Minolta / Sony alpha (a-mount) lens database

[DiskoJoe]

If I can find Minolta lens, do they connect directly on to the body of the camera or do I have to purchase an adaptor? What would be the sharpest lens (70 to 300 mm) with either an Minolta or Sony?

Check this periodically. They have good deals on really great lenses.

Sigma Outlet Shop | sigmaphoto.com

Thanks for the link.

No problem. I wish I had more cash. They had some 10-20mm f3.5 lenses on sale there right now but I just bought a 17-50mm f2.8.

 

[kassad]

That 10-20 caught my eye also.

 

[DiskoJoe]

That 10-20 caught my eye also.

Its a really great lens. I borrowed my friends on night when I wen to do a club shoot. Very sharp pictures and with the f3.5 you can actually get decent night shots hand held.

 

[dxqcanada]

Another under-rated lens ... Minolta 100-300mm APO.
Very low priced but it can produce very detailed images, in a small lens.

 

[dxqcanada]

So far my wife and I have gone through these lenses:

Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di-II LD - nice lens
Sigma 14mm f/3.5 - soft
Sony 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 - soft
Sony 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 SAM - not bad
Minolta 24mm f/2.8 - sharp
Minolta 28mm f/2.8 - sharp
Minolta 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 - nice lens
Minolta 28-135mm f/4-5.6 - very sharp
Minolta 50mm f/1.7 - very sharp
Sigma 50mm f/2.8 EX Macro - very sharp
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 APO EX DC - very sharp
Tokina 100mm f/2.8 Macro AT-X - very sharp though only 1:2 macro
Sigma 75-200mm f/2.8-3.5 - nice lens
Sony 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 - little soft
Sigma 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 APO DG - soft
Minolta 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 APO - nice lens
Sigma 100-300mm f/4 APO EX DG - sharp even wide open @ 300mm
Sigma 300mm f/4 APO Tele Macro - nice lens, sharp close up 1:3
Sigma 400mm f/5.6 APO - sharp
Sigma 1.4x APO EX - very little loss of IQ

Some great, some good, some ... not so good.

 

[Jace]

Ok, question to those Sony/Maxxum users ... what are the best lenses you have used that are at a bargain price ?

Here is my list:

Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7
- sharp and bright lens ... $90

Minolta AF 28-135mm
- sharpest lens I have. It is not fast, but IQ is great ... $250

Is that 28-135 the f4 lens?



Edit: Just looked at your list and see that it is. Wish I could find it for what you paid for it! Seems like they are mostly around 350 on ebay at the moment.

 

[dxqcanada]

I got mine when Sony only had two DSLR camera's on the market ... now that there are more Sony users, the demand is higher, so the price is higher.

KEH currently has four of them, starting from $205.00
Minolta Maxxum Zoom Lenses - KEH.com

 

[CP1]

my 50mm F1.7 is the sharpest I have by far, then my 28mm F2.8 follows. Both less than $100 each, well worth the cost and the only issue I've noticed is that they both produce a slight color cast. I did have to use an aftermarket lens hood because the built in one is garbage and the lens coating isn't as good as modern coatings, so flare is something you really have to pay attention about.

 

[bunny99123]

I just got a 35mm 1.7 Sony and love it to. Not too happy with my 28-70 kit lens. Going to try my friend's Minolta Maxx lens around the same As my kit and see if it is sharper. I want to add a 50mm Minolta.

 

[dxqcanada]

28-70mm kit ?
Do you mean the 18-70mm Sony kit lens ? If so, yeah it sucks.
The 18-55mm Sony kit lens is better.

You should pick up a 50/60/70mm macro.