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If you are a new photographer or a collector of lenses, then Minolta definitely has to be on your priority list. These vintage lenses are one of the must-haves for any photography enthusiasts.
Although they are old lenses, you will be happy to know thatthey have a range of different lenses to cater to different needs. Amazinglythese lenses have mounts that are compatible with all of the current manualfocus bodies.
Moreover, all the best Minolta lenses are affordable, making themeven more appealing and convenient for you to add them to your collection. Ifyou want to know more about Minolta lenses and their best lenses, continuereading this review.
What Are Minolta Lenses?
Minolta Co. Ltd was founded in Osaka, Japan, back in 1928, andsince then, it has been one of the first brands to effectively introduce futuristiclenses. Since then, they have produced a widespread collection of lenses forthe manual focus SLR system.
They were also one of the first brands to develop and produceautofocus lenses. In fact, they were the first ones to successfully producedifferent types of lenses, such as 35mm and more.
Currently, most new lens developments have been inspired orderived from Minolta SR-mount lenses.
Review of the Best Minolta Lenses
We have carefully selected and reviewed five of the top vintage Minolta lenses in the hopes that it helps to guide you into getting the best lens.
1. Minolta 50mm f/1.7 AF Lens
The 50mm f/1.7 by Minolta is the world’s first autofocus SLR.It is one of the smallest and compact lenses made by them. While it has a shortfocus throw, you will be happy to know that both autofocus and manual focus arequick and accurate.
If you compare it with the latest lens of other brands, youwill find the shutter noise a bit annoying, but that’s a good price to pay fora classic such as this. We adored the simplicity of the design and usability.It has just the needed elements and is fast and simple to use and adjust.
But, what we were taken aback by was the crisp image qualitythat this lens produces despite being such an old piece. Staring from theexceptionally vivid colors to the sharp focus on the subject and thebeautifully blurred background, this lens will leave you with amazing pictures.
What’s even better is the fact that despite being such an oldand affordable lens, it has a pretty good range of aperture. The wide apertureof f/1.7 will allow you to take pictures even if you don’t have access toproper or good lighting.
If you are just starting out and don’t want to spend much onlenses, these will definitely be one of the most ideal choices out there.Nonetheless, this is one of the bestvintage Minolta lenses, which will be a great addition for any photographyenthusiast.
Pros
The lens has a wide aperture range, which will allow you toconduct photoshoots during nighttime as well. More importantly, the sharpnessand fast focus makes the process of getting great shots easier.
Cons
As it’s a vintage lens, maintaining it is a bit more complexand crucial. Also, the lens is made out of plastic, which may affectdurability.
2. Minolta Maxxum AF 70-210mm f/4 Telephoto Zoom Lens for SONY ALPHA
Revived by Sony, the Minolta AF 70-210mm was one of the most popular lenses back in the day and for good reasons too. It is still considered one of the best Minolta lenses for sony alpha in 2020 although it has some flaws. The telephoto zoom is long, but it won’t extend out when adjusting the zoom.
Now it won’t give you the sharpness that the 50mm provides youwith; however, the sharpness of this lens is also quite commendable. You willget a nice and smooth bokeh for your background in almost all the settings buta little less around 70mm.
The color and contrast of these Minolta Maxxum lenses need to be praised. They have managed to keep the colors as true and as sharp as possible; however, there is noticeable distortion and color fringing.
Keep in mind that issues such as distortion and color fringingare not as significant in the pictures and probably can be minimized by usingthe right settings and subjects.
You will find visible noise and lens flare from time to time inthe pictures, which we found pretty cool as it further adds to the feel ofvintage.
While testing the focus and stability of the lens, we foundthat although it’s noisy and takes time to focus on the subject, it is fairlyaccurate and stable. Therefore, once you have managed to focus on your subject,the lens is likely to give you a sharp, focused image, even if your handsshake.
We also took the time out to compare the lens with othersimilar Sony lenses. When compared, we noticed that despite being such an oldlens in a lot of ways, the Minolta 70-210mm produced a better quality ofimages.
Pros
Despite being an old lens, it has great features such as good focus, stability, and sharpness. This Minolta lens on sony alpha is also able to capture all the vivid colors and is likely to give you a cool vintage feels with noise and flare.
Cons
Both the autofocus and manual focus of the Minolta Maxxum lenses takes time to adjust while being noisy.
3. Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.7 Mount Lens
Although not as popular as the Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4, the Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.7 is an absolute treasure that will not let you down. This lens is not only great for taking pictures but also allow you to film at 1080p even in low light!
Why it is the best Minolta 50mm lens according to some experts?
Compared to most kits, the isolation is incredible, especiallywhen shooting at f/1.8 or f/2.8. You will be able to create that sweetcinematic look with the lens as both the background and foreground getsbeautifully blurred.
It does get a bit difficult to nail the focus on the subject asthe sharpness isn’t as good as the AF 50mm. But that being said, you will beable to isolate your subject and get the lovely circular bokeh.
This is one of those lenses that can be used on a daily basisbecause of its versatile nature. It is popularly used for portraits or close upshots, but you can easily use it for landscape, cityscape, and more. Also, itis super lightweight and easy to carry lens that is super affordable, making itan absolute keeper.
Well, it may produce some lens flare as the glass is not coatedlike the modern lenses we find nowadays, but it can be easily avoided if yourplacement is right. Or you can use the flares as a cool filter or design whenappropriate.
We recommend pairing the MinoltaMD on Sony Alpha to get the best use out of this lens.
Pros
This super-affordable lens creates beautiful cinematicbackgrounds and can be used for creating HD videos as well as photos. Theversatility and weight of the lens allow it to be used on a regular basis forvarious different types of shoots.
Cons
The lens takes a little time to focus and does not produce assharp images or videos as the AF 50mm f/1.7 does.
4. Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm 1:1.4 Manual Focus Lens
Unlike most of the other lenses by Minolta, this lens is builtout of metal, glass, and durable rubber for the focus ring, making it one ofthe most durable and sturdy lenses of their collection.
It is one of the best Minolta manual lenses according to some photographers for some advantages. This lens is larger and a bit heavier than the average 50mm lenses, but it is a well-balanced lens.
You should be aware that the contrast and sharpness of the image are affected by the veiling flare. However, it can be prevented by simply shielding the front lens while shooting in harsh lights.
Another thing we noticed, when shooting broader or multiplesubjects in the long-range, the sharpness of the image becomes quite uneven.
While the middle or center of the image manages to be sharp,the corners of the subject tend to get blurry, and the colors start to fade.However, this does not occur when shooting things in a short-range. Compared tothe other lenses of Minolta, this one produces a significantly small quantityof barrel distortion.
The bokeh isn’t as smooth as the MD 50mm 1:1.7, but it does afairly good job. You may also notice the cat’s eye and strong outlining effectat the wider aperture range. However, these issues don’t occur when shooting inf/2.4 and more.
All in all, it is a joy to use this lens as it’s a well-madeversatile lens that will give you great pictures and videos during mostscenarios.
Pros
Compared to other 50mm lenses, the sharpness and build qualityreally stand out. Using this lens will make you forget that this was builtdecades ago as the quality is outstanding.
Cons
The flare resistance of the lens is quite weak.
5. Minolta MD Rokkor-X 1:1.7 55mm Lens
The last lens we want to talk about is the Minolta MD Rokkor-X1:1.7 55mm lens. Build of this lens is phenomenal; in fact, the build of thelens is better than a lot of recent lenses that would easily cost you over agrand.
It is a small and lightweight lens that is also extremely wellcomposed and stable. The focus throw of the lens is perfect for portraits alongwith landscape images.
What we aren’t fond of is the limited aperture setting of thelens. Instead of giving a wide range of settings, the aperture takes a big jump;for example, it goes from f/1.7 to f/2.8, which ultimately reduces your controland possibilities.
Like the previous lenses, the flare resistance of this lens isnot very good. However, compared to the previous lenses, the veiling flare andghosting isn’t as bad and only occurs in certain conditions.
Amazingly there is barely any barrel distortion caused by thelens. Moreover, there is significantly less vignette even when compared withother better and more expensive lenses.
Minolta Mn35z Manual
We were stunned to see that this lens produces very little chromatic aberration, which is almost invisible. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about unwanted streaks of colors ruining your photograph. It is actually one of the best Minolta rokkor lenses for color and clarity.
This lens will beautifully keep the background and foregroundout of focus to create the perfect smooth bokeh. However, the lens may struggleto isolate the subject if there are too many things around it, which may resultin imperfect or nervous bokeh. Overall, this is possibly one of the best lensescreated by Minolta.
Pros
Almost everything about this lens is a hit, especially since it’s a vintage lens. It is the best Minolta portrait lens which blends the background perfectly. It is full of great features, such as the ability to capture sharp images to create smooth bokeh.
Cons
The sharpness of the image changes with different aperturesettings and isn’t as great as some of the other Minolta lenses. Also, thelimited aperture setting is a big letdown too.
Best Minolta Lenses Buying Guide
There are certain things you need to keep in mind to get thebest vintage Minolta lenses. As it’s a vintage lens, and it may not becompatible with every camera body out there. Let’s take a look at some of thosefeatures you should be aware of.
Mount
A mount is a bond between a lens and a camera. Almost all the camera manufacturers have their own lens mount that isn’t usually compatible with other brands. Most Minolta lenses have an SLR mount, which is compatible with Minolta and Sony Alpha.
This limits the compatibility of Minolta lenses to Minolta andSony Alpha camera bodies. However, luckily for us, there are mount adaptersavailable in the market, which can be added to a lens to make it compatiblewith almost any camera body.
That being said, mount adapters may affect the image quality,and not all adapters work as effectively. Thus, we recommend using Minoltalenses either with their camera body or with Sony Alpha.
Stabilization
The job of stabilization is to reduce the effects of camerashake, thereby allowing the use of decreased shutter speed. Depending on themanufacturer, the stabilization is present either in the lens or the camerabody.
While some of the Minolta lenses have built-in stabilization, but, that can’t be said for all of them. That is why pairing it with a camera such as Sony Alpha is a good choice. The Sony Alpha offers body-based stabilization, which is great because it will automatically give the lens used stabilization.
The Functionality of the Lens
Features of the lenses vary in different types of lenses. Like the features of the Minolta lenses will be different from Nikon D7000 lenses.
This goes without saying that you need to check if all functions of the lens work properly. As these are vintage lenses, some of the features may not work as well as it used it, if at all.
Therefore, before confirming your purchase, we advise you to firstcheck the lens for scratches, dents, or anything that may indicate that thelens went through rough use. Next, you should check the optics of the lenses tolook out for dust and fungus as vintage lenses tend to develop fungus with age.
After that, you should look out for loose joints. This step isoften forgotten by most, but the zoom and focusing ring often tend to get looseover time and use. Moreover, lenses that haven’t been handled with care anddropped frequently also tend to have loose joints. Thus, it’s a crucial stepthat you can’t miss.
Finally, you should check and test if the features of the lensstill work as well, such as the focus and aperture blades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why do I need a vintage lens?
Ans: Vintage lenses are the ideal choice of lenses if you want to learn the proper concepts of photography. Moreover, these are a lot more affordable compared to most modern lenses.
Q: How can I take care of the lenses?
Ans: It’s essential to take care of your lenses if you want it to last forever. We suggest you carefully wipe and clean your lenses regularly and keep it free from dust, condensation, and fungus.
Q: Is there any way I can avoid having flares in my pictures?
Ans: There are multiple ways to avoid lens flares. You can use a lens hood, filters, or simply block the sun using your hands or any other object you prefer.
Q: Can I use lens filters with these lenses?
Ans: As these are old lenses, not all of the Minolta lenses are compatible with filters. That being said, some of the lenses do come with filters that you can change!
Q: Will it be an issue if I use these lenses with DSLRs?
Ans: Unfortunately, most DSLRs don’t support the SLR mounts that Minolta lenses have. You do have the option to get it fit through using a lens-less adapter ring or an adapter. Nonetheless, adapters do not guarantee that the lens will work properly with the camera body.
Final Words
We hope we were able to inform you about the best Minolta lenses available in themarket. Vintage lenses are a great way to start off the journey to photography,and these Minolta lenses are the perfect solution.
Not only do they provide an array of choices and are of greatquality, but they’re also super affordable! Best of luck with your new lens!
Related
Minolta Autopak-8 D 10
Year: 1970-73
Weight: 1900 g
Lens: Zoom Rokkor 1,8 / 7 - 70 mm
Microprism Focusing
Minolta Autodual 8 Manual Pdf
Auto / Manual Zoom with 5 speeds
Frame rates: 8, 12, 18, 24, 32, 50 + single frame
Shutter degree: Var.
Auto Exposure
EE Lock
Backlight Control
+/- correction for auto
Fades
Interval timer with 0,5-60 second intervals (Accessory only not built in camera)
Flash Contact
No sound
Made in Japan
Manufacturer: Minolta
Original price in England (in the year of introduction): £439
Prices on eBay:
- eBay USA:
- US$200 in 07/1999
- US$164,50 (+ ?? shipping) in 03/2007 (camera + close-up lens, high speed power pack, ... in original hard-case)
- eBay Germany:
- EUR 89,80 (+ EUR 7,00 shipping) in 01/2006 (camera + close-up lens, high speed power pack, ... in original hard-case)
- EUR 68,00 (+ EUR 12,00 shipping) in 06/2012 (camera + close-up lens, high speed power pack, timer, various cables, ... in original hard-case)
Comments[edit]
This camera requires the high speed power pack in order to use 32 & 50 fps.
This camera requires a lot of power because of all the high-tech functions contained within. Luckily, batteries are easy to obtain. 5 AA batteries are required for the camera alone + 8 AA batteries for the high-speed power pack and 5 AA batteries for the intervalometer.
Reviews[edit]
I have this setup in mint condition.. got a killer deal on it after over paying for less superior super8 cams. Great cam makes really nice super8 movies.. selling for up to $900 on some websites in mint condition. I recomend this lil lady to anyone.
'My 2 cents on the D10'
Only color and lens size separate the D10 from the D12. The all-black D12 looks big and bad with its 12 to 1 Macro Zoom Rokkor 1.8 / 6.5 - 78 mm. The consumerish two-tone D10 is silver and black and comes with a non-macro 10-1 Zoom Rokkor 1.8 / 7 - 70 mm. I’ve shot with both and find the D10 lens noticeably sharper than the D12. Both lenses provide nice contrast and pleasing bokeh, a Minolta trademark. Both cameras are metal sturdy and solidly built. Both models weigh in at around 10 pounds, which make them, alongside the Beaulieu 6008, two of the heaviest Super 8 cameras ever made. Go out shooting with a D10/D12 and sooner or later someone will come up and ask you if you’re shooting 16mm. Great cameras, but get a backup because on the D10/D12 the manual exposure setting is coupled to the automatic exposure, which means that if the EE goes south, and it will, your camera will be rendered inoperative - geoval.