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From: ems@amdahl.UUCP (ems)
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: How sharp are Minolta lenses
Message-ID: <2625@amdahl.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 13:43:38 EST
Article-I.D.: amdahl.2625
Posted: Wed Jan 22 13:43:38 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Jan-86 08:28:46 EST
Organization: Circle C Shellfish Ranch, Shores-of-the-Pacific, Ca
Lines: 31
Keywords: Maxxum Minolta lens sharpness

Well, I went and did it.  I bought a new camera.  My Canon FT QL is
now sitting forlorn and lonely on the shelf next to the stable
of lenses that fit it.  I have a new mistress, the Minolta Maxxum 7000.

(I will still keep and use the Canon.  It has served my well and will
 be a great back-up camera;  but after 16 years, it deserves a rest.)

But I digress.  What I would like to ask of the net is this:  Does
anyone have data on the relative sharpness of the different Maxxum
lenses?  As of now there are no aftermarket lenses, though I have
heard this will change about April.  But for now, I need more than
the 35-70 f/4 zoom that I bought with the body.  I talked with a
local camera shop and they stated that the 50mm f/1.4 was *sharper*
than the 50mm f/1.7 !!  And claimed the 24mm was the sharpest.
The f/1.7 is about $58 and the f/1.4 is about $150 locally at
discount stores.  Does the extra cash buy an all around superior
product?

My hope is to avoid buying a bunch of lenses just to find out
that I would have been better served by concentrating my money
in one or two higher priced lenses.  i.e. If the 50mm f/1.4
is really both faster *AND* sharper, I would buy it.  If it
is only faster, I would take the f/1.7 for sharpness and use
my Canon f/1.2 for seeing in the dark ....

I am also interested in the 70-200 f/4ish zoom.  Does anyone have
any particular advice/experience with the Maxxum lenses?
-- 
E. Michael Smith  ...!{hplabs,ihnp4,amd,nsc}!amdahl!ems

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