Limited range but excel in quality: Minolta Maxxum AF Zoom 35-70 1:4(22)

Cost: $25 (average cost: $35)

Wow! Although this lens was sold as a kit lens with the Minolta Maxxum 7000 film camera, I'm very impressed. I would almost state I prefer this lens over my brand new Sony 28-70 kit lens. Aside from a decent image quality, it's all very sold in feel, and small in size.

You could say this is a perfect walk-around lens, handling landscapes all the way to some reasonable macro pictures. Looks are nice in a polished black, a small separate hood, and a button to activate the Macro setting. do note that the Macro setting de-activates the auto focus, but who needs that anyway when doing Macro. Rocking back and forth is a lot faster.

Inage quality is very good with rich colors (pictures below were taken without filters), impressive sharpness across the image for a kit lens, no visible color aberration, fast focus even with the adapter and a usable range. And pretty easy and cheap to find... although you need a more expensive adapter if you want to use it on a Sony e-mount camera.

This is the second lens of the Maxxum line I'm impressed with. I had a lot of fun taking this one out, as shown by the many photo's below.

And it looks like other people also get great results, as shown on Flikr

(PS.: just noticed that I reviewed this lens twice... :-)

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 35-70mm
Maximum Aperture: F4
Minimum Aperture: F22
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Minolta AF
Optics: 6 elements, 6 groups
Blades: 7
Focusing: Auto (+ Manual)
Minimum Focus: 100cm
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 273g
Length: 52-72mm
Production: 1980's
Serial Number: 18102064
Made in: Japan

More information on Minolta

Specification

Repair Diagram

Samples:

1/160 sec. f/4 70mm ISO200

1/100 sec. f/7.1 60mm ISO100

1/160 sec. f/4 70mm ISO250

1/100 sec. f/6.3 60mm ISO100

1/160 sec. f/5.6 70mm ISO100

1/100 sec. f/8 55mm ISO100

1/250 sec. f/5 35mm ISO100 

1/250 sec. f/10 60mm ISO100

1/125 sec. f/8 70mm ISO100

1/100 sec. f/5.6 70mm ISO100

1/100 sec. f/4.5 70mm ISO100 - Macro

1/80 sec. f/4 70mm ISO70

1/160 sec. f/10 60mm ISO100

1/160 sec. f/10 70mm ISO100

1/160 sec. f/8 70mm ISO100

1/160 sec. f/9 70mm ISO100

1/320 sec. f/5.6 300mm ISO320

Some more Macro MOD-ding with the: Tamron AF Aspherical 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 Macro

A few weeks ago, I blogged about a modified Canon kit lens, in order to become a decent Macro lens. With a second shoot, when I purchased a flash to enable better macro lighting, I was so pleased with the results, that I decided to try it again with a different lens.

I still had a Tamron AF Asperical 28-80 f3.5-5.6 77D  lens around that I tested before but did not want to keep. eBay would maybe have given me $10 or so, so better to have some fun.

First step was to remove the front element. That was fairly easy by peeling back the rubber on the barrel, and removing a few screws.

I then used a hammer and screw driver to knock out the glass from that front element.

To protect the inside of the lens against dirt, I recommend putting a clear filter on the front element. I had plenty around, so use a Skylight 1A filter.

And this is the result... looks like a normal lens, but is a macro monster. Do remember that you used to focus with the front element, so that capability is lost. You know focus by rocking your camera back and fort. 

And a macro minster it really is. As you can see, depending on the zoom range, you can have a enlargement on a full frame sensor from around 1:2 all the way to almost 2:1, while keeping decent sharpness and focus depth. It is however a little less enlargement then I was getting from the Canon lens. But not bad for a lens I only paid $14 for. Not bad at all.

Sample Pictures:

1/250 sec. f/14 ISO1600

1/250 sec. f/18 ISO1600

1/250 sec. f/18 ISO3200
Orb-Weaver Spider

1/250 sec. f/18 ISO1600
Detail of a Pea Snap

1/250 sec. f/18 ISO1600
Ant

1/250 sec. f/18 ISO1600
Orb Weaver Spider

1/250 sec. f/22 ISO100
Johnson Jumping Spider

1/250 sec. f/36 ISO100
Johnson Jumping Spider

With some more reach: Minolta Maxxum AF Zoom 100-300 f4.5(32)-5.6

Cost: $25 (average cost: $35)

  

OK, this is probably not the most promising lens amongst the Minolta Maxxum line-up, being small and light but with a huge zoom range. Typically, the lighter and smaller a zoom lens, the lower quality they are. Although that rule has changed with modern lenses. It's however a well made lens, that feels solid and has a focus hold button.

It's about half the weight of it's brother, the Minolta "big-beercan" and a quality to match that. As long as you stay on the lower end of the zoom range, you get really nice and sharp pictures. But at the top end, you get some really nasty color aberration and a lot of loss in sharpnes.

But as a light "Sunday Afternoon" lens to be use on a walk where you migth also see some wildlife, it's not that bad, and it won't break your back caring it. And it can be found fairly cheap these days. Cheap for an auto focus tele-zoom for sure.

What's not to like?

Lens Specification:

Focal Length: 100-300mm
Maximum Aperture: F4.5
Minimum Aperture: F32
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Minolta AF
Optics: 11 elements, 9 groups
Blades: 9
Focusing: Auto (+ Manual)
Minimum Focus: 150cm
Filter Size: 55mm
Weight: 409g
Length: 156-100mm
Production: 1988
Serial Number: 13302117
Made in: Japan

More information on Minolta

Samples:

1/320 sec. f/5.6 300mm ISO320

1/320 sec. f/5.6 250mm ISO160

1/320 sec. f/5.6 300mm ISO125

1/160 sec. f/5.6 100mm ISO100

1/250 sec. f/5.6 200mm ISO320

1/320 sec. f/5.6 300mm ISO500

1/200 sec. f/9 100mm ISO100

1/250 sec. f/5.6 200mm ISO320

1/125 sec. f/5 100mm ISO100

1/200 sec. f/5.6 180mm ISO125

1/125 sec. f/5 100mm ISO100

1/160 sec. f/5 140mm ISO2000