Minolta 300mm f/2.8 APO G AF

My Introduction to The World of Long Focal Lengths Was Limited to 135 MM

Basically, it can be said that faces are rendered more pleasantly and realistically from 50 mm focal length. With shorter focal lengths you have to be very careful because everything that is close to the lens is not represented harmoniously in the proportions. If you work precisely, you can use this to your advantage, for example, to stretch legs attractively. Here, however, you really have to be very careful and not to be visually deceived too much. The disadvantages can quickly outweigh the advantages. If I mainly want to crop the background, then it becomes really interesting from 85 mm. The proportions of the face are pleasantly reproduced, and the background is increasingly cropped. Here you have to weigh how much of the background you do need for the portrait statement. If, for example, you want to include the workplace of a carpenter in the portrait, then the focal length should be more moderate. For fashion photography, however, it may be important to emphasize only the model with the clothing in order to highlight the colors of the season. Very long focal lengths over 200mm now offer the advantage of completely limiting the background without it interfering too much. Another positive effect is that a model feels less crowded. I always notice that a certain relaxation arises which benefits the facial expression. But this only works if the photographer can handle the camera and the extra-long lens well. Here you should practice a little in advance and also agree with the model certain movements in advance. Experienced models can already do this from their professional experience. So much for my motives.

It should not go unmentioned that the Minolta 300mm f/2.8 APO G AF harmonizes unusually well with the specially designed Minolta AF 1,4 Tele Converter APO. At open aperture (effectively f4), contrast is then somewhat reduced, but from f4.5 on, flawless sharpness is visible. For dedicated wildlife photographers or professionals who only occasionally need a 2.8/300 mm, this lens can be an interesting alternative to the more flexible but significantly slower telephoto zooms.