Maxxum 28-135mm f/4-4.5: Legendary Standard Zoom by Minolta

The Minolta Maxxum 28-135mm f/4-4.5 is one of the few elite lenses manufactured by Minolta that remain within reach of the average Minolta photo enthusiast. On par optically with the G series lenses, it isn't a cheap lens but is certainly an excellent value.  Like anything else in life, you get what you pay for!

The story on this lens is that it was manufactured at the same Japanese (Sakai) factory that Minolta built their APO and specialty lenses when the Maxxum line up was first introduced in 1986. Long since discontinued, at the time of its introduction it was the worlds' first rear internal focus lens. The lens is a beauty, both optically and in a physical sense. I am totally hooked on this lens and use it as my primary "go to" lens when I am outdoors. This is one of those classic Minolta lenses that prove the company knew how to make great (and innovative) glass back in the day. The three photos above were taken within an hour of each other, so you can see how versatile this lens is.  For these and more (hi-res) examples of photos taken with this lens, check out my gallery at flickrdotcom/photos/seagr112

For covering such a wide focal range, the lens is near flawless in its image reproduction. It is sharp, sharp, sharp, from wide open to stopped down. The 1st generation vintage build is solid and substantial. All metal, inside and out, and beautiful glass. Attached to my 7D/VC-7D, it is impressive and quite a handful - but it works. And it minimizes lens changes with its wide focal range. It is absolutely perfect as a travel lens and for working outdoors.

The numbers:

Weighted MTF for 28 mm: f4 0.76. f8 0.81
Weighted MTF for 60 mm: f4.2 0.78. f8 0.81
Weighted MTF for 135 mm: f4.5 0.70. f8 0.75
Average Weighted MTF: 0.77 Grade: 3.6

Data from Photodo.com

What do these numbers mean? The higher the scores, the better the contrast and resolution of the lens. A 3.6 grade is extremely good for a zoom lens. A grade above 4 is only seen in dedicated Macro lenses, the finest primes and some G series lenses. No other Minolta zooms compare to the 28-135. 

The Minolta 28-135mm:

Many of these lenses have crossed my desk in the past few years, and it surprises me how poorly cared for some copies have been.  Perhaps because of its size, weight and utility it has the potential to receive more wear and abuse, but what a shame! On the flipside, mine is near perfect and the zoom is tight with no creep whatsoever. Well used copies tend to get a little sloppy, especially with that heavy element up front. The rear (internal) AF is fast and unless you are zooming, the front element will stay stationary, which is handy for CPL use. The macro (1:4), like on most zooms, is less effective in comparison to a dedicated 1:1 macro, but it's there in a pinch if you need one and can do a pretty good job.

From a user perspective, the only "complaints" I have with the lens are its rather long close focusing distance (1.5m) which makes its use limited indoors and the (only) 28mm wide end that is just not wide enough when used on a DSLR. The 28mm becomes 42mm - hardly a wide angle! I have several wider primes to compensate  for this, and carry one with me if I think I'll need it. (My walkaround kit just got heavier!) To a lesser degree, the f/4-4.5 maximum aperture (I like my 2.8's) is a negative, but many wider aperture lenses need to be stopped down one to two stops to improve sharpness, whereas with this lens, it is sharp at any aperture.

The outside two photos below were taken at Tulum, a coastal archological site in Mexico on the Mayan Riviera, (1/2000, f/4.5, ISO 200) and the middle is poolside at the Iberostar Tucan in Playa Del Carmen (1/250, f/8, ISO 200). Ahhhh, the good life. Great bokeh on the first two, and nice depth on the third. All were super sharp, regardless of the aperture.

The 28-135mm f/4-4.5 was very expensive when released in 1985 and retailed for $600-800 new.  It is rumoured that even still, Minolta lost money on each lens produced. Today, some 20 years later, they run between $200 and $400 on Ebay, depending on the lens condition, truly a bargain in 2006 dollars. If the price of this lens dissuades you, the Minolta 28-85mm or 35-105mm f3.5-4.5's are decent compromises, but they are a compromise in terms of optics and range. They are an awesome value however. They have really fallen out of favor with the digital crowd as primes and nice zooms like this lens and the "Beercan" receive more attention. At the long end, the 135mm f2.8 is a comparable lens to the 28-135mm, but it is obviously faster,  a much lighter lens, closer focusing and a fixed prime. If you can find one, you'll pay a royal price for it, even on Ebay! And you are back to changing lenses more often.

Believe it or not, this fine lens was designed without a dedicated hood. Flare can be an issue when shooting into the sun or if it is just outside the image circle according to some reviewers. I have not found it to be much of a problem at all. Some users have found that on digital with the crop factor, a standard wide angle 72mm hood works fine with no light fall off in the corners. Others have used a step up ring and a 77mm or 82mm standard hood, rolled back when shooting at 28mm to prevent the possibility of vignetting. I just shoot without one.

Redesign this lens with a 20mm wide end, make it f/2.8, focus down to a couple feet and it would be perfect....oh, and call my banker - I'll need to get a mortgage while I'm at it. As it stands, this lens is still one of my favorites. It's versatile, a workhorse and a stellar performer. Highly recommended if it suits your needs, but like all other good Minolta glass, getting more expensive to procure with the popularity of digital. If you are in the market, search out a good one. The extra cost is worth it.

Update Spring 2008

Sony now lists for sale the CZ 24-70mm f/2.8 SSM zoom lens and it does meet most of my "ideal standard zoom" criteria excepting that it starts at 24mm rather than 20mm. This Calr Zeiss designed lens has a super close minimum focus and industry leading MTF (sharpness) results. It also incorporates a super fast and silent SSM autofocus motor inside the lens. It retails at $1750, so the 28-135 with its shortcomings is still quite a deal .

For the digital shooter, besides the optical performance, one of the nicest advantages of the 28-135mm lens is the wide focal range and convenience of minimizing lens changes (and sensor contamination) while retaining the sharp image reproduction of a prime lens. After you've found "spots" on your images from dust contamination on your CCD, a zoom starts to look mighty attractive. Finding one that doesn't force you into too much compromise, like the 28-135mm is a real bonus. Get one while you still can!

All location photos (and many more) can be viewed as high-res images on Flickr. Go to flickrdotcom/photos/seagr112

If you own this fine lens and would like to contribute photos to my Maxxum 28-135mm Group Photo Pool on Flickr or just check out the images, go to flickr dot com/groups/minolta_maxxum_28-135mm/

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