{"id":24511,"date":"2020-08-15T07:31:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-15T06:31:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=24511"},"modified":"2026-01-14T08:46:22","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T07:46:22","slug":"review-minolta-md-zoom-75-150mm-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-minolta-md-zoom-75-150mm-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Minolta MD Zoom 75-150mm 1:4"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Minolta MD 75-150mm f4 was released nearly 40 years ago but still it makes a good argument for a category of lenses which has nearly died out: Zooms with a limited range and slower speed.<\/p>\n

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Image Samples<\/h1>\n

You can find most images shown in the review in full resolution in this You can find many of the images shown here in full resolution in this flickr set: Minolta MD Zoom 75-150mm 1:4.<\/a>.<\/a><\/em>\u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

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Specifications<\/h1>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n63.6 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n114.7 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n59 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n438 g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n0.17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n1.2 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n12\/8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
The Minolta MD 4775-150 sells for around $70-100 at ebay.com<\/a> or 70-90\u20ac at ebay.de<\/a> (affiliate links). If you purchase the lens through one of these affiliate-links I get a small compensation with no additional cost to you.\u00a0<\/em><\/address>\n

Versions<\/h1>\n

There is just one version<\/a> of the Minolta MD Zoom 75-150mm 1:4 which was release in 1981 at the end of the SR-mount era.<\/p>\n

Build quality and handling<\/span><\/p>\n

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By today’s standards the Minolta 4\/75-150’s build quality is very good. If you compare it to earlier Minolta MC lenses though it feels not quite as nice. The barrel is made of metal, the focus ring is rubberized and has aged very well on my copy.<\/p>\n

The MD 4\/75-150 is a push-pull zoom. Because\u00a0 of the limited speed and zoom range that isn’t too annoying but still these have died for good reason. The focus and zoom ring<\/strong> turns with proper resistance but at least on my copy it is a little scratchy. Itring travels about 180\u00b0 from 1.2 m to infinity.<\/p>\n

The aperture ring<\/strong> can be adjusted in half-stops from f\/5.6, down to f\/32.There is no stop between f\/4 and f\/5.6. The aperture ring is made of plastics an has gathered quite a few scratches on my copy, unlike the rest of the lens. It also feels a bit tacky but the stops are distinctive.<\/p>\n

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Size and Weight<\/strong><\/h1>\n

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\nAt 438g the Minolta MD 75-150mm f\/4 is one of the lightest zooms I have ever used. It weights about half as much as a contemporary 4\/70-200<\/a>. It is also a lot smaller. That is one of it’s biggest strengths to me.<\/p>\n

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Sony FE 1.8\/85 | Minolta MD 4\/75-150 | Minolta MD 2.8\/135<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Optical performance<\/h1>\n

These results are based on the use with a Sony a7II and a7rII.<\/p>\n

Flare Resistance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Minolta lenses are known to be rather flare prone and the Minolta MD 4\/75-150 shows strong veiling flare and some ghosting. Modern lenses like the FE 4\/70-200 show less veiling flare but still even the best modern tele lenses are far from perfect in this regard.<\/p>\n

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Sunstars<\/h2>\n

The Minolta has only 6 aperture blades and therefore yield 6 pointed sunstars which aren’t well defined even at f\/11.<\/p>\n

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Bokeh<\/h2>\n

Since this isn’t the most important aspect for this lens I won’t go into detail too far but the Minolta’s bokeh is generally smooth with noticeable cat’s eyes and oof-highlights become hexagonal from f\/5.6.<\/p>\n