Minolta AF
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The Minolta AF camera system was a revolutionary collection of photographic equipment from Minolta. It was marketed as Dynax in Europe, Maxxum in North America and Alpha (or α) in Japan and the rest of Asia.
It was originally based around a selection of three 35mm single-lens reflex (SLR) bodies, the 5000, 7000 and 9000. The system also included an extensive range of auto-focus lenses, flashes, a motor drive and other accessories. Compatible equipment was made by a number of third parties including Sigma.
In the following years, many different cameras and accessories were added to the range.
The last film-based AF SLRs produced by Minolta were the Maxxum 50 (AKA Dynax 30 and Dynax 40) and the Maxxum 70 (AKA Dynax 60 and Alpha 70), built in China. The Dynax/Maxxum/α branding was also used on two Minolta digital SLRs, prior to the acquisition by Sony.[1][2]
When Sony acquired Konica Minolta's camera technologies in 2006, they chose the "α" brand name (already in use by Minolta in Asia) for their new "Sony α" digital SLR system. The Dynax/Maxxum/Alpha lens mount (which was retained from the old cameras) is now officially known as the "α mount system".[3]
Contents |
[edit] Bodies
[edit] 5000, 7000 & 9000
The Minolta 7000 was the first successful AF SLR using a motor integrated in the camera body. It was released in 1985 together with 11 lenses and 2 flashguns. The 7000 featured one AF-sensor, shutter speeds of 1/2000-30 seconds, flashsync speed of 1/100s, exposure compensation of +-4EV in 0.5 steps, center weighted lightmetering and two frames per second.
The 9000, a camera aimed at professionals, was released later the same year, and featured shutter speeds of 1/4000-30 seconds, center weighted and spot lightmetering, exposure compensation of +-4EV in 0.5 steps and a flashsync speed of 1/250s. Unlike the 7000, the 9000 had no internal motordrive, but with the addition of the MD-90 you would get 5 frames per second.
The 5000, Minolta's entry level camera, was released in 1986, it featured shutter speeds of 1/2000-30 seconds, center weighted lightmetering, exposure compensation of +1EV, flashsync speed of 1/100s and fully automatic programs.
[edit] Lenses & Tele-Converters
[edit] Designations
- DT - "Digital Technology", lenses for APS-C size digital sensors
- APO - Apochromatic lens element(s)
- G - "G Series", professional lenses
- SSM - "SuperSonic Motor", in-lens ultrasonic motor used on some long telephoto G Series lenses
- D - "Distance Integration", lens provides subject distance information for utilization in the Advanced Distance Integration (ADI) flash mode
- xi - Motorized Zoom
- STF - "Smooth Transtition Focus", lens contains a special element which makes transitions between in and out of focus areas very smooth. This gives a Bokeh of the highest quality.
[edit] Revisions
- Original - Self explanatory
- RS - Restyled (aka "New"), aesthetic changes, and possible faster focus or addition of D feature.
- II - Some lens unterwent more than cosmetical changes only, these are referred to as second version.
- Sony - Lens designs under the Sony label, some aesthetic changes including the focus and/or zoom grip. Most of these lenses are rebadged RS lenses, with the exception of the Carl Zeiss lenses which are of a new design. Some have a different coating formula which is optimized for digital sensors.
[edit] AF Zoom Lenses
- AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 (D)
- AF 17-35mm f/3.5 G
- AF 20-35mm f/3.5-4.5
- AF 24-50mm f/4 (Original, RS)
- AF 24-70mm f/2.8
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm f/2.8 ZA [Seen in Sony press material in 2006-09, otherwise still unannounced] (Sony SAL-2470Z???)
- AF 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 (RS, II)
- AF 24-105mm f/3.5-4.5 (D, Sony)
- AF 28-70mm f/2.8 G
- AF 28-75mm f/2.8 (D)
- AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 (RS, D)
- AF 28-80mm f/4-5.6 (xi, RS)
- AF 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5 (Original, RS)
- AF 28-100mm f/3.5-5.6 (D)
- AF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 (RS, II)
- AF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 xi
- AF 28-135mm f/4-4.5
- AF 35-70mm f/4 (Original, RS, II)
- AF 35-80mm f/4-5.6 (RS, xi, II)
- AF 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5 (Original, RS)
- AF 35-200mm f/4.5-5.6 xi
- AF 80-200mm f/2.8 (Original, HS)
- AF 70-200mm f/2.8 Apo G (D) SSM
- AF 70-210mm f/4
- AF 70-210mm f/4.5-5.6 (RS, II)
- AF 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (Original, RS, D, Sony)
- AF 100-200mm f/4.5
- AF 100-300mm f/4.5-5.6 (RS, APO, APO D)
- AF 100-400mm f/4.5-6.7 APO
DT Zoom Lenses
- AF DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 (D, Sony)
- AF DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 (D, Sony)
- AF DT 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 (D, Sony)
- Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* DT 16-80 f/3.5-4.5 ZA
[edit] Prime Lenses
Standard Primes
- AF 50mm f/1.4 (Original, RS, Sony)
- AF 50mm f/1.7 (Original, RS)
Wide-angle Primes
- AF 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye (Original, Sony)
- AF 20mm f/2.8 (Original, RS, Sony)
- AF 24mm f/2.8 (Original, RS)
- AF 28mm f/2 (Original, RS)
- AF 28mm f/2.8 (Original, Sony)
- AF 35mm f/2.0 (Original, RS)
- AF 35mm f/1.4 (Original, G, Sony)
Telephoto Primes
- AF 85mm f/1.4 (Original, G, G D, G D Limited)
- Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 ZA
- AF 100mm f/2.0
- AF 100mm f/2.8 Soft Focus (SF)
- Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm f/1.8 ZA
- AF 135mm f/2.8
- STF 135mm f/2.8 [T4.5]* (RS, Sony)
- AF 200mm f/2.8 APO G (Original, HS)
- AF 300mm f/2.8 APO G (Original, RS, SSM, Sony)
- AF 300mm f/4 APO G HS
- AF 400mm f/4.5 APO G HS
- AF 500mm Reflex (RS, Sony)
- AF 600mm f/4 APO G (Original, HS)
Macro Primes
- AF 50mm f/2.8 Macro (Original, RS, D, Sony)
- AF 50mm f/3.5 Macro
- AF 100mm f/2.8 Macro (Original, RS, D, Sony)
- AF 200mm f/4 Macro Apo G
- AF Macro Zoom 1x-3x f/1.7-2.8
[edit] AF Tele Converters
- AF 1.4X Tele Converter (APO, APO II, (D), Sony)
- AF 2X Tele Converter (APO, APO II, (D), Sony)
- AF 2x M/A Converter-S (For use of manual lenses shorter than 300mm on AF bodies)
- AF 2x M/A Converter-L (For use of manual lenses longer than 300mm on AF bodies)
[edit] 3rd Party Lenses
[edit] Other accessories
[edit] Motor drive MD90
While the 5000 and 7000 had autowinders built in, the 9000, aimed at the professional and semi-professional market came with the option of a two to five frame per second motordrive. This could be powered by either a rechargeable Ni-Cad power pack (NP-90) or a battery pack designed to hold twelve AA batteries (BP90). A late addition was the AW90 autowinder for the 9000, with a maximum speed of about 2.5 frames per second.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Nakamura, Karen, News: Recent top-five camera sales in Japan, photoethnography.com. Article written 2005-02-14, retrieved 2006-12-14. (Note Maxxum/Alpha digital camera name in list).
- ^ Minolta Dynax 7D review, ephotozine. Article retrieved 2006-12-14. (Note Dynax digital camera name).
- ^ Sony (2006-04-20). Sony decides α as new brand for digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-09-29.
