mike_l1 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Hi everybody! I'm trying to decied between Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2.8 Di Macro and the minolta AF D 100mm f/2.8 macro for the maxxum7/9. I've read good reviews compairing the Tamron Macro to a Canon and Nikon equivalent. I just haven't seen anything comparing it to the minolta. Anyone have an opinon on this? Is it worth paying the extra $100(US) for the minolta lens? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesdak Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Buy the Minolta if you can afford it. Outstanding lens! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_tuthill Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Excellent lens, great bokeh, can be used for portraiture. I borrowed one for a while but wasn't able to compare the Minolta 100/2.8 macro. Tamron Di reportedly supports Minolta ADI. If you get a D7, note that the Tamron's effective 135mm focal length might be more useful than the Minolta's effective 150mm focal length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrybc Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 There's a website out there (I'd post the url but I don't have it) where they showed comparison pics btwn the SP 90 and other macros, including the Maxxum 100/2.8. I couldn't tell the diff. btwn the Tamron and Minolta lenses. They both scored near or at the top. I would take whichever is cheapest, unless you also need 55mm filter compatibility (don't know what the Tamron's filter dia. is). BTW, I have the 100/2.8 macro and like it a lot. Larry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel_garcia5 Posted November 19, 2004 Share Posted November 19, 2004 Since we're talking about Minolta 100mm lenses, they also made a 100mm f2.0 lens which is suppose to be legendary. I myself don't have one but have heard alot of good things about it. But between the two I'd get the cheapest one, both fine lenses. Good Luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bsp1 Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 Hi, I have the Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro, and it is the best lens I have ever used. It's perfect for portraits, and superb for macro. I definitely recommend it. Bartek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_spence Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 You couldn't go wrong with either the Minolta or the Tamron. I have the slightly older first generation Tamron SP (not the Di). It is a superb lens and I would recommend it highly to anyone looking for a macro. The lens is compact, lightweight --and most importantly to me-- is very smooth when manually focusing. Image quality is excellent. The push/pull focusing clutch on the Tamron that disengages the focusing ring from turning in AF is also a nice feature. No lens compatibility issues (I've heard of some Sigma lenses being problematic) either. Again, I am basing this on my older version of the lens. I would assume the Di is the same lens with distance encoding built in for the newer Minolta cameras. As for the difference in price, I doubt any of us could be of any real help to you there. I would, however, suggest you get a RC-1000S remote cord for the triggering the shutter, a VERY useful accessory for macro with a tripod mounted camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m.l Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 I have the so-called legendary Minolta 100/2 lens. And I can only say that the sharpness is uncomparable (as tests also indicate). On top of that the lens is very compact and has the F/2! You would lose the macro capability, though. On a 7D this would lead to a 150/2 lens. Certainly no useless lens, in my opinion! But, I guess that you can't go wrong with either of these three lenses. Just buy the cheapest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie_shammas Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 I would agress that Minolta's 100mm macro is a very fine lens. Here are some examples taken with this lens, all handheld and some with a ring flash. Note the creamy bokeh. http://voronoi.sbp.ri.cmu.edu/~eshammas/minolta/lenses/king/ Elie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike_l1 Posted November 20, 2004 Author Share Posted November 20, 2004 Thanks for all the responses. It sound's like i'm going to lean for the Tamron Di...I just finished reading Paul Davies "The complete guide to close-up and macro photography" and in this book he also praises older Tamron SP. Although if I come across the 100mm minolta macro for about the same price I think I will lean toward the minolta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_kennedy1 Posted November 20, 2004 Share Posted November 20, 2004 I had to make the same agonizing decision about six months ago and ultimately went with the Minolta 100mm f/2.8 Macro. I have been extremely pleased with the the lens. It's the sharpest I own, even sharper then my 50mm f/1.7. Though from my research, I'm sure I'd have been just as pleased with the Tamron 90 SP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan_dzo Posted November 21, 2004 Share Posted November 21, 2004 I've got both. The Tamron is slightly sharper but the build quality in the Minolta is better. The Tamron length is slightly better for portraits.Can't go wrong with either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_k3 Posted November 23, 2004 Share Posted November 23, 2004 Only after acquisition of 7D, I have some better shots with Minolta 100/2.8 Here is one http://www.pbase.com/herbridgemo/image/36685689 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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