{"id":877,"date":"2015-07-03T09:05:50","date_gmt":"2015-07-03T08:05:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=877"},"modified":"2026-01-14T08:50:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T07:50:57","slug":"minolta-md-zoom-35-70mm-3-5-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/minolta-md-zoom-35-70mm-3-5-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Minolta MD Zoom 35-70mm 1: 3.5 – Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"MD3570\"<\/a><\/h1>\n

The Minolta MD 35-70mm 1:3.5 is\u00a0an very affordable, light weight zoom with a very good performance\u00a0in a limited but handy focal range<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h1>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n69 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n68.5\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n55mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n365g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n0.1
\n0.25\u00a0(Macro Mode)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n80cm
\n33cm (Macro Mode)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n8\/7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/address>\n
Price<\/strong> (June 2015): $80-120 in good condition.
\nCheck current prices\u00a0at\u00a0ebay.de<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/strong>ebay.com<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate links).
\nAlso check out my Minolta SR-mount adapter guide<\/a>.<\/em><\/address>\n
\n

Image Samples<\/h1>\n
\"winterfarben3\"
Sony a7 | 70mm |f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"magical<\/a>
Sony a7 | 35mm |f\/11<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"the<\/a>
Sony a7 | 50mm |f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/address>\n

<\/p>\n

You can find some\u00a0more samples in this flickr set: Minolta MD 3.5\/35-70.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/address>\n

Versions<\/h1>\n
\"The<\/a>
The 1:4 Macro switch can only be found on the third\u00a0version<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minolta made three\u00a0different 3.5\/35-70 lenses<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The\u00a0Minolta MD\u00a0Zoom Rokkor 35-70mm 1:3.5\u00a0<\/strong>was introduced in 1978. Leica used the same optics for their\u00a0Vario-Elmar-R 35-70mm f\/3.5. Short focusing distance is 1m.<\/li>\n
  2. The\u00a0Minolta MD\u00a0Zoom 35-70mm 1:3.5\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>dropped the Rokkor from the name plate and the zoom mechanism looks different.<\/li>\n
  3. The\u00a0Minolta MD\u00a0Zoom 35-70mm 1:3.5<\/strong>\u00a0was introduced in 1983, it has a short focusing distance of 80cm and a 1:4 macro mode.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    I have never used the first and second version but Stephan from artaphot.ch\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0found that the\u00a0first\u00a0version was clearly inferior<\/a> to the second\u00a0version and I would assume that the second and third version are the same optically.<\/p>\n

    Since there is only a small price difference between the second and third version I would recommend to buy the third version because of the handy 1:4 Macro mode. Stay away from the first “Rokkor” version.<\/p>\n

    Build quality and handling<\/h1>\n
    \"Minolta_3570mm\"<\/a>
    The Minolta MD 3.5\/35-70 on my Sony Alpha 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    By today’s standards the built quality is very good but compared to the best manual lenses it isn’t that good. The Minolta 3.5\/35-70\u00a0feels a little plasticky.<\/p>\n

    The barrel and the mount are\u00a0made from metal and anything else is made from plastics or glass. The zoom ring and the aperture ring feel a little cheap.<\/p>\n

    The lens is not a push-pull zoom but it has a dedicated zoom-ring.<\/p>\n

    Focusing Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The focusing ring\u00a0travels around 10\u00a0degrees\u00a0from 80cm \u00a0to 1m and a further 90\u00a0degrees to infinity.<\/p>\n

    The focusing ring\u00a0is\u00a0quite\u00a0smooth, resistance is\u00a0just right.<\/p>\n

    Aperture<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The aperture ring\u00a0has full\u00a0stops from f\/3.5 to f\/5.6 and f\/16 to f\/22 and half stops\u00a0from f\/5.6 to f\/16.<\/p>\n

    The aperture ring is made from plastics\u00a0and clicks quite nicely.<\/p>\n

    The lens has 7\u00a0straight aperture blades.<\/p>\n

    Hood<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \"Minolta_3570mm-3\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    The original hood is rather small and\u00a0protects the front element without adding too much size. It is made from plastic, feels solid enough and attaches firmly to the lens.<\/p>\n

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

    The 3.5\/35-70 is a medium sized lens. It is well balanced when used on the Sony a7, adding a L-bracked<\/a>\u00a0improves the balance further.<\/p>\n

    The lens is a little (5mm) wider than a typical 1.4\/50 lens and 25mm longer. At 365g it is also about 100g heavier.<\/p>\n

    Filters<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The filter thread is made from metal and the front element does turn when the lens is focused.<\/p>\n

    The Macro Mode<\/h1>\n

    The lens has a very long short focusing distance of 80cm, most 35mm primes are at 30cm and most 50mm lenses at 45cm so they offer a much higher magnification.<\/p>\n

    But the lens also has a macro mode. You activate a switch and turn the zoom ring behind the 70mm marking and the image is magnified. So at shorter distances you can focus with the zoom ring.<\/p>\n

    Optical performance<\/h1>\n

    These results are based on the use with a Sony Alpha 7.<\/p>\n

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

    Flare resistance is better than I expected from a 1980’s zoom lens.
    \nThere is some\u00a0contrast loss when\u00a0a bright light source is in the image but the images remain usable with minor processing, I have seen much worse.
    \nGhosting is\u00a0very well controlled.<\/p>\n

    \"Minolta<\/a>
    The sun just out of the frame would have caused much more veiling with other lenses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Minolta
    35mm | f\/11 | no ghosting<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Bokeh<\/h2>\n

    At \u00a0f\/3.5 bokeh is a bit distracting because blur circles\u00a0have a defined brighter edge.<\/p>\n

    \"Bokeh35\"<\/a>
    f\/3.5<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Bokeh56\"<\/a>
    f\/5.6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    At f\/5.6\u00a0the blur circles have a much less defined edge but they are now\u00a0take the shape of the aperture with it’s seven not rounded blades.<\/p>\n

    I prefer to stop down to f\/5.6 because I find the bokeh at f\/3.5 too distracting. For images with nicely blurred backgrounds there are fo course nicer lenses<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Chromatic Aberrations<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Lateral chromatic aberrations are moderately well controlled at 35mm, well ontrolled at 50mm and more or less not visible at 70mm.<\/p>\n

    Axial chromatic aberrations (“bokeh fringing”) \u00a0can be\u00a0visible at\u00a0f\/3.5<\/p>\n

    Distortion<\/h3>\n

    At 35mm there is a moderate amount of barrel distortion<\/p>\n

    \"Minolta<\/a><\/p>\n

    At 50mm<\/a> there is almost no distortion and at 70mm<\/a> there is a slight amount of pincushion distortion.<\/p>\n

    Sharpness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    35mm<\/strong><\/h1>\n
    \"Minolta<\/a>
    click for full resolution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    f\/3.5:<\/strong> The center and midframe region\u00a0show very good sharpness and a little reduced contrast, the corners are soft with some coma.<\/p>\n

    f\/5.6:\u00a0<\/strong>Contrast and sharpness are high across most of the frame now.
    \nWhile the far corners remains soft right next to it sharpness is quite good actually.<\/p>\n

    f\/8:<\/strong> Some improvement in the corners.<\/p>\n

    f\/11:\u00a0<\/strong>The center is a little less sharp,\u00a0only the very last few pixels of the corners are unsharp.<\/p>\n

    50mm<\/strong><\/h1>\n
    \"Minolta<\/a>
    click for full resolution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    f\/3.5:<\/strong>The lens is sharp across the frame with only a little corner softening. Contrast is a bit lower.<\/p>\n

    f\/5.6:\u00a0<\/strong>Center and midframe region are very sharp, the corners are sharp. Contrast is good.<\/p>\n

    f\/8:<\/strong>\u00a0The lens is sharp as a prime across the frame.<\/p>\n

    f\/11:\u00a0<\/strong>The corners improve a tiny bit, the center is a little bit softer.<\/p>\n

    70mm<\/strong><\/h1>\n
    \"Minolta<\/a>
    click for full resolution<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    f\/3.5:<\/strong>A little weaker than at 50mm:\u00a0<\/strong>Contrast is lower and sharpness is okay.<\/p>\n

    f\/5.6:\u00a0<\/strong>Center and midframe region are very sharp, the corners are sharp. Contrast is good.<\/p>\n

    f\/8:<\/strong>\u00a0The lens is sharp as a prime across the frame.<\/p>\n

    f\/11:\u00a0<\/strong>The corners improve a tiny bit, the center is a little bit softer.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Alternatives<\/h1>\n