The Minolta Maxxum 70-210mm F4 was known as Minolta’s beercan lens.
It was named beercan lens for the fact that the zooming in and out did not change the length of the lens and was all performed internally. Besides that, with the caps on it looked like the size and shape of a large beercan.
It was probably one of the best consumer priced lenses ever built, which could produce the results of an 80-200mm F2.8 wedding lens, although, with slightly less bokeh and needing more light.
Sample Photos:
It’s greatest power is portraits at F4, but even for landscape photography, this lens is reliable all the way down to F32. Combine this with far superior lens coatings than any other lens I know.
It should not be compared to an apochromatic lens, since it will show purple fringing, especially noticeable, if used in combination with the Alpha 99 Mark II.
The lense consisted of twelve elements in nine groups and delivered f4 aperture throughout its full zoom range. A minimum focus distance of 1 meter was required, but could also be used as a distant macro lens. Also the 55mm filter diameter was of great benefit, one filter size fit many of Minolta’s A-Mount lenses.
This lens is maximum bang for the buck, even when compared to all previous, current and future lenses.
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