7+ Best Minolta Lenses | Unrivaled Guide 2022

I can confidently say that of all the lenses I have tested so far, this is the only one that beats the Konica Minolta AF Zoom 75-300mm F4.5-5.6. There are many options, but this is definitely my favorite.

We have all been in the scenario where we had the opportunity to take the perfect photo but didn’t have the equipment. The camera plays an important role in taking better photos, but if the lens can’t do its job, it all goes to waste.

That is why we always recommend that beginners have a selection of lenses that they can use for different situations. I know for a fact that once you start buying lenses, you fall down the rabbit hole, i.e., you cannot and will not stop buying new lenses.

We already know that newer, modern lenses have outstanding quality. For example, the autofocus system, the image stabilizer, and the overall sharpness and quality of the photos are all very good. However, there is something interesting about the lenses used in film cameras in the past.

There were many different players at the time. One of the main manufacturers of cameras and lenses was Minolta. This company still produces cameras and lenses under the Konica Minolta umbrella, but their former models were truly invaluable.

These lenses have an interesting character to their bodies, and each photographer has a different style that he or she wants to achieve, and different things that he or she effectively wants from a lens.

Best Minolta Lense

Today, we’ll look at a guide to getting the best out of your Minolta lenses. We’ll cover both models designed for film cameras and the latest models, what you need to know before buying a new lens, and much more. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look.

Best Minolta Lenses | Comparison Table 2022

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Best Minolta Lenses | 2022 Products Overview

Product Overview:

The Minolta 50mm f1.7 AF Lens is a high-quality lens manufactured by the brand Minolta. It is a macro lens, which means it is ideal for close-up photography and is capable of producing sharp and detailed images even at close distances. This lens is compatible with Sony A mountings and has a 50-millimeter focal length.

The maximum focal length for this lens is 46 millimeters. This lens accepts 49mm filters and is designed to fit Sony/Minolta A-mount SLR, SLT, and DSLR cameras. However, it is important to note that it does not fit Sony E-mount Mirrorless cameras such as the Alpha A5000/5100 series, A6000/6100 series, NEX series, A7 series, or A9 series.

The Minolta Maxxum 50mm lens is considered to be the first ever real auto-focus SLR lens. It is equipped with center-weighted metering and a body-integral AF system, which ensures accurate and precise focus. Additionally, it has full digital computer control, which allows for easy and convenient operation. The AF motor is located in the camera and is connected to the lens through a screwdriver connection. This feature allows for smooth and precise focus adjustments.

One of the most notable features of this lens is its life-sensing touch switch. This switch allows the user to activate the meter by simply touching the lens, without the need for any pressure on the button. Additionally, pressing the switch a little further will turn on and lock the AF and pressing it the rest of the way will trigger the camera to take a picture. This feature makes it an ideal lens for fast-paced photography and capturing those perfect moments.

Product Overview:

The Konica Minolta AF Zoom 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 SLR Lens is a high-quality telephoto lens manufactured by Minolta. It has a maximum focal length of 300 millimeters and a minimum focal length of 75 millimeters. The lens is specifically designed for use with Minolta Maxxum Autofocus SLR cameras.

One of the key features of this lens is its continuous macro setting which offers accurate focus from infinity to 4.9 feet and a 4x zoom ratio. This feature makes the lens ideal for sports, portraiture, birding, and more. It also includes a new distance-encoding device that enables improved calculation for flash exposure with Maxxum 5 and 7 cameras when used with Konica Minolta 3600HS D and 5600HS D flashes.

The Minolta Maxxum Autofocus Lens System is one of the world's most complete lens systems, covering every kind of lens from a wide angle, telephoto, and wide-range zooms to large-aperture, reflex, and soft-focus types.

Only Minolta Maxxum AF lenses are expressly made to link perfectly with your Minolta Maxxum AF SLR. Every Maxxum AF lens locks into your Minolta camera to form an integrated unit that allows focus and exposure data to flow from the lens' read-only memory (ROM) integrated circuit to the camera's central processing unit. Each Maxxum AF lens is a product of Minolta's advanced computer-assisted optical design. Minolta is one of the few camera makers to insist on making its own optical glass.

Additionally, the lens has a wide focusing ring for comfort and better control, and a focus hold button that makes it easy to operate. The lens is also compatible with Minolta's ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) flash metering which helps to improve flash exposure. This lens offers a great combination of versatility, quality, and performance, making it an ideal lens for a wide range of photography.

Product Overview:

Product Overview:

The Minolta Maxxum AF 100-200mm f/4.5 TELE lens is a high-quality telephoto lens manufactured by Minolta. It has a maximum focal length of 200 millimeters and a minimum focal length of 100 millimeters, making it a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography, including sports, portraiture, and wildlife. This lens is specifically designed for use with Minolta Maxxum Dynax SLR/DSLR cameras and Sony Alpha A-mount DSLR cameras.

This lens is constructed with 8 elements in 7 groups, and has an aperture of 7 blades, with a minimum focus distance of 1900mm. It also has a maximum magnification of 1/8.3 and a front-focus design. The lens has a filter diameter of 49mm and comes with a clip-on round hood. Its maximum aperture is 4.5, and the minimum aperture is 22, with a focal range of 100-200mm.

It is important to note that this lens has been previously owned and has some cosmetic wear such as scuffing and scratches to the exterior of the barrel, as mentioned by the seller. However, it has been inspected and tested by the VSSoutlet staff and it has no fungus, haze, or separation to its glass and there is no oil on the aperture blades.

Product Overview:

The Minolta MD Rokkor Rokkor 45 mm 1:2 is a high-quality lens manufactured by Minolta. It has a fixed focal length of 45 millimeters and is specifically designed for use with Minolta MD model cameras that are analog and require manual focus.

One of the key features of this lens is its manual focus design. This allows the user to have more control over the focus, making it a great option for those who prefer to manually adjust the focus. Additionally, this lens is in good condition and is fully functional. However, it may have some signs of use on the exterior such as light scratches or scuffs on the housing.

The Minolta MD Rokkor Rokkor 45mm lens is a solid performer that is suitable for a wide range of photography, including portraits, street, and landscape photography. This lens is an excellent choice for those who prefer to use manual focus and are looking for a high-quality lens for their Minolta MD camera.

In conclusion, the Minolta MD Rokkor Rokkor 45mm 1:2 lens is a high-quality lens that is designed for use with Minolta MD model cameras that are analog and require manual focus.

Product Overview:

The Konica Minolta AF 28-75mm f/2.8 Lens is a versatile zoom lens that is designed for use with the Maxxum 5D & 7D Digital SLR Camera. It offers a wide-angle to standard zoom range, with a maximum focal length of 75 millimeters and a minimum focal length of 28 millimeters. The lens features a bright f2.8 maximum aperture that allows for excellent low-light performance.

This lens is constructed with 16 elements in 14 groups and features aspherical lenses and anomalous dispersion glass. Aspherical lenses are designed to correct spherical aberration and distortion while using wide and standard zooms. Anomalous Dispersion glass is used to decrease chromatic aberration, which results in higher resolving power when the focal length increases.

The Konica Minolta AF 28-75mm f/2.8 Lens also features a circular iris with excellent defocusing characteristics and Advanced Distance Integration (ADI) for enhanced flash shooting performance. This makes it a great lens for portraits, landscapes, and other types of photography that require a wide-angle to standard zoom range.

Product Overview:

The Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 lens is a high-quality, normal lens manufactured by Minolta. It has a fixed focal length of 50 millimeters, which makes it a great option for a wide range of photography including portraits, street, and landscape photography. This lens is designed for use with Minolta MD mount cameras and works fine according to the seller.

One of the key features of this lens is its Minolta mount. This ensures that the lens is specifically designed to work seamlessly with Minolta MD mount cameras, allowing for optimal performance and image quality. Additionally, it comes with a back lens cap which protects the rear element of the lens from dust, moisture, and other debris.

This lens is made in Japan and is in good working condition according to the seller, however, it may have some cosmetic wear. It is an excellent choice for those who are looking for a high-quality lens for their Minolta MD mount camera.

In conclusion, the Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 lens is a high-quality, normal lens that is designed for use with Minolta MD mount cameras. It has a fixed focal length of 50 millimeters and works fine according to the seller. It comes with a back lens cap and is made in Japan. It may have some cosmetic wear, but it is a great option for those who are looking for a high-quality lens for their Minolta MD mount camera.

What You Need to Know Before Buying a Minolta Lens

This guide was written specifically for those who are purchasing new or old Minolta lenses. You must be very careful with new lenses, as they have properties that can make them better or worse for your needs.

There are many factors and things to consider before purchasing a Minolta lens, which I am going to try to explain briefly. So let's get started.

Main and Zoom Lenses

There are two general types of lenses: single focus lenses and zoom lenses. There are many different types of lenses, including wide-angle, standard, macro, telephoto, etc. Today we will focus on zoom lenses and prime lenses.

Prime lenses are fixed focal length lenses and are a great choice if you want the best quality. These lenses are very sharp and perform well in low light situations. This is because there are no moving parts inside the lens, making them ideal for these needs, but they are less versatile for different applications and focal lengths.

This is where zoom lenses come into play, with a range of focal lengths that can be manipulated and an optical zoom function that can capture more distant objects with higher image quality. While sharpness and image quality may not be as good as the basic models, they are still quite good, and in terms of versatility, they are unbeatable.

Focal length

Focal length is another important factor in the lens you consider. Simply put, the focal length of a lens is the distance from the center of the lens to the sensor when the subject is in focus.

It is simply measured in millimeters, and the lower the value, the wider the picture. Conversely, the higher the value, the greater the zoom of the scene.

There are a variety of Minolta lenses, but most have focal lengths between 30mm and 50mm, and of course there are lenses with different numbers.

Note that lenses with shorter focal lengths focus on a wider area of the screen, and the larger the number, the narrower the field of view or focus. The aperture of the lens is also a factor, but not as large.

Coating

The coating and quality of Minolta lenses is another important factor to consider before purchasing. A variety of materials are used to coat Minolta lenses, many of which are of higher quality.

One of the most common coatings is magnesium fluoride. Some lenses also use advanced multi-coating materials to reduce common problems such as ghosting and flare.

These problems are common to most digital cameras. Less well known is that the coatings improve color balance throughout the zoom range of the lens.

Compatibility

This is a very interesting question, because if the lens is not compatible with the camera, it cannot be used at all, thus influencing the choice. Fortunately, adapters exist that are compatible with a wide variety of lenses and cameras.

However, one thing should be noted. Older film lenses will not function properly with DSLRs, especially if you choose an APS-C format sensor. This is because all adapters use the same sensor for both lenses. In fact, all adapters use optics to adapt the lens to the camera sensor. However, these degrade the image quality and do not give satisfactory results.

Mirrorless cameras are a good match for these old lenses, and the Sony a7 series with full-size sensors is the best choice, with very good overall results. This is due to Sony's acquisition of Minolta and the use of its A-mount in the new Alpha series.

Best Minolta Lenses | Infographic

Best Minolta Lenses | Video Explanation

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Minolta 28mm f/2.8 lens be used with Sony A-mount cameras?

Yes, the Sony A-mount system is compatible with the Minolta Maxxum lens line. You will be able to use the lenses and focus without any problems. The problem is finding a Minolta Maxxum mount camera system.

Can Minolta Maxxum lenses be used on Sony E-mount systems?

In order to use Minolta Maxxum series lenses with a Sony E-mount camera, you will need an adapter. Adapters are easily available and will cost a few dollars at most. Sony makes several such adapters that maintain aperture and auto-exposure controls. There are also third-party adapters available, but not all of them will give you the full functionality of the lens on an electronic mount camera.

Can I use Minolta Maxxum lenses with Canon/Nikon cameras?

They are not compatible because they have different mounts. Therefore, only Maxxum lenses cannot be used with Canon/Nikon cameras. However, there are adapters available to mount Minolta's Maxxum lenses on Canon/Nikon cameras. Just as there are usually adapters to attach other lenses to incompatible mounts.

Are Maxxum and Dynax the same mount system?

Yes, they are. Minolta's A-mount system was labeled Maxxum in North America when it was first released. When it was launched in Europe, it was called Dynax. Interestingly, it was known by another name, a combination of alphanumeric characters, before it was later renamed Dynax.

Are Minolta’s A-mount and Sony’s A-mount the same?

Yes, they are. Sony acquired Minolta (Konica Minolta) in 2006, and decided to continue using the A-mount and its name, integrating it into their product line. The result was the new Sony Alpha, or Amount, used for SLT (Single Lens Translucent) digital cameras. It uses Single Fixed Mirror Technology. This mount is still used today on many Sony DSLT cameras, including the very popular Sony Alpha a99 II.
Here are some of the most important points to consider when buying a rangefinder camera.

Verdict.

Whether you are looking for a lens from Minolta's latest model or are interested in a retro model from the 80s, Minolta is sure to satisfy your needs. We have explained our selection of Minolta lenses so that you can choose the best one for your needs.

When purchasing an old lens, be sure to buy from a reliable dealer and check for defects that may render the lens unusable, as well as the quality of the construction. We also have a "Top Picks section" where you can find safe options that have proven to be excellent performers. Have fun with your new lenses.