Should I stick with my minolta lenses?
- Thread starter Bryan
- Start date
DePalmoNewMedia
Member
What I would do if I were you is hit ebay hard and see what is available for the minolta mount. I purchased my SGpro with a Canon EOS mount because I have several top dollar primes and zooms for my dslr. After searching on ebay further though I realized that I could purchase about 5 or 6 really fast Canon FD primes for the price of one Canon EOS lens. I am extremely happy with the Canon FD lenses, and with the availability and cost at places like ebay and pawn shops I could not be happier. Good Luck
Dennis Wood
DVXuser Sponsor
We've tested various Minolta Rokkor lenses and been very impressed with them. The Canon FD lenses (branded Canon) in our collection (35mm f2, 50mm f1.4, 85 f2.8, 135 f2.8) are all excellent choices too.
If I was to start over I would definitely consider Minolta. Great glass at reasonable prices (except for the 58/1.2 and maybe the 85/1.7 - people have discovered they can be converted to Canon EOS and prices have increased considerably).
24/2.8, 35/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.7 and 135/2.8 would make a great kit, totaling somewhere around $700-900 for a patient E-bay'er.
24/2.8, 35/1.8, 50/1.4, 85/1.7 and 135/2.8 would make a great kit, totaling somewhere around $700-900 for a patient E-bay'er.
Minolta vs Nikon lenses
Minolta vs Nikon lenses
Minolta rokkor lenses are great for a few reasons. There's quite a few advantages getting used rokkors over Nikkors - but Nikons seem to be the overwhelming favorite for 35mm adapters and RED/future Scarlet. I own a bunch of Minoltas AND Nikons, so here's my two cent comparison:
1. You can find Minolta rokkors at a great price used (ebay, etc.). The equivalent Nikon lens will cost you 2-5x as much.
2. Nikkors focus BACKWARDS, or rather the opposite direction that normal Cine lenses do. How annoying for a focus puller! It's one reason why I just use them on still cameras. Imagine putting on a follow focus gear and having your experienced puller trying to adjust to this. You're going to see some frustration as they try to adjust.
3. Minolta MD lenses bought used tend to be in much better condition than Nikkors. Every Nikon I bought off ebay had brassing, lots of dust, stiff focus, been around the block, even when they said it was "like new" yeah, right. Most Minolta's I bought seemed mint. I don't know why exactly. I guess because Nikkors have a rep they get a lot of trades and use.
4. Rokkor build quality is very good. But not up to Nikon AI/AIS build quality. Then again its harder to find Nikons in great condition without paying a premium.
5. Minolta lenses which I think beat out Nikon AIS equiv in optical (not build) quality:
135mm F3.5 MD, 135mm F2.8 MD, 50mm F1.4, 50mm F1.7, 24mm F2.8
Nikon AIS lenses which beats out Minolta equiv:
35mm F2, 105mm F2.5 (a legend), 85mm F1.8
6. Nikon lens choices are greater. Faster lenses in the range are easier to find but it will of course cost you mucho.
Some 35mm adapter makers have not chosen to release their adapters with Minolta mounts. The SGBlade for example, omits Minolta MD from its available mounts. LEX, Redrock and Cinevate do support it. Unfortunately RED's scarlet Full Frame, like the Red itself probably wont come out with any MD mount.
I made no mention of Nikon vs Minolta Zooms. Since Minolta stopped producing MD mount cameras quite a while ago, they never developped modern zooms. So there is no comparison. Nikon's F mount pro modern zooms beats the pants off of any old manual zoom. But a Nikon 28-70mm F2.8 is about $1500 so...
Hope this helps anyone considering Minolta's. Many of them are underrated gems. Hope manufacturers might read this too, as I would like to see more of them support Minolta MD mounts.
Minolta vs Nikon lenses
Minolta rokkor lenses are great for a few reasons. There's quite a few advantages getting used rokkors over Nikkors - but Nikons seem to be the overwhelming favorite for 35mm adapters and RED/future Scarlet. I own a bunch of Minoltas AND Nikons, so here's my two cent comparison:
1. You can find Minolta rokkors at a great price used (ebay, etc.). The equivalent Nikon lens will cost you 2-5x as much.
2. Nikkors focus BACKWARDS, or rather the opposite direction that normal Cine lenses do. How annoying for a focus puller! It's one reason why I just use them on still cameras. Imagine putting on a follow focus gear and having your experienced puller trying to adjust to this. You're going to see some frustration as they try to adjust.
3. Minolta MD lenses bought used tend to be in much better condition than Nikkors. Every Nikon I bought off ebay had brassing, lots of dust, stiff focus, been around the block, even when they said it was "like new" yeah, right. Most Minolta's I bought seemed mint. I don't know why exactly. I guess because Nikkors have a rep they get a lot of trades and use.
4. Rokkor build quality is very good. But not up to Nikon AI/AIS build quality. Then again its harder to find Nikons in great condition without paying a premium.
5. Minolta lenses which I think beat out Nikon AIS equiv in optical (not build) quality:
135mm F3.5 MD, 135mm F2.8 MD, 50mm F1.4, 50mm F1.7, 24mm F2.8
Nikon AIS lenses which beats out Minolta equiv:
35mm F2, 105mm F2.5 (a legend), 85mm F1.8
6. Nikon lens choices are greater. Faster lenses in the range are easier to find but it will of course cost you mucho.
Some 35mm adapter makers have not chosen to release their adapters with Minolta mounts. The SGBlade for example, omits Minolta MD from its available mounts. LEX, Redrock and Cinevate do support it. Unfortunately RED's scarlet Full Frame, like the Red itself probably wont come out with any MD mount.
I made no mention of Nikon vs Minolta Zooms. Since Minolta stopped producing MD mount cameras quite a while ago, they never developped modern zooms. So there is no comparison. Nikon's F mount pro modern zooms beats the pants off of any old manual zoom. But a Nikon 28-70mm F2.8 is about $1500 so...
Hope this helps anyone considering Minolta's. Many of them are underrated gems. Hope manufacturers might read this too, as I would like to see more of them support Minolta MD mounts.
Wayne Kinney
DVXUser Sponsor
Stainless Steel Minolta MD, Contax C/Y and Olympus OM mounts with outer collimation rings are currently being machined. These will work on both the SGblade and SGpro. We expect to have them available beginning of February.