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Reviews (2)
05 February 2010
Konica Minolta 80-200mm f/2.8 HS APO Lens
1 of 1 found this helpful This is a superlative lens hailing from the "Mind of Minolta". There are two versions of this G lens. A black one which lacks "HS" label, and a white version, with 33% faster focusing. On a modern camera both lenses should focus with comparable quickness.
My review is about the white "High Speed APO" version.
The lens holds many pleasant surprises as well as nuisances, which I will list first.
1. Minimum focusing distance of 1.8 meters. In comparison Canon's EF 80-200/2.8L, manufactured in September 1989, has the same minimum focusing distance. Nikon's 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S focuses to 1.49 meters, but Nikon's 80-200mm f/2.8 D focuses to 1.67 meters.
2. Front element rotates and length changes slightly while focusing.
3. Won't take the Minolta APO teleconverters. Only third party TCs like Kenko's can be used.
4. Tripod collar (a positive) is non removable and therefore can become a hindrance if you plan to use a vertical grip.
In my opinion, all the above shortcomings are forgiven when we look at the pictures this lens produces. The positives:
1. Bayonet lens hood, excellent flare control, solid construction
2. Accurate color reproduction (if you shoot film, this lens will exceed your expectations, on digital it can out-resolve even a FF 24 megapixel sensor). Contrast and saturation are well controlled. I have "never" had to use post processing when using this lens. Color/Contrast is usually subjective but in my opinion this lens is superior to Minolta/Sony's 70-200/2.8 SSM
3. Built in tripod collar
4. 72mm filter, cheaper and interchangeable with other Minolta G lenses.
5. Very fast autofocus, sometimes described as "brutal". There is no better lens to track birds in flight. While other lenses hunt and may miss, the 80-200/2.8 HS will never let moving target slip away!
6. One of the best bokeh ever to be found in a zoom lens. And yes, I'm keeping the 70-200/2.8 SSM in mind.
7. Built in focus lock button
8. Solid build like all G lenses.
Finally, here is the sharpness performance as reported by Photodo
Photodo test result: 3.9
Effective focal length: 82 - 199 mm
Weighted MTF for 80 mm: f2.8 0.78. f4 0.82. f8 0.86
Weighted MTF for 135 mm: f2.8 0.76. f4 0.78. f8 0.84
Weighted MTF for 200 mm: f2.8 0.69. f4 0.74. f8 0.77
Average Weighted MTF: 0.81 Grade: 3.9
Weighted MTF 10 lp/mm: 0.90
Weighted MTF 20 lp/mm: 0.76
Weighted MTF 40 lp/mm: 0.52
Distortion: -2.01 to 2.02%
The lens is sharp wide open: score is (0.78,0.76,0.69 at f/2.8 and 80mm focal length, and becomes tack sharp at f8)
In conclusion, I would say that if you find a working copy of this lens for under 1200 dollars, buy it. They are not manufactured anymore and existing owners seldom let go of them!
05 February 2010
Konica Minolta 80-200mm f/2.8 HS APO Lens
5 of 5 found this helpful This is a superlative lens hailing from the "Mind of Minolta". There are two versions of this G lens. A black one which lacks "HS" label, and a white version, with 33% faster focusing. On a modern camera both lenses should focus with comparable quickness.
My review is about the white "High Speed APO" version.
The lens holds many pleasant surprises as well as nuisances, which I will list first.
1. Minimum focusing distance of 1.8 meters. In comparison Canon's EF 80-200/2.8L, manufactured in September 1989, has the same minimum focusing distance. Nikon's 80-200mm f/2.8 AF-S focuses to 1.49 meters, but Nikon's 80-200mm f/2.8 D focuses to 1.67 meters.
2. Front element rotates and length changes slightly while focusing.
3. Won't take the Minolta APO teleconverters. Only third party TCs like Kenko's can be used.
4. Tripod collar (a positive) is non removable and therefore can become a hindrance if you plan to use a vertical grip.
In my opinion, all the above shortcomings are forgiven when we look at the pictures this lens produces. The positives:
1. Bayonet lens hood, excellent flare control, solid construction
2. Accurate color reproduction (if you shoot film, this lens will exceed your expectations, on digital it can out-resolve even a FF 24 megapixel sensor). Contrast and saturation are well controlled. I have "never" had to use post processing when using this lens. Color/Contrast is usually subjective but in my opinion this lens is superior to Minolta/Sony's 70-200/2.8 SSM
3. Built in tripod collar
4. 72mm filter, cheaper and interchangeable with other Minolta G lenses.
5. Very fast autofocus, sometimes described as "brutal". There is no better lens to track birds in flight. While other lenses hunt and may miss, the 80-200/2.8 HS will never let moving target slip away!
6. One of the best bokeh ever to be found in a zoom lens. And yes, I'm keeping the 70-200/2.8 SSM in mind.
7. Built in focus lock button
8. Solid build like all G lenses.
Finally, here is the sharpness performance as reported by Photodo
Photodo test result: 3.9
Effective focal length: 82 - 199 mm
Weighted MTF for 80 mm: f2.8 0.78. f4 0.82. f8 0.86
Weighted MTF for 135 mm: f2.8 0.76. f4 0.78. f8 0.84
Weighted MTF for 200 mm: f2.8 0.69. f4 0.74. f8 0.77
Average Weighted MTF: 0.81 Grade: 3.9
Weighted MTF 10 lp/mm: 0.90
Weighted MTF 20 lp/mm: 0.76
Weighted MTF 40 lp/mm: 0.52
Distortion: -2.01 to 2.02%
The lens is sharp wide open: score is (0.78,0.76,0.69 at f/2.8 and 80mm focal length, and becomes tack sharp at f8)
In conclusion, I would say that if you find a working copy of this lens for under 1200 dollars, buy it. They are not manufactured anymore and existing owners seldom let go of them!