Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro

The Galleria, Photo of the Day, 10/18/24

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro

The Galleria, Photo of the Day, 10/17/24

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro

The Galleria, Photo of the Day, 10/16/24

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro

The Galleria, Photo of the Day, 10/15/24

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro

CCD Resurgence: The Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro, on a Sony DSLR-A350, is a highly capable macro and portrait setup with a 75mm equivalent focal length.

<< Click on images for enlarged Lightbox display >>

The Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro, a very well-made lower-cost alternative to the Minolta AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro series lenses, was introduced by Minolta in 1995. This was a couple of years after the launch of the Minolta AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro RS (Re-Styled), which was introduced in 1993, while the initial iteration of the Minolta AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro itself was introduced in 1985.

Despite being produced with a smaller widest aperture, the lens is highly regarded, well-accoladed, and has a reputation for being near perfect. The lens enjoyed an overall rating of 4.82, with Sharpness @ 4.93, Color at 4.95, Build at 4.60, Distortion @ 4.94, and Flare Control @ 4.68 on Dxyum.

The lens, with 5 elements in 5 groups, 7 rounded aperture blades, and a metal mount, is sharp even at its widest. It comes with a maximum magnification of 1:2, measures 55mm in length, has a minimum focusing distance of 230mm, takes 55mm filters, and is lightweight at 240 grams.

While the f/3.5 maximum aperture may not account for a good bokeh run, the lens is equally capable and competent as a general-use lens for non-macro applications as well. The lens is easily available on auction listings, with prices that could even be slightly higher than its 2.8 sibling.

The A-mount lens is a perfect fit on the Sony DSLR-A350, which has a carry-over AF A-mount lens system from Minolta and can be used interchangeably with other Sony Alpha DSLR cameras. The A-mount system was introduced with the Minolta 7000 35mm AF SLR system, the first camera to feature both integrated autofocus (AF) and motorized film advance.

Sony DSLR-A350, Minolta AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro

The lenses, sold as Maxxum in the US and α in Japan, were rebranded and sold as Sony-based products when the KonicaMinolta Camera franchise was taken over by Sony. The range comprises 12 lenses, expanded with 6 new designs and 2 teleconverters. The 3.5 Macro, however, is not one of them and remains a Minolta AF exclusive.

span>

Olympus Zuiko OM 50mm f/3.5 Macro, First Impression

Cameras and Lenses: Images with a legacy Olympus OM Zuiko 50mm f/3.5 Macro, an exceptionally sharp and lightweight lens with punchy contrast, true color rendering, and pocket-sized portability, a 100mm full-frame equivalent on the Olympus PEN E-P5.

<< Click on image for enlarged Lightbox display >>

My first run with a Zuiko OM 50mm f/3.5 Macro mounted on the digital MFT (Micro Four Thirds) Olympus Pen E-P5. Images, shot mostly with the aperture wide open, were surprisingly sharp, none too contrasty, and showed a clear affinity to the neutral mid-tone color range.

The 50mm f/3.5 Macro lens, designated as the 'Olympus OM-System Zuiko Auto-Macro 50mm f/3.5', is a very compact and lightweight all-metal and glass 5-element in 4-groups construction. It weighs 200 grams, measures 40mm in length, has a 6-blade iris, an aperture range from f/3.5 to f/22, and is fitted with an automatic close-focus correction mechanism for aberration correction.

The focusing range of the 50mm f/3.5 Macro is from 0.23 meters to infinity, with a reproduction ratio of 1:2. On the 2x crop-sensor E-P5, or when fitted with a 25mm Auto Extension tube to the OM 35mm SLR, the reproduction ratio is boosted to 1:1. Going beyond that, say, with the 65mm-116mm Telescopic Extension Tube on the SLR, or with the standard extension tube fitted to the OM Adapter OM-2 on the digital MFT, is all yours to try.

Olympus PEN E-P5, Olympus Zuiko OM 50mm f/3.5 Macro

First introduced in 1973, with silver nose trimming, the Olympus OM-System Zuiko Auto-Macro 50mm f/3.5 was updated to the Olympus OM-System Zuiko MC Auto-Macro 50mm f/3.5 (Multi-coated) versions. The latest version, the multi-coated version but without the 'MC' lettering, may be identified by a series of 4-character manufacturing codes silkscreened on the butt of the lens mount.

One thing that might interest you is the fact that the lens is as competent when used as a standard lens, which could be even better and more flexible than the one you may have been using.