Michael E Sellers
Member
Can anyone comment on the quality of either the 100-300 or 100-400 Minolta Apo zoom lenses? I would be using them on my a850.
Mike
Mike
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Minolta Lenses
- Thread starter Michael E Sellers
- Start date
El Profe
Senior Member
They are good but, you can check their review in Popular Photography Magazine and compare.
Another one that I like (and use) in my Minolta & Sony bodies is the Phoenix 100-400 F4.5-6.7 for the price is the best one. You have to spend thousands of dollars more to get a better lens than this one (check its review also at Popular Photography).
Another one that I like (and use) in my Minolta & Sony bodies is the Phoenix 100-400 F4.5-6.7 for the price is the best one. You have to spend thousands of dollars more to get a better lens than this one (check its review also at Popular Photography).
ChrismA700
Well-known member
The 100-300 APO is rated pretty high, but my copy was soft throughout. I had the older 5-pin version...not sure if the newer 8-pin version is better. Have had my eye on the 100-400 but haven't made the plunge yet.
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Chris
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Chris
JimmyMelbourne
Senior Member
You could try looking at http://www.dyxum.com to see how they rate.
The APO versions seem to rate pretty highly.
The APO versions seem to rate pretty highly.
Hello.
I own Minolta 100-400 APO, here you can see some full size shots with A700:
http://www.alphaforum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=22
It's good lens, but nothing more than this.
I like the size, it's very good for close shots, but at distance there is some lack of detail. I suppose that on full frame camera it will be worse.
The AF speed is good with A700, but slower at the long end and sometimes hunts.
I'ts my wildlife lens and can deliver great images at 300/400mm around F8, but if the subject is not too far.
So the Sony 70-400 is the better choice.
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Bulgarian α-mount forum - http://www.alphaforum.net
I own Minolta 100-400 APO, here you can see some full size shots with A700:
http://www.alphaforum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=22
It's good lens, but nothing more than this.
I like the size, it's very good for close shots, but at distance there is some lack of detail. I suppose that on full frame camera it will be worse.
The AF speed is good with A700, but slower at the long end and sometimes hunts.
I'ts my wildlife lens and can deliver great images at 300/400mm around F8, but if the subject is not too far.
So the Sony 70-400 is the better choice.
--
Bulgarian α-mount forum - http://www.alphaforum.net
tbarb
Forum Enthusiast
The Minolta 100-300 D lens is very good, especially at the longer end. I would rate it a good buy for the money with a competitive price. Compact for the reach too and not that heavy.
I have no experience with the 100-400, I have heard it is not as sharp and significant higher cost.
If you don't need the reach the 100-300 is a 'sweet spot' in the Minolta lens line up.
Tom
I have no experience with the 100-400, I have heard it is not as sharp and significant higher cost.
If you don't need the reach the 100-300 is a 'sweet spot' in the Minolta lens line up.
Tom
Kzoozoomer
Senior Member
I have both the 100-300 APO D and the 100-400 APO, both of which I use on an a700. Both are older lens designs that lack digital coatings, and the filter rotates on both lenses while focusing, making it more difficult to use CPL filters.
I agree with everything Mugen said about the 100-400 APO. One positive feature is its size and hand-holdability. A negative is the lack of a tripod mount on the lens. Unless you can get one at a bargain price, I would not recommend it for use on your a850.
The 100-300 APO D is a pretty good lens that is a very convenient size for travel. Not sure how well it performs on a 24MP camera, however.
Undoubtably, both the 70-300G and 70-400G lenses would deliver better image quality on your a850, although larger and more expensive than the 100-300 APO and 100-400 APO, respectively. From what I have read, images taken with the 70-300G and cropped to 400mm are at least as good as those taken with the 100-400 APO. If you want a one lens solution, the 70-400G is undoubtably the best of the bunch, although heavy and expensive, while the 70-300G would most likely outperform either the 100-300 APO D or the 100-400 APO (except for the more convenient size of the 100-300 APO).
I agree with everything Mugen said about the 100-400 APO. One positive feature is its size and hand-holdability. A negative is the lack of a tripod mount on the lens. Unless you can get one at a bargain price, I would not recommend it for use on your a850.
The 100-300 APO D is a pretty good lens that is a very convenient size for travel. Not sure how well it performs on a 24MP camera, however.
Undoubtably, both the 70-300G and 70-400G lenses would deliver better image quality on your a850, although larger and more expensive than the 100-300 APO and 100-400 APO, respectively. From what I have read, images taken with the 70-300G and cropped to 400mm are at least as good as those taken with the 100-400 APO. If you want a one lens solution, the 70-400G is undoubtably the best of the bunch, although heavy and expensive, while the 70-300G would most likely outperform either the 100-300 APO D or the 100-400 APO (except for the more convenient size of the 100-300 APO).
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