In my opinion, for it's class this is a very good lens, in paricular in comparison with the Nikon 28-80 and the Canon one. Low disorsion at 28mm, good sharpness and contrast for it's class. It's the better "standard zoom"(in kit with the camera) of all.

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Minolta 50 f/1.7

dirt cheap, maybe dirt would take a better pic though

to many to list.

I love zoom lenses, but this lens has mad eme yearn for a standard 50mm f1.7. you simply get a nice pic with this. it looks cheap cuz it is. Minolta has done a huge disservice bundling this lens with great camera bodies like the htsi plus and maxxum line. avoid it like the plague.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

sigma ex 17-35 minolta af 50mm f1.4 canon FD 50mm 1.8

Relatively inexpensive when given away with a camera body

Tacky feel, rough movement, poor clarity and resolution, barely workable even at 50mm

Oh, my goodness, this is a horrible Lens. I became a Minolta user back in the late 80's when the 7000 was the first autofocus SLR camera on the market. I still have that camera today ion addition to my other equipment. Judging from my experience, I regarded Minolta as the equivalent in quality to Nikon at a better price. After my experience with this lens I have changed my mind. This is a horrible, poorly constructed lens with a tacky feel and awful rendition. It is the kind of lens that puts one right off the camera. after a previous unsatisfactory experience with a Minolta 24-105 zoom that failed to give equivalent results to my trusty old 35-105, I have to say that I will probably need to move to Tamron for my Minolta mount lenses or switch my whole system across to Nikon.

Customer Service

Actually, pretty good judging from my experience with other Minolta lenses.

Similar Products Used:

All Minoltas - 35-70, 35-105, 28-135, 70-210, 100-300, 75-300 on Maxxum 7000 and Xtsi bodies

Fast AF for it's class. Decent 'Macro' capabilities.

Very poor sharpness, extremely washed-out color.

I purchased this lens as part of a Maxxum 5 Kit (my first mistake). Sharpness and color are far below that of even my ten year-old Canon 'Snappy Q' point-and-shoot. I can't agree that this is a suitable lens for beginner or amateur photographers... out of 24 shots on my first (and last) test roll I only got one decent shot. Oddly enough, that was a psuedo 'macro' composition of a flower. Good color and half-way decent sharpness. Go figure. The only other positive thing about this lens is it's auto-focus speed, but I think I'd rather wait an extra .5 seconds with a Tamron or Sigma and get something besides a blurry, washed-out mess as a final product. On the other hand, as long as I am going to the trouble of returning this piece of garbage, I may as well check out the Canon Elan 7E. Not a very positive first experience with Minolta, I'm sorry to say.

Customer Service

Won't be needed.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad medium format, Canon point and shoot, various Nikon SLR's.

Lightweight.

Focal length until 80 only.

This lens came with my 505si.Overall quite an average lens. Good for beginner like me to master the basic of photography before venturing into other aspects.

Customer Service

Still doesn't have the need yet

Similar Products Used:

Tokina 60-300mm
Minolta 28-80 f4-5.6

Light weight
Compact

Poor Sharpness

This lens came bundled with the Minolta 505si. I have taken 4 rolls of film with this lens. The results was that colors looks dull and the sharpness was quite poor. A average quality lens for the absolute beginner, would not recommend it.

Customer Service

N.A

Similar Products Used:

N.A

Very Lightweight
28-80mm

Unimpressive color and sharpness

This one comes with my Minolta 505si Super. If I can choose to buy the body alone, I will. I have shoot with 3 rolls of film so far using this lens together with my Tamron f4-5.6LD 70-300mm. My wide angle pictures have a so-so kind of feel. The colors and sharpness is average and not at all impressive. I can see the difference of the picture quality when compared with pictures taken with my Tamron 70-300mm which is much sharper when focused. I am getting a substitute for this 28-70mm lens, maybe with a good Sigma/Tamron.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 28-80 that comes with the F65.(Quite usable -- better than this lens)

Cheap

Very poor sharpness and color.

The lens came with my first Dynax 500 body. Its very affordable for a beginner, and thats all it is good for. Do not use this lens for slides under any circumstances! Get the 24-105 zoom, and you will use it far more than this. Much superior lens.

Customer Service

Very good. Minolta tech support is quite knowledgeable.

Similar Products Used:

None

Price and focal range make this a good lens for a casual photographer.

I admit that the lens isn't absolute in clarity, but no zoom lens at this price really is. Also, I notice that Minolta likes to say how every single lens of their's now is macro. They really aren't. Buy a specifically geared lens for that or tube extensions for macro - it's just a marketing decision for ads.

You need a regular picture taking lens? Then this is a good one for you. Handles most situations. However, if you are looking for awesome pictures for enlargement or what not, GO BUY AN APO LENS. You cannot expect Pro quality for something under 100 dollars.

Customer Service

No need

Similar Products Used:

Other minolta lenses of the same focal length

It zooms and autofocuses

Fuzzy pictures
Poor color

This lens is really a piece of junk. I bought it as part of my XTsi kit. It's almost as if Minolta whipped this baby up to be sold at a competitive price point instead of worrying about quality.

This lens was so poor that I immediately ordered the 50mm 1.7 (a crystal clear lens and one I highly recommend) so I could get some decent pictures! I also plan on getting the Tamron 24mm-135mm zoom, although its larger diameter may cause some lense shadowing with the built-in flash.

I have been loyal to Minolta since my first SRT 101, but this lense is a big disappointment.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 50mm 1.7
Tamron