Minolta 50mm f/2.8 macro
An impressing macro with superb sharpness and very good enlargement
I always liked doing macro work and my first real autofocus macro lens was this Minolta 50mm f/2.8 lens, which came with an extension tube for even closer work. I had owned an MD 50mm f/2.8 macro before, but that's another story.
This AF-lens was a sweet lens, and as sharp as they come, which I have found to be the case with most real macros, actually. The manufacturers do a very good job of creating some really brillant constructions with macros.
I loved the way this lens extended to twice its normal length (me, who usually hates lenses that don't have inner focus and zoom...), and the odd look of it with its extremely recessed front lens element. That seems to be the way most macros are constructed. Don't ask me why...
It was 1:1 in standard configuration and 1:2 (twice life-size) with the extension tube mounted. Man, could you go close! As many modern macros it had a focus limiter to avoid too much hunting on AF-cameras and to keep you from turning too far in manual mode. It also had a focus lock, which is a great thing on a macro, where you do a lot of focusing by moving the camera back and forth rather than turning the focus ring.