What to do with Old Minolta AF Lenses

Karmann_65

Senior Member
Hi all.

I've been given 3 old lenses (previously used on a Dynax 7000 camera) and don't honestly know what to do with them.

There's a Minolta 35-70 AF, Minolta 70-210 AF and a Sigma 28-200 AF 1:4 5.6

I can't vouch for their condition in any way other than saying they don't look physically damaged and the lenses visually appear to be clean.

Would it be a wasted effort to try and resurrect these lenses from an old mans attic or worth a further look? I really don't want to persue this if they're actually no good or damaged internally. And is there a simple way to test the clarity/condition without first buying an adapter ring?

My camera is a D3100 (soon to be upgraded to a D5500) for which I already have a Nikon 35mm, Nikon kit lens and a Nikon 70-300

Any help would be much appreciated.

TIA

Brian
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
The two Minolta lenses were the equivalent of kit lenses back in '85 and get good reviews... an adaptor is $35. Your D3100 almost certainly won't autofocus those lenses because it doesn't have a focus motor in the body...
 

Marcel

Happily retired
Staff member
Super Mod
These are best used with mirrorless cameras where you can have live view manual focus at 100% magnification right in the viewfinder. So if you don't want to go that route yet, just put them aside and if, eventually Nikon comes out with a mirrorless camera, you could buy an adaptor and use them.
 

Nikon Photographer

Senior Member
Lenses from Minolta will work on Sony alpha cameras. This may include the e-mount NEX range, if used with an LA-EA1 or 2 adaptor, although there may be restrictions.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk
 

KJProX

Senior Member
Those lenses work great on Sony Alpha DSLR's, I have several for my Sony camera. I've gotten some great deals on them. The 70-210 if it's the older version( Heavy and metal construction) is the "Legendary Beer Can" lens, and considered one to have if it's in good shape.

I hadn't even thought about adapting my Minolta lenses to my D200, I'll have to look into that.:D
 
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