One criteria for selecting my DSLR was a good selection of lenses. To many it must have come as a surprise when the learned I selected the Sony Alpha 65 as my new camera. I bought the camera with two kit lenses, the Sony DT 18-55mm F/3.5-5.6 (SAL-1855) and Sony 75-300mm F/4.5-5.6 (SAL-75300). It was a special bundle price, about $200 less then any other deal at the time that I could not refuse.
Back to the good selection of lenses topic, it is true that Sony does not have a large selection of a-mount lenses. However, since Sony continued to use the Minolta a-mount for its new Alpha line of cameras, after having acquired the DSLR division from Minolta, the number of lenses I can use with the SLT 65 has doubled. If one adds in addition to the Minolta line of a-mount lenses, other manufactures, such as Sigma and Tamron, the number has at least tripled. To me the line of original Minolta lenses was of special interest and a big influence in selecting the Sony A-65 camera.
For many years, Minolta has produced some of the best camera lenses. Today, photographers are still looking for old Minolta lenses because of their quality and durability. Many photographers claim that such incredible and well-built lenses are no longer manufactured. Minolta was responsible for some unique developments and innovations in the world of lens and camera-making. For example the Minolta AF 28-135mm f/4-4.5 lens has a breakthrough rear-focusing optical design, resulting in a much faster automatic focus and closer minimum focus distances.
Minolta’s wide range of lenses offer at least one lens that is perfect for portrait, landscapes, group shots or unusual perspective photographs. As mention, Minolta’s innovations were sold to Sony and because Sony not only kept the a-mount, but also rebranded a few lenses, Sony Alpha cameras are compatible with the old Minolta lenses. What is important to take away is that Minolta lenses are less expensive than the purchase of any lenses currently offered by Sony and other manufacturers. The price to quality ratio is perfect for people like me that like affordability but are still interested in the quality that they receive.
In closing, Minolta lenses have innovative design and very practical characteristics, but more about that in my next article in which I outline what Minolta lenses I added to my collection and why.
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My Minolta Lenses
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My other Lenses
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