Minolta Maxxum AF Zoom 35-70mm F4 Macro Review and Sample Photos
The 35-70mm zoom lens is often dismissed by many simply because it had become the standard kit zoom with many camera models and zooms with a wider range or faster apertures were more sought after. Personally, I'm a fan of many older 35-70mm zoom lenses. While the range may be more limited, you must remember that the more zoom reach a lens has, the more optical compromises the designers had to make when designing the lens. I've owned and tested some very sharp 35-70mm lenses, such as the SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 lens. Well, the Minolta Maxxum AF 35-70mm F4 Macro zoom is no slouch by any expert's opinion - it's a beautifully designed and crafted high quality optic that will absolutely not disappoint! I have gotten some tack sharp photos with the lens - on film and digital. I've personally used it on a Maxxum 8000i and 600si for film and on a Sony a200 for digital shots - it rocks on both formats!
Above: The Minolta Maxxum AF Zoom 35-70mm F4 Macro lens
LIKES: f/4 throughout the zoom range; tack sharp throughout the range, even excellent wide open; very nice macro mode; macro mode is at 70mm end of range; superb build quality
DISLIKES: no auto focus in macro mode (easiest to set rough focus and then move the entire camera back and forth to focus)
Specifications:
- Focal length: 35-70mm
- Maximum Aperture: f/4
- Minimum Aperture: f/22
- Angle of View: 63 - 34 degrees
- Optical Construction: 6 elements in 6 groups
- Minimum focusing distance: 1000mm (303mm in macro mode)
- Weight: 255g
- Length: 52mm - 70mm
- Lens hood: clip-on
Above: Close-up photo of leaf among rocks on railroad bed. Photo taken with a Minolta Maxxum 600si and Maxxum AF 35-70mm F4 Macro lens using Ilford Delta 400 Professional film.
View a gallery of photos taken with this lens