Regardless of the kind of photography you do, it is important to remember that without the right lens, your credibility as a photographer dwindles significantly.
You may also want to utilize your camera’s interchangeable lenses because they can transform your pictures from amateurish to professional.
Today, we are going to look at the best Minolta lenses and because there are many options to pick from, you may want to keep it here to find out how to pick the right ones for your camera.
Top Minolta Lenses: Comparison Table
We have got the following table for you. It contains the lenses we think have the potential to do a great job.
| Ranking | Product Name | Maximum Focal Length | Minimum Focal Length |
| 1 | Minolta 50mm MD Minolta Lens | 50 Millimeters | 50 Millimeters |
| 2 | Konica AF ZOOM Minolta 75-300mm Lens | 300 Millimeters | 75 Millimeters |
| 3 | Minolta f/1.7 50mm AF Lens | 46 Millimeters | 38 Millimeters |
| 4 | Konica-Minolta F/2.8AF 17-35mm | 35 Millimeters | 17 Millimeters |
| 5 | Minolta 50mm Rokkor-X Manual Focus Lens | 50 Millimeters | 50 Millimeters |
| 6 | Minolta F/8 500mm Mirror Auto Focus Lens | 500 Millimeters | 500 Millimeters |
| 7 | Minolta AF 70-210mm Maxxum Telephoto F/4 Zoom Lens | 210 Millimeters | 70 Millimeters |
| 8 | Minolta HS f/2.8G 80-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens | 200 Millimeters | 80 Millimeters |
| 9 | Minolta 50mm MD Mount Lens | 22 Millimeters | 2 Millimeters |
| 10 | Minolta f/1.7 AF 50mm Full Frame Lens | 50 Millimeters | 50 Millimeters |
| 11 | Minolta 24mm-85MM Maxxum Zoom Lens | 85 Millimeters | 24 Millimeters |
| 12 | Konica-Minolta Autofocus 24-105mm | 105 Millimeters | 24 Millimeters |
1. Minolta 50mm MD Minolta Lens
The Minolta 50mm MD Minolta Lens is quite lightweight since it weighs 6 ounces only, and it also feels good in the hand. Also, the body is completely dust and water-proof while the focus is uniform, smooth, and fast.
At F/2.8, the haze completely vanishes while the sharpness increases. On top of that, the body is made with metal for sturdiness and longevity.
Pros
- No distortion at all
- Durable build
- Very affordable
- Lightweight
2. Konica AF ZOOM Minolta 75-300mm Lens
The Konica AF ZOOM Minolta 75-300mm Lens is ideal for birding and sports photography. This lens offers a smooth and accurate focus. It features a new-distance encoding unit that enables better circulation of flash exposure.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Fast and accurate autofocus
- Stunning image quality
- Easy to use
Cons
- A bit pricy
3. Minolta f/1.7 50mm AF Lens
Another great option is the Minolta f 1.7 50mm AF Lens. This unit has an aperture of f/1.4 that allows you to take even sharp and clear images in low light conditions. In addition to that, it has a metal construction that makes it extremely solid and durable.
Also worth noting is that it has a life-sensing touch switch that wakes up the meter with just a simple touch.
Pros
- Durable construction
- Affordable
- Easy to use
Cons
- A bit bulky
Read the other one: What’s the Best 28mm Lens Available? 7 Lenses Reviewed
4. Konica-Minolta F/2.8AF 17-35mm Wide Angle Lens
Next up is the Konica-Minolta F/2.8AF 17-35mm Wide Angle Lens. This unit features an anomalous dispersion that helps in minimizing chromatic aberration. In addition, it uses aspherical lenses that are quite effective in collecting distortion when using standard and wide zooms.
What’s more, this lens uses anti-shake technology that allows you to capture clear images at a lowers speed.
Pros
- Sturdy and durable constructions
- Ideal for low light conditions
- Sharp images
- Well-priced
Cons
- A bit bulky
5. Minolta 50mm Rokkor-X Manual Focus Lens
For starters, the Minolta 50mm Rokkor-X Manual Focus Lens has an amazing build quality. The lens is all metallic and has a knurled focus ring that gives a sturdy feel. Besides that, vignetting is negligible, while distortion is barely noticeable.
It has an average chromatic aberration and an effective flare resistance. Another notable feature is that it has a relatively smooth bokeh.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Very affordable
- Sturdy build
- Quality images
Cons
- Lacks an Autofocus
6. Minolta F/8 500mm Mirror Auto Focus Lens
The Minolta F/8 500mm Mirror Auto Focus Lens features a solid metal construction that makes it super sturdy and durable. The 500mm lens is a great choice for up-close photography and low light situations.
Pros
- Solid build
- Affordable
- Great image quality
Cons
- Not zoomable
7. Minolta AF 70-210mm Maxxum Telephoto F/4 Zoom Lens
Next up is the Minolta AF 70-210mm Maxxum Telephoto F/4 Zoom Lens. This black satin device has a long and constant aperture of f/4 that does not extend during zooming. Though the bokeh is quite less at 80mm, it is quite smooth over all the ranges.
In addition, the barrel distortion is well-controlled and mild such that it cannot be noticed in the images. More importantly, this lens has an accurate autofocus operation.
Pros
- High-quality construction
- Excellent autofocus
- Impressive sharpness
- Quick timing
Cons
- Bulky
8. Minolta HS f/2.8G 80-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens
The Minolta HS f/2.8G 80-200mm Telephoto Zoom Lens is a great all-round telephoto lens. Its durable vintage construction makes it extremely durable. Besides that, it is decently fast given its constant f/2.8 through its range.
Another great thing about this lens is that it does not keep changing when zooming in and out. More importantly, it is super easy to use, making it ideal for professionals and hobbyists.
Pros
- Sturdy finish
- Very affordable
- Easy to use
- Ideal for low light conditions
Cons
- A bit pricey
9. Minolta 50mm MD Mount Lens
If you are looking for a Minolta Lens with a wide aperture, the Minolta 50mm MD Mount Lens might be an excellent option. At f/8, this lens is great across the entire frame. On top of that, it is quite small and lightweight, which makes it easy to carry.
What’s more, this device has a fantastic sharpness and contrasts that result in bright and well visible images. It also performs incredibly in low light situations.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Extremely sharp
- High-quality build
- Minimal distortion
Cons
- Slow autofocus
10. Minolta f/1.7 AF 50mm Full Frame Lens
This Minolta f/1.7 AF 50mm Full Frame Lens is built out of 8 elements in 8 groups. It is constructed with a combination of high-quality plastic and metal, making it super sturdy and durable. The lens features a fantastic bokeh and top-notch precision the offers you sharp and clear images.
This unit is quite versatile as it covers all types of the lens from telephoto, wide range zooms, and wide-angle to soft-focus, large-aperture, and reflex types.
Pros
- Comes at an affordable price
- Lightweight
- Sturdy construction
- Achieves clear and sharp images
Cons
- No lens hood or cap
11. Minolta 24mm-85MM Maxxum Zoom Lens
The most outstanding quality about the Minolta 24mm-85MM Maxxum Zoom Lens is its incredible and stylish finish. Most of the parts in this unit are built from plastic, but that does not mean they are not long-lasting.
Furthermore, the autofocus operation is accurate and fast, while the color-fringing and ghosting are adequately controlled. At 70mm, the barrel distortion is mild, while the background blur is amazing.
Pros
- Clear and sharp images
- High-quality and sturdy finish
- Smooth focus operation
- Durable
Cons
- Noisy autofocus
Read more: Best Lens for Canon T6i Reviewed: Top 12 Lenses for the Money
12. Konica-Minolta Autofocus 24-105mm Maxxum SLR Lens
The last item on this list is the Konica-Minolta Autofocus 24-105mm Maxxum SLR Lens. This unit provides high-quality images and great focusing operation. The petal-type hood protects the lens from extraneous light. In addition, this Maxxum AF lens is designed to offers excellent operation for both manual and autofocusing.
Pros
- High-quality images
- Excellent autofocusing
- Easy to control
- Lightweight
Cons
- A bit noisy
How to Choose the Minolta Lens
Not all lenses work the same for all cameras. To get the perfect ones for your Minolta, here are a few factors you need to consider.
Focal Length
Focal length refers to the distance from the core of the lens to the sensor when the subject is in focus. The higher number translates to a longer zoom while a lower number translates to wider shots.
If you are looking to fit much more into your frame, you may want to consider getting wide-angle focal lengths.
Conversely, if you desire to get closer to your subject, you want a telephoto lens. Ensure that it has a 2.8 aperture to allow enough light to get in.
Night Vision
Aperture refers to the amount of light that is able to get into your camera and is denoted by the letter f and a matching number.
You want to get a small aperture number such as f1.2. This means that it opens wider allowing more light into the lens.
This enables you to get quality shots even in low light.
Lens Price
You want to determine how much you are willing to part with for a lens. This way, you are able to shortlist lenses and pick the perfect one for your camera.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below, we have addressed a few commonly asked questions.
Are Minolta lenses full frame?
Yes, they are. Nevertheless, you need to know a little bit more prior to purchasing. Over the years, Minolta has had two different lens mounts.
Only one can be used on newer models.
What does Minolta mean?
Minolta abbreviates “Mechanism, Instruments, Optics, and Lenses by Tashima”. In 1933, this brand name first appeared on a camera. It was a copy of the Plaubel Makina simply referred to as “Minolta.”
Best Choice
The best choice depends on the preferred type of photography. But if performance is anything to go by, the Minolta 50mm MD Minolta Lens is the best choice in our view. It has great construction, and its focus is impressively smooth, fast, and uniform.
For those reasons, we believe that it provides great value proposition to quality-conscious buyers. And just in case you’re yet to make up your mind, we’d suggest you give it a shot. It might just be the tool you need to add to your arsenal for better results.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, you should always search for particular features when purchasing lenses.
We believe you are now equipped with all the information you require to make the right choice so go ahead.