Minolta 300mm F/4 APO

[Drudkh]

Got this lens from Japan and although it is 2nd hand, the condition is 10/10***. The glass is superb, no elephants or scratches (glass and body). Bang for bucks!

Its pretty heavy, slightly heavier than my Tokina 100-300mm F/4 ATX. Focusing is very fast! I think this is the fastest among the rest I have and not noisy. One thing about this lens is that it is prone to purple fringing, and pretty bad at times. Other than this, I am very satisfied. The photos from this lens is very sharp! Its amazing!

Some samples to show what its capable of.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

U added the word SUPER or is the word SUPER on the star already? Cos it look rather fake to me...

[sulhan]

Woo Hoo...

Congrats bro on your new lens.....Purple fringing really depends on the source of light and the type of light.....and type of aperture where the light comes from (i'm not referring to the aperture of your lens here....).

I was looking for the 300f4... but did not get a chance to own one...

rgds,
sulhan

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt U added the word SUPER or is the word SUPER on the star already? Cos it look rather fake to me...

haha the word is already on the star. you don't believe just go to habour front to see.

[sulhan]

Hei DCA...

I oso got my 70-210f4 today....vomitingly sharp...hahah.....what a description.
I like it....(DON juz tompang your thread)....

Order quick!!!

rgds,
sulhan

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

so fast? it just takes 1 week to send?

in total how much u paid?

[Drudkh]

no prob, bro. will be waiting for photos from your 70-210.

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by Del_CtrlnoAlt so fast? it just takes 1 week to send? in total how much u paid?

who? me or Sulhan?

[UY79]

Originally Posted by sulhan Purple fringing really depends on the source of light and the type of light.....and type of aperture where the light comes from (i'm not referring to the aperture of your lens here....).

I didn't know such a concept exist. Mind explaining?

[ks2005]

Originally Posted by Drudkh Got this lens from Japan and although it is 2nd hand, the condition is 10/10***. The glass is superb, no elephants or scratches (glass and body). Bang for bucks! Its pretty heavy, slightly heavier than my Tokina 100-300mm F/4 ATX. Focusing is very fast! I think this is the fastest among the rest I have and not noisy. One thing about this lens is that it is prone to purple fringing, and pretty bad at times. Other than this, I am very satisfied. The photos from this lens is very sharp! Its amazing!

You got it via mail order ? or You went to Japan to get it ? How much you pay for the minolta 300mmf4 ? May be can post a photo for the lens.

[ks2005]

Originally Posted by sulhan Hei DCA... I oso got my 70-210f4 today....vomitingly sharp...hahah.....what a description. I like it....(DON juz tompang your thread).... Order quick!!! rgds, sulhan

May be you can post some photo shoot with this lens to share.
How the lens look like ?

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by ks2005 May be you can post some photo shoot with this lens to share. How the lens look like ?

Here how the lens looks like


Compare with 80-200 f2.8 APO G HS


Hart

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by ks2005 You got it via mail order ? or You went to Japan to get it ? How much you pay for the minolta 300mmf4 ? May be can post a photo for the lens.

I got the lens through a friend for $1.2K.


click on it for larger one.

[sulhan]

Check Buy and sell soon.....maybe he selling his 100-300f4?

rgds,
sulhan

[vader]

Originally Posted by sulhan Hei DCA... I oso got my 70-210f4 today....vomitingly sharp...hahah.....what a description. I like it....(DON juz tompang your thread).... Order quick!!! rgds, sulhan

Is it the old lens no longer in production? Wonder if the guy i sold mine to is in CS also...sulhan, don't get mad at me pls...

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by vader Is it the old lens no longer in production? Wonder if the guy i sold mine to is in CS also...sulhan, don't get mad at me pls...

Hahah..Vader....

I imported the lens from overseas...


rgds,
sulhan

[Drudkh]

Hey guys, I just found something very cool about this lens! Okay, when I first got the lens I was puzzled why the lens has no focus limit switch like the one found in 70-200 SSM or any other lens. The one on 70-200 has this focus limit switch for (a) full focus range, and; (b) limited focus of 3m to infinity. The minimum focus distance is 2.5m so I think probably no point to have a limit of 3m-infinity.

I was like damn! There's no manual and I can't find any info on this lens at all. Well, I was a little disappointed. However, I found a screw and it seems to be quite extra with this lens. Take a look at the picture below.



What is the screw button labelled (3) for? *scratch head*. When I loosen that screw, I can turn the ring (2). As I was turning it, the distance display (4) was turning as well. Then, I figured out that that is the focus limit ring! Well, no focus limit switch but has a focus limit ring.

So, what's so cool about this ring?

Well, first of all I turn the focus ring (1) and focus-limit ring 92) to infinity which is anti-clockwise direction, then I turn the focus ring (1) clockwise, lets say to the 15m mark on distance display (4) and I tighten the screw button (3). I got a 15m-infinity focus limit! Wow! Isn't this cool? I can set my limit! That really shortened the focusing range the lens has to turn and somehow make it faster in hunting for subject to focus.

Just something I want to share.
Cheer!

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by Drudkh Hey guys, I just found something very cool about this lens! Okay, when I first got the lens I was puzzled why the lens has no focus limit switch like the one found in 70-200 SSM or any other lens. The one on 70-200 has this focus limit switch for (a) full focus range, and; (b) limited focus of 3m to infinity. The minimum focus distance is 2.5m so I think probably no point to have a limit of 3m-infinity. I was like damn! There's no manual and I can't find any info on this lens at all. Well, I was a little disappointed. However, I found a screw and it seems to be quite extra with this lens. Take a look at the picture below. What is the screw button labelled (3) for? *scratch head*. When I loosen that screw, I can turn the ring (2). As I was turning it, the distance display (4) was turning as well. Then, I figured out that that is the focus limit ring! Well, no focus limit switch but has a focus limit ring. So, what's so cool about this ring? Well, first of all I turn the focus ring (1) to infinity which is clockwise direction, then I turn the focus limit ring (2) anti-clockwise, lets say to the 15m mark on distance display (4) and I tighten the screw button (3). I got a 15m-infinity focus limit! Wow! Isn't this cool? I can set my limit! That really shortened the focusing range the lens has to turn and somehow make it faster in hunting for subject to focus. Just something I want to share. Cheer!

Haha...Bro...

Great stuff....now you realised how useful the "analog focus limiter is" - no specific range....Depends great ly on your position and target.

Well, you can try out the slot in circular polariser - i will bring in the next outing...

rgds,
Sulhan

[Drudkh]

Just did a quick and simple comparison with my Tokina 100-300 F/4 & Minolta 300 F/4.
both shots are at F/4.

Tokina

Minolta


Tokina 100% crop

Minolta 100% crop

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by UY79 I didn't know such a concept exist. Mind explaining?

Hi UY...

In some cases, the light might be reflected light and hence the surface where bounce off also result in already a certain amount of aberration. Then this already not perfect edge/surface reflections light gets worsened as the light goes into the lens.

Some lens will have fringing if say taking photos of flourescent light refected on objects in a scene. But in some cases using flash the fringing on the same object is reduced or less obvious.

Is based on my own past experiences....

rgds,
sulhan