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Meta’s Best Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses For Sony Alpha Cameras

Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses

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Meta’s Best Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses For Sony Alpha Cameras

Nature Photographer Meta Gatschenberger

Western North Carolina Nature Photographer Meta Gatschenberger began shooting North Carolina Nature Photography with her Minolta 35mm QTsi Film Camera and a Minolta Maxxum AF 35–80mm Telephoto Lens back in 2000.

Can You Use Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses on Sony Alpha Cameras?

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

Meta shoots with Sony a77 II Cameras and Vintage Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses.

Meta owns, uses and recommends all of the Sony Alpha Camera Products and Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses featured on this website.

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Meta’s Best Minolta Maxxum AF Macro Lenses For Sony Alpha Cameras

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm ƒ/2.8 Lens

This was Meta’s First Minolta Maxxum AF Lens for her Sony Alpha Camera. This “Nifty Fifty” 50mm Macro Lens also doubles as a Sharp 50mm ƒ/2.8 Prime Lens! Meta shot a few family weddings using her Minolta 50mm ƒ/2.8 Macro Lens and her Minolta 100mm ƒ/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Superseded by Sony SAL50M28.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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 100mm ƒ/2.8 Lens

This Macro Lens is often quoted as one of the Best Minolta Macro Lenses Ever Made! The Minolta 100mm ƒ/2.8 Macro Lens is Meta’s Favorite Minolta Macro Lens and her most used Minolta Maxxum 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 Maxxum 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Superseded by Sony SAL100M28.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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Meta’s Best Minolta Maxxum AF Telephoto Lenses For Sony Alpha Cameras

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 70–210mm ƒ/4.0 Lens

This is the Minolta Telephoto Lens or Famous 1985 Heavy Metal “Beer Can Lens”. Many lighting situations require a Constant Aperture ƒ/4.0 Telephoto Lens that can isolate specific details from a distance. This big boy was often sold along with the Shorter 35–70mm ƒ/4.0 Telephoto Lens (Below), to cover the full 35–210mm at a Constant Aperture of ƒ/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 Maxxum AF Lens.

Useful Macro Mode at 210mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 16 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 35–70mm ƒ/4.0 Lens

This Constant Aperture ƒ/4.0 Minolta 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 ƒ/4.0 Telephoto Lens (Above), to cover the full range of 35–210mm at a Constant Aperture of ƒ/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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 28–135mm ƒ/4.0–4.5 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 28–135mm ƒ/4.0–4.5 is an excellent walk around lenses. Unlike most Minolta Maxxum 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 Maxxum AF Lens for Landscape Photography, plus it does good Close-Up Photography at 28mm.

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

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Watch a Video Review

Photo Jottings Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 100–200mm ƒ/4.5 Lens

For Sony Digital Photography, this Constant Aperture ƒ/4.5, 100–200mm range Minolta Maxxum 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 ƒ/4.0 (Only 1/2 stop less), but without the Macro Mode. Great Minolta 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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 24–50mm ƒ/4.0 Lens

This Wide Angle Telephoto Minolta Maxxum AF Lens has a Constant Aperture of ƒ/4.0 and is ideal for Waterfall Photography and Wide Angle Landscape Photography. This very compact Minolta Maxxum 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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 75–300mm ƒ/4.5–5.6 Lens

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

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

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 16 cm Lens Case.

Photo Jottings Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 28–85mm ƒ/3.5–4.5 Lens

This handy mid-range Minolta 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: ƒ/3.5 28–35mm, ƒ/4.0 35–60mm, ƒ/4.5 60–85mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Photo Jottings Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 35–105mm ƒ/3.5–4.5 Lens

Very Popular Compact Minolta 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: ƒ/3.5 35–36mm, ƒ/4.0 36–70mm, ƒ/4.5 70–105mm.

Fits in a Lowepro 9 x 13 cm Lens Case.

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Meta’s Best Minolta Maxxum AF Prime Lenses For Sony Alpha Cameras

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 20mm ƒ/2.8 Lens

This Fast ƒ/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Minolta Maxxum 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 ƒ/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Prime 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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 24mm ƒ/2.8 Lens

This fast ƒ/2.8 Ultra Wide Angle Minolta Maxxum AF Lens comes with a Small Twist On Tulip Lens Hood and Small Leather Carrying Case. This is Meta’s favorite ƒ/2.8 Wide Angle Prime 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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 28mm ƒ/2.8 Lens

This fast ƒ/2.8 Wide Angle Minolta Maxxum AF Lens comes with a Small Leather Carrying Case. This is one of Meta’s favorite ƒ/2.8 Wide Angle Prime Lens, because on an APS-C 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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Dyxum Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Ad • Minolta Maxxum AF 50mm ƒ/1.4 Lens

Every Photographer should own a “Nifty Fifty”. This is one of the few Super Sharp Fast ƒ/1.4 50mm Minolta 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 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 50mm ƒ/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 Maxxum AF Lens Review

Ken Rockwell Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Review

Minolta Maxxum AF Lens Specifications

Meta’s Best Minolta Manuals and Guide Books

Ad • Minolta Maxxum SLR Cameras

– Carl Shipman

Complete Handbook for Minolta Maxxum 5000, Minolta Maxxum 7000, Minolta Maxxum 9000 Film Cameras, Minolta Maxxum 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 Maxxum AF Lenses. 1989 Edition. 192 Pages.

Ad • Minolta SLR Camera Guide

– Minolta

This Minolta SLR Camera Book describes how to operate Minolta SLR Film Cameras and Minolta Maxxum AF Lenses. Table of Contents includes; Minolta Film Cameras, Minolta Maxxum 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.