Jim_In_Plymouth Loc: Plymouth MN

I am contemplating getting a used Sony A series camera that is a couple of years old. (Read cheaper) And then getting some old Minolta A series lenses that appear to be really cheap.

Has anyone done this and what have your experiences been?
Auto focus?
Automatic setting of aperture?
Sony A series body or lens stabilization?
The lenses I would be looking at would be full frame because they were originally made for 35mm cameras. What is the correction factor.

Thoughts???
TIA :?: :?: :?: :?:

Solo1805 Loc: Indianapolis

I just did this exact thing one month ago. Couldn't be happier I purchased a Sony a55, Minolta 28-80 and a 100-300 lens from Roberts Camera in Indianapolis for about $340. all were in Excellent or Very Good condition. I am already considering upgrading the lenses I am so pleased with the camera. The stabilization is on the sensor, but those with more experience can give feedback on that. The only drawback so far is getting a shoe mount flash. The hotshoe is not Canon/Nikon compatible and the Sony flashes are expensive.
Hope that helps!

Solo1805 Loc: Indianapolis

One other thing; I seem to recall a caution about some full frame lenses being used on APS-C cameras. Something about them possibly making contact with the sensor...

Jim_In_Plymouth Loc: Plymouth MN

Thank you for both of your replies. At least I know I am not crazy... for that reason.

I had a Minolta 5000 with two lenses and sold them about five years ago to a young man that had paid more attention than I had. After all who would want a camera made by a TV manufacturer? Sometimes we get smarter and sometimes we just get older. :cry:

tainkc Loc: Kansas City

I have a Sony a580 and an a500. Most of my lenses are Minolta AF. I have yet to pay over $35.00 for one. They are all very good. Never heard of a lens touching a sensor. Perhaps if you removed the lens from the camera and lifted the contacts out of the lens with a pair of needle nose pliers.

All Sony A mount cameras have in camera stabilization. It works just fine. This comes in handy when buying lenses since this make the lens much cheaper to manufacture. I never had a complaint about the auto focus being slow either. Some are a little faster than others. The picture I.Q. on a Sony is always good. So, if the price is right, go for it.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

This won't apply to the Minolta lenses. I have quite a few old Minolta lenses to use on both a Sony A57 and Sony A99, and they all work very well. The only things to watch out for are glare if shooting too close to into the sun or Chromatic Aberration Distortion if shooting something dark against something bright. New lenses have superior coatings that improve this type of situation. Its not usually a problem. You just need to learn the conditions that can cause it.

But you are correct, that this is a way to get good quality lens at a bargin price.

cntry Loc: Colorado

There aren't any problems using Minolta A-Mount lenses with Sony A-Mount cameras. ALL Minolta lenses are full frame. If you buy a Sony E-Mount camera, it requires an adapter - that may have been what you heard.
The confusion came about when Sony decided to switch the name of it's NEX E-Mount cameras to "Alpha" since "Alpha" had always been associated with A-Mount lenses.

machia Loc: NJ

This may be slightly off topic, but may help you in the area of adding a "full frame lens" to a APS-C DSLR. I purchased a Canon APS-C DSLR but found a way to salvage my 14 manual focus Minolta- Rokkor prime and zoom lenses. Using an MD-EOS lens adapter, I'm using all my old lenses and they are performing flawlessly. Of course the focal length has changed, ie.; a 58 mm is now approximately a 104 mm, ( 1.6 x aps-c magnification factor plus the adapter magnification ). I see no noticeable drop off in f- stop and bokke remains intact.
My guess is that your older auto focus MD lenses will work well but will experience a magnification of 1.6 X , unless Sony is like the Nikon APS-C w/ it's 1.5 X magnification factor.
Did Sony incorporate the Minolta-Konica in camera stabilization system? I thought that was a great idea by Minolta, but their D7 Maxxum 6mp DSLR was too little too late w/ a high price point. The savings that would be enjoyed by using your already bought auto focus MD lenses with their revolutionary in camera stabilization wasn't enough to keep Minolta in the camera business after taking huge losses from lawsuits by Honeywell, AT&T and EXXON.
Minolta- Rokkor glass are some of the finest lenses around, so good in fact they built lenses for Leica.
Hope you can use your old lenses, they in many ways are still among the best glass out there.

machia Loc: NJ

After reading this entire blog I see that Sony did in fact use the Minolta in-camera stabilization system which is great news for you using the non-stabilized
Minolta lenses.
And I see after reading more carefully that you're new to Minolta ! They built lenses for Leica, and even had better quality control than Leica themselves !
Great glass, good luck.

ralphc4176 Loc: Conyers, GA

My first Sony camera took A-series lenses that had the same mount as Minolta A-series lenses. I bought at least one Minolta autofocus lens for that Sony camera, and it worked fine. I can't recall whether or not it was fully automatic in focus, but I think it was. I haven't used that camera with that lens in quite a while. But the Minolta lens took excellent photos--I would have sold it if it didn't.

fhuhman Loc: Jefferson City, MO

I have an a350 with all Minolta lenses. I get as good or better pics as my son's 7d or other son's 5D 11. Get the 28 to 135 and the 135 2.8. Try to stay with the 1985-87 dates of lenses. Go to Dyxum for lens ratings.

prettynice Loc: Southbury, CT

We bought the best Sony flash via eBay (used) and saved a lot of money. It was half the price and looks and works like new.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I have and use an A3000. I think you can forget the Minolta lenses. You will need the $350 adapter to make them work with AF. They are good lenses. There are cheap adapters that do not allow AF and you will have to guess at setting the f stop.

You will be further ahead by buying the Sigma 19,30, and 60mm 2.8 prime lenses for $600. Not zooms, but optically the most bang for the buck .....and no adapters - with full functions !

brow3904 Loc: Upstate South Carolina

Gladl to know the lenses work. I've bought two non-Sony flashes from Amazon and both have worked well for me as a non-professional. They were very reasonable. The reason for two is I dropped the first one and destroyed it. I had used it for several years. I have the Sony A200 and the A65.

Sonyphil

For your hot shoe problem there is a 10-15$ adapter that accepts a standard flash mount.