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Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (RS)

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Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (RS), First Impression

CCD Resurgence - First impression images with the highly acknowledged Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 (RS) mounted on a 14.2MP CCD Sony Alpha DSLR-A350.

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First impression images with the Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (RS), a legend of its time, a classic known for its excellent sharpness and 1:1 magnification capability. Despite its production run that ended more than 30 years ago, the lens is still a hot spot today with digital photo enthusiasts enamored of its dual-purpose design as the first autofocus 100mm macro lens capable of 1:1 (life-size) magnification, and a portrait/short-telephoto lens with beautiful subject separation.

The lens, introduced in 1993, is the second of the series, with the original AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, the first autofocus 100mm macro lens capable of 1:1 (life-size) magnification, launched in 1986, the RS, and follow-up Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro D (with ADI metering) in 2000, and the Sony AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro in 2006.

The RS (re-Styled) version is a refresh of the original, with a new barrel design featuring an enlarged rubber focus ring, a focus range limiter (to reduce excessive focus hunting), and a focus hold button (to lock focus on a subject), useful when using continuous autofocus (AF-C). ADI metering allows the lens aperture to be automatically adjusted by the camera based on the lighting conditions.

Designed with an 8-element, 8-group floating element with rounded blades which was maintained throughout the production series, the lens has a minimum focusing distance of 0.352 meters, measures 71mm in diameter and 98mm in length (approximately 119mm fully extended), accepts 55mm filters, and packs a rather hefty (compared to current lightweights) weight between 505 and 519 grams across the series.

The lens is highly acknowledged for its excellent sharpness, even when shot wide open at f/2.8, and is said to be capable of maintaining excellent sharpness across the aperture range. Ideal applications for the lens include life-size close-ups or used as a short telephoto lens for heads and shoulder portraits, wildlife, landscape elements, sports, and candid street photography from non-intrusive distances.

On the Sony Alpha DSLR-A350, the AF 100mm f/2.8 is equivalent to a 150mm medium telephoto lens on a 35mm full frame camera, a versatile focal length excellent for capturing images with a shallow depth of field and subject isolation. At 150mm, a macro lens with a 1:1 reproduction ratio is perfect for detailed close-up shots of insects, flowers, and other small subjects.

Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (RS)

A snug fit, though a bit heady at 1.2+ kg combined weight, the camera/lens kit is a pleasure to use. For handheld manual focus close-ups with the lens at its closest focusing distance, the camera can be cupped in the hand with the thumb and index finger conveniently distanced over the focus ring. At the other end, shooting with the camera held at arm's length, with the camera set to Live View, is equally fun and exciting.

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Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.

Photo of the Day

Olympus E-PM2, F.Zuiko PenF 38mm f/1.8

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Vintage Camera Marketplace by ImagingPixel

Malaysia's Online Marketplace for Vintage Film and Digital Cameras, Lenses,
and Camera Accessories. Follow ImagingPixel on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.