me to find this "Legend" lens, after searching trough many forums in my country. The moment I grab it, I realize that this lens will often calling me to take an adventure. AF very fast, in body focus sounding very soft, and I really like the way it produce sharp at aperture 5.6 and above (I found it softer below 5.6). It makes me more happ at 135mm when I take a picture of my friend at my office...I really love the details in it (please take a look at sample image, I name it "Remembering") |
rating summary
- total reviews: 203
- sharpness: 4.63
- color: 4.83
- build: 4.80
- distortion: 4.41
- flare control: 3.44
- overall: 4.42
to add your review
you need to login
you need to login