Long, Lovable, Lengendary- 70-210mm F4 "Beercan"
Posted on: Tue, 04/22/2008 - 2:23am
Online
Long, Lovable, Lengendary- 70-210mm F4 "Beercan"
The venerable, popular, inexpensive, relatively fast, and metal....Minolta 70-210mm f4 has quite a dedicated following with A-Mount fans. AMW now has its hands on its first copy and before the cheap seats start screaming "its about time!", I've taken precaution to hold steady onto my chair.
Let it be known first that this short article is not intended to break new ground in news or review format, rather, to pay tribute to the legendary piece of glass known affectionately as the "Beercan".
All I have read is pretty much true about this lens. It is long, pretty heavy (695gms) and built like a tank. My first impressions were that the zoom ring and focus ring operate much smoother than previously imagined, and I really like that it is an internal zoom lens as well (if it wasn't I'd poke an eye out several feet away I'm sure). The fact that it is f-4 at 210mm is another well known bonus as is its relatively good 1:4 magnification ratio. This lens also sports a very popular 55mm filter size, but know that the front element does rotate when focusing making circular polarizers a bit of a pain to use if you insist on using one on this lens (personally I wouldn't).
Some will be happy to know that the new generation of Alpha DSLRS transform this lens into a pretty fast focusing piece of glass after all. At only 8 full screw turns this lens actually is much faster focusing than many of the newer more budget zoom lenses out there, but with the added bonus of better image quality all around for its range.
For those of you who still do not have a Beercan, please consider this Minolta legend in your quest for a nice all around zoom lens.
I look forward to sharing more of my personal experiences, and images with this wonderful lens very soon.
Cheers Minolta fans!
-Carl
__________________
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
I can't wait till you post some images and your experience with it in the field. You should enjoy this lens quite a bit I would imagine...
Now you have to go after it's big brother; the Big Beercan...but all in good time. Check out the couple I've posted a few days ago using the Big Beercan on my A100 from a few months back. Makes me think that I have to get it mounted on the A700 and see what it can really do...
Again, welcome to the club...getting the Beercan, now people will know you are finally serious about Sony ;-)...
Hapster
"That's why its called fishing...if it was easy they'd call it catching. What fun would that be?"
A100 / A700+Grip: Sony 18-70, Minolta: 20/2.8, 50/1.7, 35-70/4, 70-210/4(Beercan), 75-300/4.5-5.6(Big Beercan), Sigma: 50/2.8 Macro. HVL56, other assorted junk...
Pretty much as expected - and I definitely agree about the smooth zoom. My focus is smooth, but I can definitely feel the gears turning, unlike newer SSM/STF lenses...I guess some really dislike the feeling that SSM manual focusing gives, but I don't :)
Interested in trying out a lens or using some G glass?
Now Available - 300/2.8 HS G, 70-300 G, 24-70 CZ, s18-50/2.8, t200-500/5-6.3, a700
http://www.AlphaLensRental.com
My first impressions were that the zoom ring and focus ring operate much smoother than previously imagined,
That was my impression too. I actually found the zoom ring a bit too smooth. Maybe I'm just used to the noticeably stiffer Tamron 17-50 and kit lens.
LOL Hapster (now people will know you are finally serious about Sony ;-)...
Its an interesting and odd lens in a way (manual focusing) but it has this magical quality about it that grows on you (the sharpness is dynamite!).
I have a few more Minolta items that would probably blow you away actually, but I won't spill the beans, just yet!
Carl
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
Same with my copy, gears ablaze :).
I love the SSM stuff, crazy good. When are you going to donate a 70-200G SSM to AMW? LOL J/K!
Carl
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
The Tamron 17-50 is smooth and nice in a Tamron sort of way, I really like it.
The Minolta Lenses really feel like they are on ball bearings, some are too fast, and some slightly dampened (which I really like). So smooth they give you the impression of costing much much more.
I like the fact that there is little "play" in the Minolta lenses.
Carl
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
Agreed. I'm not sure I'm a big fan of the Beercan's 'on ball-bearings' feel though. I always feel like I'm going to change the zoom when I really don't want to. Overall, I do love the Beercan. I look at it and go: "I never knew what good bokeh was, till I met you!" It has definitely given me the "Minolta Bug". Now I need more!
Best,
-Carlos.
PS I hope you don't mind me calling you 'Carl'. I certainly don't mind you calling me Carlos.
Interesting on the zoom :)
Yep the bokeh seems really nice. I had the same experience with the 135mm STF. :) Not a fair comparison there to be sure, but in the ballpark.
Carl
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
Hi Carl
Glad that AMW now have a Beercan. It's a great lens and truly deserving of it's praise! As far as the zooming goes I really like it. When I am taking photos at Santa Pod (my local drag racing strip) I really like the ability to be able to zoom in and out so easily. That sure helps when tracking a fast car! My mate does a lot of shooting at Santa Pod and uses canon gear, and whilst nice I just can't get on with the Push Pull zoom on his 100-400- he even commented on how nice the Beercan was when he borrowed it to have a play!
Anyway, glad you like it- you'll have fun for sure.
Cheers
Andrew
Andrew
Head Waiter: AlphaMountWorld.com
Oops. I said that.
:)
Carl
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
I had my old Minolta lenses sitting in a case with my Maxxum 7000 for several years as I had gotten away from photography but kept the gear.
I got back in when the Grand kids go into so many sporting activities. Starting with a point and shoot Olympus C60, then a Kodak Z7590, then a P712, all of
which had to much shutter lag for what I wanted to do. I decided to jump on the DSLR wagon when I learned that with the Sony Alpha series I could dust
off the old lens gear and put them back to use.
I started there with the A-100 a year ago and certainly no regrets. Great camera which I still have. With the rave reviews on the A-700, I had to do it as BB
had that blowout on them for under $900.
I am certainly not the photographer that many/most of you are, but the A-700 is so user friendly, and the Beercan covers such a range of photo opportunity.
Great combo and the Beercan is to blame for all of this crazyness.
Should I pour the beer out of it?
Minolta Maxxum 7000, Sony A-100, Sony A-700 Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7, Sony AF 18-70mm DT f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Macro, Sony 18-250mm, Minolta AF 35-70mm f/4 Zoom, Minolta AF 70-210 f.4 Zoom
Irvine, CA
yesterday i discovered a small camera shop and found they were selling a multitude of second hand minolta lenses all in pretty good condition. One caught my eye, it was the legendary "Beercan". They were selling it for £79 and the outside condition looked very good barely any marks or scratches, in the heat of the moment i decided to buy it.
When i got home to my horror i noticed some fungus on the inside of the lens, so i took it back today, they said they could get it cleaned locally for me and then mail it to me in around a fortnight. All done for free on the 6 month guarantee.
What do you think? Can fungus in the lens be cleaned succesfully or should i get a refund and try and find another one.
cheers
baz
Guess it depends on the shop and how capable they are, or the service center they are sending it too.
Personally, I would get a refund and shop elsewhere for one.
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
has any one heard of the 35-70 F4 being called the mini beercan or is this rubbish , about to buy the beercan and the 35-70 for $180 so i hope they are both good
Cheers Dave
and can say that the small number of times that I have used the 35-70/4 the results have been very good. I probably should use it more than I do...
Getting both (good copies) for $180 is a pretty good price - considering the Beercan itself is going for more than that...
Hapster
"That's why its called fishing...if it was easy they'd call it catching. What fun would that be?"
A100 / A700+Grip: Sony 18-70, Minolta: 20/2.8, 50/1.7, 35-70/4, 70-210/4(Beercan), 75-300/4.5-5.6(Big Beercan), Sigma: 50/2.8 Macro. HVL56, other assorted junk...
Looked quite a bit alike.
The 24-50 F4, could be called a mini beer can, but it does not have internal zoom.
What sets the beercan apart is the internal zoom and constant f4 aperture, mechanically. Optically, hard to beat.
Carl
-AlphaMountWorld Chef
"Everyone please stay out of the kitchen, mad chef at work"
Cheers for the advice and quick response carl, at the moment i'm waiting for the beercan to be cleaned and should have it in two weeks. The retailers seem to be honest blokes and if the cleaning job done isn't satisfactory i can still return it for a refund and shop elsewhere, fingers crossed they've done a good job.