Minolta AF short zooms

[Lloydy]

which is best ?

35-70 / 4 Macro that's the compact one with 49mm filter thread, the 'mini beercan'

or...

28-85 / 3.5 4.5 Macro, which is the bigger one with 55mm filter thread

I already have the 35-70 and I like the size and the constant aperture, but I can get a 28-85 which has a slightly better range but it is bigger, a lot heavier and is slower.
I rarely use my Minolta AF stuff, so it's not crucial that I have the 28-85 unless it's so damn good that I keep both!

[eddieitman]

I have both of those lenses i can do a comparison if you like, the 28-85 is nice i prefer the 35-105 a much better lens.
Also a really nice lens is the 24-85

[Pontus]

The 24-50 is a very nice lens as well.

[montecarlo]

i don't have/use any of those lenses but judging just the range/speed i would say to stick to the one you have Better to buy eventually an UWA fix or zoom lens if you wand something wider. the 28-85 having wider range could also habe more distorsions at the wide end. On dyxum.com you could find some user reviews about there two lenses.

[Lloydy]

Dyxum is the first place I tried, it really is a good web site, but both lenses get great reviews ( fan boys ? ) and I'm sure they are both good. I have the AF 50 1.7, and the 35-70, then I have nothing until the 500mm AF Reflex, but the 28-85, although it has a greater range, doesn't go anywhere near filling the gap. But the lens is up for grabs on a nice Minolta 7000i - a camera I already have.
I'm kinda thinking ahead and hoping to drop on a cheap Sony digital DSLR so I can use these lenses more, so it's not a desperate situation. I think I'll stick with the 35-70, and if you have a need for a 7000i with a 28-85 check out the Marketplace, it'll probably be there very soon.

[eddieitman]

LLoydy i could definatly recommend to pickup an A700 a fantastic camera there is one on Dyxum for £225

[Lloydy]

That's a great camera, but they certainly hold their price. Tempting though.....