YYV_146
Well-known
The Sony/Minolta 135mm STF. One of the best portrait lenses ever made. Something that any lover of mid-long teles should try at least once...
Minolta
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The Sony/Minolta 135mm STF. One of the best portrait lenses ever made. Something that any lover of mid-long teles should try at least once...
farlymac
PF McFarland
My first foray into Minolta was when I found an X-700 with the 1.7/50, a Sigma 70-210 zoom, an Albinar 28mm macro, and the 280P flash for ten dollars at the local Goodwill store. Once I got another body (the first one was kaput), I tested out all the lenses, and really liked what I saw.
Then I noticed that Minolta lens prices were really low, compared to anything from Nikon, so I started to replace the Albinar and Sigma gear with OEM stuff. In the meantime, I also wound up with more X-700 bodies (attached to the lens I was buying), an X-570 body, and an X-370. Four different flashes, two drives, and several lenses later, I finally snagged an XD-11, but it turned out to be a junker.
But I haven't shot them very much. Too many other cameras have come to roost here, and with the capacitor issues of the X-cameras, I kind of got away from them. That, and the shutter failed on the X-570 (not the capacitor problem, but a curtain came loose). The two lenses I am really happy to have are the 3.5/50 macro w/1-to-1 extension and Auto Ringflash 80PX, and the 8/500mm mirror that came with the full set of rear-mount filters. If I hang on to any of the system, it will be because of those two. The rest of the lenses I've gotten are top notch also, except for one copy of the 2.8/28 with the hood flange. That one is just junk, so I switched back to the earlier screw-on hood version.
PF
Then I noticed that Minolta lens prices were really low, compared to anything from Nikon, so I started to replace the Albinar and Sigma gear with OEM stuff. In the meantime, I also wound up with more X-700 bodies (attached to the lens I was buying), an X-570 body, and an X-370. Four different flashes, two drives, and several lenses later, I finally snagged an XD-11, but it turned out to be a junker.
But I haven't shot them very much. Too many other cameras have come to roost here, and with the capacitor issues of the X-cameras, I kind of got away from them. That, and the shutter failed on the X-570 (not the capacitor problem, but a curtain came loose). The two lenses I am really happy to have are the 3.5/50 macro w/1-to-1 extension and Auto Ringflash 80PX, and the 8/500mm mirror that came with the full set of rear-mount filters. If I hang on to any of the system, it will be because of those two. The rest of the lenses I've gotten are top notch also, except for one copy of the 2.8/28 with the hood flange. That one is just junk, so I switched back to the earlier screw-on hood version.
PF
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
The SRT series is one of the best manual cameras, period. And as the others have said, the lenses are great.
macfiend
Established
Wow!! Really feeling all this Minolta love 🙂
These days I'm using a bunch of older Rokkor lenses on a mirrorless camera. They are all great but one of my favorites by far is the 55 f1.7
These days I'm using a bunch of older Rokkor lenses on a mirrorless camera. They are all great but one of my favorites by far is the 55 f1.7
Addy101
Well-known
I was really suprised by the quality of my copy of the (late) MD 28/2.8. I knew the so-so reputation of the AF 28/2.8. I guess my copy isn't the last version of the 28/2.8 but the one before that with the 7 elements 7 groups that is considered quite good.
oltimer
Well-known
Beautiful Bokeh on this test here,
allphotolenses.com/gallery/item/c_770.html
Merlijn53
Established
Imho the Minolta cle was a much nicer camera to use than the leica's I used (m4-p and m6 ttl). They also made excellent scanners. Still have an Elite 5400.
Frank
Frank
MikeDimit
Established
I love rokkor lens. Tried some canon and nikon, some praktica, soviet, some sigma, tamron just to rediscover that rokkor is best for me in terms of color and sharpness, contrast on film.
daveleo
what?
I am just getting into the Fuji-Minolta combination, and trying not to get all giddy about it, but I just love the look.
I am maybe 2-dozen shots into it now....
.
I am maybe 2-dozen shots into it now....
.
Addy101
Well-known
I like my Rokkors on Sony sensors:
Sony NEX 5 with Minolta Rokkor PG 50/1.4
Sony NEX 5 with Minolta Rokkor PG 50/1.4
Vics
Veteran
I'm an old Maxxum shooter from the '80s and recently snagged a 700si body for $35US. Thanksgiving with family gave me my first tryout with this 1994 technology. Here's one with my granddaughters on Ektar and the 50mm f/1.7.
Sisters by Victor Ross, on Flickr
Sisters by Victor Ross, on Flickr
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
My first camera (or the first I bought, rather) was a Minolta X370s with a 35-70 zoom. I liked it, but replaced it with a Nikon AF body and glass when focusing in the Minolta became difficult to my eyes. I should have enjoyed the price of their glass... but I didn't know better back then.
Somewhere I read that the partnership between Leica and Minolta came from the fact that the CEO of the latter admired Leica. In fact, Minolta (from what I read in PopPhotography some time ago) invented AF; they offered it to Leica, but these German guys didn't want it and said "our customers know how to focus a lens."
Somewhere I read that the partnership between Leica and Minolta came from the fact that the CEO of the latter admired Leica. In fact, Minolta (from what I read in PopPhotography some time ago) invented AF; they offered it to Leica, but these German guys didn't want it and said "our customers know how to focus a lens."
newspaperguy
Well-known
Even the old ones were good... and still working!
ferider
Veteran
Funny you should ask Dave. Not sure how this correlates, but I'll be back to Minolta since I got an alpha-9 last week.
I felt a new Minolta AF thread would be in order: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=146076.
Roland.
Nokton48
Veteran
bjornkeizers
Established
Oh dear, I sure hope they don't become a hype... because I love being able to buy all these cheap lenses and bodies 😀
I went a bit Minolta crazy in 2012 buying a couple of X-series bodies and some lenses. All of it quality stuff. Love my XG-1, X500... and those great 50's that Minolta make are a treat to shoot as well.
I'm definitely buying some more Minolta gear in the future.
I went a bit Minolta crazy in 2012 buying a couple of X-series bodies and some lenses. All of it quality stuff. Love my XG-1, X500... and those great 50's that Minolta make are a treat to shoot as well.
I'm definitely buying some more Minolta gear in the future.
Vics
Veteran
farlymac
PF McFarland
I don't know what it is about the hood-flange model, but it's usually not in focus. No such problem with the screw-on hood model. I think I just got a bad copy.
PF
Bingley
Veteran
Minolta XD11, Minolta MC Rokkor 55mm f1.7, yellow filter, TMax 400:
Corrugations by bingley0522, on Flickr
Corrugations by bingley0522, on Flickr
Nokton48
Veteran
The 21mm F4 W.Rokkor-QH is one of the rarer MC lenses, and requires mirror lockup for shooting. This provides me with a rather rangefinder-like buzz when operating this rig, which I enjoy very much. And it's a great lens to use.
I have the original SRT 21mm Minolta viewfinder, although, after a few years of using that, I acquired the 21mm Yashica SLR finder, which I prefer. I bought it from a Leica guy, apparently they are a finder of choice on the Leica-M bodies. I certainly like mine, and it works just as well on the Red Ringneck Lizard-clad early SRT-101. 😀
I have the original SRT 21mm Minolta viewfinder, although, after a few years of using that, I acquired the 21mm Yashica SLR finder, which I prefer. I bought it from a Leica guy, apparently they are a finder of choice on the Leica-M bodies. I certainly like mine, and it works just as well on the Red Ringneck Lizard-clad early SRT-101. 😀
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