Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

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shoevarek
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p.1 #1 · Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

Recently I have baught Minolta 85 G D f1.4 lens. It is in great cosmetic shape but I have noticed that A900 with that lens on hunts for focus quite a lot. It is somehow unpredictable. I checked all my other lenses, and older 85 version, in the same light conditions and haven't seen such behavior.

On dyxum review site few people mentioned difficulty to focus in dim light. I wonder if anyone here had the same experiences. What worries me is that my old version 85 focuses just fine. On the other hand the lens is in great shape and it would be sad to return it. If there would be some simple and inexpensive adjustment, in camera AF settings perhaps

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Nov 05, 2009 at 04:01 AM

helimat
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p.1 #2 · Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

Fast glass can be hard on an AF system, due to the small DOF while focusing wide open. Are your other lenses as fast?

Nov 05, 2009 at 04:10 AM

goodwrench
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p.1 #3 · Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

Mine doesn't hunt. It's the 85 1.4 G RS.

Garth

Nov 05, 2009 at 04:51 AM

shoevarek
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p.1 #4 · Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

I have old version of Minolta 85 f1.4 which seems to focus without problem. I tried to set AF speed to slow but it did not help much.

Nov 05, 2009 at 05:51 AM

JimU
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p.1 #5 · Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

i got RS & a900. in normal light its extremely extremely accurate, even on moving subjects.

in low contrast situations, AF is pointless. the focusing ring is so smooth, i just use MF.

it'd be nice to have an accurate 85 but I think I'd rather have a hunting RS than accurate 85 O.

Nov 05, 2009 at 06:25 PM

shoevarek
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p.1 #6 · Minolta 85 f1.4 Focusing

I started messing with camera settings and I managed to beat the system - knock on wood

. Funny thing is that now lens works correctly even with settings I had dialed in originally. The lens focuses without problem in dim light like ISO 800, f1.4 05 sec, whereas yesterday sometimes it could not focus even in good conditions. It is as if during me playing with camera I have erased some old values stored in either camera or lens memory. For what it is worth I have changed values for following settings: AF-A setup, AF/MF button, AF/MF control, AF drive speed, focus hold button and AF micro adjustment.

I have no idea how some of those settings could cause lens to malfunction

. I assumed the Af speed should have much impact so I have changed it to slow. However since yesterday night I tried fast setting few times and haven't had any troubles as well. Hopefully it will last

Thank you all for help.

Nov 06, 2009 at 03:05 AM


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