The 100mm f2.8 AF macro lens was one of my earliest purchases. At the time, my focus was on documenting my garden. I wanted nice flower pics, and the only lens I owned was an AF 50mm 1.7. The 7000i that I had recently bought came with two mediocre lenses, so I needed an upgrade. Gardening magazines are full of beautiful floral images, and I wanted to make my own flower portraits. A now-defunct website, MaxxumEyes, which was my go-to site for Maxxum advice, raved about the AF 100mm f2.8. Additional research yielded more positive reviews, so the 100mm f2.8 macro found its way to my collection.
In 2019, 100mm 2.8 macro lenses were not as easily had as they are today. It took weeks and a few lost auctions before I landed one. Looking back, I must have really wanted this lens because my budget for lenses was 35.00 (not much, I know, but at the time I only planned to photograph a few flowers each year). The 100mm 2.8 macro cost nearly 200.00, and I felt lucky to grab it.
Technical Specs
Released in 1986 for the Maxxum camera series, the 100 mm f2.8 macro was one of the first AF (if not the first) macro lenses. According to Ken Rockwell, the Minolta 100mm AF was the first AF with 1:1 magnification without any accessories. It wasn’t until 1990 that Canon and Nikon matched its capability.
There are four versions: the original (1986), the RS (restyled) from 1993, the D version (2000), and the final Sony version in 2006. All are optically identical. The lens is known for its sharpness and can double as a portrait lens. It has an MFD of 13.6 inches and a 55mm filter size. The aperture ranges from f2.8 to f32. All versions weigh about 18 oz.
Buying
On Dyxum, the lens has a high rating with an overall score of more than 4.8/5 for all versions. The main difference between is in construction, not optics. More plastic was added over the production run. Even so, they are quite sturdy. The price of this lens has dropped significantly since 2019, and good copies can be had from 120.00 and up. The D version will cost closer to 200.00 and is harder to find. The RS version seems to be the most readily available model.
Images
One caveat when using this lens is that one must be mindful of the depth of field. At the maximum aperture of f2.8, the DoF is very narrow, so extra care has to be taken when focusing and shooting. The narrow DoF can cause issues with blur caused by camera shake. The image of the Minolta X-570 camera shows how narrow the DoF can be. I learned the DoF lesson the hard way. Shooting with 100 ISO film resulted in a lot of blurred images due to camera shake. Often, I was shooting at apertures of f4 or less in light shade in the garden. It wasn’t until I better understood DoF and using macro lenses that I became more confident using the lens for macro shots. For regular photos, the DoF has not been a problem.
Since early 2019, I have shot a lot of images with this lens. Those included here were made with an assortment of film and camera types, demonstrating the versatility of this lens.
Impression
My essential impression of this lens is, “WOW.” I definitely had second thoughts after paying so much for the first copy, but once I saw those initial photos, all was well. It works beautifully on digital cameras, as well as with color and black-and-white film. The sharpness of this lens has not been exaggerated. It can yield tack-sharp images in the right light and under the right circumstances if you are mindful of DoF issues. Last summer, I began using the MD 100mm f2.5 lens and discovered that the 100mm focal length can be useful outside of the studio. Thus far, I have mostly relegated the 100mm macro to the garden and studio, but I could easily see taking it out for other purposes.
In terms of size and weight, it is only slightly larger than the 35-105mm AF (1985) and the 28-105mm AF (1992), both of which I have used for walkabouts. At 18 oz, the lens plus a camera can be weighty, but I have found it to work quite well on my Maxxum 5 and Maxxum 70, which are lightweight. Early on, my main issue with carrying the lens around for everyday shooting was the danger of losing or damaging it. My budget could not support a second one. Now that prices have dropped and I have two, I will be more adventurous.
Looking back over the last six years (has it really been six?!?), I am developing favorites, many unexpected. When I bought a 70-210mm Beercan six years ago, I was all-in for zooms. These days, I’m finding new love for the 100mm FL, both the MD 100mm 2.5 and the 100mm 2.8. I’ve made many images with the 100mm 2.8 macro, and I see many more in my future. Hands down, it ranks as my best lens purchase. Try one and see for yourself.
