neilt3
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Veteran Member
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Posts: 3,008
Re: Maxxum 24/2.8 questions
On APS and full frame the 24mm is a nice lens .
Colour and contrast is good , very similar to the 35-70mm f/4 .
From a sharpness point of view , wide open on full frame it is soft around the edges, though this could be a result of a curved field of view .
On APS , most of this is cropped away , but a little remains .
Stopped down to f/4 , especially on APS , this goes away and is sharp corner to corner .
I'm sure you'll be happy with it .
There are two versions of it ( not Mk1 or Mk2 ) , the original one is the same style as your 35-70mm f/4 /. metal body , skinny manual focus ring .
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Minolta-AF-24mm-F2.8_lens9.html
The later 24mm f/2.8 RS , has a different construction and a better / bigger rubber manual focus ring .
it also has a circular aperture up to f/5.6 giving better , smother out of focus areas and bokeh .
I have both versions , and the later RS version has the edge , if you can find one .
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Minolta-AF-24mm-F2.8-RS_lens10.html
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As you like the 35-70mm , a very similar lens to it , giving almost prime like performance is the 24-50mm f/4 . Slightly sharper than the 35-70mm but giving the same colours and contrast .
At the wide end , it is a very sharp lens , as you get to the 50mm end though , a 50mm prime gives sharper results . That should hardly be a surprise though . I have this lens too , but tend to use the 24mm prime more , as I carry that in my pocket whilst having a longer F/L zoom on an a900 .
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Minolta-AF-24-50mm-F4_lens79.html
There is also a RS version of the 24-50mm , which is supposed to be a bit better too .
But good luck in finding one of them !
http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/Minolta-AF-24-50mm-F4-RS_lens80.html
And no , I defiantly don't have one of them !
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A/F on all these lenses , used on the LA-EA2/4 is fast and responsive , and accurate . The 24mm prime lens being very quick to snap into focus .
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Hope this helps .