Konica Minolta AF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 MZ Maxxum Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Torsten Stoltenberg
(Expert)

Review Date
March 30, 2001

Overall Rating
1 of 5

Value Rating
1 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
3 votes

Review 1 of 6

Price Paid: $350.00

Summary:

Wouldn't recommend this lens. Go for 28-70 if you can or the 28-85 (unfortunately no longer build).

Strengths:

Relatively solid build compared to the 24-85/f3.5-4.5 although it's plastic too.

Weaknesses:

Absolutely poor resolution and contrast. I was very disappointed by this lens. By far the worst lens Minolta ever constructed.

Similar Products Used:

24-85, 28-85, 24-105, 28-70

Customer Service:

None needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Werner Van der Cruyssen
(Intermediate)

Review Date
January 2, 2001

Overall Rating
2 of 5

Value Rating
2 of 5

Review 2 of 6

Summary:

If you don't shoot slides, will not enlarge to 18x24 cm (8 by 10 in)or beyond and hate to lug several lenses along with you then go and get it.

If you shoot slides with 100 ISO film under available light or want to make enlargements, then this is NOT the lens you want.

Strengths:

Versatility

Price

Weaknesses:

Soft at both ends, especially wide open.

Prone to flare: make sure to use the hood under all circumstances

Quite slow with a max aperture of 3.5-4.5

Similar Products Used:

None

Customer Service:

Never needed it

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Rating
Reviewed by: Jim Ogana
(Expert)

Review Date
August 29, 2000

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 3 of 6

Summary:

This is a great standard zoom lens. The autofocus is fast and image sharpness when stopped down is impressive, softening slightly at the long telephoto end. Wide open it is still a decent performer. I shot some photo's with the sun in the frame and at different angles off the frame with the lens hood on and observed some flare, though it seemed better controlled than in similar lenses I have used. I would say it is the perfect mid-speed standard zoom for maxxum users.

Strengths:

Sturdy build, fast AF, non rotating front element, good sharpness & contrast.

Weaknesses:

some flare

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 28-70 f/2.8 EX
Tamron 28-200

Customer Service:

Never needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Irakly Shanidze
(Intermediate)

Review Date
February 7, 2000

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 4 of 6

Model Reviewed:
AF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 MZ Maxxum

Summary:

An excellent all-purpose lens, which does really neat stuff with xi and above cameras. Power zoom and power manual focus is precise and easy to handle, just make sure you have an extra battery if you plan to use all XI features. I got this lens used for mere $150, and for this money you could not get any better.

Strengths:

Very fast focus, excellent image sharpness in a short to medium focal lenght range.

Weaknesses:

a little slow and soft at 100-105mm, but I used it for portrait work, and for that purpose it is more than acceptable.

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 35-80mm DL 4.5-5.6

Customer Service:

Did not need

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Rating
Reviewed by: Paul Hancock
(Intermediate)

Review Date
December 7, 1999

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 5 of 6

Model Reviewed:
AF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 MZ Maxxum

Summary:

Good all round lense with excellent quality. Very fast AF using my 800si. When I can only have 1 lense with me I always take my 28-105.

Strengths:

Good range, excellent build quality, very fast AF, nonrotating front element, and most important good sharpness.

Weaknesses:

none

Similar Products Used:

minolta 70-210 f4, 135 f2.8, 75-300, 50 1.7, 28-80.

Customer Service:

haven't required it.

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