Minolta Lenses

Casey78

Hi

I just bought a Sony a500 DSLR.
I am interested in buying a few different lenses as I really want to throw myself in at the deep end and learn how to use camera properly,I am going to take a few evening classes as well.

Just wondered to get me started would it be a good idea to buy a few Minolta lenses instead of the Sony ones,I can get some lenses pretty cheap on ebay compared to the prices of the new Sony lenses.
Im sure these Minolta lenses are old but for the price I think its worth the risk depending and what people here actually think?
If in good condition will these lenses be as good as the new Sony lenses?
If I want to buy a zoom lens would a 70mm - 210mm f/4 be a good one to start with? or would I really want to go for a lower f number?
Same goes with wide angle lenses,what should I be looking for?
I don't have loads of money for this so thats why I thought starting with a few Minolta lenses which can be got cheap would be a good place to start.
Im sorry if these are basic and silly questions but I have no one else to ask! I know I could seach google for answers which I have done, but there is nothing like a human response albeit a cyber human response.

Thanks

Mycroft H

Casey78 wrote: »

Hi

I just bought a Sony a500 DSLR.
I am interested in buying a few different lenses as I really want to throw myself in at the deep end and learn how to use camera properly,I am going to take a few evening classes as well.

Just wondered to get me started would it be a good idea to buy a few Minolta lenses instead of the Sony ones,I can get some lenses pretty cheap on ebay compared to the prices of the new Sony lenses.
Im sure these Minolta lenses are old but for the price I think its worth the risk depending and what people here actually think?
If in good condition will these lenses be as good as the new Sony lenses?
If I want to buy a zoom lens would a 70mm - 210mm f/4 be a good one to start with? or would I really want to go for a lower f number?
Same goes with wide angle lenses,what should I be looking for?
I don't have loads of money for this so thats why I thought starting with a few Minolta lenses which can be got cheap would be a good place to start.
Im sorry if these are basic and silly questions but I have no one else to ask! I know I could seach google for answers which I have done, but there is nothing like a human response albeit a cyber human response.

Thanks

Right what you need to start with is the -

Minolta 50mm f1.7 or Sony 50mm f1.8


Either of them are really decent lenses, the minolta a older full frame metal bodied design and the Sony, a cheaper plastic bodied design. Both can be had for around 120 euros.


You mentioned the 70-210 f4, nicknamed the "beercan" for obvious reasons. This is an awesome lens, albeit the auto-focus is a little slow today, however the top build quality and the great optics more then make up for the lack of super fast auto focus. They dont build them like this anymore.

I got the 70-210 for 70 quid in Gunns a couple of months ago, and I felt sorry for buying it so cheap as the regularly go for three times that online, however if you can get it for 150 or less your doing well.

Casey78

Hiya landyman thanks for the reply.

There is also a Minolta 100mm-200mm f4.5 lens that I was looking at.
Would this be considered good?

Mycroft H

Casey78 wrote: »

Hiya landyman thanks for the reply.

There is also a Minolta 100mm-200mm f4.5 lens that I was looking at.
Would this be considered good?

Thats also a decent lens I'm led to believe, I've never had it.

Apparently they have an awful close focus distance, something like 1.9meters, which limits its usefulness to me :pac:


The best place to look for lens reviews is dyxum.com, they have user reviews of pretty much every lens made for the A mount.


http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp

Casey78

landyman wrote: »

Thats also a decent lens I'm led to believe, I've never had it.

Apparently they have an awful close focus distance, something like 1.9meters, which limits its usefulness to me :pac:


The best place to look for lens reviews is dyxum.com, they have user reviews of pretty much every lens made for the A mount.


http://www.dyxum.com/lenses/index.asp

I have no idea what you mean by that

Thanks for the link

Mycroft H

Casey78 wrote: »

I have no idea what you mean by that

Thanks for the link

The minimum focus distance is 1.9 meters on the 100-200 f4.5

Hopefully im a bit clearer there

Scoobydoo 2

Hey
I know its an old thread but how are you getting on with the sony alpha
can you reccommend any lenses now that you have had it for a while ?
Ta