Wow, my new Minolta 50mm 1.4 AF Wow.
Oct 5, 2015 12:18:19 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
I have been using Sony cameras for a few years now along with my Nikon equipment. Just got a Mint Minolta 50mm f1.4 from Japan on e bay. Wow, the lens blew me away with its sharpness. It is amazing that a lens made in 1989 works with no problems on my A99 Sony. I have been shooting the large Minolta's, 600 f4, 400 f4.5 and 300 2.8. But the new 50 f1.4 mint condition with built in lens hood and those beautiful Minolta colors all for $125.00. Talk about a Gas attack. Thanks to all of you that suggested Minolta lenses.
Oct 5, 2015 12:29:28 #
Yeah, I love my Minolta lenses also, but $125.00 seems a little steep. A camera store in my area has one in excellent shape for $59.00. It doesn't matter. It is a super lens at any price.
Oct 5, 2015 22:06:33 #
Oct 5, 2015 22:50:32 #
billnikon wrote:
I have been using Sony cameras for a few years no... (show quote)
Bill, Minolta made some of the BEST glass in the business for decades.
Remember, Leica and Minolta were partners since the 1930's, and the co-designed many optics and optical systems.
The 50mm f/1.4 AF was and is an EXCELLENT lens... one of Minolta's showcase lenses. It was the best of their stable of normal lenses. EXTREMELY sharp, with no distortion of any kind.
If you got one for less than $200.00 consider it a steal of a deal... especially if the lens is in good condition. :thumbup:
The one drawback of the non-"D" AF lenses... those early lenses without distance encoding... is the inability to use ADI flash control on your camera. ADI being superior to TTL under all conditions with highly reflective backgrounds.
Still, you are totally right about that lens... it is EXCELLENT, and the image quality is excellent for a 26 year old optic and 30 year old design. :thumbup:
Oct 5, 2015 22:53:11 #
tainkc wrote:
Yeah, I love my Minolta lenses also, but $125.00 seems a little steep. A camera store in my area has one in excellent shape for $59.00. It doesn't matter. It is a super lens at any price.
Tom, $59 sounds like the going rate for the AF 50mm f/1.7. If it IS a 1.4, I'll send you a check plus a finders fee and you go pick it up for me okay? :mrgreen:
Oct 5, 2015 23:28:42 #
CHOLLY wrote:
Yes, you can get the 1.7 's all day long real cheap. You just have to keep an eye open for the 1.4's but they are out there for that price and even cheaper. The best place I found was Craig's List. You usually can find the 1.4 complete with a Maxxum camera attached for under $100.00. The funny part is that I had both and did not see that much difference in clarity, if any.Tom, $59 sounds like the going rate for the AF 50mm f/1.7. If it IS a 1.4, I'll send you a check plus a finders fee and you go pick it up for me okay? :mrgreen:
Oct 5, 2015 23:49:39 #
My Minolta 1.7 is my favorite 50mm... better than my Sony and Tamron A mount 50's. SERIOUSLY.
Minolta mass produced those first generation AF lenses like crazy, and since they were built like tanks, MOST of them are still operational AND in circulation. :thumbup:
Even still, at $59.00, you get a finders fee if you pick that lens up for me. :mrgreen:
Minolta mass produced those first generation AF lenses like crazy, and since they were built like tanks, MOST of them are still operational AND in circulation. :thumbup:
Even still, at $59.00, you get a finders fee if you pick that lens up for me. :mrgreen:
Oct 6, 2015 01:56:57 #
CHOLLY wrote:
I am down for the count for another month or so due to quadruple bypass surgery.My Minolta 1.7 is my favorite 50mm... better than my Sony and Tamron A mount 50's. SERIOUSLY.
Minolta mass produced those first generation AF lenses like crazy, and since they were built like tanks, MOST of them are still operational AND in circulation. :thumbup:
Even still, at $59.00, you get a finders fee if you pick that lens up for me. :mrgreen:
Minolta mass produced those first generation AF lenses like crazy, and since they were built like tanks, MOST of them are still operational AND in circulation. :thumbup:
Even still, at $59.00, you get a finders fee if you pick that lens up for me. :mrgreen:
Oct 6, 2015 06:02:33 #
lukan
Loc: Chicago, IL
I shot a Sony A99 for a while (GREAT camera and camera system, by the way), and was able to borrow a colleague's Minolta 50 f1.4 for a weekend to shoot with last year. In a word, OUTSTANDING lens for colors, sharpness and depth of field. It is one of my favorite lenses that I have ever shot with on any camera. I never liked the Minolta Maxxum bodies because they were so unreliable, but they were a very innovative company. The glass was always exceptional. At $125, for a good-shape lens, you'll have a jewel to shoot with for the rest of your life. Congratulations and enjoy your new find!
Oct 6, 2015 06:34:49 #
CHOLLY wrote:
Bill, Minolta made some of the BEST glass in the business for decades.
Remember, Leica and Minolta were partners since the 1930's, and the co-designed many optics and optical systems.
Remember, Leica and Minolta were partners since the 1930's, and the co-designed many optics and optical systems.
"Only from the mind of Minolta" - tag line in commercials from decades back.
The Japanese and German governments also teamed up in the 1930's, but that didn't work out very well for them. With Leica and Minolta producing excellent lenses, Germany and Japan were well-equipped with optics when WW II began. The U. S., on the other hand, had to ask citizens to donate lenses to help the war effort.
Oct 6, 2015 07:09:24 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
CHOLLY wrote:
Tom, $59 sounds like the going rate for the AF 50mm f/1.7. If it IS a 1.4, I'll send you a check plus a finders fee and you go pick it up for me okay? :mrgreen:
Thanks for the responce. So, with the Minolta lens, can I set the camera to Pre-flash TTL instead of ADI flash control for the Minolta glass. Those are my two choices on the A99.
Oct 6, 2015 07:32:53 #
billnikon wrote:
No, because neither of the Minolta 50/1.4s are "D" type lenses which is to say that they don't pass focus distance inf back to the camera.Thanks for the responce. So, with the Minolta lens, can I set the camera to Pre-flash TTL instead of ADI flash control for the Minolta glass. Those are my two choices on the A99.
ADI is one of those apparently nice things to have but which is of limited use in real life. It works well with a Pop-Up flash and for an on camera flash pointed forward, a situation in which I rarely find myself. ADI doesn't work if you bounce the flash (the camera automatically reverts to TTL), when you have the flash off camera (cable or wireless), if you are using any sort of flash modifier or filter (even the wide panel).
Oct 6, 2015 08:31:35 #
Is this the same lens? Konica Minolta Normal 50mm f/1.4 Maxxum AF Autofocus Lens (Original Model) Used
Oct 6, 2015 08:39:27 #
CHOLLY wrote:
My Minolta 1.7 is my favorite 50mm... better than my Sony and Tamron A mount 50's. SERIOUSLY.
Minolta mass produced those first generation AF lenses like crazy, and since they were built like tanks, MOST of them are still operational AND in circulation. :thumbup:
Even still, at $59.00, you get a finders fee if you pick that lens up for me. :mrgreen:
Minolta mass produced those first generation AF lenses like crazy, and since they were built like tanks, MOST of them are still operational AND in circulation. :thumbup:
Even still, at $59.00, you get a finders fee if you pick that lens up for me. :mrgreen:
I have the Minolta 50mm F1.7 and the Minolta Rokkor 50mm F1.4. The Rokkor version is the MC mount, manual focus, manual everything, and I have the adapter to use with my Sony A6000. The F1.7 lens is AF and in A-mount. I can use it on my A-mount bodies or the A6000 with a different adapter.
The Rokkor is the sharper of the two lenses by far.
Oct 6, 2015 08:56:08 #
tainkc wrote:
I am down for the count for another month or so due to quadruple bypass surgery.
Tom, you are in our prayers.
Take care of yourself my friend; get well soon.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.