What digital camera can I use my Minolta MC and NMD lenses on natively without an adapter?

[qqphot]

Oh I see, so it can be closer than the registration point but not further away? Interesting.

Well, you want it to be at exactly the right distance. The issue is that if a lens expects the film/sensor 40mm away, but your camera has the sensor deeper than that below the mount, there's nothing you can do to bring it closer to match what the lens wants.

But if the lens expects the sensor at 40mm and your camera's sensor is only 20mm below the mount, that's no problem, all you have to do is add a spacer to move the lens 20mm further away from the mount, which is all those adapters do.

 

[GaryFlorida]

Well, you want it to be at exactly the right distance. The issue is that if a lens expects the film/sensor 40mm away, but your camera has the sensor deeper than that below the mount, there's nothing you can do to bring it closer to match what the lens wants.

But if the lens expects the sensor at 40mm and your camera's sensor is only 20mm below the mount, that's no problem, all you have to do is add a spacer to move the lens 20mm further away from the mount, which is all those adapters do.

Oh I see, so the adapters come in different lengths so you can pick the right one or are they adjustable somehow?

 

[qqphot]

Oh I see, so the adapters come in different lengths so you can pick the right one or are they adjustable somehow?

They don't need to be adjustable, they just need to put the lens and sensor the correct distance apart. You buy them by selecting which pair of lens mount types you want to adapt.

For instance, if you want to use old Minolta MD lenses on a Sony a7, you would buy a SR-to-FE adapter. No need for adjustment, just put it on the camera, mount the lens on it, and shoot.

If you want to use Nikon F lenses on a Sony mirrorless, you get the nikon-f-to-sony-FE adapter, etc.

All the manual focus ones are pretty simple and cheap. The ones that work with AF lenses are more complex and expensive and can be prone to weird behavior.

 

[xkaes]

Yes but not by or for Konica Minolta. They are Seagull in SR mount.

A rose by any other name.........

The Konica label was never added to any of Minolta's film SLRs because they merged in 2003 which was after Minolta stopped the production of their X-370 cameras -- in Seagull factories.

But Seagull continued producing the "Minolta" cameras -- that were now labeled "Seagull", and other labels as well, such as Phoenix, Centon, Argus, Kiron and many others. In fact, Seagull added features to these Minolta-based SLRs that Minolta cameras lacked, such as manual shutter speeds to 1/2,000s, multi-exposure capability, auto-winders with additional features, new body styles, etc.

 

[Paul Howell]

There are adaptors for M 42 to Nikon, it uses a balance lens to correct. I had one, for me too much distortion and vininted when 28 or shorter lens was used.

What I don't is, will a D40 work with a manual focus lens in stop down metering and will the shutter work. With lower end Pentax digtial bodies, they do work with MF lens.

Found this on Ebay.

 

[Chan Tran]

There are adaptors for M 42 to Nikon, it uses a balance lens to correct. I had one, for me too much distortion and vininted when 28 or shorter lens was used.

What I don't is, will a D40 work with a manual focus lens in stop down metering and will the shutter work. With lower end Pentax digtial bodies, they do work with MF lens.

Found this on Ebay.
View attachment 380025

The D40 will work with manual focus lenses and adapted lens that is the shutter will release and make exposure but it doesn't meter with any of them. Not stop down metering or something like that. If the body doesn't recognize the lens the meter simply doesn't work. Nikon could make the D40 meter to work in stop down mode but they decided not to.

 

[xkaes]

Some digital cameras won't release the shutter unless a lens is attached, but most have an over-ride setting for this.

However, as Chan has pointed out, some camera won't activate the meter without a recognized lens attached. Maybe some cameras have an over-ride for that too -- or maybe some adapters can fool the camera into thinking a lens is attached.

 

[Paul Howell]

Pentax upper level, pro consumer and pro level DSLR will shutter release and stop down meter with M 42 adaptor. My Sony DSLR will not, but I have a M42 adtport with a set of pins to fool the camera into thinking a lens is attached. I use with a M42 bellows for micro work.

 

[Chan Tran]

Some digital cameras won't release the shutter unless a lens is attached, but most have an over-ride setting for this.

However, as Chan has pointed out, some camera won't activate the meter without a recognized lens attached. Maybe some cameras have an over-ride for that too -- or maybe some adapters can fool the camera into thinking a lens is attached.

For the D40 Nikon made a concious decision to make the meter not working with their manual focus lens (and thus adapted lens from other brand). The reason is that to save money the D40 and a good number of Nikon low end don't have the coupling for the aperture to know where the aperture ring is set. The Nikon Matrix algorithm requires that the meter not only knows the light intensity that reaches the film plane but also the actual scene brightness. So the stop down metering method won't support matrix metering and Nikon decided that no matrix is just as well no meter.

 

[xkaes]

My Sony DSLR will not, but I have a M42 adtport with a set of pins to fool the camera into thinking a lens is attached. I use with a M42 bellows for micro work.

I don't have that problem with my Sony DSLRs, but tell us more about this adapter. I have not heard of this.

 

[Wallendo]

Keep in mind that although these lenses are technically SR-mount, they are often referred to as "MD-Mount" among adaptor makers.

 

[Paul Howell]

I don't have that problem with my Sony DSLRs, but tell us more about this adapter. I have not heard of this.

This is what I have, allows for focus confirmation.

 

[xkaes]

I have an M42-to-a-mount adapter -- which looks just like that except for the electric contacts. I'm not sure how that lets the camera know that a lens is attached -- but I don't look a gift horse in the mouth, either.

I'll have to find one of those.

And it leads me to believe that a t-mount could also be similarly altered to get the camera to respond in the same way. It sure would be nice to have focus confirmation on my long lenses.

And while I'm at it, why not adapt a Minolta/Rokkor-to-a-mount adapter?????

ADDED -- Where did you get that? I can't find it anywhere!

 

[Galen Tieszen]

I started digital with a Sony A-700, and still use it. When I got back to analog, I went with Minolta since Sony and Minolta share a lens mount. Any Minolta (MC or MD lens) or Sony "A-Mount" (Early Sony digital models) have the same lens mount, however, the older MC and MD lens' are completely, or mostly manual. So, any Sony lens labeled as "A-mount" or any Minolta MC or MD will work without an adapter on a Sony A-mount lens digital camera.

Using those lens' on any other brand will, of course, require an adapter.

 

[GaryFlorida]

So i can use my minolta mc and md lenses on a sony a-700 with no issues?

 

[xkaes]

So i can use my minolta mc and md lenses on a sony a-700 with no issues?

No. Minolta lenses are all manual-focuses lenses and have an SR lens mount -- unless they are labelled "MAXXUM", "DYNAX" or "ALPHA". Minolta Maxxum lenses are auto-focus lenses and use Minolta's a-mount. The SR mount and the a-mount are completely different. Sony later bought Minolta and continued to use the Minolta a-mount on some of their cameras, and called it the Sony a-mount, but it is the same thing. (Sony also uses an e-mount which is different)

You can use Minolta manual-focus lenses on a-mount cameras (Minolta Maxxum or Sony digital) with an adapter. You cannot use a-mount lenses on Minolta SR mount cameras.

I use my Minolta manual-focus lenses on Maxxum and Sony auto-focus cameras all the time -- with an adapter (there are different types of adapters).

 

[Paul Howell]

Ebay has several adaptors for not much money.

XKAES, does your adaptor have glass balance lens?

 

[Chan Tran]

So i can use my minolta mc and md lenses on a sony a-700 with no issues?

Nope! The A700 has A mount with the flange distance of 44.5mm and your Minolta MC lens has flange distance of 43.5mm so not only you need an adapter but one has to have an element to correct for infinity focusing. So it's just as bad as using it on the Nikon. You need to use it on a mirrorless like the Sony E mount bodies, Canon R series with RF mount or Nikon Z series with Z mount.

 

[xkaes]

XKAES, does your adaptor have glass balance lens?

I have both types. Sometimes I need glass, sometimes not. Here's a shot with a Sony a850 -- no glass needed (Minolta Rokkor-X Bellows lens)

And I still want to know where you got your adapter with the electric contacts.

 

[Paul Howell]

Here is link, I bought mine years ago, I think you can still find one on ebay. It is a M42 to A mount not MC/MD. Nice colors, with a macro or bellows glassess would work find. I had a M42 to Nikon with a balance lens, was more like a teleconverter and did not with wides lens.

M42-Sony Alpha Minolta MA Macro AF Confirm Adapter Black

M42-Sony Black AF Confirm Adapter Featuring electronic chip and communication, this adapter enables support focus prompt.Through the use of an optical glass correction lens, this adapter is designed to maintain infinity focus.The all-metal adapter is designed to fit the lens securely, yet can...

pixco.com.cn

 

[GaryFlorida]

No. Minolta lenses are all manual-focuses lenses and have an SR lens mount -- unless they are labelled "MAXXUM", "DYNAX" or "ALPHA". Minolta Maxxum lenses are auto-focus lenses and use Minolta's a-mount. The SR mount and the a-mount are completely different. Sony later bought Minolta and continued to use the Minolta a-mount on some of their cameras, and called it the Sony a-mount, but it is the same thing. (Sony also uses an e-mount which is different)

You can use Minolta manual-focus lenses on a-mount cameras (Minolta Maxxum or Sony digital) with an adapter. You cannot use a-mount lenses on Minolta SR mount cameras.

I use my Minolta manual-focus lenses on Maxxum and Sony auto-focus cameras all the time -- with an adapter (there are different types of adapters).

Ok then Galen is mistaken about MD and MC lenses being able to be used on A mount Sony Cameras. When you use the adapter are there any limitations since the register is different?

 

[xkaes]

Here is link, I bought mine years ago, I think you can still find one on ebay. It is a M42 to A mount not MC/MD.

First, thanks for the link. I can use an M42 to a-mount adapter, but more importantly, I'm hoping to use it as a template for turning other a-mount adapters into DIY "electrically-compatible" a-mount adapters. Hopefully it will be as simple as I imagine -- famous last words!

 

[neilt3]

I started digital with a Sony A-700, and still use it. When I got back to analog, I went with Minolta since Sony and Minolta share a lens mount. Any Minolta (MC or MD lens) or Sony "A-Mount" (Early Sony digital models) have the same lens mount, however, the older MC and MD lens' are completely, or mostly manual. So, any Sony lens labeled as "A-mount" or any Minolta MC or MD will work without an adapter on a Sony A-mount lens digital camera.

Using those lens' on any other brand will, of course, require an adapter.

I'd suggest reading this thread from the start.
Minolta and Sony A mount lenses and cameras are in no way compatible with Minolta SR mount lenses .
The registration distance is different and the mount diameter is different .
The only way you'll fit a Minolta SR ( incl MC and MD ) to a Sony or Minolta A mount DSLR or SLT camera without an adaptor is with ducktape !

I'm guessing you've never seen or used a Minolta SR camera or lens ?
You've certainly not used one without an adaptor on your a700 .
And you certainly can't use Minolta or Sony A mount lenses on a Minolta SR mount body .

 

[Galen Tieszen]

Well, if i'm mistaken, it still works. I even put a beercan lens on my a-700 (with no adapter) before I posted just to make sure I was right, and it mounted fine, and focused fine. Altho, it IS manual focus etc.

The 1mm difference in flange distance has not caused me any problems.

You might check: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_SR-mount for more specifics, and also the entry for the Sony A-mount.

 

[xkaes]

I just checked and they have exactly what I need:

M42 to a-mount (with AF confirm) adapter -- no glass
T2-mount to a-mount (with AF confirm) adapter -- no glass
Minolta to a-mount (with AF confirm) adapter -- no glass
Minolta to a-mount (with AF confirm) adapter -- with glass

This makes my day.

THANKS!!!