Camera Labs

This is one of the lenses that I think makes the a-mount a great place to put your money. This lens is from the series of the first Minolta AF lenses from '85 and even though it's over 20 years old it will most likely outlive my camera. And then it’s cheap – or at least it was cheap, it seems like there is a rising demand for this lens and if you have tried it you know why.

Pros
* Build quality - all metal body and build so you can service it yourself
* Great Minolta colors
* Really sharp compared to price and zoom range
* Amazing bokeh
* Cheap
* Internal zoom

Cons
* Heavy
* Not internal focus
* A bit slow AF

Sample shots:
210mm @ f4


120mm @ f5


The lens:

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Minolta primes: 2.8/20 2.8/24 1.7/50 2.8/135
Minolta zooms: 28-135 35-70 70-210(beercan) kit
Minolta cameras: Dynax 5D 7000
M42: Pentax Asahi S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 and 2.8/105 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35 Industar-61L/Z Kiron 2.8/105 Macro

Nice shots Rune!

I also recently got hold of the CZ 16-80mm, so look out for a full review coming soon...

Gordon

Thanks Can't take full credit for the first one which was taken by my wife.

Can't wait for the 16-80 ZA lens review

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Minolta primes: 2.8/20 2.8/24 1.7/50 2.8/135
Minolta zooms: 28-135 35-70 70-210(beercan) kit
Minolta cameras: Dynax 5D 7000
M42: Pentax Asahi S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 and 2.8/105 Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 2.4/35 Industar-61L/Z Kiron 2.8/105 Macro

This looks like a good lens. Is there anything you need to watch out for when buying or looking after one due to its age? I have read things about mold and because its all metal does it suffer from rust or anything?

What is the quality and sharpness of the images like in comparison to the 70-200 f2.8 and the 18-70, 75-300 kit lens?

Does the weight differ much from the 70-200 f2.8 lens?

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Tobywuk personal website || My Flickr
Gear: Sony a700! || CZ 16-80mm! || Sony 75-300 || bag: Crumpler PB xxxl / Lowepro slingshot 200

You might find this article helpful

http://reviews.ebay.ca/How-To-Detect-Fl ... 0001005542

There is another review written specifically on Beercan.

http://reviews.ebay.ca/Maxxum-70-210mm- ... 0000751723

The 70-200 from Sony weighs over 1300 grams, the 70-210 weighs just under 700. So yes, there's a difference. Remember, the 70-200mm F2.8G SSM is a professional piece of glass, this is/was much more consumer orientated. That's also why the difference in final quality between the 70-200mm and the 70-210/kitlenses will be significant.
You really shouldn't be comparing these lenses to the G glass from Sony, because they're on a whole different level. It would be like comparing a Ford car to a Bentley. Both can suit your need perfectly, but the differences between them are so huge, they can not really be compared.
That's what I think at least. I'm not saying (or typing) that any of these lenses are bad, not at all. However, they're not as good as G glass. Why else would that be so expensive?

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

I purchased the Minolta 70-210 f/4 at one of the auction sites to replace my 70-210 f/2.8 Vivitar. Although I had read how frustratingly slow it could be, it was so much faster than my previous lens that I was thrilled. It does not "hunt" nearly as much, and I can actually shoot with it on auto focus, instead of manual. Woo-hoo! No, it isn't fast, new, Sony glass, but it creates wonderful bokeh, rich creamy color, and I have not had a moment's regret.

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Sony Alpha 700, Minolta 70-210 f/4 and some other stuff

Nice review.
I find the beercan a lil bit too heavy and opted for the tamron 70-300 instead.
The IQ on the beercan is superior though...

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Tamron 17-50mm F2.8
Tamron 70-300mm F4-5.6
Sony F58
My Flickr

I've recently bought a Beercan, good wide open but so much better if you close even just a little...

sure the lens is older, but it produces really nice photos. i had a Sigma 28-300 D 3.5-6.3 lens, but traded it in for another lens. the Beercan photos are alot sharper than those taken with that Sigma lens. (maybe it was my copy?) anyway, i have no regrets getting the beercan. it's my best lens .... on a budget of course