Konica Minolta AF 28-135mm f 4-5.6 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: annapoal
(Intermediate)

Review Date
April 2, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 6

Price Paid: $0.00 from ebay

Summary:

Excellent images with only slight fall off at over 100mm. Very heavy. Internal focus is fairly fast. Compared to early minolta 28-85, very slightly less color saturation and contrast, though maybe truer. Very sharp and low distortion at both ends. Warch out for flair, no hood and front element right up front. If a filter is used multicoated is a good idea.

Strengths:

Image quality image quality across zoom range good zoom range Internal focus great used price for a prolevel lens

Weaknesses:

very heavy only f/4-4.5 for a 72mm lens 72mm filters expensive no hood must watch out for flair minimum focus 5'

Similar Products Used:

minoltas that I own 28-85 f/3.5-4.5 early crossed x excellent 70-210 f/4 excellent Minoltas I have used 50mm f/1.7 limited use a f/1.7 300mm f/4 saving now maybe some day

Customer Service:

One time used on anothe product excellent

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Rating
Reviewed by: wrayburn
(Casual)

Review Date
March 25, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 6

Price Paid: $200.00 from ebay

Summary:

I don't really understand the description for this lens at the top of the page which describes it as "incredibly lightweight". The exact opposite is nore accurate. The lens apparently was and is amongst the best lenses Minolta ever made. Not having had the chance to test the current top-end Minolta lenses, I can't really say. Apparently it rivals the "G" lenses. BUT from one roll of film I shot specifically to test this lens I can say that compared to any other Minolta-fit lens I have tried (some cheaper sigmas, tamrons, Minolta's current consumer zooms) it is so far beyond these in optical quality it is unreal.

Strengths:

- it is breathtakingyly sharp from edge to edge. This is the main strength and is the only reason needed to use this lens. But also: - no vignetting I can detect - build quality that is out of this world - a good heavy weight I like very much, complemented by being well-balanced - Pretty good macro, certainly for my purposes - Internal focussing speeds up autofocus and of course lets you use polarisers and other filters more easily.

Weaknesses:

Nothing that would prevent me adding one to my collection but to bear in mind: - very heavy - it may not sit well on the lighter Dynax bodies. - Quite a long minimum focussing distance - about 5 feet.

Similar Products Used:

None. Well, I have used some consumer zooms but none at this quality, so they don't really count.

Customer Service:

Always fast and helpful e-mail.

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Rating
Reviewed by: ichiu
(Casual)

Review Date
January 3, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 6

Price Paid: $175.00 from ebay

Summary:

What a great lens for the money. Great travel lens. As far as I can tell with my naked eye, it's as sharp as my 50mm f1.4. Even at f/22, it's sharp edge to edge. Excellent heavy duty build, metal mount, metal barrel. Macro at 28mm down to about 6 inches, but not very useful. If I could, I would give it 4.5 stars for value and performance. It's not quite the perfect, but it's a great all-around zoom lens. A must have for your minolta users.

Strengths:

Sharp, accurate color reproduction, almost constant aperture thoughout the zoom, versatile zoom range, excellent travel lens, metal barrel, internal focus, macro at 28mm.

Weaknesses:

Vignetting with my Cokin filter system at 28mm. Cannot use onboard flash at 28mm. A little slow (f/4) for being such a big lens. Actually wished it had a little bit more plastic or hard rubber to protect the metal from little scratches. Minimum focus at 5feet. Macro function only at 28mm.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 28-80mm Minolta 35-70mm Tamron 28-200mm

Customer Service:

n/a

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Rating
Reviewed by: EagleEye
(Intermediate)

Review Date
August 9, 2002

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 4 of 6

Price Paid: $250.00 from McBains

Summary:

I have had exceptional results in the past with my trusty Minolta 35-105, which I have had for many years. This all-glass lens gives at least equivalent - and in some cases better - results right across the spectrum. The downside is that this is a bulky, heavy lens. Bulky enough that I took out a Minolta 24-105 lens for a 30 day trial. When the 24-105 lens provided results that were not even close to either my 35-105 or the 28-135 lens, I returned the 24-105 and kept the 28-135 which I have used ever since as my prime lens. The only other drawback to this lens, is its large diameter means that you really should not use it with the pop up flash at less than a 35mm focal length indoors.

Strengths:

This lens offers exceptional clarity and shapness across an ideal range of focal lengths - 28mm works extremely well on scenic shots as well as for indoor/architectural photography, and 135mm covers most telephoto applications outside of sports or wildlife photography, where I use my 75-300 zoom. I also find it to be a fast enough lens to be able to make effective use of 200 and even 100 film

Weaknesses:

This is an extremely heavy and bulky lens. That is the price you pay for all glass lenses and the commensurate sharpness and clarity. The size of the lens can interfere with short distance pop-up flash photography (round shadow at the bottom of the photograph). However if you are prepared to put up with the bulk, it offers excellent sharpness at second hand prices.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 35-105, Minolta 24-105

Customer Service:

n/a

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Rating
Reviewed by: jungoh
(Intermediate)

Review Date
January 21, 2002

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
4.20 of 5,
5 votes

Review 5 of 6

Price Paid: $225.00 from Wall street camera

Summary:

It is one of the legendary Minolta product in its sharpness and contrast. *** See photo.net review.

Strengths:

It is very sharp, especially at 28mm. Check photodo.com for MTF data. Its sharpness and contrast can compare to Minolta prime lens in wide range from 28mm to 70mm. This one I most use in the field due to its long range zoom. Its image much better than Sigma 28-200 Super II in all ranges and all scales.

Weaknesses:

Very heavy(770g?) and not impressive images in dim or low light.

Similar Products Used:

Tamron 28-200 Super II

Customer Service:

Never called.

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