Minolta 24-50mm

[dynachrome]

I have the 24-50 lens in A Mount. Why is the manual focus one so much more expensive?

 

[ant!]

It's not the same lens. The AF version seems to be a 7 lens/7 groups design, the manual one is 13 lenses in 11 groups.

I have the MD lens, it's nice, and I didn't pay much a long time ago. No idea about current prices...
Also, the MD version is the widest zoom for manual Minolta, in AF are other options.

On http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektive/185-minolta-24-50mm-f4 it is tested as sharp as the Sony Zeiss ZA 2.8/16-35 mm in the corners, while the AF version seems not as good ( http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sony-af/objektive/251-minolta-af-24-50mm-f4 ).

 

[xkaes]

Also, the MD version is the widest zoom for manual Minolta, in AF are other options.

Let's not forget the Minolta Rokkor-X 24-35mm f3.5 -- smaller, lighter, faster and less expensive. 55mm filter vs 72mm!

Two reasons the Rokkor wide zooms are not cheap, is because they are great lenses, but were expensive at the time -- and not many were made.

But there are alternatives:

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

 

[ant!]

You are right, forgot the smaller 24-35mm.

Does anyone has experience with the wider 3rd party lenses? I own mostly the Minolta originals (on the wide end: MD20/2.8, MD24/2.8, MD24-50/4, and the old 18/9.5 fisheye), my only 3rd party lenses for Minolta are the Sigma 24/2.8 super wide II (with very close focus), and the Vivitar series 1 90/2.5 macro (with a bit fungus, might try to clean it one day. And the 1:1 adapter was strangely with a different mount).

 

[Jon Buffington]

I own the 24-35. It is a very nice lens and the size of a prime lens. Couple this with the 35-70 and you have a great all around package. The 24-35 can fit in a jacket pocket.

I shoot a lot of landscapes so the range on the 24-35 works great as I am usually shooting at the wide end of things.

 

[NB23]

Is 199$ really that expensive, nowadays?

 

[ant!]

Is 199$ really that expensive, nowadays?

This seems steep. I see it in ebay sold items for $130 (Canadian Dollars). I am sure with a bit patience it can be found well below 200 USD. I had found even the MD 20/2.8 a few months ago for CAD 200, with a broken XE7 hanging on the rear.

About 15 years ago I paid for my MD 24-50 about 100 €, including a XD5 and about 5 more lenses. But of course, prices increased since then.

 

[xkaes]

I have the Vivitar 24-48mm f3.8 -- made by Kiron. It certainly is well made, and like the Minolta, is a two-touch zoom. It's the same size and weight and features, but uses a 77mm filter, but less expensive. Tamron made a similar lens -- 24-48mm f3.5/3.8. And Tokina made a 25-50mm f4.0 with a 55mm filter thread!!!

Also, I recently ran across an unusual Osawa (made by Sun???) 24-43mm f3.5/4.5 two-touch zoom. it has a 67mm filter thread and a macro mode. At the 43mm focal length setting, you pull the zoom ring backward and it converts into a macro focusing ring -- down to 1/3 life-size.