Minolta has produced very technically advanced and as result – very famous lenses with a 24mm focal distance. Here is a friendly battle between the three of some of them. (more…)
Minolta MD 24mm 1:2.8 VFC – vintage manual lens test and review
Official classification: New-MD
Collector’s classification: MD III
Once upon a time, this site was created to make reviews for all existing rectilinear and non-special Minolta New-MD lenses. This goal has been achieved – all 21 are presented on the site. But why not continue with other lenses and maybe with other labels? This review is the first of its kind.
Important note:
this review doesn’t contain tests of Variable Field Curvature -‘VFC’ feature of this lens. It will be done later. Here you can get information about how this lens works in normal mode. Welcome (more…)
VFC lenses are rare and not common guests in comparisons, so, the article probably may be interesting not for photographers only but for researches too.
This comparison is correct only for conditions and equipment used for tests. Test results may differ if any element is changed.
Tested lenses reviews:
Minolta MD 24mm 1:2
Minolta MD VFC 24mm 1:2.8
Serial:
3115101
8001416
Optical Condition:
Near Mint
Near Mint
Mechanical Condition:
Near Mint
Near Mint
Cosmetic Condition:
Near Mint
Near Mint
Test description
Camera Sony A7II (24mpx, full frame) – RAW (ARW), tripod, A-mode, ISO 100, WB fixed, SteadyShot OFF, manual focus correction for every shot
Targets (buildings) – fixed by gravity power on the distances in more than 200 meters
Field curvature control on Minolta MD VFC 24mm f/2.8 is set in the center position because with any other settings for this scene the corners will be out of DOF.
Both lenses – Minolta MD VFC 24mm F2.8 and Minolta MD 24mm F2.8 – work almost similar at the center and middle. But in corners the non-VFC version shows a much better result – it becomes ready for landscapes on F5.6 or even maybe on F4 and it is totally sharpened over the whole frame at F8. But the older and much more expensive VFS can’t approach full sharpness over the frame even at diapason up to F16. The newer optical design of New-MD 24mm 1:2.8 has won by IQ. Anyway, the price of VFC looks reasonable at least because of the fact that only two lenses in the Universe have existed with this ability (Variable Field Curvature) and both of them – Minolta.