Outstanding sharpness
Unbelievable colour
Superb contrast
Solid metal built
Light weight
Distortion free
No vignetting
No flare
Easy to handle
55mm filter thread size
Perfect hood
Beautiful looks
Inexpensive
Reliable

Discontinued
Impossible to find even used.

Minolta Maxxum AF 35mm f/2 is one of the finest lenses ever made by Minolta. I always wanted a lens which has slightly wider coverage but same time natural angle as well. I do own a Minolta 50mm f/1.4 which is an outstanding lens as well but not quite versatile and impressive as 35mm f/2. I shoot architecture, street, nature and portrait photography and I found 35mm f/2 is a very fine general purpose lens for me. It produces rectangular shaped photographs rather than boxy looking like 50mm does, which I mean not wide enough. It produces beautiful straight lines similar to 50mm with no distortion. People who use rangefinder camera systems often use 35mm for all types of photography. I personally have taken even macro shots of flowers and did some portraits with it and it is suberb. I luckily own both original metal version of Minolta 35mm f/2 and 35mm f/1.4 G lens which was manufactured in 1987 in Japan. Minolta also made Re-styled version of both lenses with has circular aperture blades but platic body. Too bad Minolta which is known as Konica Minolta is now but out of camera business, so this gem is no longer exist which is a pity but if you ever find one used get it and don't miss the chance.

If you find yourself getting stuck between 28mm and 50mm lens and want to carry only one lens then get 35mm lens. 35mm lens is an all-purpose do everything lens and more versatile than 50mm lens. I leave 35mm f/2 lens all the time on my Minolta Maxxum 5 which is an excellent light-weight setup for me. Simply one body and one lens and coupled with Fuji Reala 100 and wow outstanding prints. If you want to produce gallery size prints this is it.

It's optical performance is stunning, ultra-sharp from corner to corner. I mainly use it at f/8 which is perfect for outdoor photograpy. The contrast and colour are unbelievable and sweet. Very light weight and perfect for travelling. It came with beautiful petal shaped hood and hard leather case which is a bonus. It is solidly built both with metal and plastic material and has a wonderful glossy finish on the body. I use B+W 55mm MRC Skylight 1A filter for protection.

All I have to say that it is my dream lens and I will never stop using it and recommend it to anyone.

Customer Service

Never required.

Similar Products Used:

My lens collection:

Minolta AF 24mm f/2.8
Minolta AF 28mm f/2.8
Minolta AF 28mm f/2
Minolta AF 35mm f/2
Minolta AF 35mm f/1.4 G
Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4
Minolta MF 50mm f/1.7
Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro
Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX
Sigma 28-135mm f/3.8-5.6
Tokina 28-80mm f/2.8 ATX-Pro
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 Apo

Extremely fast focusing, with Maxxum 7. Very contrasy and sharp. Great color rendering, very simillar to Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.8. Good quility built. F/2 is a great combination with Velvia 50.

None that I can think off.

Great lens. I chose this lens to be my normal lens. After reading a whole lot of positive reviews of this lens, I bought it and I had the chance to enjoy using it.

Customer Service

Never used.

Similar Products Used:

Carl Zeiss 35mm f/2.8. Canon EX Auto 35mm f/3.5.

LIGHT

CAN BE MORE CHEAPER

I WISH I COULD HAVE BOUGHT AN EX LENS FOR JUST
US$120.I BOUGHT A NEW ONE FOR US$250.
MY 135/2.8 (ex) =US$120;BEST BUY. PERFORMANCE AS GOOD AS 85/1.4G (US$650)
I'D LIKE TO SPEND MONEY ON D/P TO LENSES

Similar Products Used:

50/1.7
85/1.4G
135/2.8
24-85/3.5-4.5
70-210/4.5-5.6

Inexpensive comparing to the 35mm/F1.4, Relatively Large Aperture, Fast Focusing, 55mm filter thread. Very Sharp even at wide open aperture.

I bought the lens at Ex++ condition for HK$900 (about US$115) in Hong Kong. This lens now become my standard lens which attached to my 600si most of the time. For people who are looking for a fixed/large aperture standard lens, I would recommend the this lens instead of the 50mm/F1.7 as the wider angle of view is more useful. I also own the 50/F1.7 and I can say I use the 35mm/F2 much more often.

No

Get this lens and use as your main/standard lens, you will know why there are people prefer prime lens over zooms.

Customer Service

Not Tried

Similar Products Used:

All other non-G but sharp-fast-cheap fix focal lens I owned:

Minolta AF 24mm/F2.8,
Minolta AF 50mm/F1.7,
Mi

Very sharp at all apertures. Quick auto focusing. Light weight. Excellent color balance and contrast.

none

This is a wonderful little lense. I use it mostly for shooting available light when I'm doing travel photography. It is nice and sharp wide open. When combined with a film like Fujichrome 400 and a steady hand it will not fail to give great results. Used it recently in the temples of Tibet and Nepal...WOW!

Customer Service

not needed

Similar Products Used:

None

Small, light, unobtrusive. Sharp glass. Supplied with lens hood.

None.

This is a fine general purpose lens. For most users, it makes more economic sense than the f/1.4 counterpart.

Customer Service

None needed.

Similar Products Used:

35mm AF Nikkor