Meta's Best Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Meta’s Best Minolta AF Lenses Reviewed By Nature Photographer Meta Gatschenberger

Ad • Find The Best Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses

Meta’s Sony a77 II Digital Camera With Some of Her Best 1985–1993 Vintage Minolta AF Lenses Made of Heavy Metal.
Left to Right: 35–70mm, 24–50mm, 35–105mm, 100–200mm, 28–135mm, 70–210mm, 75–300mm and 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lenses mounted on a Sony a77 II Digital Camera.

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Meta Gatschenberger, RN, is an Award Winning Western North Carolina Nature Photographer based between Blowing Rock and Boone, NC, next to the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park, in the Western North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains.

Meta began shooting Nature Photography with her Minolta 35mm QTsi Film Camera and 35–80mm AF Telephoto Lens back in 2000. Meta now shoots with Sony Digital Cameras and Vintage Minolta AF Lenses.

Can You Use Vintage Minolta AF Lenses on Sony Digital Cameras?

Yes, Vintage Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses, originally designed for Minolta AF 35mm SLR Full Frame Film Cameras, will Mount and Auto Focus on Sony Digital Cameras; Sony A-Mount Cameras and Sony E-Mount Cameras (With New LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter).

Meta's Best Digital Photography Tips For Beginners

Meta's Best Digital Photography Tips For Beginners

1985–1993 Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses – There is a Huge Quality Difference between the Mid 80’s Heavy Metal Models and Later 90’s Plastic Models. The Early Metal Models have Tigher Rubber Rings (Photo: Top). The 3rd Digit of the Serial Number is the Model Year: XX5XXXXX = 1985.

Ad • New Sony LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter

Vintage Minolta AF Lens Sweet Spots

Every Vintage Minolta AF Lens has a “Sweet Spot” where the lens at it’s sharpest. The general rule for finding the Sweet Spot of any lens is to stop down 1 to 2 full f-stops from the widest aperture number. Try to avoid apertures smaller than f/22 due to aperture blade distortion. Sweet Spots may very by lens.

Full Stop Range: f/1.0, f/1.4, f/2.0, f/2.8, f/4.0, f/5.6, f/8.0, f/11, f/16, f/22 and f/32.
The Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4 Lens Sweet Spot at f/1.4 + 1–2-stops = f/2.0 to f/2.8.
The Minolta AF 20mm f/2.8 Lens Sweet Spot at f2.8 + 1–2-stops = f/4.0 to f/5.6.
The Minolta AF 70–210mm f/4.0 Lens Sweet Spot at f/4.0 + 1–2-stops = f/5.6 to f/8.0.

Meta's Best Digital Photography Tips For Beginners

Ad • New Sony LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter – The New Sony LA-EA5 A-Mount Adapter lets you mount any A-Mount Lens (Sony or Minolta) to your Sony E-Mount Digital Camera. A newly designed compact auto focus and aperture drive system fits snugly into the sleek compact cylindrical adapter.

Meta’s “Red Tailed Hawk” (Photo: Top) was shot with a Minolta AF 70–210mm f/4.0 Telephoto Lens mounted on a Sony Digital Camera.

“Shooting with Vintage Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses, gives you certain bragging rights, when you can win many North Carolina Nature Photography Contests, shooting with a 1985 $100 Minolta AF Lens, compared to other photographers who paid thousands!”
~ Meta Gatschenberger

View Meta’s Nature Photography

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses – Did you know that Amazon sells Used Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses? You can buy Top Quality, Like New or Mint Condition Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses directly from Reputable Camera Shops in the USA and Japan on Amazon! Meta has purchased many of her Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses directly from Amazon.

Download Minolta AF Telephoto Lens User’s Manual

Download Minolta AF Prime Lens User’s Manual

Complete List of Minolta A-Mount Lenses

Ad • Minolta AF 20mm f/2.8 Prime Lens

Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Meta’s Best Minolta AF Lens Collection is a combination of Vintage Minolta AF Prime Lenses, Minolta AF Telephoto Lenses and Minolta AF Macro Lenses.

Which Vintage Minolta AF Lenses Should I Buy – Watch a Video

Vintage Minolta AF Lenses fall into Seven General Lens Categories:
Ultra Wide Angle Lenses < 24mm
Wide Angle Lenses 24–28mm
Walk Around Lenses 28–35mm
Nifty Fifty 50mm
Macro Lenses 50–100mm
Portrait Lenses 85–105mm
Bokeh Lenses 135mm
Telephoto Lenses 150mm+

Vintage Minolta AF Prime Lenses (Fast, Fixed Focal Length – Do Not Zoom)

• Minolta AF 20mm f/2.8 – Wide Angle
• Minolta AF 24mm f/2.8 – Wide Angle
• Minolta AF 28mm f/2.8 – Wide Angle
• Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4 – Super Sharp Fifty

Vintage Minolta AF Telephoto Lenses (Zoom Lenses)

• Minolta AF 24–50mm f/4 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 28–135mm f/4–4.5 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 35–70mm f/4 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 28–85mm f/3.5–4.5 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 35–105mm f/3.5–4.5 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 70–210mm f/4 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 100–200mm f/4.5 Telephoto Lens
• Minolta AF 75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 Telephoto Lens

Vintage Minolta AF Macro Lenses (Also Double as Fast Prime Lenses)

• Minolta AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro – Sharp Macro Lens
• Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro – One of the Best Macro Lenses

Video Review of The Top 5 Best Minolta AF Lenses

Ad • Faster and Larger SD Cards – Shooting 5 Bracketed Shots for every HDR Image or Shooting RAW at 10 to 12 Shots Per Second in High Speed Burst Mode can quickly fill up Smaller SD Cards, which is why Meta uses Faster and Larger SanDisk Extreme Pro SD Cards. Now Up To 1TB!

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Ad • Find The Best Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses

Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Ad • Minolta 35mm QTsi Film Camera

A Brief History of Minolta AF Lenses and Sony’s Camera Division

Between 1985 and 2006 (before Sony Bought Minolta’s Camera Division), nearly 17 million Minolta AF Lenses were manufactured in Japan by the Minolta Company Limited, making Vintage Minolta AF Lenses easy to very find online in “Mint” or “Like New” Condition, and at very affordable prices on Amazon! Many of these Minolta AF Lenses were originally sold with Minolta Maxxum SLR 35mm Full Frame Film Cameras (Photo: Left). When Sony bought the Minolta Film Camera Division in 2006, 18 Minolta AF Lenses were branded as Sony A-Mount Lenses.

The A-Mount Design on the Minolta Maxxum SLR Film Camera (Photo: Left) and the Sony Digital Camera share the exact same A-Mount Lens Mount.

Ad • Minolta Maxxum 9000 Film Camera

Don’t Take My Kodachrome Away!

Vintage Minolta AF Maxxum 35mm SLR Film Cameras (Minolta Maxxum 7000 AF and Minolta Maxxum 9000 AF) are a great resource for finding Cheap Minolta AF Lenses! These old Minolta Film Cameras are not worth anything, but the Minolta AF Lenses that often come with these old Film Cameras can still be used on all Sony Digital Cameras!

Meta recently purchased a large Vintage Minolta Maxxum Film Camera Bundle for only $100! This sale included; two Minolta Maxxum 9000 Film Cameras (Photo: Left), one Minolta AF 70–210mm f/4.0, one Minolta AF 28–85mm f/3.5–4.5 and two Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4 Lenses (Not the cheaper f/1.7 Kit Lens), plus 14 Rare Cokinlight Filters (Made in France), all in a nice Leather Camera Bag. All four of the Minolta AF Lenses were in Mint Condition! Meta decided to kept the two Vintage Minolta Maxxum Film Cameras as a Vintage Display Items in her Photography Office.

Minolta 55mm Lens Caps (LF-1055) For Sale

Minolta 55mm Lens Caps (LF-1055) and Minolta White End Caps For Sale

Meta has 10 Original Minolta 55mm Lens Caps (LF-1055), Clean and Sealed in a Plastic Zip Bags, in Very Good Working Condition: $20 Each, includes Free U.S. Shipping (Example Photo: Left). These Vintage Minolta AF Lens Caps will fit any 55mm Camera Lens; Sony Lenses, Minolta Beer Can Lenses, Minolta Big Beer Can Lenses, Minolta Macro Lenses and many other Minolta AF Lenses.

Meta also has 5 White Minolta End Caps for Minolta or Sony Lenses, Clean Very Good Condition, $15 Each, includes Free U.S. Shipping.

Contact Meta To Purchase

Meta's Best Digital Photography Tips For Beginners

Ad • Clean Your Minolta AF Lens Caps – Lens caps do get dropped in the dirt over the years. Dirt from the lens cap can make its way into your Lens and then into your Sony Digital Camera. After buying any used Minolta AF Lens, Meta soaks the Front and Rear Lens Caps (LR-1000) in Hot Water and Dish Soap for 1 Hour. Rinse and blow dry thoroughly!

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Macro Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Ad • Minolta AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

This was Meta’s First Minolta AF Lens for her Sony Digital Camera. This “Nifty Fifty” 50mm Macro Lens also doubles as a Sharp 50mm f/2.8 Prime Lens! Meta shot a few family weddings using her Minolta AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens and her Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens, they’re that good. This Sharp Macro Lens produces the most amazing Macro Photography and Close-Up Photography.

Superseded by Sony SAL50M28.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 9 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Minolta AF Lens Specifications

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
32°	0.22 M	f/32	73 x 60 mm	288 g	ø55mm	75mm	$521

Ad • Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens

This Macro Lens is often quoted as one of the Best Minolta AF Macro Lenses Ever Made! The Minolta AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is Meta’s Favorite Minolta Macro Lens and her most used Minolta AF Lens. This amazing Macro Lens produces the most amazing Macro Photography and Close-Up Photography. Meta uses this Macro Lens on flowers, bees and bugs, and even as a 100mm Prime Lens for Weddings and Portraits. The sharp results are amazing! The clarity and sharp focus are astounding, even using large apertures in low light conditions. This is Meta’s Favorite Minolta AF Lens for Hummingbird Photography.

Superseded by Sony SAL100M28.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Minolta AF Lens Specifications

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
16°	0.35 M	f/32	75 x 99 mm	520 g	ø55mm	150mm	$848

Meta’s Best Minolta AF Telephoto Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Advantages of Telephoto / Zoom Lenses	Disadvantages of Telephoto / Zoom Lenses
• Ability to Zoom In and Out – Better Compose Your Photograph.	• Larger and Heavier.
• One Telephoto Lens can Replace Many Prime Lenses.	• Often More Expensive Than Prime Lenses.
• Telephoto Lens Compress Backgrounds.	• Wide Open Aperture Limited to f/2.8 or f/4.0.
• Better Zoom for Sports Photography.	• Some Zoom Lenses Change Aperture as you Zoom In and Out.

Conclusions

Many Digital Photographers own a mix of Telephoto or Zoom Lenses and Prime Lenses.
It’s a personal preference and depends what type of photography you are shooting.

Ad • Minolta AF 70–210mm f/4.0 Telephoto Lens

This is the Minolta AF Telephoto Lens or Famous 1985 Heavy Metal “Beer Can Lens”. Many lighting situations require a Constant Aperture f/4.0 Telephoto Lens that can isolate specific details from a distance. This big boy was often sold along with the Shorter 35–70mm f/4.0 Telephoto Lens (Below), to cover the full 35–210mm at a Constant Aperture of f/4.0. These are very easy to find in excellent condition. Heavy for Walk Around Use. Great Telephoto Lens for Wildlife Photography, Hummingbird Photography and Close-Up Photography. This is a Classic Sharp Minolta AF Lens.

Useful Macro Mode at 210mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 16 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
23° – 8°	1.1 M	f/32	74 x 152 mm	695 g	ø55mm	105–315mm	$229

Ad • Minolta AF 35–70mm f/4.0 Telephoto Lens

This Constant Aperture f/4.0 Minolta AF Telephoto Lens offers great versatility. This Short Telephoto Lens has become a very popular Kit Lens since it covers the wide angle to telephoto range used most often. Its responsive, adapting to most hand held situations in an instant. This very popular kit lens was often sold with the 70–210mm f/4.0 Telephoto Lens (Above), to cover the full range of 35–210mm at a Constant Aperture of f/4.0. This is one of Meta’s Favorite Light Weight Compact Walk Around Telephoto Lens. Great for General Walk Around Lens plus Close-Up Photography.

Macro Mode Switch at 70mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 9 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
36° – 34°	1.0 M	f/22	42 x 23 mm	255 g	ø49mm	52–105mm	$194

Ad • Minolta AF 28–135mm f/4.0–4.5 Telephoto Lens

This big and heavy (slightly heavier than the Famous “Beer Can Lens”), but tremendously versatile Telephoto Lens lets you move from wide, sweeping effects to much closer details. Many Minolta Photographers referred to this lens as the “Secret Handshake Lens”, based on an urban legend that it was a co-designed by Minolta and Leica. This lens also works well for Close-Up Photography. On a Full Frame Sony a99 II Camera, this Minolta AF 28–135mm f/4.0–4.5 is an excellent walk around lenses. Unlike most Minolta AF Lenses, this one has a larger ø72mm front element, with the focusing ring in the rear, which takes some getting used to. This is Meta’s favorite Walk Around Minolta AF Lens for Landscape Photography, plus it does good Close-Up Photography at 28mm.

Manual Focus Macro Mode Switch at 28mm.
Aperture Change Point: f/4.0 28–40mm, f/4.5 40–135mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
50° –12°	1.5 M / .244 Macro	f/22–f/27	75 x 109 mm	770 g	ø72mm	42–203mm	$525

Ad • Minolta AF 100–200mm f/4.5 Telephoto Lens

For Digital Photography, this Constant Aperture f/4.5, 100–200mm range Minolta AF Lens is an excellent choice. This Compact lens extends out when zooming in. Sharp Telephoto Lens. Cheaper and lighter alternative to the heavy 70–210mm f/4.0 (Only 1/2 stop less), but without the Macro Mode. Great Minolta AF Telephoto Lens for Birding and Wildlife Photography.

No Macro Mode.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
16° – 8°	1.9 M	f/22	70 x 95 mm	375 g	ø49mm	150–300mm	$228

Ad • Minolta AF 24–50mm f/4.0 Telephoto Lens

This Wide Angle Telephoto Minolta AF Lens has a Constant Aperture of f/4.0 and is ideal for Waterfall Photography and Wide Angle Landscape Photography. This very compact Minolta AF Lens was Very Expensive in 1985 dollars. Very Hard to Find Today.

No Macro Mode.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 9 cm Lens Case.

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
56° – 32°	0.35 M	f/22	69 x 60 mm	285 g	ø55mm	36–75mm	$463

Ad • Minolta AF 75–300mm f/4.5–5.6 Telephoto Lens

The Famous Minolta AF Telephoto Lens or “Big Beer Can Lens” extends almost a foot long with the Lens Hood attached. Versatile 75–300mm Telephoto Lens, f/4.5– 5.6, is ideal for a variety of purposes, from Wildlife Photography to Hummingbird Photography and Close-Up Photography. The f/5.6 at 300mm requires a lot of light.

Macro Mode at 300mm.
Aperture Change Point: f/4.5 75–100mm, f/5.0 100–135mm, f/5.6 135–300mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 16 cm Lens Case.

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
21° –5°	1.5 M	f/32	74 x 163 mm	865 g	ø55mm	112–450mm	$542

Ad • Minolta 28–85mm f/3.5–4.5 Telephoto Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 28–85mm f/3.5–4.5 Telephoto Lens

This handy mid-range Minolta AF Telephoto Lens gives you great flexibility in handling a variety of subjects. Macro Mode Switch at 28mm for Close-Up Photography. The later 1990’s Model has a wider and smoother zoom ring pattern and a rubber grip around the focus ring, but optically it is the same lens. Heavy and solid.

Manual Focus Macro Mode Switch at 28mm.
Aperture Change Point: f/3.5 28–35mm, f/4.0 35–60mm, f/4.5 60–85mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
50° –19°	0.8 M / 0.9 Macro	f/22–f/32	69 x 86 mm	490 g	ø55mm	42–128mm	$280

Ad • Minolta AF 35–105mm Telephoto Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 35–105mm f/3.5–4.5 Telephoto Lens

Very Popular Compact Minolta AF Telephoto Lens – Very Easy to Find. Macro Mode Switch at 105mm for Close-Up Photography.

Useful Manual Focus Macro Mode Switch at 105mm.
Aperture Change Point: f/3.5 35–36mm, f/4.0 36–70mm, f/4.5 70–105mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
42° –12°	1.4 M / 0.41 Macro	f/22–f/32	68 x 87 mm	495 g	ø55mm	42–128mm	$350

Ad • Minolta AF 100–300mm APO Telephoto Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 100–300mm f/4.5–5.6 APO Telephoto Lens

This 1993 Compact Minolta AF Telephoto Lens is Meta’s later Minolta AF Lens which she uses for Birding and Wildlife Photography, due to its compact, lightweight and long 300mm focal length (APS-C equivalent 450mm). Meta found this Mint Condition Minolta AF Telephoto Lens at the Goodwill!

APO or Apochromatic Lenses have better correction of chromatic and spherical aberration manufactured using Special Low-Dispersion (SLD) Glass.

Note: There is a more expensive 2000 APO D version of this Minolta AF Telephoto Lens, which is optically identical to this 1993 version, but has a wider front focus ring which does not rotate in AF and adds Minolta’s ADI (Advance Distance Integration) Flash Compatibility.

Handy Focus Hold Button.
Aperture Change Point: f/4.5 100–150mm, f/5.6 150–300mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1993 US Dollars)
24° –8°	1.5 M	f/32–f/38	73 x 101 mm	435 g	ø55mm	150–450mm	$670

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Prime Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Advantages of Prime Lenses	Disadvantages of Prime Lenses
• Allows You To Get To Know Your Prime Lens Better.	• Only One Fixed Focal Length.
• Better Low Light Optical Performance (f/1.4 vs. f/2.8).	• Have To Zoom With Your Feet.
• Better Bokeh or Blurred Background. (f/1.4 vs. f/2.8).	• May Require More Than 1 Prime Lens.
• Cheaper, Smaller and Lighter than Zoom Lenses.	• Less Ability To Zoom In To Compose Your Shot.

Conclusions

Many Digital Photographers own a mix of Telephoto or Zoom Lenses and Prime Lenses.
It’s a personal preference and depends what type of photography you are shooting.

Ad • Minolta AF 20mm f/2.8 Prime Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 20mm f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Prime Lens

This Fast f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Minolta AF Lens provides great depth of field and emphasizes perspective. Its rear focusing system ensures quick, precise focusing and corrects close focus aberrations. Its rubber focus ring provides comfortable manual focusing operation. This is Meta’s favorite f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Prime AF Lens, which is great for shooting Astrophotography and Landscape Photography. Comes with a Small Twist On Tulip Lens Hood and Leather Carrying Case. Very Hard to Find.

Superseded by Sony SAL20F28.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 9 cm Lens Case.

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
70°	0.25 M	f/22	76 x 53 mm	284 g	ø72mm	30mm	$673

Ad • Minolta AF 24mm f/2.8 Prime Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens

This fast f/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Minolta AF Lens comes with a Small Twist On Tulip Lens Hood and Small Leather Carrying Case. This is Meta’s favorite f/2.8 Wide Angle Prime AF Lens, which is great for shooting Landscape Photography.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 9 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
56°	0.25 M	f/22	66 x 44 mm	200 g	ø55mm	36mm	$242

Ad • Minolta AF 28mm f/2.8 Prime Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 28mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens

This fast f/2.8 Wide Angle Minolta AF Lens comes with a Small Leather Carrying Case. This is one of Meta’s favorite f/2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens, because on an APS-C Digital Camera, it’s the close to a “Nifty Fifty” at 42mm, which is ideal for shooting Street Photography and Landscape Photography. Small 9mm Built-In Hood.

Fits in a Lowepro 7 x 8 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
50°	0.31 M	f/22	66 x 43 mm	184 g	ø49mm	42mm	$209

Ad • Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4 Prime Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4 Normal Prime Lens

Every Photographer should own a “Nifty Fifty”. This is one of the few Super Sharp Fast f/1.4 50mm Minolta AF Normal Prime Lenses that can photograph wide open at 1/8,000th of a second for Hummingbird Photography. Compact and lightweight, this is Meta’s favorite Super Sharp Prime AF Lens for shooting Landscape Photography, Fireworks Photography, Street Photography, Night Photography and Very Low Light Photography. Hard to find in Like New or Mint Condition. Tiny Built-in Useless Lens Hood. Similar to the less expensive Minolta AF 50mm f/1.7 Kit Lens, but faster and sharper.

Superceded by Sony SAL50F14.

Fits in a Lowepro 7 x 8 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
32°	0.45 M	f/22	66 x 39 mm	235 g	ø49mm	75mm	$153

Ad • Minolta AF 35mm f/1.4 Prime Lens

Ad • Minolta AF 35mm f/1.4 Normal Prime Lens

This is one of the few Super Sharp Fast f/1.4 35mm Minolta AF Wide Angle Prime Lenses that can photograph wide open at 1/8,000th of a second for Hummingbird Photography. On an APS-C Digital Camera it’s the closest to a Nifty Fifty at 52mm which is ideal for shooting Landscape Photography, Fireworks Photography, Street Photography, Night Photography and Very Low Light Photography. Very Expensive and Hard to find in Like New or Mint Condition, you might want to consider a New Sony Lens.

Superceded by Sony SAL35F14G.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 9 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta AF Lens Review

Minolta AF Lens Specifications

1985 Minolta Owner’s Manual

Angle of View for APS-C	Minimum Focus Distance (MFD)	Minimum Aperture Size	Dimensions (Diameter x Length)	Weight	Filter Diameter	APS-C Crop Factor	MSPR (1985 US Dollars)
52°	0.3 M	f/22	63 x 76 mm	470 g	ø55mm	53mm	$1214

Meta’s Best Minolta Camera Reference Guides For Beginners

Ad • Find The Best Minolta Camera Reference Guides

How to Select and Use Minolta SLR Cameras

Ad • How to Select & Use Minolta Maxxum SLR Cameras

– Carl Shipman

Complete Handbook for Minolta 5000, Minolta 7000, Minolta 9000 Film Cameras, Minolta AF Lenses, Minolta Flash Units, Data Backs and Program Backs, and other system accessories and applications! 160 pages with color and black and white illustrations. Reviews Minolta AF Lenses. 1989 Edition. 192 Pages.

Ad • The Complete Minolta SLR Camera & Accessory Guide

– Minolta

This Minolta SLR Camera Book describes how to operate Minolta SLR Film Cameras and Minolta AF Lenses. Table of Contents includes; Minolta Film Cameras, Minolta AF Lenses, Exposure and Film, Filters and Front-End Attachments, Minolta Flash Units and Topics and Techniques. Appendix lists Minolta Film Camera Specifications. 1989 Edition. 192 Pages.

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PO Box 1571
Blowing Rock, NC 28605
1-828-443-4277

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Digital Photography Reviews | Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Cameras

Meta’s Best Minolta AF Lenses Reviewed By Nature Photographer Meta Gatschenberger

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Can You Use Vintage Minolta AF Lenses on Sony Digital Cameras?

Vintage Minolta AF Lens Sweet Spots

Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Which Vintage Minolta AF Lenses Should I Buy – Watch a Video

Vintage Minolta AF Prime Lenses (Fast, Fixed Focal Length – Do Not Zoom)

Vintage Minolta AF Telephoto Lenses (Zoom Lenses)

Vintage Minolta AF Macro Lenses (Also Double as Fast Prime Lenses)

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Vintage Minolta AF Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

A Brief History of Minolta AF Lenses and Sony’s Camera Division

Don’t Take My Kodachrome Away!

Minolta 55mm Lens Caps (LF-1055) and Minolta White End Caps For Sale

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Macro Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Meta’s Best Minolta AF Telephoto Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Advantages of Telephoto / Zoom Lenses

Disadvantages of Telephoto / Zoom Lenses

Conclusions

Meta’s Best Vintage Minolta AF Prime Lenses For Sony Digital Cameras

Advantages of Prime Lenses

Disadvantages of Prime Lenses

Conclusions

Meta’s Best Minolta Camera Reference Guides For Beginners

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