Minolta AF 70-210 F/4 Any Good??

[dynaxattack]

Hi guys,

How does this lens fairs? Is this a good lens to have?? My main point of concern.

1) Consistent exposure at different aperture?
2) Picture Quality?
3) AF speed?

Thx in advance.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

1) i dun think any lens can have consistent exposure at different aperture... (with good results of course)
2) PQ, not bad... haven tested much actually... seldom use imho..
3) AF, damn slow...

[deslim27]

IQ very good for its price.. AF SSSSLLLLLOOOOWWW..

But some Minolta gurus here can use it for sports shooting!

[Timber Wolf]

Issit slower than the 75-300 f/4.5-5.6? To me that's the minimum speed i'll tolerate. Hmm, maybe it requires more turns of the AF motor to focus.

I did a check with the Minolta 80-200HS. It requires about 4 full turns to transverse the focusing range. The Tokina 80-200 I bought requires 9-11 full turns to go from infinity to 1.8m. That's why the M is faster than the T in focusing.

But, having more turns of the AF motor may mean that the focusing precision is finer.

Anyone can clarify?

Cheers
QX

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf Issit slower than the 75-300 f/4.5-5.6? To me that's the minimum speed i'll tolerate. Hmm, maybe it requires more turns of the AF motor to focus. I did a check with the Minolta 80-200HS. It requires about 4 full turns to transverse the focusing range. The Tokina 80-200 I bought requires 9-11 full turns to go from infinity to 1.8m. That's why the M is faster than the T in focusing. But, having more turns of the AF motor may mean that the focusing precision is finer. Anyone can clarify? Cheers QX

more turn = better for manual focus... hehehe... also good for training to be a production operator... screwing department...

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by Timber Wolf Issit slower than the 75-300 f/4.5-5.6? To me that's the minimum speed i'll tolerate. Hmm, maybe it requires more turns of the AF motor to focus. I did a check with the Minolta 80-200HS. It requires about 4 full turns to transverse the focusing range. The Tokina 80-200 I bought requires 9-11 full turns to go from infinity to 1.8m. That's why the M is faster than the T in focusing. But, having more turns of the AF motor may mean that the focusing precision is finer. Anyone can clarify? Cheers QX

Hiee...

More turns may equate better focus resolution. The 70-210 is slow if you wanna focus cometing at closest focus and then switch to something at infinity.

However if you have some subject at 5m for example and the subject is always around that distance...the AF is actually fast - racking only a little - In fact the AF is actually positive.

All this Back focus talks here and there - the older slow AF seem to have have better margin to avoid back focus due to the the larger focus resolution (higher precision).

rgds,
sulhan

[Drudkh]

buy 70-200 f/2.8 SSM? B&H still got stock i think.

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by Drudkh buy 70-200 f/2.8 SSM? B&H still got stock i think.

not everybody as rich as u lor.. buy a 16mm minolta fisheye also never say...

[sulhan]

Originally Posted by Drudkh buy 70-200 f/2.8 SSM? B&H still got stock i think.

Why don't they have it in black...like the 80-200APO G

rgd,
sulhan

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

Originally Posted by sulhan Why don't they have it in black...like the 80-200APO G rgd, sulhan

cos Minolta scared of becoming enemy of both sides... imagine the Jedi & Sith clash, at least we not involve... yes... i got white lens... and yes i also got black lens... I AM INNOCENT!

[deslim27]

Originally Posted by sulhan Hiee... More turns may equate better focus resolution. The 70-210 is slow if you wanna focus cometing at closest focus and then switch to something at infinity. However if you have some subject at 5m for example and the subject is always around that distance...the AF is actually fast - racking only a little - In fact the AF is actually positive. All this Back focus talks here and there - the older slow AF seem to have have better margin to avoid back focus due to the the larger focus resolution (higher precision). rgds, sulhan

True about the tracking, but once you missed the target, the lens will zooooommmmmm all the way out/in and zooooooooomm back again.. target gone liao.

[dynaxattack]

Thx for all the inputs guys.

Yeah it might be a concern if it hunts from jeerow to infinity. Wow some more many turns ohhh...

Brader drudkh, kenot affort yet the F/2.8 leh. Otherwise, I think the Sigma 70-200 F/2.8 is a good contender IMO.

Do you think it will be good for portrait photography?? If looking at sulhan's explanation, I think it should be a problem. Whats ur take? TIA.

[Drudkh]

buy the seben jeerow - too jeerow jeerow ass ass amm. sorry can't help it when i saw you type jeerow.

[Drudkh]

Originally Posted by sulhan Why don't they have it in black...like the 80-200APO G rgd, sulhan

you buy, i help you paint it black!

[TME]

Originally Posted by dynaxattack Brader drudkh, kenot affort yet the F/2.8 leh. Otherwise, I think the Sigma 70-200 F/2.8 is a good contender IMO.

Try the 2nd hand market... can get good deals... or the older 70-210 f/2.8, I bought mine at $400 only...

[Agetan]

Originally Posted by dynaxattack Hi guys, How does this lens fairs? Is this a good lens to have?? My main point of concern. 1) Consistent exposure at different aperture? 2) Picture Quality? 3) AF speed? Thx in advance.

Well, it was rumoured that in 1980s, Minolta used to supply lens for Leica, and at the same time where Leica 70-210 f4 manual focus lens was introduced, Minolta also release 70-210 f4 in manual focus and also 70-210 f4 in AF... Coincidence?

It is quite a slow lens, remember it was built some 20 years ago... Of course you can't compete with newer lens, but the picture quality is excellent.

I don't understand why there should be any exposure different at different aperture...

Hart

[dynaxattack]

Originally Posted by Agetan Well, it was rumoured that in 1980s, Minolta used to supply lens for Leica, and at the same time where Leica 70-210 f4 manual focus lens was introduced, Minolta also release 70-210 f4 in manual focus and also 70-210 f4 in AF... Coincidence? It is quite a slow lens, remember it was built some 20 years ago... Of course you can't compete with newer lens, but the picture quality is excellent. I don't understand why there should be any exposure different at different aperture... Hart

Got you loud and clear.

On the last part, "I dont understand why there should be any exposure difference at different aperture..." I cant quite register my thoughts too when I typed the questions in the first place. But somehow I m worried that the lens have compatibility issue with the D5D and may coz inconsistent meter reading. (for example: read 50mm f/1.7 thread)

[TME]

Originally Posted by dynaxattack Got you loud and clear. On the last part, "I dont understand why there should be any exposure difference at different aperture..." I cant quite register my thoughts too when I typed the questions in the first place. But somehow I m worried that the lens have compatibility issue with the D5D and may coz inconsistent meter reading. (for example: read 50mm f/1.7 thread)

The 50mm f/1.7 thread is due to user error and not a fault of the lens nor of compatibility problem with the body.

[Agetan]

Actually, if you use an older third party manufacturer lens (Tamron or Sigma or Tokina) and use ADI flash metering, the shots will either 1 stop under or over, never get it right... not sure why...

So If that happen, simply use pre-flash ttl, and problem solved.

I have the 70-210 f4, just arrive today... it may go on sale soon...

Expect to sell around $400...

Hart

[TME]

Originally Posted by Agetan Actually, if you use an older third party manufacturer lens (Tamron or Sigma or Tokina) and use ADI flash metering, the shots will either 1 stop under or over, never get it right... not sure why... So If that happen, simply use pre-flash ttl, and problem solved. I have the 70-210 f4, just arrive today... it may go on sale soon... Expect to sell around $400... Hart

U mean u just bought it and want to let it go???