beautiful bokeh

dependable in low light

good color

sturdy build

none

I got this for the sony alpha 300 (my first DSLR). I had researched several lenses for months and decided this one was a must for my collection. I had been searching for this lens in pawn shops and ebay, and just happened to stumble upon it at my local camera shop. They had it (new in box) on the back of the shelf and I almost had heart failure when I saw it (I know, nerdy). I took some shots in the store and fell in love instantly. I got a great deal and turned up to be very lucky on this find. Between this lens and the 70-210 f/4 beercan, I am happy as a pig in mud.

My boyfriend has a Nikon D40, and I must say that the Minolta lenses that I have chosen for my Sony A300 are sturdier, more cost efficient, and sharper. I would recommend this lens to anyone of any photography level. It's simply a uperior lens.

Similar Products Used:

Phoenix 19-35 Wide Angle Zoom

Minolta 70-210 f/4 "beercan''

There are two important points to convey: First is that you can get perfectly exposed flash photos down to 1.5:1 magnification ratios with the BUILT IN FLASH in the Maxxum 5D. I believe that internal flash will be the same on the Sony Alpha. That can even be pushed slightly but at 1.4:1 the lens barrel starts to block the light at the bottom of the frame from its shadow. Therefore, there is no need to purchase the expensive ringflash and you will get perfectly exposed, full frame flash coverage each and everytime. Even at 1:1 the top third of the frame will have light. Secondly, I recommend that you defeat the autofocus and rack the lens to 1.5:1. Then compose your photo in the viewfinder and focus by moving the camera closer and father from the subject. When the viewfinder is tack sharp - fire. You will get perfect exposures. Of course you can preset to other magnification ratios or use the autofocus and all will work just fine. In addition I recommend setting the aperature to F 16 in the aperature priotory mode to preclude narrow depth of field and let the camera do the rest.

Basically none with the following exceptions - The newer 50mm 2.8 macro lens has the focus limit switch which comes in handy but the older lens has more metal which makes it feel strudier and probably adds to the life of the lens. The soft rubber-velvet like covering on the focus ring of the new macro will probably get that awful white sticky stuff in ten years and the older metal type will remain perfect for 100 years.
If you look at photodo.com which has modulation transfer curves for almost 1000 lenses you will see that this macro had the best figures of any Minolta lens ever manufactured, including the 100 2.8 macro and the 85mm 1.4 lens. In addtion their testing showed that the Minolta 50mm macro received a higher rating than the Nikon 60mm Micronikor and had the same rating as the Canon macro. So to sum it all up - there is no weaknesses to the glass.

Without any doubt I can tell you that this is the sharpest lens I have ever used in 30+ years of photography. I purchased my original used older version on ebay for $177 in Apr 06. It was so good that I deciede to get the new version and purchased that from BHPhoto in early June 06 for which I shelled out $350. With detailed and exacting attention to the comparison of the old and new format lenses, I can assure you that there is no difference at all at any aperature, in side by side comparisions of sharpness, contrast, color balance, flare, or vinyetting. For all intents and purposes they are identical. An external look at the groupings and elements and coating reflections is also identical. The only differences that I can see is that the older lens has more metal in its structure which may give longer life but the new lens has a focus limit setup.

Similar Products Used:

Maxxum 7000i, maxxum 7I, SRT 101, NIkon 990, Panasonic FZ20.
Lenses: Maxxum 50mm 1.4 (two), 50mm 1.7 (three), 70-210 F4, 28-135 4.0-4.5, 35-70mm zoom, Sigma 75-300 4.5 - 5.6 APO, 18-70 kit lens.

Extremely sharp even wide open at F2.8. 1:1 macro, better than 100mm Sigma or 90mm Tamron even though need to focus at closer range. Bokeh is excellent. Serve as standard lens if you don't have F1.7 or F1.4 50mm.

Slightly lack of contrast but easily adjustable in Photoshop Heavy if compare to Tamron/Sigma

This macro lens are comparable to the sharpness of my standard 50mm F1.7 @F2.8. 1:1 macro was excellent, i managed to shot butterfly (http://www.worldisround.com/articles/151043/index.html) all the help with this macro lens. Bought it 2nd hand, aged 7 years old, but still produce excellent sharp quality that meet my requirement. I use it with Anti-shake turn on my Dynax 7D, and shoot handheld most of the time. No barrel distortion, no vignetting, and no lens flare. One of my favourite lens.

Customer Service

Never did.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 90mm

It is indeed very sharp and contrasty. Build quality is solid. Color rendation is still behind Carl Zeiss lens, but its sharpness outperform most of below prime lenses. Actaully the sharpest lens that I have ever used.

Macro image is slightly behind Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX Macro, whileas its optics is better that the other overall.

One of the finest Minolta prime lens. Except some mid range tele(70-210) lens, it is the sharpest from Minolta yet. Popular Photography mentioned it as an outstanding optical performer in its lens rating. Extremely sharp ! As standard lens, I did not experience any distortion, flare, vignetting so far.

Customer Service

Never contacted

Similar Products Used:

Contax Planar 50mm F1.4 Minolta AF 50mm F1.4 Pentax SMC F 50mm F1.7 Sigma 50mm F2.8 EX Macro Pentax SMC FA 35mm F2.0 AL Yashica T4 35mm F3.5 Contax Distagon 35mm F2.8

Very fast, compact and light lens. Non-rotating front element is also a very convenient feature if you use a macro ring flash (like 1200AF). Focuses incredibly fast, even in low-light conditions. Very well built. A front element is very deep inside the barrell, so you do not really need a hood.

Compared to longer focus Macro lenses, this one can be very tricky at 1:1 magnification because you are so close to an object that you obstruct light. It does not matter, though, if you use a macro flash. Another thing, you can get so close to an object, that it is possible to accidentally touch it with a barrell or a filter if the camera is hand-held.

If you do not want to spend big bucks on a longer 100/2.8, you cannot get any better for still life macro. Forget about shooting butterflies at 1:1, though -- they usually get pretty agitated when something black and whirrling is five inches from their heads.

Customer Service

did not need

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 100/3.5 AF Macro - sucks;
Sigma 75-300/4.5-5.6 LD Macro;
Sigma 75-200/2.8-3.5

Super fast focus /w/ the 800si, light and compact.

None

Next to the 85 f/1.4G Max, the best lens in my bag. Especially considering the price--$180.00 used. If you do macro work, this is a MUST lens.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

My first macro-AF lens

1. One of the sharpest Minolta lens ever used.
2. Excellent contrast and extremely sharp even wide open.
3. Very Good macro image.

1. 50mm Macro lens needed to approach the object too close.

This lens present outstanding optical performance(Popular Photography).
Its sharpness outperform the Carl Zeiss 50/1.4
that I am using at present.
The Macro image also very good.

Customer Service

Not need

Similar Products Used:

1. Sigma 50mm EX Macro.
Infinity: Minolta lens is outperform Sigma, but Sigma outperform in Macro image and close objects(less than 10m).