Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Zoom vs MD 35-70mm 1:3.5 Zoom vs MD 28mm 1:3.5 – comparison

Published by Tony on 2018-09-182018-09-18

Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Zoom comparison with other lenses.

• Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Zoom Macro (MD III)
• Minolta MD 28mm 1:3.5 (MD III)
• Minolta MD 35-70mm 1:3.5 Zoom Macro (MD III)

This is a set of non-expensive and very common lenses. There is no need to pay a lot of money if all that is needed – is a good photo.

This comparison is correct only for conditions and equipment used for tests. Test results can differ if any element is changed.

Tested lenses reviews

Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Zoom comparison with other lenses – sharpness

Long-distance test description

• Camera Sony A7II (24mpx, full frame) – RAW (ARW), tripod, A-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot OFF, manual focus correction for every shot
• Targets (buildings) – fixed by gravity power on the distances in more than 200 meters
• ARW post-processing – Capture One, default settings, 100% crops 300×200 px

Focal distance 28mm

Scene preview (28mm)

28mm – Test results

Focal distance 35mm

35mm – Scene preview

35mm – Test results

Focal distance 50mm

50mm – Scene preview

50mm – Test results

Focal distance 70mm

70mm – Scene preview

70mm – Test results

Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Zoom comparison with other lenses – final conclusion

The target of the tests was an understanding of how the cheapest MD 28-70/3.5-4.8 looks against other lenses. Competitors were selected because we know that MD 35-70/3.5 and 28/3.5 both are great performers, and not expensive for today. Of course, it wasn’t difficult to see the winners.

• 28mm: as expected, prime lens Minolta MD 28/2.8 is better overall.
• 35mm: ‘zoom vs zoom’ start fighting is here, and Minolta MD 35-70/3.5 is the winner. Not a big difference in the center, but it won’t help for MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 because middle position needs to be closed up to F5.6, and corners aren’t good on any apertures.
• 50mm: no changes – center, and middle of MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 can be called as the same with MD 35-70/3.5 after F5.6, but corners are really bad anywhere
• 70mm: MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 is good in the center from F5.6, in the middle – from F8, and don’t ask me about corners on any apertures.

For all cases, MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 is losing if wide opened.

Finally: this MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 just a cheap zoom lens and it can’t compete with more serious lenses. But, to be honest, I hoped to find more difference between unpopular MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 and famous gem MD 35-70/3.5 and also with prime MD 28/3.5, so results of the MD 28-70/3.5-4.5 really looks better than expected.