Lenses: ummm... help

[joeyk49]

Thank you everyone for your input....... everyone has been a lot of help, i'm so glad i found this website!

Hanaa

I'll bet that this will not be the last time you say that!!!

 

[gnashings]

I'll bet that this will not be the last time you say that!!!

Yep! If I had a penny for every time I did...

 

[Seele]

I would second Minolta manual-focus reflex cameras too; with the exception of one or two models due to collectors interest, pretty much all of them are very fine machines, and the lenses are, in my opinion, at least the equal of "brand N", often superior, especially in the bokeh department, and more affordable on the pre-owned market. While the mechanical-shuttered series (SR-7 and SR T models) require the bothersome 625 mercury batteries (there are several work-rounds) they are very finely designed and engineered. The electronics series are very fine too, the XD and XG series often have the issues of a pair of capacitors failing but they can be replaced. Only the XD and X-700 require lenses with MD coupling to achieve full functionality (aperture prioriity and programmed exposure automation respectively) and the most abundant MC lenses, regarded of age, will work on all models ever made.

In terms of Australian prices: recently I paid A$30 for a superb first series MC 35/2.8, and awaiting a MC 58/1.4 from the same period to arrive for which I paid $19 (along with a third party 28/2.8 and 2X teleconverter which I have to dispose of); think A$1 as three quarters of a US$. These prices are not at all unusual, and it goes on to show that Minolta manual focus cameras are good bargains today, and of course, sustainable for many years to come.

 

[elekm]

A couple of things to keep in mind with the autofocus cameras:

1) These cameras were built with autofocus intended and manual focus as an option. The screens offer no assistance, such as split-image focusing aids, although some do offer focus-confirmation lights.

2) Many of the lenses -- particularly the "kit" lenses, are simply not the right tool for manual focus. Often, you are using a very narrow plastic ring at the front of the lens to manually focus the camera. It's can be quite a horrible experience.

3) Many of the "kit" lenses are of mediocre quality. Most people will tell you that they aren't that bad. Conversely, it also means they aren't that good, either.

I agree with the others that you could get a great older kit for several hundreds dollars that will include a body + three quality lenses.

I think your husband will have a great time with this.

 

[kwmullet]

I'm in the camp that the best thing you could do for your husband in this case is to get him a solid manual focus camera and guide him through the learning process. I'm personally partial to Canon FD systems, especially the F1. Yesterday, I picked up a wonderful F-1 and a 50mm 1.4 lens for US$220 -- a not unheard of deal. I'll bet you could get an FTb or TX and a 1.8 50mm lens for under US$100 if you look hard enough.

Dead Link Removed that discuss the problems with autofocus, the good points of manual focus, and why even an autofocus camera set on manual could be considered inferior to a manual focus camera.

If your husband wants to branch out to medium format, there's only a few cases where the camera will be autofocus (maybe only one? I'm not sure). He's more than likely to be using manual focus, so the better foundation of focus skills he has, the better, IMO.

-KwM-