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Minolta 600mm f4

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wt66

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Question regarding the 600mm Minolta monster ..,

How is the autofocus on both the older non hs lens and the newer g lens? Is the 600 non high speed fast enough for bird and animal photography?

Also how does the 600mm compare to the 500mm f4 Sony image quality?
 
Go to Dyxum and look at the lenses section for user feedback and image samples. I doubt anyone has owned the lenses you list in order to give any first hand feedback. I've owned both APO and APO HS G Minolta 80-200/2.8 and 300/2.8 and these lenses are screw driven and are machine-gun quick in CAF mode and you can't consciously detect any speed difference between them. The optics are the same and the APO HS G has focus hold buttons that nobody uses anyway. As for the SAL500F40G, err . . no! Well at least not now at those prices.

Later Sony SSM lens models have in-lens motors and it may depend on whether you're using a DSLR or SLT with respect to SSM AF speed. Have you looked on the Sony website for lens specs and technical data for the 500/4?

I would imaging either will be plenty fast enough in the physical AF speed department, but from personal experience using SSM G on DSLR, I found it to be slow and sometimes had trouble with focus lock and retention unlike the Minolta's which were flawless in their performance, but I suspect you'll be able to find the answers your specific questions with a little more research.

With all that being said, you're also comparing current technology and manufacturing against that of 25 years ago, but it doesn't always mean that newest is best as I would think nearly every A-Mount shooter owns or has owned Minolta lenses at some time or other even if the argument for the latest technology in camera bodies becomes a little foggy when using antique optics, but that's for another thread.

Happy hunting!
 
Thanks for the reply!

What would be a good price on these? In the non-HS version? something not too dinged up?
 
I own the 600 hs and the 500...the 600 is very fast focusing with hs gearing. Not many non hs out there, Minolta converted the older lens for free. IQ quality from either lens is outstanding, with the 500 seeming like a baby weight wise.
 
steelhead3 said:
on the 600 HS, anything less than $6200 is a good deal
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Good to know the 600 and 500 are both similar and good image quality wise!

How about the price of a non HS if someone were to find an unconverted one?
 
Last edited:
Thanks! how do you find the 600 plays with the 1.4 minolta/sony teleconverters?
 
That looks pretty good, especially from 100 yards. So you would recommend the 600mm? I currently have a Sigma 500 4.5 i bought used and like it a lot, but a bit more reach would be great. I have a 26lb rated carbon fiber tripod and a Jobu HDIV gimbal for it.
 
steelhead3 said:
A reasonable price could range from 4500 to 5500
Click to expand...
There are a few 600/4 APO HS G's currently listed on evilBay within the price range above, but taking into account fees, I would think even $4000.00 is possible especially if by private treaty. I know people buy from Craigslist and charity shops, so both of these are options as is Amazon and retailers like KEH and B&H Photo, but I would also post a WTB ad on Dyxum stating what you want and how much you're prepared to pay and see what happens. It's cost nothing to ask and you'll know that it's been owned and used by a dedicated shooter and likely well cared for.

If there are any free online classified sites, check these in addition to any used lens retailers that may offer items on behalf of the owner and you should make a low-ball offer and see what happens. The owner may need the funds urgently, so you may be able to score a copy for a lot less than the 'going rate'. After all, 2x Min 300/2.8 APO lenses were sold for GBP £450.00 and GBP £750.00 within a week on evilBay (UK). Whoever bought them now own one of Minolta's benchmark tele-prime lenses for 75% and around 50% below the 'going rate' and both were more-or-less complete in their alloy cases, filters, strap. keys etc, and those prices are unheard of, so I believe the buyers will stand to make a fair chunk of change when re-sold, so such things clearly do happen, and it may do so for you too as your not talking about a $100.00 SAL50F18 DT prime, but the cream of Minolta's lens back catalogue and some serious money, though you need to be prepared to ask relevant questions about any internal ingress, lens coating de-lamination and others, but if you can try before you buy, then that would be very handy, and depending from who/where you buy from, I would make payment using a credit card and/or PayPal for payment protection. I would also get info about Minolta lens specialists should you need it cleaning or servicing, but these lenses are usually bomb proof.

In addition, if you're a member of Flickr, take a look at this and maybe post a WTB message there.

I wish you well with your quest.
 
I own both for few years and I shoot BIF

Speedwise, not much difference in both but much slower than Nikon's (I also use D3s and D4).

I guess its is largely due to the bodies since A99 is much faster than A900. Focus limiting in A99 helps a lot, making them both useful for BIF.

Image is good enough BUT 2 big drawbacks:

1) Very heavy, definitely not handheldable, needs effort to carry them to the field even using monopod or tripod.

2) Rather bad chromatic abberation when compared to more moderrn lens in case there is a bit more sunshine, just a bit more. Definitely need corrections in PP. I use llightroom.

Not quite recommendable unless you really need 600mm and if the price is right. Don't spend too much, the price has been static or evven dropping slowly for2-3 years.

Lastly, focusing speed is obviously slower with TC1.4,though photo quality rather maintain.
 
I use the Minolta 600mm f4 HS with the A99 and A900. I usually use it with the Minolta 1.4 tc. I mostly shoot flying and sitting birds. I have no complaints about focusing speed in any arrangement, especially when first setting the range to limit focus hunting. I either use it on a heavy duty Gitzo GT5541LS with a Wimberley gimbal head or simply resting on a bean bag lying on a vehicle window sill. The only time I have had problems with chromatic aberration is when heavily cropping shots of the moon at night.
 
jdc562 said:
I use the Minolta 600mm f4 HS with the A99 and A900. I usually use it with the Minolta 1.4 tc. I mostly shoot flying and sitting birds. I have no complaints about focusing speed in any arrangement, especially when first setting the range to limit focus hunting. I either use it on a heavy duty Gitzo GT5541LS with a Wimberley gimbal head or simply resting on a bean bag lying on a vehicle window sill. The only time I have had problems with chromatic aberration is when heavily cropping shots of the moon at night.
Click to expand...
I, too, own this lens and use it on a gimbal head. I have a Movo Wimbey copy and a Benro TMC48CXL. I primarily use an A77ii to shoot but have also tried an A7Rii with the LA EA4 adapter. Focusing speed with the A77 is good enough to track race horses coming straight towards you.

A note about tripods. I've tried several others - all rated for more enough weight. This lens is VERY heavy - particularly the front elements. As a result it has a high polar moment and will shake a lot on anything less that the stiffest of tripods. My Benro is only just man enough for the job (I use it with the thinnest portion of the legs retracted). The Really Right Stuff top end tripods do a slightly better job but require a second mortgage! Others like the Manfrotto 055 fail miserably as does my 3 Legged Thing Roger - both allowing the lens to vibrate uncontrollably.

As for performance it's sharp and fast focusing with very smooth Bokeh. There is a little CA at the edges but it's easily fixed in Lightroom. The A7Rii had a harder time focusing under low contrast conditions and my A6000 would only find focus about half the time.

Since the A77 is an APS-C format body my setup crops like a 900mm full frame. I'm frightened to try a 1.4 converter for fear of seeing into the future!
 
I shoot most of my birds and other wildlife with the 600 hs and A77II. Focusing is very good and IQ is excellent. I picked up my copy straight from Japan (via eBay) in mint condition for $3800 a year ago. Here is my set-up.





fb7ed300b9234a68b3a5d7b8426205e2.jpg
 
Sonolta Shooter said:
Go to Dyxum and look at the lenses section for user feedback and image samples. I doubt anyone has owned the lenses you list in order to give any first hand feedback. I've owned both APO and APO HS G Minolta 80-200/2.8 and 300/2.8 and these lenses are screw driven and are machine-gun quick in CAF mode and you can't consciously detect any speed difference between them. The optics are the same and the APO HS G has focus hold buttons that nobody uses anyway. As for the SAL500F40G, err . . no! Well at least not now at those prices.

Later Sony SSM lens models have in-lens motors and it may depend on whether you're using a DSLR or SLT with respect to SSM AF speed. Have you looked on the Sony website for lens specs and technical data for the 500/4?

I would imaging either will be plenty fast enough in the physical AF speed department, but from personal experience using SSM G on DSLR, I found it to be slow and sometimes had trouble with focus lock and retention unlike the Minolta's which were flawless in their performance, but I suspect you'll be able to find the answers your specific questions with a little more research.

With all that being said, you're also comparing current technology and manufacturing against that of 25 years ago, but it doesn't always mean that newest is best as I would think nearly every A-Mount shooter owns or has owned Minolta lenses at some time or other even if the argument for the latest technology in camera bodies becomes a little foggy when using antique optics, but that's for another thread.

Happy hunting!
Click to expand...
 
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