I have never used their autofocus cameras, but I’ve used and owned most of their manual line. If borrowing my Dad’s SRT-101 counts, I’ve been a Minolta devotee since the mid 1970s.
For sheer reliability and build quality the SRT series is nearly bulletproof. The 101 is most readily available (and cheap) and it’s a great camera. The later models added split-screen viewfinders and windows for aperture and shutterspeed in the finder, removed the mirror lock-up and added hot shoes, but they’re all based on the same solid design. If you use Minolta gear in very cold weather, SRTs are the bodies to use.
The XK was a mighty beast and a great machine but they’re all showing their age now and most repairers won’t touch them due to the scarcity of parts. In general, these don’t age as well as the SRTs.
The XE series are wonderful cameras but many have become a bit dodgy in their old age so I’m hesitant to recommend them. They were the last Minoltas to use match-needle meters (which I like) and they’re built like Swiss watches but the electronics on most of them are starting to fade and it’s very hard to find parts for them. Most repairers will not work on them.
The XD-11 is my all-time favorite body to shoot with. Small, smooth, the first SLR to offer both aperture and shutter priority and the basis for the Leica R4. In their old age the capacitors can need replacing but it’s worth it. These are awesome cameras. My only complaints are the LED meter is hard to see in backlight and this model doesn’t like cold weather at all.
The X series was the last series of manual focus Minoltas. The X-370 is pretty bare-bones but reliable. I have one but I don’t love it. The top of the X line was the X-700, which was a really excellent camera combining many of the things Minolta learned from previous models. Mine got irreparably damaged years ago but I would consider another.
For lenses, the stock 50mm f/1.7 was in their lineup forever - through the MC and MD generations - and it’s a great performer that can be found all over for cheap.
Also worth seeking out are the 58mm f/1.4, which is a real sleeper and a fantastic lens. Any of the 35mm MC or MD lenses are solid performers as well.
The 85mm f/2 is already very expensive (on par with Nikon) but it’s legendary.
The 100mm f/2.8 is a solid, less expensive alternative.
As mentioned above, the Celtic lenses were bargain-priced lenses with fewer elements than their more expensive Rokkor counterparts. They’re a little prone to flair but they’re quite sharp. Stick a good lens hood on there and go! They can be bought for peanuts.
Have fun on your Minolta adventure!
For sheer reliability and build quality the SRT series is nearly bulletproof. The 101 is most readily available (and cheap) and it’s a great camera. The later models added split-screen viewfinders and windows for aperture and shutterspeed in the finder, removed the mirror lock-up and added hot shoes, but they’re all based on the same solid design. If you use Minolta gear in very cold weather, SRTs are the bodies to use.
The XK was a mighty beast and a great machine but they’re all showing their age now and most repairers won’t touch them due to the scarcity of parts. In general, these don’t age as well as the SRTs.
The XE series are wonderful cameras but many have become a bit dodgy in their old age so I’m hesitant to recommend them. They were the last Minoltas to use match-needle meters (which I like) and they’re built like Swiss watches but the electronics on most of them are starting to fade and it’s very hard to find parts for them. Most repairers will not work on them.
The XD-11 is my all-time favorite body to shoot with. Small, smooth, the first SLR to offer both aperture and shutter priority and the basis for the Leica R4. In their old age the capacitors can need replacing but it’s worth it. These are awesome cameras. My only complaints are the LED meter is hard to see in backlight and this model doesn’t like cold weather at all.
The X series was the last series of manual focus Minoltas. The X-370 is pretty bare-bones but reliable. I have one but I don’t love it. The top of the X line was the X-700, which was a really excellent camera combining many of the things Minolta learned from previous models. Mine got irreparably damaged years ago but I would consider another.
For lenses, the stock 50mm f/1.7 was in their lineup forever - through the MC and MD generations - and it’s a great performer that can be found all over for cheap.
Also worth seeking out are the 58mm f/1.4, which is a real sleeper and a fantastic lens. Any of the 35mm MC or MD lenses are solid performers as well.
The 85mm f/2 is already very expensive (on par with Nikon) but it’s legendary.
The 100mm f/2.8 is a solid, less expensive alternative.
As mentioned above, the Celtic lenses were bargain-priced lenses with fewer elements than their more expensive Rokkor counterparts. They’re a little prone to flair but they’re quite sharp. Stick a good lens hood on there and go! They can be bought for peanuts.
Have fun on your Minolta adventure!
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