What lenses for Minolta Maxxum 5

I have decided to go for a 50mm f/1.7 lens with Maxxum 5. What other
lenses should I buy? I am just a beginner with hobbyist intentions
only. I prefer shooting landscapes/panorama, the occasional portrait
that I find interesting, and indoors (parties/marriages). I rarely zoom
but don't mind having a zoom also for some trip to forest reserves
where a zoom may prove useful.

A few candidates:
- Minolta 70-210mm f/4
- Minolta 75-300mm f/4.5-5.6
- Minolta 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6
- Minolta 24-85mm F3.5-4.5
- Minolta 28-105mm F3.5-4.5
- Tamron 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 ASPHERICAL LD INTERNAL FOCUS SUPER
- Tamron 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 ASPHERICAL XR INTERNAL FOCUS MACRO
- Tamron 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 ASPHERICAL LD INTERNAL FOCUS MACRO

These are just a few I found at keh.com that might be good. If you see
any other below $125 that are good, please do suggest.

Ideally, I just want one lens apart from the 50mm. But if need be, I
might pick-up more than one apart from the 50mm.

Thanks,

Siddhartha

 

Awesome lens. Very sharp, very well made. A little slow to focuus on
older cameras, but should be OK on your 5. Quite heavy - you will want
to support it with one hand while shooting.

OK - some very good results have come from it, but not as good as the
above.

Surprisingly good for the price, but you cna do a lot better. However,
it is very light.

Extremely sharp, quite contrasty. The weird distortion puts me off the
lens though. This distortion is evident at all focal lengths.

Very good lens. I have 11x17s from it which are very sharp indeed.
Under rated, and a good example of why not to believe everything lens
tests tell you.

I've never been able to keep these straight. I have the second
generation Tamrom superzoom, and it's OK for what it is, If you stop it
down to f8 and hold it steady, it does a passable job.

Of the lenses you mention, if you had to choose only one I would go for
the 28-105. Also look for a 24-50, which is simply a superb lens and
gives you a very handy 24mm wide end. It's my favorite lens for general
carry on my 7. Of the telezooms, the best one by a wide margin is the
70-210 f4. Get one with a lens hood to prevent flare. KEH should have
the factory lens hood for that lens around somewhere.

Mike

 

Reccomend: 24-105 (D)

I have no opinions on the Tamrons, but suggest that extreme zooms
such as above are generally not very good. At least they are
very convenient ...

 

Nothing wrong with that one AFAIK. You may be thinking of the 28-100 which
seems like a pretty bad lens. However, the two have nothing in common.

 

Nope - not a thing wrong with it. As several 11x17s on my wall can attest.

Mike

 

I'm just more in favour of the 24-105...

 

I'm biased to the 24-105.

 

Don't blame you for that. While I don't have one (I'd like to, but can't
jsutify it, since my 28-105 is more than adequate for my needs), it has the
rep of being as sharp as the 24-85, without the 24-85's distortion
problems. But it's probably out of the range of the posters' price, which
if I'm recalling the thread correctly was a big consideration.

Mike

 

Yes, I was ignoring the price restriction ... otoh I didn't
invoke the f/2.8 constants either (;-))

 

[snip the laudable candidates]

If you can find one, I'd suggest a 28-135. Its been out of production
since forever now, and a quick trip through KEH suggests it might be
rare on the used market. But they must pop up now and then. Everything
else does. When it does, get it.
Very sharp lens with great contrast. This is a not just a excellent zoom
but also a great lens. It will never disappoint. Only negative is that
it is VERY prone to flare. Minolta in it's wisdom decided not to provide
a lens shield for the 28-135 but it really doesn't matter. Just don't
think about shooting in the direction of the sun and you've got a great,
great all around lens, albeit a heavy one.
I use it as my carry round lens on my 700si.

Depending on the forest reserve, 135 isn't going to get you very close
to anything big and moving, but the lens has a pretty good macro
function so it can make stationary things bigger..flowers, rock
structure, bark, whatever.

The 28-135 has been called the Minolta owners secret hand shake, or some
such. For good reason. Sharp, contrasty, wide to medium telephoto, macro
function, pretty fast at 4 to 4. 5. Google it and see.

Oh yeah, I paid the equivalent of US 350 for mine, used. It's not a
seldom once in while that I feel that I got ripped off but I get over
it. I wouldn't sell it for less. Might not sell it for the US
equivalent of $100 more.

--PS