Sharp, contrasty images, very decent build quality (metal, also metal hood!), good macro-capabilities, 55mm filter size

slow AF&hunting, manual focus ring is small and at the front of the lens, heavy and big (bazooka-like), especially with the hood on!

I bought this lens in mint condition for a very friendly price. I already had used the MF version of this lens. Apart from the fact that it is not a f/2.8 lens, this one works fine for me, from 70 to 210 mm. Image quality is what counts, and image quality it can deliver.

Customer Service

Nope

Similar Products Used:

Nope

Tack Sharp f4 constant Build quality (all metal) 55mm filter

Quite bulky, same length as Minolta 80-200 f2.8

Excellent lens... very sharp... f4 constant aperture from 70-210. Best use in portrait (for me at least). If you are looking for portrait zoom lens and can't afford Minolta 80-200 f2.8, buy this lens. Absolutely amazing lens for the price paid.

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 80-200 f2.8

Build quality, F/4 over entire range. Weight. It's heavy but weight equals stability. Short minimal focus distance. Some 70cm compared to 1.5M for the 80-200 F/2.8

AF-speed and hunting with 9000AF.

I use this lens at concerts. When you can get close enough to the stage the range (70-210) is good enough. Together with a powerful flash (5600HS) you can do just about anything. The lens is built like a tank, just like the Minolta 9000AF that it came with. AF speed with a Dynax 7 or 800Si is acceptable but becomes rediculous with the 9000AF. Took quite a bit of effort to get the right hood. Only the real F/4 hood fits over the lens barrel when you store it.

Customer Service

Not needed

Solid build, great optically. Price is very reasonable for the performance this lens provides. It is no longer manufactured, so finding one on the secondary market will be the only source.

This is a big, heavy lens but this is no reason to downgrade the rating.

Based on the short time I've used this lens, I've been quite impressed with the results. Prints are very sharp and contrasty. Very good lens.

Customer Service

Have not needed. Other communications with Minolta were very good.

Similar Products Used:

Other MAXXUM lenses also purchased from KEH. These are the 50mm F1.4 (55mm filter) and 24 to 85mm zoom. Also excellent lenses.

Build quality. Sharp and contrasty. Just one heck of a good lens, especially for the price!

Slow af... but not too slow

Awesome lens! Especially for the price I paid. I've only been using it for about 2 months now. But I've been using it EXTENSIVELY. It is sharp. But the reason I like it is it's CONTRAST. It's just so good for outdoor portraits! The zoom ring turns very smooth. Build quality perfect. Well, the only minor thing is that autofocus is kinda slow.

Customer Service

didn't need

Similar Products Used:

sigma 70-300 Macro DL <-ok lens... almost unusable after 200mm, too soft. even with sturdy tripod.

- Sharp - good weight, and very good build quality - F4 all the way through the zoom means you can add a 2x Teleconverter and still keep autofocussing - F4 is pretty fast at the long end, for this price - lots available in good used condition at very good prices

- nothing springs to mind

Great value lens, sharp, well made

Customer Service

Good e-mail response from Minolta when I had some questions about the macro.

Similar Products Used:

- some consumer zooms from Minolta, Tamron, and sigma.

Good optics, Solid build, non-rotating front element, f4 throughout the zoom range, sharp image

Heavy (but I like the feel), impossible to use a cir-polarizer with the lense hood on.

It is great lens, judged by the quality of photos that I get...Sharp image and beautiful contrast. The focusing is not always true with my Dynax 500si, and I had to go for MF in tricky situations. In low light,low contrast situation, it keeps searching for the object to focus on. The best part is the fixed f-stop throughout the zoom range. I would definitely recommend it for the price.

Customer Service

Never had any problem

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Dynax 35-80mm/f4-5.6 Minolta Dynax 50mm/f1.7

1. Price 2. Solid build quality 3. Optical performance 4. Shares 55mm thread with many other Minota lenses 5. Great for portraiture if you can't afford expensive primes. 6. Can't ask for much more when you can't tell the difference between this lens and a 20 oz. beer can in your hand. Love them both :~).

For a $100.00, I don't think the lens has weaknesses. Hunted for focus in darker environments on my 600si, but it's pretty quick on my Maxxum 7 bodies.

If you can't afford a 70/80-210mm f2.8, this is the lens for you. Very reasonably priced, very sharp (outstanding for people portraits and natural flower portriats wide open at f4) and it's built like a tank. You definitely will want one with a lens hood to prevent flare. I use mine at weddings quite frequently. This one has performed well enough that I don't need to spring the big bucks for a Minolta or Sigma f2.8 version just yet. Yes it's a bit heavy and the front element rotates, but for a hundred bucks, you can't ask for better optical performance. Matches the optical performance of the 2.8 version at all apertures except for f4 where this lens is just a tad softer than the 2.8. That's great for people photography, just what I need.

Customer Service

Never needed with Minolta in 15 years. Can't say the same for other third party lens manufacturers.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Maxxum lenses in this focal range: 100mm f2.0, 135mm f2.8, 85mm f1.4, 100mm f2.8 macro (D), 80-200 f2.8 HS APO, Tokina 70-20 f2.8

Very good optics Little distortion Value

Heavy Must be careful to avoid flair

Very good optics with the bulid quality of a Mercedes or Rolex. It also weighs a ton and is six inches plus long. Great color, contrast and sharpness. The front lens element is very close to the front of the lens and begs for a filter. Flair and ghosting can be reduced by the use of a multicoated vs noncoated filter. Also the lens hood is a must but it is a long reach under that hood for a polarizer.

Customer Service

Not on this product but great on another

Similar Products Used:

3rd party Minolta prime(great but EXPENSIVE)

Excellent build Great optics Great value on the used market

Heavy Front element very far forward "macro" of limited value Must use lens hood outdors

Looks like a large beer can. Weighs a ton. Takes great pictures. Very nice optics in a solid body. Colors are very true with good contrast. Minimal distortion at the ends of the range. The front element is very far forward and requires both a good filter for protection and the hood for flair.

Customer Service

Used once GREAT

Similar Products Used:

Sigma 70-300 Minolta 75-300 Minolta 200