Maxxum lens suggestions needed.

Paul Howell · Apr 23, 2023

I bought into the A mount system when my Sigma SA 7 and 9 developed the yellow viewfinder. At time my thinking was that other than the Minolta 9, bodies and lens are affordable. I then added Sony DSLR a mount bodies. But if I had to do all over again I would have gone with Canon EF, all F mount full frame lens will work with all film bodies including OS lens.

KerrKid · Apr 23, 2023

I’m aware of the Maxxum 5’s but I have those bases covered with the Nikon “N” series. The 9xi, by all accounts, is in a different league.

Lens compatibility seems confusing. I’m going to be very careful and just use what you with 9xi’s are using.

The 50mm f1.7 is very plentiful and inexpensive. It seems no one wants one. Why? Is it that much worse than the f1.4?

xkaes · Apr 23, 2023

KerrKid said:
The 50mm f1.7 is very plentiful and inexpensive. It seems no one wants one. Why? Is it that much worse than the f1.4?

The 50mm f1.7 and the f2.0 are actually better than the f1.4 -- at the same f-stop.

KerrKid · Apr 23, 2023

xkaes said:
The 50mm f1.7 and the f2.0 are actually better than the f1.4 -- at the same f-stop.

Seriously? What characteristics are better? Say from 2.8 on.

The 50mm f2 wasn’t on my radar. I’ll look at prices on those.

KerrKid · Apr 23, 2023

I can’t find a Maxxum 50mm f2.

There is a Maxxum 50mm f2.8 macro lens.

neilt3 · Apr 24, 2023

KerrKid said:
I can’t find a Maxxum 50mm f2.

There is a Maxxum 50mm f2.8 macro lens.

You wouldn't .
The only Minolta 50mm f/2 is an old SR mount manual focus lens .
Not an A mount autofocus lens .
If you get one , it won't fit on your camera without an adapter that contains low grade glass , which I wouldn't recommend.
50mm Minolta A mount lenses are 50mm f/1.7 and f/1.4 several versions depending on date produced.
50mm f/2.8 1:1 macro ( several versions) and a 50mm f/3.5 1:2 macro .
Sony also sold a rebadged Minolta 50mm f/1.4 and the 50mm f/2.8 macro .
They also sold a Carl Zeiss 50mm f1.4 SSM lens ( big and heavy , very good quality , not cheap ) and a lens intended for use on APS-C cameras , the 50mm f/1.8 .
The CZ and 1.8 won't auto focus on the Dynax 9xi as one has the built in SSM drive and the other a SAM drive .
People have used it on film and are happy with the results , though you might find it vignettes at large apertures more than the others .
But with the choices available, why bother ?

If you want to see all lens options from all/most makes , go to Dyxum and look up the lens list and reviews for A mount lenses .
Lots of information.

xkaes · Apr 24, 2023

KerrKid said:
Seriously? What characteristics are better? Say from 2.8 on.

The 50mm f2 wasn’t on my radar. I’ll look at prices on those.

Think about it. The smaller the aperture of the lens, the less need for optical correction. That's why a f1.4 has much more glass -- because it's an attempt to correct for optical aberrations created by the wider glass.

Check out a book at the library on optics.

xkaes · Apr 24, 2023

KerrKid said:
I can’t find a Maxxum 50mm f2.

There may not be one. The best glass I have -- for normal use -- is a Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm f2.0.

I also have a Rokkor-X 58mm f1.2 -- which is great for low light, but no match for the f2.0 at typical apertures.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/502.htm

"This lens might be the sharpest lens that Minolta ever produced -- excluding the macro, micro, and bellows lens. Why? It's simple design and MC coating. The other 50mm lenses with wider apertures have to try to make corrections for various aberrations -- stopping down helps, but if you don't need to stop down then there is no problem. It was sold with the SRT200."

Paul Howell · Apr 24, 2023

KerrKid said:
I’m aware of the Maxxum 5’s but I have those bases covered with the Nikon “N” series. The 9xi, by all accounts, is in a different league.

Lens compatibility seems confusing. I’m going to be very careful and just use what you with 9xi’s are using.

The 50mm f1.7 is very plentiful and inexpensive. It seems no one wants one. Why? Is it that much worse than the f1.4?

The 9Xi and for matter most 9s will not work with any lens that is micro motor driven, Minolta called theirs' SSM. Some 9 were factory modified, the 7, 5 and I think the 3 are all SSM compatible. The 9xi will work with all gear driven 5 and 8 pin lens including the power zoom lens, although sharp will drain the battery much quicker than a manual zoom.

xkaes · Apr 24, 2023

Battery drain sure is an obstacle with electronic cameras -- especially those with auto-focusing lenses.

I've got a tiny, superb Nikon EASY-PIX 5600 and I'm lucky if the camera takes 100 pictures on one set of AA batteries. Well worth it, however!!!

ant! · Apr 24, 2023

Here is plenty of stuff to read: https://www.dyxum.com/dforum/the-cheap-lineup_topic13972.html
Also, the same page has also a huge database of comments for each lens.

My cheap lineup for my Maxxum 7: 28-105/3.5-4.5, 80-210/4, 50/1.7, Sony 85/2.8 (this one works only on the latest Minoltas), 28/2.8, 24/2.8.

xkaes · Apr 24, 2023

That's a great link, but it only proves that there are opinions all over the place.

If you want one -- just ONE -- DO-IT-ALL MAXXUM/SONY/a-mount lens, get a 24-200mm. Got time to swap lenses and carry a bag around with you? The world is your oyster.

KerrKid · Apr 24, 2023

xkaes said:
That's a great link, but it only proves that there are opinions all over the place.

If you want one -- just ONE -- DO-IT-ALL MAXXUM/SONY/a-mount lens, get a 24-200mm. Got time to swap lenses and carry a bag around with you? The world is your oyster.

One Do-it-all lens is the direction I want to go with this camera for now until I see how well I bond with it. That is, unless I can pick up another lens very inexpensively. The 24-200mm seems like it would be perfect. My question is the size and weight of it. I don't like the 70-210's due to size and weight. If the 24-200mm is big and heavy, I'd rather stick with the 28-85mm and get a 200mm for the times when I would want that focal length.

ant! · Apr 24, 2023

Makes sense. I like that my 28-105 has the tiny bit more reach then the 28-85 though, and rarely need the extra tele (and if, I still have the 70-210...). The 24mm end would be interesting to have in the zoom though ...

Paul Howell · Apr 24, 2023

I have an eight pin Tamron 28 to 200, it is light, pretty good in the mid range, noticalbe distortion at the wide and long end, and somewhat slow at 5.6 at the long end. Takes 67mm filters, not what I would call compact, still makes a nice travel lens. Minolta also made a 24 to 85, 3.5 to 4,5, it is sharp and has little distortion. I tend to pair it with my full frame Sony A900.

KerrKid · Apr 24, 2023

Paul Howell said:
I have an eight pin Tamron 28 to 200, it is light, pretty good in the mid range, noticalbe distortion at the wide and long end, and somewhat slow at 5.6 at the long end. Takes 67mm filters, not what I would call compact, still makes a nice travel lens. Minolta also made a 24 to 85, 3.5 to 4,5, it is sharp and has little distortion. I tend to pair it with my full frame Sony A900.

A 24-85mm sounds really nice. I just checked and they aren't expensive.

I let a Tamron SP AF 28-105mm lens go on eBay. They wanted $15 for it and I didn't know anything about the quality so I passed.

xkaes · Apr 24, 2023

My 24-200mm is about the same size as my 28-105mm.

KerrKid · Apr 24, 2023

Ok...here's the latest....

I got the 9xi from Chan Tran in the mail today. Wow! What an amazing camera. It looks and feels great. It has a very robust high quality feel to it with ergonomics that are spot on. And to top it off Chan Tran included two cards - the Customized Function card that I wanted badly and the Portrait card.

Can you believe this guy!? Amazingly generous. I'm so grateful.

Paul Howell · Apr 24, 2023

You will be happy, other than lens you want the battery grip so you can use AA batteries.

KerrKid · Apr 24, 2023

Paul Howell said:
You will be happy, other than lens you want the battery grip so you can use AA batteries.

That would be the BP-9XI? There isn't one listed on eBay. Hard to find? Expensive? 2CR5 batteries are around $9 on Amazon. Do the batteries drain that rapidly?

Paul Howell · Apr 24, 2023

Mine don't, I have a grip from the 800si and 9, but so far have not felt the need for a grip on the 9XI which is just a batter grip. As it is not my daily shooter I pass my CR5 batteries around to other bodies. I think the manual says something like 30 rolls of 36ex per battery.

KerrKid · Apr 24, 2023

Paul Howell said:
Mine don't, I have a grip from the 800si and 9, but so far have not felt the need for a grip on the 9XI which is just a batter grip. As it is not my daily shooter I pass my CR5 batteries around to other bodies. I think the manual says something like 30 rolls of 36ex per battery.

Oh my. The battery should last a very long time for me at that rate.

ant! · Apr 24, 2023

Not sure why, maybe a problem with my camera, but my 7 drains super fast. So I love the battery handle...

Paul Howell · Apr 24, 2023

I have a 7xi and 9xi, I don't seem to have a problem with fast battery drain, the only time I notice is when using a power zoom in power mode, and that was with the 800si.

Chan Tran · Apr 24, 2023

KerrKid said:
Oh my. The battery should last a very long time for me at that rate.

30 rolls is not a whole lot because I do shoot a lot of blank that is without film. I know I have a 2CR5 battery somewhere but I couldn't find it.

Maxxum lens suggestions needed.

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