If anyones looking for a mid range lens...

[Dodge]

My second hand Minolta AF 28-135mm F4-4.5 arrived this morning, £200 off ebay. After reading good things about it I just had to try one. Heres a couple of test shots I took quickly, cropped and sharpened slightly. Taken using the Macro setting @ 28mm.

I think this may become my favourite lens, the colours and the way everything 'pops' has blown me away. Still early days but so far I'm in love with it I think. Certainly a very nice and relatively cheep upgrade from the kit lens if maybe a little narrow at the bottom end on a crop sensor, although the macro mode seems to compensate for some of that.

[wanda_whitehead]

I love the pictures especially the first...

Since I am a real newbie to photography I have no critiques nor other comments...I really am just learning and don't understand much of anything about the different lenses and other things discussed on this board but am taking online lessons to try to learn...

But as I said I love the pics!!

[Dodge]

Thanks Wanda !

I think that the second hand lens market can be such a minefield, especially when just starting out, so it's handy all round I think if someone finds a particularly sweet lens, to let others know about it.

I was looking for an upgrade for mid range, more of a walkabout lens and by sheer chance discovered this one. I believe it's nicknamed the 'secret handshake' lens and is considered one of the old classic minolta lenses. (From what I have read).

It gets great scores and reviews on Dyxum Minolta*AF 28-135 F4-4.5*2553-100 lens for Sony Alpha - Minolta camera mount
And Kurt Munger recommends it too, (He's never let me down yet). Minolta AF 28-135mm F/4-4.5 review (I actually found this lens via his recommendation whilst researching a different lens).

Seems it may not be as well known and popular due to the unusual focal range of 28-135, which is 42-202.5 on a crop sensor body. Other issues, it's not the fastest of lenses at f4-4.5 and has no hood so is prone to flare if the sun is anywhere near the shot and of course it's a 20 year old design. The big plusses though, it's nice and sharp, has wonderful strong Minolta colours and images that pop, giving an almost 3d effect and of course, it's relatively cheep if you can get a good copy at the right price. (Seem to be averaging £250 to £350 for nice ones on ebay currently).

This is my second, used minolta lens, my other being a 100mm 2.8 macro and so far I have not been disappointed at all. (not that i'm any kind of expert), I think it's just important to get as big a bang as you can for your buck, and find a good copy of the RIGHT lens when choosing, once you have decided what your requirements and budget are.

[bono]

Yeah - this lens ist great. I own two of them myself. It is a really sharp performer. But you should buy a hood because flare is quite an issue. And the lens is not so good for inside shots because of the minimum focus distance of 1,5 meters.

[Dodge]

Cheers for the hood advice Bono, sounds like a good plan. Can you recommend anything in particular?

I figured it wouldn't really be an indoor lens, but I shoot 99% outside so that's all good. I use a 50mm prime on the rare occasion I shoot inside.

[bono]

Try a folding out rubber hood. Don't use a petal hood because the front element rotates when you are zooming.

There is no dedicated lens hood for this lens - Minolta seems to have forgotten it...

[Hemisfear]

I use a rubber collapsible type and seems to work fine for me. I also use a CPL with this hood and it works great as well!

[PWhite214]

The rubber lens hoods are a wonderful innovation. I like the protection from knocks as well as the light control. Another plus is putting the rubber up against the glass at the zoo or aquiriams to cut out the glare and reflections. I tend to use them more than the hard hoods supplied with the lenses. Ebay is an excellent source for this type of accessory.

Phil