Minolta Tele Rokkor 30cm f4.5

     The Minolta Tele Rokkor 30cm f4.5 is capable of producing high quality images if you are willing to remember a few very important things.  Shoot at f5.6 or higher.  F8 is a good choice.  Use a sturdy tripod with a strong head.  This lens is long and heavy.  Remember that this lens is designed for long distance work and subject isolation.   It's not a good choice for candids, sports or landscapes.  My Eos M3 looks tiny attached to the Minolta Tele Rokkor 30cm f4.5.   Focusing can be a chore because the lens is a 470mm on sub frame bodies. Camera shake is difficult to avoid.   The shots below were taken with the lens resting on a bean bag and shuuter speeds of 1/640th or higher.   The focus ring is beautifully dampened and silky smooth.   The tripod ring is adjustable .   It has a built in hood which extends far enough to block any stray light.  Sharpness is very good at f5.6 but fringing can be seen if you are a pixel peeper.  The fringing is a simple color shift and easily corrected.  It is unlikely that it could be seen in 8x10 prints.   At f8 it is very sharp and fringing is not an issue.   F4.5 is a bit soft.  Bokeh is very pleasing and smooth.  Subject isolation is excellent.  Color rendition is accurate.   Contrast is excellent at all apertures.  Shadow detail is decent but don't expect a Zeiss Sonnar's performance.  Black & white rendition is very good.  If you have the time and patience to set up a blind, you could get some nice wildlife images with the Tele Rokkor 30cm f4.5.