Which is the sharpest Minolta or 3rd Party lens?

chpeck · 7th February 2004

When I bought my 600si ten years ago it came with a 28-80 f4-5.6. Some photos came out extremely sharp while some bad under the same setting, same llighting but different focal lenght.

Took a long time to find out exactly which particular focal lenght was good but it was too costly and time consuming, therefore unsucessful.

Thought that a more expensive lense like Tokina 28-70 F2.8 would do the job, it was wrong. At 28mm it distorts worst than the cheap minotla and anything under 50mm was not impressive. So I gave up and sold it away and turned to primes.

Situation changed greatly when I took in 28mm F2.8, 50mm F1.4 and Sigma 105mm F2.8.

28mm and 50mm are good but the Sigma is staggering. All the lines on my grandma's face can be seen so clearly that I called my girlfriend out for a potraits shot. To me those were great but to her she believes that good photography should hide undesirable details.

I wish I can find a 28mm, a 50mm, a 80-200mm or even a zoom that gives that sort of details.

Lenses under consideration.

Sigma 24mm F1.8
Minolta 50mm F2.8 Macro
Minolta 80-200mm F2.8

Anyone who has experience with the above lenses please help to enlighten me.

Thanks.

deslim27 · 7th February 2004

Originally Posted by chpeck

When I bought my 600si ten years ago it came with a 28-80 f4-5.6. Some photos came out extremely sharp while some bad under the same setting, same llighting but different focal lenght.

Took a long time to find out exactly which particular focal lenght was good but it was too costly and time consuming, therefore unsucessful.

Thought that a more expensive lense like Tokina 28-70 F2.8 would do the job, it was wrong. At 28mm it distorts worst than the cheap minotla and anything under 50mm was not impressive. So I gave up and sold it away and turned to primes.

Situation changed greatly when I took in 28mm F2.8, 50mm F1.4 and Sigma 105mm F2.8.

28mm and 50mm are good but the Sigma is staggering. All the lines on my grandma's face can be seen so clearly that I called my girlfriend out for a potraits shot. To me those were great but to her she believes that good photography should hide undesirable details.

I wish I can find a 28mm, a 50mm, a 80-200mm or even a zoom that gives that sort of details.

Lenses under consideration.

Sigma 24mm F1.8
Minolta 50mm F2.8 Macro
Minolta 80-200mm F2.8

Anyone who has experience with the above lenses please help to enlighten me.

Thanks.

No real experience with the lens you're considering, but Minolta 80-200mm F2.8 G? is a great lens, its in my wishlist.

For standard zoom, wouldn't you consider the 24-105 Minolta? It has a very flexible zoom range. I don't have much complaint with it, except against the primes.

PWH · 7th February 2004

I have the 80-200G and it's sharp! Better than the 70-210f4 which I also own and is a nice lens.

The 85 1.4G is also another very sharp lens which I own. However depth of field is very narrow wide open so it does take some practice getting use to the lens.

I'd highly recommend these two.

deslim27 · 8th February 2004

Originally Posted by PWH

I have the 80-200G and it's sharp! Better than the 70-210f4 which I also own and is a nice lens.

The 85 1.4G is also another very sharp lens which I own. However depth of field is very narrow wide open so it does take some practice getting use to the lens.

I'd highly recommend these two.

Hi PWH,

How much you got for both lens? Any idea where to find 2nd hand one? Thanks.

Regards,
Des

ooppss.. missed the word 'hand'

TME · 8th February 2004

Originally Posted by chpeck

When I bought my 600si ten years ago it came with a 28-80 f4-5.6. Some photos came out extremely sharp while some bad under the same setting, same llighting but different focal lenght.

Took a long time to find out exactly which particular focal lenght was good but it was too costly and time consuming, therefore unsucessful.

Thought that a more expensive lense like Tokina 28-70 F2.8 would do the job, it was wrong. At 28mm it distorts worst than the cheap minotla and anything under 50mm was not impressive. So I gave up and sold it away and turned to primes.

Situation changed greatly when I took in 28mm F2.8, 50mm F1.4 and Sigma 105mm F2.8.

28mm and 50mm are good but the Sigma is staggering. All the lines on my grandma's face can be seen so clearly that I called my girlfriend out for a potraits shot. To me those were great but to her she believes that good photography should hide undesirable details.

I wish I can find a 28mm, a 50mm, a 80-200mm or even a zoom that gives that sort of details.

Lenses under consideration.

Sigma 24mm F1.8
Minolta 50mm F2.8 Macro
Minolta 80-200mm F2.8

Anyone who has experience with the above lenses please help to enlighten me.

Thanks.

I dun use this lens but I heard from many here that the 24-85mm Minolta is also very good.

chpeck · 8th February 2004

Originally Posted by PWH

I have the 80-200G and it's sharp! Better than the 70-210f4 which I also own and is a nice lens.

The 85 1.4G is also another very sharp lens which I own. However depth of field is very narrow wide open so it does take some practice getting use to the lens.

I'd highly recommend these two.

Very tempted to test out the 85 1.4G. Has anybody used both the 85 1.4G and Sigma EX 105 2.8?

PWH · 8th February 2004

85 1.4G on ebay goes for between US$350-450. I bought mine for US$350. There are 2 versions of course so you have to know what you are bidding on. KEH.com is a good source for used prices and my general rule is you want to make sure you're getting lenses on ebay for less than the keh price.

The 80-200G goes for between US$650-800 on ebay. I paid $750 for one in mint shape. One other thing to consider if you are outside US (which I am) -taxes, duty, brokerage, shipping and insurance have to be factored in to your final price. In my case the seller was located in my country so I avoided paying 15% GST/PST taxes my government would charge me if I bought from a US seller.

There are bargains out there on ebay -I also just purchased a Maxxum 9 body for US$515 in mint shape.

I don't have any experience with the Sigma ex105 so I can't comment on it. I do have the Minolta 100mm 2.8 macro which is a wonderfully sharp lens and great for portrait as well macro studies.

chpeck · 8th February 2004

Originally Posted by PWH

85 1.4G on ebay goes for between US$350-450. I bought mine for US$350. There are 2 versions of course so you have to know what you are bidding on. KEH.com is a good source for used prices and my general rule is you want to make sure you're getting lenses on ebay for less than the keh price.

The 80-200G goes for between US$650-800 on ebay. I paid $750 for one in mint shape. One other thing to consider if you are outside US (which I am) -taxes, duty, brokerage, shipping and insurance have to be factored in to your final price. In my case the seller was located in my country so I avoided paying 15% GST/PST taxes my government would charge me if I bought from a US seller.

There are bargains out there on ebay -I also just purchased a Maxxum 9 body for US$515 in mint shape.

I don't have any experience with the Sigma ex105 so I can't comment on it. I do have the Minolta 100mm 2.8 macro which is a wonderfully sharp lens and great for portrait as well macro studies.

Which country do you based? I have been looking at the ebay and have noticed the attractive pricing but do not have the confidence to trade without meeting up in person.

PWH · 9th February 2004

I'm in Canada. I've purchased items from US, Germany, UK, and Canada and never had any problems.

I bought all of my better (G) lens on ebay 300 f4, 85mm, 80-200, 20mm saving a significant amount off local used prices and obviously new prices.

If you purchase off ebay ask seller specific questions as to condition/previous use of lens etc. Try to avoid buying equip. from professional photographers as they tend to handle equipment alittle more roughly than amateurs. Key things to ask are scratches/dents on body of lens, condition of glass -scratches/marks/oil on aperature blades, are they original owner, do they have original case and box etc.

Good luck.

7th February 2004	#1
chpeck Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Woodlands Posts: 105	Which is the sharpest Minolta or 3rd Party lens? When I bought my 600si ten years ago it came with a 28-80 f4-5.6. Some photos came out extremely sharp while some bad under the same setting, same llighting but different focal lenght. Took a long time to find out exactly which particular focal lenght was good but it was too costly and time consuming, therefore unsucessful. Thought that a more expensive lense like Tokina 28-70 F2.8 would do the job, it was wrong. At 28mm it distorts worst than the cheap minotla and anything under 50mm was not impressive. So I gave up and sold it away and turned to primes. Situation changed greatly when I took in 28mm F2.8, 50mm F1.4 and Sigma 105mm F2.8. 28mm and 50mm are good but the Sigma is staggering. All the lines on my grandma's face can be seen so clearly that I called my girlfriend out for a potraits shot. To me those were great but to her she believes that good photography should hide undesirable details. I wish I can find a 28mm, a 50mm, a 80-200mm or even a zoom that gives that sort of details. Lenses under consideration. Sigma 24mm F1.8 Minolta 50mm F2.8 Macro Minolta 80-200mm F2.8 Anyone who has experience with the above lenses please help to enlighten me. Thanks.

7th February 2004	#3
PWH New Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3	I have the 80-200G and it's sharp! Better than the 70-210f4 which I also own and is a nice lens. The 85 1.4G is also another very sharp lens which I own. However depth of field is very narrow wide open so it does take some practice getting use to the lens. I'd highly recommend these two.

8th February 2004	#7
PWH New Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3	85 1.4G on ebay goes for between US$350-450. I bought mine for US$350. There are 2 versions of course so you have to know what you are bidding on. KEH.com is a good source for used prices and my general rule is you want to make sure you're getting lenses on ebay for less than the keh price. The 80-200G goes for between US$650-800 on ebay. I paid $750 for one in mint shape. One other thing to consider if you are outside US (which I am) -taxes, duty, brokerage, shipping and insurance have to be factored in to your final price. In my case the seller was located in my country so I avoided paying 15% GST/PST taxes my government would charge me if I bought from a US seller. There are bargains out there on ebay -I also just purchased a Maxxum 9 body for US$515 in mint shape. I don't have any experience with the Sigma ex105 so I can't comment on it. I do have the Minolta 100mm 2.8 macro which is a wonderfully sharp lens and great for portrait as well macro studies.

9th February 2004	#9
PWH New Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3	I'm in Canada. I've purchased items from US, Germany, UK, and Canada and never had any problems. I bought all of my better (G) lens on ebay 300 f4, 85mm, 80-200, 20mm saving a significant amount off local used prices and obviously new prices. If you purchase off ebay ask seller specific questions as to condition/previous use of lens etc. Try to avoid buying equip. from professional photographers as they tend to handle equipment alittle more roughly than amateurs. Key things to ask are scratches/dents on body of lens, condition of glass -scratches/marks/oil on aperature blades, are they original owner, do they have original case and box etc. Good luck.