Minolta MD zoom 70-210mm in the winter dusk

[blotafton]

You know the feeling when you haven't push-pulled in a while? When that need came to me I swingd out my old Minolta long gun.

Sony a7 and tripod.

It's a damn good lens!

[TrueLoveOne]

Great shots! It is indeed a fantastic zoom!

[jamaeolus]

Nicely shot. I have its successor ( I think ) the 70-210 "beercan" in AF. I take it and the 35-70 when I want to travel light. Goes to show there are SOME good zooms from back in the day. Recently I picked up a Konica 80-200 I have yet to try. Set me back a whole 15 USD.

[blotafton]

[Lloydy]

I shall get one of these lenses, there is no excuse for not having one.

[iangreenhalgh1]

I have owned the AF version since 1993. It is a great lens, a must have for all A mount users imho. Really shines on my a850.

It actually outperforms the modern Canon L 4/80-200.

[memetph]

Nice winter coulours , Blotafton.

This zoom works pretty well with an A7 but I don't like to make pictures when it is too cold outside !
Some shots in South Africa :

http://forum.mflenses.com/rokkor-md-70-210-with-a7-t73593.html

[memetph]

[hanhasgotqi]

Sorry to bring up an old post. I'm looking to buy one of these Minolta MD 70-210/f4 (beercan's dad).

The OP said he used it with an A7 on a tripod. I know modern big telephoto lenses often come with a lens collar, so weight can be evenly distributed on a tripod to minimize vibration. This MD 70-210/f4 doesn't have a collar. I plan to use it with a Minolta film body.

If I attach the tripod to the film camera, with this 70-210/f4 on the camera body, the weight of the whole set-up would be on one side of the tripod mount, basically. Not evenly distributed and this lens is pretty long. I imagine a set-up like this is more susceptible to vibration, especially shooting at the 210mm end.

How do y'all usually mount the beercan and similar lenses (neither too big nor small) on a tripod? Do y'all just attach it to the camera body and set the body on the tripod mount? Have you had any vibration issues using it with a tripod?

Thanks in advance!

[blotafton]

Hello! This brings back memories.
I simply put the camera on a tripod with no support for the lens. It's a bit heavy for the original A7, 643g without adapter. There is flex in the mount but who cares. 2 second self timer was enough. The film cameras has pretty solid mounts. But the X-300, X-700 etc. has a bit of flex.

I still have the lens and haven't found anything better. But I've just ordered a MD 75-150mm. This one is said to be even better and it should be lighter. Could be a good alternative if 150mm is enough.

[hanhasgotqi]

[Lloydy]

My A7II has a decent metal lens mount that seems to cope with the heavy lenses like the Beercan and the LA-EA4 adapter, but I do use it as 'a lens with a camera at the back' rather than a 'camera with a big heavy lens' - I hold the lens and the camera.

My A6000 had the plastic lens mount and I changed it to the Fotodiox Tough Mount within weeks of buying the camera, it was the best thing I bought!

Another good accessory is the the Fotga lens support, or something similar. https://www.amazon.com/FOTGA-Telephoto-Release-Long-Focus-Support/dp/B07DDFY3DZ/ref=pd_vtp_421_1/138-1117115-8674150?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07DDFY3DZ&pd_rd_r=8daa60c4-e7a4-48dd-b144-be5ca31e52ee&pd_rd_w=oRIei&pd_rd_wg=DLGx6&pf_rd_p=fd9c75b4-43e6-4220-9b33-6739e84937cc&pf_rd_r=BBS64Q38NZWXTE0TVK6N&psc=1&refRID=BBS64Q38NZWXTE0TVK6N