Minolta AF Maxxum Vintage 50mm Lenses:

                           The Maxxum f/1.4, f/1.7 & f/2.8 Macro

The Vintage Minolta 50mm f2.8 Macro pictured above.

For years, the 50mm prime lens languished in a dark corner of most Maxxum gear bags. The f/1.7 came as the "standard" lens with Maxxum 5000, 7000 and 9000 packages back in the 1980's and saw little use. Boring! Most photographers of the day were more enamored with the convenience and appeal of zoom lenses released at the same time, such as the 35-70mm f/4, and 35-105mm / 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5. All are very nice lenses in their own right, but they are of course slower  to focus, have a much smaller maximum aperture and optically they are more complex (translation: not quite as sharp). But are they fun! As a result, there are some very nice, minimally used 50mm lenses available on the used market today.

The Vintage 50mm f1.7.

The 50mm prime lenses (1.4 and 1.7) have been rediscovered and are coming back into vogue in large due to the popularity of the Maxxum 5D and 7D (and now Sony Alpha) digital SLRs. These two lenses (and the 2.8 Macro, as well) have some of the sharpest optics of all Minolta lenses, and in the case of the f/1.7, a very reasonable price point which is unfortunately starting to rise due to this resurgence and appeal. Digital photographers are now searching for the finest optics to complement their DSLRs, and forgoing some of that zoom "convenience". Note the larger glass surface area of the front element of the f1.4.

The Vintage 50mm f1.4 above - Nice Glass!

The two standard 50mm lenses and the f/2.8 Macro are well documented both objectively via bench testing and in user reports all over the web to be extremely sharp and contrasty with neutral color balance. The 50mm's are grouped in with the highest rated lenses Minolta makes, and all offer excellent value for the money. They have a very nice bokeh (blurred background - great for portraits) when shot at or near maximum aperture and maintain most of their sharpness at that fully open aperture setting. If you are considering a purchase of a vintage AF50 f/2.8 Macro, please see my guide that details two of the more common mechanical issues that plague this fine but relatively expensive lens.

The 50mm prime lens becomes a 75mm focal length with the 1.5x APS-C crop factor. This is remarkably close to one of Minolta's finest and most coveted prime lenses of all time, the 85mm f/1.4 G lens, which sells for in excess of $500 even today. DSLR owners have caught on to the fact that they can essentially obtain the "poor man's" version of this lens at either f/1.7 or f/1.4 for a fraction of this cost!

A major dilemma for the 50mm buyer is essentially, "which of the three 50mm's should I add to my bag?" 

If price is the deciding constraint, the f/1.7 is the obvious choice as it is the cheapest, yet still reproduces a beautiful and very sharp image. It is a little soft wide open as most lenses are, but stopped down below f/2.8 it is super crisp beyond f/11. Stellar performance for the price!

If you are fortunate enough that price is not an issue, in your research you may still be torturing yourself over whether paying roughly double for an extra half stop with the f/1.4 is worth the additional cost, or whether sacrificing some speed for the f/2.8 Macro is the right choice. Having used all three lenses, and having an f/1.4 as my primary 50mm, it is still my opinion that most photographers will find the f/1.7 to be sufficient for everyday shooting (unless you absolutely need macro capability). You get that extra half stop with the f/1.4, and there is no denying it is a little sharper below f/2.8....but these two lenses are very close to identical throughout the rest of the aperture range. One caveat, the f/1.4 may seem a little brighter in side by side tests, but it is unlikely you would notice this in day to day shooting. The money you save by not going f/1.4 can be put towards a Macro if your interest lies there, towards other gear, or even back in the bank.

If you are into shooting bugs and flowers close up, you really need a dedicated Macro lens with 1:1 reproduction. The consumer 1:4 (1/4 lifesize) option that is available on many zooms is convenient, but performance and results pale in comparison to a true Macro lens. Then, you have to decide whether the 50mm or the 100mm at twice the price is necessary. Both are extremely sharp, and some references opine they are the best "prosumer" Macros available, even better than anything Canon or Nikon have to offer. I haven't used the 100mm, but the 50mm f/2.8 is well built and has a decent working range on my 7D. I have a 90mm Tamron SP Macro f/2.8 as well and use it as my primary Macro lens. Compared to the 50mm Macro, the only major differences are the extra working distance you get on the Tamron (or similiar Minolta AF100 Macro), and its Focus Limiter to expedite focusing. Either lens will perform admirably in most situations, but the extra working distance is a nice luxury. Also made by Minolta is the Maxxum 50mm f/3.5. It is a slower, more affordable Macro lens. I haven't had any experience with it, so I won't provide a user opinion in this review. It appears to be a reasonable compromise if you are willing to slow down another stop and lose the shallower depth of field the f/2.8 provides.

The Restyled (RS) Option:

Finally, restyled (RS) or vintage? Either will do you fine and are both rated pretty close to each other. The newer (1990) RS standards have a nice, wider rubberized focus ring and a "cleaner" style grip. It has a shorter focus travel (1/4 turn) and is theoretically a little faster focusing. Both vintage and RS have 7 blade apertures. Newer macros incorporate ADI (advanced distance integration) for supposed better flash exposure. If buying used, what is most important is getting a lens that is in really nice condition and buying from a trusted seller if Ebay is your source. (Is that too self-serving a statement? lol) An extra $20 or $30 on the price may mean the difference between a hunk of dirty  "fleabay" junk: nasty cosmetics, possibly oily blades or flawed optics; and getting a nice, clean, pristine lens that will give you literally decades of satisfaction in digital or film photography. This is particularly important when shopping for an AF50 Macro - some of these used lenses have developed mechanical problems that are expensive to repair. Unscrupulous sellers pawn them off on Ebay, "As-is", with no reference to problems. As I mentioned earlier, you should see my guide that pertains to this issue if considering a macro purchase.

To summarize, your needs and your bankbook will dictate which 50mm is best for you. I think that unless you are fully geared with lenses, or you really need a sharp f/1.7, need Macro or an f/1.4 aperture for specialty shooting, you'll be very happy starting out with a 50mm f/1.7 standard lens on your new Sony or Maxxum digital SLR. The 50mm f/1.7 certainly offers the best combination of sharp optics, a wide maximum aperture and affordability. And when you combine it with the anti-shake and adjustable ISO on the camera body, you'll be amazed (shooting in almost total darkness) at how little light you need to take a sharp hand held photo!

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