Minolta Lenses
Jan 31, 2019 17:26:23 #
I keep touting the old Minolta lenses from 1985 or so. I believe they even made their own glass back in the day. These are the older AF lenses made of metal (no D) I have the AF 70-210 f4 macro, AF 100 macro f2.8 and the Absolutely Amazing Minolta AF 35-105 macro lenses. I can’t believe the absolute beauty of the images, especially color, taken with these lenses compaired to my Sony lenses! Do any Lense manufacturers make their own glass now or is it the best bidder? Any Hogg’s have experience with Minolta lenses? It’s the Main reason I went to Sony when they continued the A mount system on their mirrorless cameras! All of a sudden many Minolta lenses are available immediately. I can get these lenses on eBay for a song and I’m sure they have adapters for other brands. You might be in manual mode but they are Definitely worth a look. They focus extremely fast on my A77ii using the old screw drive!
Jan 31, 2019 17:33:13 #
I have and use the Minolta 70-210 f3.5-4.5 and the AF 500 Reflex - and I am stunned by the image quality on A77II !
..
..
Jan 31, 2019 18:07:47 #
I have 3 or 4 of the Minolta lens and last year purchased a Nikon adapter for them but have never attempted to use them but they were great on the Minolta. If I am correct, they fit a Sony E mount also.
Jan 31, 2019 18:34:03 #
mas24
Loc: Southern CA
My father owned a Minolta SRT-101 with a 50mm manual focus lens. Standard back then. It was older than what you have. It was very sharp. So, I know what you mean. Sony bought out Minolta and their lenses in the mid 2000s. Some of the Minolta lenses can be used on today's Sony's A-mount. Sony has "A" and "E" mounts now. I don't know if Minolta made their own glass or not. Some lens companies buy glass from a different manufacturer, and then assemble the necessary glass and parts to complete a lens. I don't think your Minolta lens will fit an E-mount without an adapter?
Jan 31, 2019 18:41:12 #
Minolta was the most under rated camera company. The image quality compared favorable to lenses costing much more. They did indeed make their own glass. Canon still makes their own glass and their L glass lenses are excellent. Minolta was an excellent product, I was sorry to see them go.
Jan 31, 2019 18:53:45 #
I own about twenty Minolta af lenses. I’ve loved that Minolta look since about 1978.
An interesting read: http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Historical_perspective_Minolta_lens_design_philosophy.asp
Edit: as you stated, you can get most of them for a song. I got a 50mm f1.7 for twelve bucks and a 35-70mm f4 for five bucks and I love both of em.
An interesting read: http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Historical_perspective_Minolta_lens_design_philosophy.asp
Edit: as you stated, you can get most of them for a song. I got a 50mm f1.7 for twelve bucks and a 35-70mm f4 for five bucks and I love both of em.
Jan 31, 2019 20:14:57 #
Not the same lens! Talking about the AF 70-200mm f4 Macro lens known as the Beer Can. Yours is a later model I have no experience with. I used to own the AF 500 f8 mirror lens. Hated the hookah! Try the lenses from 1985. Way better than the next generation!
imagemeister wrote:
I have and use the Minolta 70-210 f3.5-4.5 and the AF 500 Reflex - and I am stunned by the image quality on A77II !
..
..
Jan 31, 2019 20:25:45 #
You are correct. But the lenses I’m speaking of were made by Minolta glass at that time. Thats why they are Awesome! You do need an Adapter for E mount. This is an A mount lens.
mas24 wrote:
My father owned a Minolta SRT-101 with a 50mm manu... (show quote)
Jan 31, 2019 20:29:14 #
What! Dude your the Man! A Baby Beer Can for 5 bucks. Nice!
BassmanBruce wrote:
I own about twenty Minolta af lenses. I’ve loved that Minolta look since about 1978.
An interesting read: http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Historical_perspective_Minolta_lens_design_philosophy.asp
Edit: as you stated, you can get most of them for a song. I got a 50mm f1.7 for twelve bucks and a 35-70mm f4 for five bucks and I love both of em.
An interesting read: http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Historical_perspective_Minolta_lens_design_philosophy.asp
Edit: as you stated, you can get most of them for a song. I got a 50mm f1.7 for twelve bucks and a 35-70mm f4 for five bucks and I love both of em.
Feb 1, 2019 06:43:48 #
billnikon
Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont
markwilliam1 wrote:
I keep touting the old Minolta lenses from 1985 or... (show quote)
Their are only two manufactures of the entire lens from start to finish. Nikon is one of them, the other resides in Germany. Care to guess. Yes, that is the ONLY two.
Feb 1, 2019 07:05:32 #
I have many Minolta AF lenses for my A-65 Sony. I had a Minolta i7000 with two lenses since I have purchased several at very low cost and was gifted several. I can not afford to think any other brand than Sony and then only the models that the AF lenses fit.
Minolta has a Zeiss, Leica glassmaking history:
http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Historical_perspective_Minolta_lens_design_philosophy.asp
Minolta has a Zeiss, Leica glassmaking history:
http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/Historical_perspective_Minolta_lens_design_philosophy.asp
Feb 1, 2019 07:19:38 #
I use the 28mm, 45mm and the 105mm on my Fujifilm X-T2 with an adapter, and the results are excellent.
Feb 1, 2019 07:24:49 #
markwilliam1 wrote:
I keep touting the old Minolta lenses from 1985 or... (show quote)
How do you set aperture on a AF lens when using on a non native body? I have a lot of old lenses, some of which are Minolta but all of them are from the manual era, would not even consider an AF because I am not shooting Sony and pretty much feel that a lens is crippled without the ability to control aperture.
Feb 1, 2019 07:47:25 #
I've been very pleased using Minolta lens on my A77: 400 f/4.5 APO, 80-200 APO f/2.8, 100 f 2.8 Macro, 100-300 APO for travelling light, and 50 f/1.7. Grew up with Minoltas, starting with the SRT 200, ending with XD11, wonderful cameras and glass. Also used to own the 70-210 "beercan" which was amazingly good for very short money. These cameras never achieved the "status" of Nikons and Canons, but really gave up nothing in terms of quality. They also made Leica cameras for many years! I miss them.
Feb 1, 2019 08:14:18 #
First SLR was SRT-101 in 1969. Lots of Minolta glass. Got Nikon D5300 and adapter and now occasionally shoot with a teleconverter and long lens. Great photos with it.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.