DePratt Loc: Stantonsburg, NC

I have a reasonably good understanding of superior glass for the
minolta/Sony lens.

My question is how to determine what is good glass among all the available lens choices?

GrahamS Loc: Hertfordshire, U.K

Go here:
http://www.slrgear.com/reviews/index.php

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

minolta maxxum has some "G" lenses top drawer. check the used lens outlets recomended on this site.

frankeieio Loc: Bend, Oregon

On ebay, if you look at price ranges, you'll get a pretty good idea of where a lens falls. The caveat being for lenses that were produced in great quantity and sold as part of a kit. Hence these sorts of lenses, such as the 50mm 1.7 and the 28-85mm 3.5-4.5, are still readily available and in strong supply and by comparison to other lenses reasonably priced...

http://www.dyxum.com/ is the Sony/Minolta site where just about every lens made for this line of cameras is reviewed.

DePratt Loc: Stantonsburg, NC

Thank you all for the answers you have generously giving.

I will now modify my question and ask what have you chosen as good glass for your use and with what camera model?

frankeieio Loc: Bend, Oregon

I own what I could afford... part of the reason I chose to buy into the Sony/Minolta system.

I shoot landscapes primarily, one I was a custom design/build landscape contractor for many years and two I now live in Central Oregon, an area that provides ample opportunities to work on my new craft.

One lens that completely surprised me for its image quality is the low cost (now) first generation Minolta 28-85mm. I picked it up off Craigslist for about $10. The first few times I went out with it my ego kept saying this is just to satisfy my curiosity- since I virtually picked it up for pocket change I was hesitant to give it any credit. It proved me wrong over and over. My copy anyways, is perfectly matched to my A700, which came with the 18-70mm kit lens, the 28-85mm has helped to create some stellar images. To satisfy said ego, I did research the lens further and found that initially it was not a low priced lens (priced more than the 70-210 f4 beercan back when both were brand new) and that at least one review of the Zeiss 24-70mm, an exponentially higher priced lens, couldn't (like me) but help to sing praises for the 28-85mm, which was used as a kind of control to their study. I also have a second generation 50mm 1.7 prime. It is fantastic, and this past Summer I picked up a first generation 24-50mm f4 Minolta zoom for about $100 with shipping. It too has contributed to some really nice images. I have telezooms as well, the first generation 100-200mm is a find (outstanding bokeh) and had a silver Minolta 70-300mm that I lost unfortunately, but replaced with a low cost almost brand new Sigma a month or so ago.
The above mentioned lenses are all relatively low cost, with couple purchased with pocket change basically. In viewing some the images posted on Dyxum, if I were to invest in professional grade. I'd say any of the G lenses, both Minolta's and Sony's are top shelf for a reason... they are very good. One of the latest Sony "walk around" zooms for its crop sensor cameras, the 16-50mm 2.8f has gotten rave reviews and may be the best lens in its class among all manufacturers right now.
Also, this may be of assistance to you... there is a young man who posts current reviews on Sony stuff on youtube. Here is the one for the 16-50mm:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDIE9v3EqTI&list=UUdz1Hgsb2j6JV_30DbpS81A&index=23