Minolta AF 100-300 xi F4.5-5.6 with Sony A100?

bsevern · Feb 28, 2007

Hi,

I just got a terrific deal (I think) on a nice Minolta AF 100-300 xi F4.5-5.6 zoom/macro lens for $90. This will be my first non-kit lens. Hopefully the next one will be a 50mm macro.

The reviews on http://www.dyxum.com were pretty positive.

Has anyone used one of these on their A100?

Any comments on this lens?

Thanks,
Brian

Prismatic · Mar 1, 2007

These 100-300--mm Minoltas are quite good; the Apochromatic lens corrects for both chromatic and spherical aberration.

But which version did you buy? If you read throrougly through the the Dyxum lens database you will find several iterations of Minolta (or Konica-Minolta) 100-300 zooms. I believe you need it to be a "D" (as in "digital") type lens to work fully with the A-100.

I took a look at the Dyxum database and came up with the following Minolta 100-200 zooms (may even have missed one or two couple):

http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=65
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=61
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=63
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=336
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=60

I just re-read your post and realized you specified "xi", which would be the link http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/detail.asp?IDLens=336

It seems the lens is not a D lens (which, if I'm no mistaken, means it cannot communiate with the body to send some of the settings, for example current focal length and focusing distance, which would be used in thru-the-lens flash). Seems not to be an APO either.

bsevern said:
Hi,

I just got a terrific deal (I think) on a nice Minolta AF 100-300
xi F4.5-5.6 zoom/macro lens for $90. This will be my first non-kit
lens. Hopefully the next one will be a 50mm macro.

The reviews on http://www.dyxum.com were pretty positive.

Has anyone used one of these on their A100?

Any comments on this lens?

Thanks,
Brian

--
Prismatic

BeeJee · Mar 1, 2007

The "D" would just designate that the lens reports distance information to the camera. You would only need this for in-camera flash control. However, in case you don't plan to use a flash with the 100-300 mm lens, the missing "D" feature will not be an issue for you.

BeeJee

kiklop_2 · Mar 1, 2007

BeeJee said:
The "D" would just designate that the lens reports distance
information to the camera. You would only need this for in-camera
flash control. However, in case you don't plan to use a flash with
the 100-300 mm lens, the missing "D" feature will not be an issue
for you.

"D" stands for ADI compatibility. ADI is just an "improved" TTL metering which is supposed to bring more accurate flash exposure. While opinions about how much ADI helps actually are divided, you can still use non D lenses with flash just fine.

--
-- http://www.dyxum.com - the world of the Minolta mount digital SLR

David Kilpatrick · Mar 1, 2007

Because the xi lenses were intended for auto zooming (distance related) they were the first lenses to report distance information close to the modern D standard. They generally seem to focus more accurately and are of a higher quality overall than cheaper similar manual zooms. The mechanism to hold the zoom system and operate it by motor seems to be better made than many manual zoom sleeves.

I'd rate this as a good second choice after any of the APO models, plain or D.

David

bsevern · Mar 1, 2007

From what I can find, this is the only 100-300 xi lens they make.

My understanding of Minolta's XI lenses are that they will work fine with the Sony A100 (any AF lens as per my understanding?) from an operational perspective. The XI models are their motorized zooms, which are supposed to be quite nice, and fast.

I'll report back once I've received it and had an opportunity to test it out.

Thanks!
Brian

liquid stereo · Mar 1, 2007

If I remember correctly, all of the xi zooms are motorized. I thought this was going to be a plus I first bought one. Then I had to use it. Its absolutely awful. Imagine a motor that you just can't have "analog" control of, only "digital."

Its only my personal opinion, and others may differ, but I would handle and use one before making a purchase.

Strange fruit from the minds of minolta.

Dumont · Mar 1, 2007

I had one of these in my hands for a very brief time. I bought a wholesale lot of unused Minolta AF lenses and sold of the ones I did not want to keep. Of course I was curious about the IQ of all of the ones I had not tried before plus I needed to test them to make sure they worked before I put them up for sale.

Here's two samples. I actually did not mind the motorized zoom and thought the IQ was quite good, including a nice creamy bokeh.

5D - 1/250s f/5.6 at 300.0mm iso80

5D - 1/320s f/6.3 at 135.0mm iso80

--
Dumont
http://www.pbase.com/dumont
For equipment see profile.

bsevern · Mar 2, 2007

Very nice Dumont!

Can't wait until my camera and lens arrives....lots to learn, but so many possibilities.

mee · Mar 2, 2007

from the pics I dont deny that its a good lens considering your shots of high shutter speed, stop down f/ and amazingly at ISO80.

beatiful shots Dumont

Olaf Ulrich · Mar 2, 2007

David Kilpatrick said:
Because the xi lenses were intended for auto zooming
(distance related) they were the first lenses to report
distance information close to the modern D standard.
They generally seem to focus more accurately and are
of a higher quality overall than cheaper similar manual
zooms. [...] I'd rate this as a good second choice after
any of the APO models, plain or D.

David, you may be right as far as the mechanical qualities of the AF-xi lenses go ... but with regard to optical performance, the AF-xi 100-300 is just as lousy as the original (i. e. non-apo) AF 100-300. It is just so acceptable for use with film but not really good with digital. Stay away from it. However the apo versions of the 100-300 zoom lens are great!

The best AF-xi lens (and worth having even for digital, and a very unique lens by the way) is the AF-xi 35-200 mm 1:4.5-5.6.

Regards,
Olaf
--
Olaf Ulrich, Germany

David Kilpatrick · Mar 2, 2007

Olaf Ulrich said:
David Kilpatrick said:

Because the xi lenses were intended for auto zooming
(distance related) they were the first lenses to report
distance information close to the modern D standard.
They generally seem to focus more accurately and are
of a higher quality overall than cheaper similar manual
zooms. [...] I'd rate this as a good second choice after
any of the APO models, plain or D.

Click to expand...

David, you may be right as far as the mechanical qualities of the
AF-xi lenses go ... but with regard to optical performance, the
AF-xi 100-300 is just as lousy as the original (i. e. non-apo) AF
100-300. It is just so acceptable for use with film but not really
good with digital. Stay away from it. However the apo versions of
the 100-300 zoom lens are great!

The best AF-xi lens (and worth having even for digital, and a very
unique lens by the way) is the AF-xi 35-200 mm 1:4.5-5.6.

Agreed, I have one. But I am not suggesting the xi is equal to an apo variant, just better than the 100-300mm plain versions of the time. It's not as good as the original 75-300mm either.

David

Gregory King · Mar 2, 2007

Olaf Ulrich said:
David, you may be right as far as the mechanical qualities of the
AF-xi lenses go ... but with regard to optical performance, the
AF-xi 100-300 is just as lousy as the original (i. e. non-apo) AF
100-300. It is just so acceptable for use with film but not really
good with digital. Stay away from it. However the apo versions of
the 100-300 zoom lens are great!

Disagreed.

I did a test of the xi vs the APO (non-D) and didn't see any noticeable difference. DEFINITELY not 3x the difference to justify the price. At best, the consensus is that the APO is best at 300mm wide open...where most lenses tend to start degrading. And the APO may help reduce fringing in challenging lighting situations.

But other than that, I don't see the reason for the cost and demand for the APO. Not that I like the motorized zoom, but it DOES have the benefit of autozoom tracking on film cameras....if that is of use to you.

For a lightweight 100-300 to be used sparingly, I say the xi is a fine choice. Spend the other $200 you save on another lens.

Greg

Olaf Ulrich · Mar 5, 2007

Gregory King said:
I did a test of the xi vs the APO (non-D)
and didn't see any noticeable difference.

You didn't? Wow ... so you must have an above-average sample of the AF-xi 100-300 obviously. Keep it! In my tests, I can hardly find a difference at 100 mm but a very significant difference at 300 mm (in favour of the apo, of course). And that's what many others also are reporting.

Gregory further said:
... the consensus is that the APO is best at 300 mm
wide open ... where most lenses tend to start degrading.

Agreed! That's what I've found, too ... in two samples of the AF Apo 100-300. Very unusual for a tele zoom lens to perform best at the long end indeed. The non-apo AF 100-300, however, is behaving the usual way: okay at 100 and 200 mm but weaker at 300 mm.

Regards,
Olaf
--
Olaf Ulrich, Germany

sinc · Mar 5, 2007

I like my 100-300 APO. The photo below was taken at 300mm with a tripod. It's a 1/3 crop.

--
Joesph T. Sinclair, Author, 'the Smart Way' series of eBay books

Search

Minolta AF 100-300 xi F4.5-5.6 with Sony A100?

bsevern

Active member

Prismatic

Forum Enthusiast

BeeJee

Well-known member

kiklop_2

Senior Member

David Kilpatrick

Veteran Member

bsevern

Active member

liquid stereo

Veteran Member

Dumont

Senior Member

bsevern

Active member

mee

Active member

Olaf Ulrich

Leading Member

David Kilpatrick

Veteran Member

Gregory King

Veteran Member

Olaf Ulrich

Leading Member

sinc

Leading Member

Similar threads

Keyboard shortcuts