Minolta lens(es) on Canon body?

nielsgeode · Post by **nielsgeode** » Fri Aug 23, 2013 2:07 pm

About half a year ago, I switched completely from Sony/Minolta to Canon. In the meantime, I have sold most of my Sony/Minolta gear. However, I still have a Minolta 50mm f/2.8 macro 1:1 lens that I would like to keep.

Is there a possibility to use it as a manual focus lens on my Canon 5D? I do not need infinity, because I would only use it for photographing books on a copy stand (where my canon 100mm macro is too much tele). I strongly prefer an adapter without optics, so I don't loose any image quality.

Thanx!
Niels

Steve S · Post by **Steve S** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 12:01 pm

Like this ebay item: 130686767986 ?

nielsgeode · Post by **nielsgeode** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:19 pm

Exactly

, except that shipping ($50) is insanely expensive and I have a Minolta AF lens which is physically incompatible with Minolta MD.

Niels

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Sat Aug 24, 2013 1:28 pm

I believe the adapter Steve S mentioned above is for older Minolta MD mount lenses, which are not the same as the Sony Alpha (Minolta AF/Maxxum) lenses. If your Minolta 50/2.8 macro is of this older type (with a manually operable aperture ring) then it would do the job.

If your lens is the Minolta AF/Maxxum mount I do not believe (but am not certain) there is any way to adjust the lens aperture unless it its mounted to a Minolta/Sony body with the proper electrical connections and electronics. If that is the case an adaptation doesn't seen to make much sense. However there are a few adapters on Ebay that seem to provide the appropriate mechanical connections.

130927520388 ... appears to be "glassless", simple tube

181084545158 and 190792826499 (and others) ... looks like they have a glass element to maintain infinity focus. Optically probably not a great idea, but the glass can probably be easily removed.

Photo-DIY · Post by **Photo-DIY** » Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:21 am

I made a Sony A to Canon EF mount adapter.
But as Charles wrote, it is with most lenses not really good to use - the lens has no iris ring, and the tickness one could use for an lever is too small - as long as one wants infinity.
It seems possible to make an macro adapter with iris lever (like the adapters for Nikon G-type lenses on Canon EOS cameras from Novoflex. But I think there is not enough demand.

I made my adapter in case I could get a Sony STF 135mm lens with apodization filter - want to compare it with my DIY way.
Or for Mirror lenses with Minolta A mount.