Minolta oldtimers - what do you think

I have the following lenses all Minoltas, 28-85 macro the 35-70 f4, Big Beercan, and the 50 1.7 a real gem. I have others as well, just really like the Minolta colors.

The others include Sigma 105 2.8 macro & 150-500, Tamron 28-200 XR & 200-400 f5.6 push pull, and a Sony 16-105.
Gene

Thanks for the nice pictures. they speak for themselves and very encouraging.

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Ruvy
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Thank you Patty!! so glad it took you time to get to the point. learing about your growing process is as interesting as your clever advice. I am seriously considering it.
many thanks

mpattenden said:

So now to the point (finally!) you already have both film and digital - if your goal is really FF because that is what you desire - save your money continue with the kit you have and buy the real lenses you require in the future when you buy your FF body - rather than trying to make do or get used to kit because it is a perceived bargain.

BTW http://www.dyxum.com is generally the site most of us use for lens info.

Hope this helps

Paddy

Click to expand...

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Ruvy
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Thanks Ramin

Not sure I agree with you. Perhaps its because I do shoot a lot of medium format and not need another one but I think that 35mm can produce just as amazing images to be enlarged to smaller size.

The part that I agree with you is using film or its characteristic - I like it mostly in black and white

many thanks
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Ruvy
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Thank you David.

Your path is relevant and good. I have been in a similar one for years. The main difference is that my digital is not minolta and I still have a way to go to get the gear I want The lens you suggested at the end sounds very attractive

Ruvy

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Ruvy
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People are selling Minolta Maxxum cameras with great lenses for dirt cheap!

They also sell Minolta primes for less than at ebay. You'lll be able to test them prior paying.

I understand and agree with you about FF camera. I'm moving into same direction, because angle of view granted by FF sensor is something I miss terribly.

I'm in better position, because I own bunch of good old Minolta AF primes + some good Sigma, Tamron old lenses.

I understand that these lenses probably are not up to Zeiss standards, but sofar I was satisfied with photos I'm getting using them + KM 7D.

I don't think Maxxum 7 will give you more then 7000 or HTsi . As long as camera light meeter, shutter are working there are no significant difference between film bodies.

When you'll get A850 any lens will give you FF view and 24-105mm, or 28-135mm Minolta lenses will make you smile again.

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I came back to basics. Make photos, which will be interesting to check after many years.

Thank you Stan. Your are right - you see things my way ).I appreciate your post and thanks for the reference to those tow lenses that were not mentioned before. How are they compare to the 28-85 in terms of weight and image quality?

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Ruvy
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Hello Ruvy,

It seems that you want a lens now that is of high optical quality which will fit your APS-C camera (which model is it?) and can be used later for the A850... I would recommend 2 lenses:

1) KM 17-35mm f/2.8 - 4

This lens is a pretty good lens. Resolution is good even on a A900. It will give you a 25.5mm FOV on an APSC-C sensor with a 1.5x factor. Which is nearly wide enough. I lived with it on my 7D. Distortion is low and the sharpness is good, so is the colour.

2) CZ 16-35mm f/2.8

This is the wide-angle zoom flagship... by most accounts excellent image quality... but it costs a bundle... US$1999 is the listed price...

I guess you could go for the CZ which would be an excellent investment. It is wide enough on the APS-C DSLR for now and will be an excellent landscape or architecture lens for your FF DSLR...

If cost is an issue, the KM is a very decent lens and will also fit the A850 as it's also an FF lens.

FF makes any lens shine as long as you don't do pixel peeping - because of additional content.

FF does real view, similar to view you get from film SLR. Most people look into central area of photo - any Maxxum lens will make "good photo".

However if you are looking into bokeh quality, corner detail quality for less; then good lenses are needed.

My personal recommendation is to visit consigment stores, estate sales in you area and look for following primes and zooms:

Minolta 16mm f/2.8 AF Fisheye,
Minolta 20mm f/2.8 AF prime
Minolta 28mm f/2.8 AF
Minolta 50mm f/1.7 AAF
Minolta 100mm both macro f/2.8 and portrait f/2 - are awesome
Minolta 135mm f/2.8
Minolta Maxxum 35-70mm f/7 - (small beercan)
Minolta Maxxum 70-210mm f/4 AF - (beercan)

I can also recommend

Sigma 24mm f/2.8 AF old model.
Tamron 90mm f/2.8 AF 1:1 Macro
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro 1:1
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I came back to basics. Make photos, which will be interesting to check after many years.

if you're gonna experiment, don't do it unless you get it at a bargain price. usually bundles (lens & body) aren't bargains, as the lenses add to the price but give you very little value.

keep in mind, film is a lot less flexible than digital. you're constrained by lack of sss, iso speed, no instant feedback and awareness of incremental cost of each frame.

but film is special for it's colour. i've already got a900 so ff is not much of an issue for me.

typo. 35-70mm is f/4
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I came back to basics to make photos that will be interesting to check after many years.
http://stan-pustylnik.smugmug.com

Thanks for your informative reply. I am looking only for one lens to start with and happy to learn about choices

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Ruvy
http://www.ruvyamir.co.il
recent albums at:
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Thanks for the info. Wish I could just do what you have suggested… when I lived in the States it was easy but now some of the ways people buy is just not existing or very limited… I am looking however in 2nd hand sites.

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Ruvy
http://www.ruvyamir.co.il
recent albums at:
http://www.ruvyamir.co.il/gallery , http://picasaweb.google.com/home?tab=mq
older: http://www.pbase.com/ruvy ,

Thanks. I am looking for bargains just as you have suggested but in my experience body and a good lens could be less expensive than separate but one should really check it one case at a time

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Ruvy
http://www.ruvyamir.co.il
recent albums at:
http://www.ruvyamir.co.il/gallery , http://picasaweb.google.com/home?tab=mq
older: http://www.pbase.com/ruvy ,