How are Minolta lenses?

[MatthewC]

I have an opportunity to buy a Redrock M2 Encore, with whip focus, and 18 Minolta lenses, for $2900 Canadian. I'm not that familiar with Minolta lenses. This package seems like an incredibly good deal. Are Minolta lenses good? What could make this thing so cheap? Any information about these lenses would be great.

 

[DM_rider]

That does sound like a great deal. Find out which lenses are included and you'll be able to get a better answer to your question.

 

[Nick Walters]

I rarely hear much about minolta lenses, but I will say this : A full kit, lens wise, is hard to build....So if you feel it's a good deal, and you can afford it, then perhaps you should jump in...

Remember this though : You need to practice with one lens at a time....master the use of each and every lens, or you'll just be wandering around in the dark.

In this way it's sometimes better if someone gets one piece of glass at a time.

 

[Danwreid]

The Minolta Rokkors are very good lens....a few people I know use them with their adapters and turn out decent results, if the prices is right might as well get it. You can always sell the lens and mount if you decide you don't like the Minoltas.

 

[dadoboy]

What are the specific lenses? Seems like it's a fair deal, not a huge discount though for a lot of used stuff. Depends on which lenses.

Rokkors were the names given to Minolta lenses sold in the United States for a while. Later during the "MD" lens updates the Rokkor designation was dropped.

Check out the rokkor files - good resource:

http://www.rokkorfiles.com/

 

[kfrogg]

Video with Minolta Lenses/SgPro Rev.3/HVX

Video with Minolta Lenses/SgPro Rev.3/HVX

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6XR8kAsab0

I am very pleased with my Minoltas. We shot this video -- which is supposedly being picked up by one of the MTVs I hear -- with the following:

50mm 1.4
28mm 2.8
135 2.8

 

[Dennis Wood]

We have several MD Rokkor Minolta lenses here, a few of which I've had for over 30 years. In testing the 50mm f1.4 series, they're the equal of any SLR lens we've tested, other than the Zeiss ZF series which are my all-time favorite. The Zeiss have an advantage in terms of contrast and what I call the "organic" look.

If you're getting 18 lenses, I'm guessing some of them are slower and perhaps third party glass with Minolta mounts...Rokkor get the thumbs up

 

[dsto]

I was given some Minolta Lenses and am very pleased with them

 

[leteeci]

I am using MD's and I have a decent kit of them..

No problems; works like a charm..

And they are sold in very mint condition on eBay; compared to Nikon's and Canon's..