Absolute best bang-for-the-buck AF 35mm setup?

Paul Howell · Mar 11, 2022

Sony A-mount lenses seem to be among the best value in AF SLR lenses today. And if I decide to grow the collection, the Sony/Zeiss primes are all priced great compared to their MSRP (or the Sony e-mount equivalents).

The only Minolta film bodies that can use Sony/Zeiss SSM lens or late Minolta G SSM lens are the 7 and 5, or if you get lucky and find a factory upgraded 9. The reason the A lens are relative inexpensive is that Sony has killed the A mount line up, bodies and lens. The earlier gear driven Minolta primes that you want to think about. 24mm F2, 28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 100 2.8, 135 2.8 and for a street zoom, the 24 to 85 4.5 APO.

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2022

Charles Escott-New said:
A mint Canon Eos 55, 28-90 kit lens, 17mm Vivitar series 1 and a faded Lambretta shoulder bag all for under £100 , and a set up that gave me a lot of fun and decent, for me, photos. The best build in this price range surely is the F90x, with a lens ,for under £100. The F80 is excellent and the F100 is superb, but Mr. Glass, many careful owners have experienced the rear door problem with an age-expired plastic catch. In the main it is not their fault. Mr. Huss, we are lucky to own the F6, I had to sell my F5 to finance the deal and my old camera was the real pro machine but the F6 will be with me to the end.

I know that many people have this problem that probably occurred from slamming the film door shut, one does not have to slam it hard. Huss just has a crusade about that for some reason.

Charles Escott-New · Mar 11, 2022

Thank you, Mr. Glass, for the response. You might be right but , and I ask you, because I suspect you know more about this than I, does not some plastic become brittle with age? Owners of Leica CLs lost teeth on the plastic take up spool when the film was properly loaded and not because of incautious handling. When considering af slrs I would advise sticking to Canon and Nikon and picking a sound body and a couple of nice lenses from the massive selection. It will be really interesting to find out which choice the op makes, good luck.

250swb · Mar 11, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I know that many people have this problem that probably occurred from slamming the film door shut, one does not have to slam it hard. Huss just has a crusade about that for some reason.

And as usual a thread goes down the route of recommending cameras people own but which override the OPO's idea, rather than more applicable cameras people could recommend. It's like the usual 'buy my recommended camera/lens because it justifies my life!' irrespective of the context.

Helge · Mar 11, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I know that many people have this problem that probably occurred from slamming the film door shut, one does not have to slam it hard. Huss just has a crusade about that for some reason.

People in general proudly treat their cameras terribly. Look on YouTube for a million examples.

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2022

250swb said:
And as usual a thread goes down the route of recommending cameras people own but which override the OPO's idea, rather than more applicable cameras people could recommend. It's like the usual 'buy my recommended camera/lens because it justifies my life!' irrespective of the context.

Yes, people tend to push their drug of choice, but in this case he already has the Nikon AF lens. If he had a Canon or Pentax, I would not have posted.

Paul Howell · Mar 11, 2022

I missed that, must have misread his first post, where does he say that he Nikon AF? In his second post he mentioned that he had spent time with Nikon AF, did not say he owns any Nikon Mount lens.

Even then he did mention a N80, a F100 is only one step up, both are great cameras, at this point we are splitting hairs then asking what is the color of the wind.

Charles Escott-New · Mar 11, 2022

Sorry, I missed the op saying he owned Nikon AF lenses, also I wandered off and talked about the F6 because I love using it and it was mentioned. So back on track, under £50 the F75, under £100 the F80, under £200 the F100, all fully support G lenses and VR. Now the really interesting discussion would be the lenses.

Cholentpot · Mar 11, 2022

EOS 500n/Rebel G and 50 1.8

You can get a full line of cheap fast EF lenses from Yongnuo if you want to go that way.

The EOS + used 50 1.8 can run you under $75 if you have patience.

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I missed that, must have misread his first post, where does he say that he Nikon AF? In his second post he mentioned that he had spent time with Nikon AF, did not say he owns any Nikon Mount lens.

Even then he did mention a N80, a F100 is only one step up, both are great cameras, at this point we are splitting hairs then asking what is the color of the wind.

He has a Nikon DLSR.

waynecrider · Mar 11, 2022

I have a Maxxum 70 with the 50 F1.7 and the 24-85. Good decent camera with good AF, incorporated flash. Both lenses very good. I also have a N80 with 3 lenses, 50mm F1.8, 70-210 & 35-105..The 50 was rated extremely high in magazine tests for the day, a stellar lens. I prefer the original then the later. Either body is cheap nowdays and very capable.

Paul Howell · Mar 11, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
He has a Nikon DLSR.

When I reread both post he said he had experience with Nikon, but stated that he was using Minolta MD with a mirrorless body.

"Minolta XD11 & 50mm f1.2 combo for a really good price on eBay (gotta love when sellers don't list out the specifics of their lot). While I like it and will enjoy adapting the 50mm to my Sony, I'd prefer an autofocus"

"Hmm. That's actually what I had first considered, since I spent some time with Nikon DSLRs."

Huss · Mar 11, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
We talked about this many times before. I do not use any camera as a hammer, so I have never in over 60 years had such a problem. You may want to trade in your extra thumbs for fingers.
View attachment 300213

You may want to pass on that info to all the other owners of broken F100s.

PeteGM · Mar 11, 2022

Paul Howell said:
The only Minolta film bodies that can use Sony/Zeiss SSM lens or late Minolta G SSM lens are the 7 and 5, or if you get lucky and find a factory upgraded 9. The reason the A lens are relative inexpensive is that Sony has killed the A mount line up, bodies and lens. The earlier gear driven Minolta primes that you want to think about. 24mm F2, 28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.4, 100 2.8, 135 2.8 and for a street zoom, the 24 to 85 4.5 APO.

Thanks for this, I had no idea Minolta had incompatibility issues. That helps me decide between a 5 or one of the older or lower end models.

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 11, 2022

PeteGM said:
Hi all, new user here. It's been about 12 years since I last shot film. I sold my gear (Minolta Maxxum 7 and some great lenses) and have been happy with digital. Lately I've caught the film bug and have had the urge to shoot some B&W, which is the only part of film I missed. I recently scored a mint Minolta XD11 & 50mm f1.2 combo for a really good price on eBay (gotta love when sellers don't list out the specifics of their lot). While I like it and will enjoy adapting the 50mm to my Sony, I'd prefer an autofocus system.

The main gear I'd want is an intermediate level body, a fast 50 and something fast around 85-135. Then maybe 24/28/35 and a midrange zoom if there are any cheap hidden gems out there. Main subject matter would be portraits, and urban/street scenes. No landscape. So while I want good glass, I'm not excessively worried about maximizing edge-to-edge sharpness. I'd also be interested in "character" or "sleeper" lenses.

So assuming you wanted to build a simple, cheapish AF 35mm system that still gave high-quality results, what would you go with?

As a Minolta fan, my first inclination was something in the Maxxum family. With some careful shopping I can get a Maxxum 5, 50 1.7, 28 2.8, and 35-105 for less than $100. The 50mm 1.4 might add an additional $100. The fast 85 and 100 are a little pricey though. Though the selection is not great, Sony A-mount lenses seem to be among the best value in AF SLR lenses today. And if I decide to grow the collection, the Sony/Zeiss primes are all priced great compared to their MSRP (or the Sony e-mount equivalents).

On the other hand, bodies like the Canon Elan 7 or Nikon N80 offer a better foundation and would open up a greater selection of lenses and access to more good third-party lenses.

I am not concerned in any capacity with "cool factor" or the looks of a system. Just usability, the resultant images, and affordability. So, have at it! What brand would you choose if you were me?

Pete, if you;re only going to shoot now and then, why do you need so many fixed lenses like 50, 85, and 100 when you have a 35-105 zoom? Are you shooting indoors without strobes light?

Here's an N80 with 28-80mm zoom to start with for $89 + $15 for shipping. Start there and then see how it develops whether and what lenses you need afterward.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154675718775?hash=item2403642a77:g:HBcAAOSw3rZhVPdv.

Other choices.
https://www.ebay.com/b/Nikon-N80-Film-Cameras/15230/bn_7113446095

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2022

Huss said:
You may want to pass on that info to all the other owners of broken F100s.

If they cannot figure out that one should not slam a camera door, the is no help for them. At 10 years old I figured out that a camera has to be handled carefully. Should you choose feel free to bang your head against the wall.

__Brian · Mar 11, 2022

The N80 requires the use of AF lenses for the meter to work, does not have Ai coupling. This is not an issue for the AF lenses that the OP has.
The N80 takes CR123a Lithium Batteries.
The N70 has an Ai coupling, goes for ~$25. Also uses the Lithium batteries.
The N8008s and N90s have Ai coupling and take AA batteries.

Sirius Glass · Mar 11, 2022

__Brian said:
The N80 requires the use of AF lenses for the meter to work, does not have Ai coupling. This is not an issue for the AF lenses that the OP has.
The N80 takes CR123a Lithium Batteries.
The N70 has an Ai coupling, goes for ~$25. Also uses the Lithium batteries.
The N8008s and N90s have Ai coupling and take AA batteries.

The N75 takes two CR123a Lithium Batteries.

PeteGM · Mar 11, 2022

Paul Howell said:
When I reread both post he said he had experience with Nikon, but stated that he was using Minolta MD with a mirrorless body.

"Minolta XD11 & 50mm f1.2 combo for a really good price on eBay (gotta love when sellers don't list out the specifics of their lot). While I like it and will enjoy adapting the 50mm to my Sony, I'd prefer an autofocus"

"Hmm. That's actually what I had first considered, since I spent some time with Nikon DSLRs."

In hindsight, I was not as clear as I should have been (I have a tendency to include too much information). "Bang for the buck" may have also been a bad choice of words. This is essentially an exercise in anti-GAS for me: achieve the goal of good usability and IQ at the minimum possible upfront cost.

I'm open to all suggestions, but really trying to keep mission creep down. So while I totally understand why people are suggesting true great values like the F100, it ends up more than I want. Of course, if there's a significant gain to be had for an extra 10 or 20 bucks, I'd gladly go that way.

Regardless, I appreciate all the input! I was hoping to learn about some lesser known gear that can be had for very cheap, which has definitely been mentioned.

Paul Howell · Mar 11, 2022

PeteGM said:
Thanks for this, I had no idea Minolta had incompatibility issues. That helps me decide between a 5 or one of the older or lower end models.

This is the reason that if I had to do it all over again I would have gone with Canon EF. Nikon while good only later models will work with G lens, and no film body with work with new AF E lens. Much the same with Pentax, early modes will only worked with later lens in crippled mode, unable to change the F stop. Saying that, if you stick with Minolta gear driven lens, all Minolta and Sony A mount bodies have a gear, I use my 5 contact lens with my Sony 900 and A77II, with an adaptor all A mount lens, gear driven and SSM will work with Sony E as I understand it the adaptor has a built in gear. In terms of bang for the buck, you do get a lot with Minolta A mount.

Moose22 · Mar 11, 2022

__Brian said:
The N80 requires the use of AF lenses for the meter to work, does not have Ai coupling. This is not an issue for the AF lenses that the OP has.
The N80 takes CR123a Lithium Batteries.
The N70 has an Ai coupling, goes for ~$25. Also uses the Lithium batteries.
The N8008s and N90s have Ai coupling and take AA batteries.

N70 and N80 won't do VR with VR lenses. If that matters to OP, of course.

mgb74 · Mar 11, 2022

Minolta 800si, hands down. Cheap as chips. Great glass. Only drawback is the 2cr5 battery though they last a long, long, time if you don't use the built in flash. I get mine (Varta or Panasonic) on ebay. Though I actually prefer the 600si because the user interface mimics a manual slr.

Ko.Fe. · Mar 11, 2022

Film AF has two words in it. Canikon. Choose one you are feeling more into.
I have EOS300 and any EF AF lens on it just works with AF.

If you like workout, get Canon EOS film camera with eye driven focus. I did it twice.
Doubt Nikon has any.

PeteGM · Mar 11, 2022

Alan Edward Klein said:
Pete, if you;re only going to shoot now and then, why do you need so many fixed lenses like 50, 85, and 100 when you have a 35-105 zoom

Honestly, the genesis of this question was when I stumbled onto a listing for an old Minolta Maxxum 7000 with a 50 1.7, 70-210 beer can, and 35-105 for less than $100. I was astounded that you could get so much value and utility for so little money (relative to most of this hobby). I don't particularly need a short zoom, but after reading that the 35-105 is quite decent, it seemed like a "might as well buy one for $15" kind of thing. And that turned into the question "what other really cheap gear is actually pretty good?"

Realistically, main goal is to grab a body and fast 50 for as little as possible. And if that system has any $15 hidden gems, then I'd probably buy those too.

RalphLambrecht · Mar 11, 2022

PeteGM said:
Hi all, new user here. It's been about 12 years since I last shot film. I sold my gear (Minolta Maxxum 7 and some great lenses) and have been happy with digital. Lately I've caught the film bug and have had the urge to shoot some B&W, which is the only part of film I missed. I recently scored a mint Minolta XD11 & 50mm f1.2 combo for a really good price on eBay (gotta love when sellers don't list out the specifics of their lot). While I like it and will enjoy adapting the 50mm to my Sony, I'd prefer an autofocus system.

The main gear I'd want is an intermediate level body, a fast 50 and something fast around 85-135. Then maybe 24/28/35 and a midrange zoom if there are any cheap hidden gems out there. Main subject matter would be portraits, and urban/street scenes. No landscape. So while I want good glass, I'm not excessively worried about maximizing edge-to-edge sharpness. I'd also be interested in "character" or "sleeper" lenses.

So assuming you wanted to build a simple, cheapish AF 35mm system that still gave high-quality results, what would you go with?

As a Minolta fan, my first inclination was something in the Maxxum family. With some careful shopping I can get a Maxxum 5, 50 1.7, 28 2.8, and 35-105 for less than $100. The 50mm 1.4 might add an additional $100. The fast 85 and 100 are a little pricey though. Though the selection is not great, Sony A-mount lenses seem to be among the best value in AF SLR lenses today. And if I decide to grow the collection, the Sony/Zeiss primes are all priced great compared to their MSRP (or the Sony e-mount equivalents).

On the other hand, bodies like the Canon Elan 7 or Nikon N80 offer a better foundation and would open up a greater selection of lenses and access to more good third-party lenses.

I am not concerned in any capacity with "cool factor" or the looks of a system. Just usability, the resultant images, and affordability. So, have at it! What brand would you choose if you were me?

definately Nikon(N70 or N80 and a selection of their AF lenses, 50mm f/1.8 foe example).

Absolute best bang-for-the-buck AF 35mm setup?

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