Mid FL range zoom recommendations please

[Roka]

I greatly prefer primes but I acknowledge that zooms have their place for things like traveling light. I've recently bought a couple of telephoto zooms in the approximately 70-210mm range. I'd also like to get a zoom for the shorter FL range of say 28-70mm. I'm not fixed on that range, I'm just looking for something to complement the telephoto zoom. Can anyone give me some recommendations? I'd like to stay in the < $100 range. Any mount is fine.

[jamaeolus]

Get the minolta AF 28-85, or wow so many good zooms available from minolta that will work on your camera and have AF as well and are dirt cheap. (assuming you have the LEA3 or 4 E to A adapter. I just looked the 28-85 is like 20 dollars on ebay. Canon FD 35-70 are well regarded as are the MD minoltas

[TrueLoveOne]

+ 1 on Minolta, there's also the manual MD version of that 28-85, i was a fan of the Tokina AT-X 28-85 (still a good lens, don't get me wrong!) but after i had used the MD 28-85 i sold the AT-X.

Tamron Adaptall series have some great zooms as well. There's also a very nice Komine/Vivitar S1 28-90, but that is rather big and heavy.

[miran]

Also the 35-105 Minolta is very good. I have the first AF version and I liked it so much I bought a second copy after I dropped and broke the first one.

[PhantomLord]

I second recommendation of TrueLoveOne with Vivitar Series 1 28-90/2.8-3.5 it's a great lens, although a bit more difficult to focus for me. If you would be happy with a bit shorter range I strongly recommend Tamron SP 01A 35-80/2.8-3.8, it's astonishing lens that delivers fantastic, sharp photos and could be obtained reasonably priced.
For my last mountain trip I took Vivitar Series 1 24-48/3.8 lens for a short end and I could honestly recommend this one as well as a great lens.

I cannot say anything about Minolta lenses as I never had one, but I had Tokina AT-X 28-85 and it was very mediocre, however I think that I just had a bad copy. I also cannot recommend Tamron SP 27A 28-80 as it was far behind aforementioned 35-80, as well as Kiron 28-85 supposedly good lens was quite mediocre. Have in mind, however that I just might had bad copies of those last two.

[Roka]

Thanks for the recommendations. I looked for a Minolta MD 35-70mm f/4 but the ones in good condition are more than I really want to spend. I found a couple of Minolta MD 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 macro that are in good condition and more affordable. I read both good and not so good things about that lens (like most of the lenses I research.)

Also thanks for the recommendations on the AF lenses but I don't have the adapters I'd need and really prefer MF lenses.

[WNG555]

I second the Tamron SP 01A, it's noticeably better than the Tokina AT-X 28-85. Another mediocre zoom is the Tokina RMC 28-70 f/4. Edges are soft and smudged.

[cooltouch]

[Roka]

Thanks again for the recommendations. After looking at what's currently available I ended up buying a Minolta MD 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 macro. I'll let you know what I think after I receive it and get a chance to try it out.

[cooltouch]

Chances are, you'll like the lens, provided that the variable aperture doesn't bother you too much. I checked it out on eBay and was surprised to find that it sells for a pretty good chunk of change. Geez, good Minolta mf lenses sure aren't cheap, are they?

I also googled it to see what I could find. Among the google results was a thread that was started right here at mflenses a couple of years ago. It contains some good info you might find useful.

http://forum.mflenses.com/minolta-md-28-85-reviews-are-needed-t65111.html

Here is a three page test on Minolta 35mm lenses in which the 28-85 was included and used at 35mm. It's worth the read.

http://www.rokkorfiles.com/35mm%20Page%201.htm

[Roka]