Minolta 50mm F1.7 AF Lens

[papapino]

Hi there everyone, haven't been on for a while. Seeking a new lens for portraits. I am looking at the Minolta 50mm F1.7AF lens. Could anyone give me some advice on this lens. I know that this is an old lens. On ebay they are selling in the regions of £100. Is this worth the money or could anyone recommend a better lens up to the value of £150.00

[Roger_Provins]

With the popularity of Sony dSLR cameras the price of second-hand lenses has gone up dramatically. As you've found you can get a 50mm f1.7 in really nice condition for £100-£120 and, assuming you want a fast prime lens, there really isn't anything else even close in price for your portraiture use.

[DaveG40]

The 50mm is an Excellent little lens, a year ago you could've picked one up for about £40, just after x-mas for £80 and now about £120, I sold mine because I found the focal length with the crop factor very limiting, I bought the 35-70 F4 (baby beercan) lens instead, and a 35-70 F/3.5-F/4.5 (which cost £12 "delivered", off of ebay), if you're on a tight budget both these lenses are excellent for portraits, they ooze Minolta IQ and although not quite as sharp as the 50mm are more practical,IMHO, especially if you go up to full frame and are "a lot" cheaper. They've also got rave reviews on Dyxum.

If you can afford it, need sharpness, want excellent low light ability and are'nt too worried about the fixed focal length the 50mm is worth the money.

[Malcolm_Stewart]

I bought my copy about two years ago just after I'd bought a mint condition Dynax 7 and needed a lens for it. I found one in my local market attached to a poor condition 7000, and the vendor wouldn't separate them. So mine cost me £70. It's a good lens, and seems just as good as the 55mm f1.7 which was on my SRT101. I had the 7000 repaired, and have picked up a few Minolta AF lenses, but am still on the look out for a Minolta AF 135 f2.8.

Sadly, both of the Thursday Market stalls selling cameras have now gone, as has Jessops in the shopping centre, and we now just have the out-of-town-centre Jessops, which seemed very quiet the last time I dropped in.

[GrahamR]

Hi all.

I have the 50mm AF f1.7 lens, and have had it a few years now. I think its a superb lens, using it on my Sony A700 and Dynax 7 and 700si Film bodies.

Definatly worth looking at. The Sony AF f1.4 version is around £260 in price, for 1/2 stop better.

Graham

[adam_harris]

the lens in question is a cracker , although iv only been doing dslr photography a few weeks iv managed to get hold of the 28mm 50mm and 135 mm primes from minolta . the depth of field you can get on the 50mm is belting ..... shame prices seem to have rocketed on ebay ........ i say an f4 70-210 beercan the other day go for 221 quid!!!!

[chrism_scotland]

I've just bought a Minolta 50mm f1.7 and I have to say the IQ is excellent, I find the fixed 50mm is good as it makes me think about my shots and composition instead of being able to zoom!

[Steve52]

I use a Minolta f1.7 50mm on my band work. All I need now is the Signma 24-70mm F2.8.