My ideal Minolta MF kit for a nature photographerIf I were now building a system for nature photography, based on the mf Minolta, it would propably look a lot like the following. But a word of warning: If I were starting from a scratch and interested in nature photography, I would not even have a look into any other systems than Nikon or Canon - the big two are in such a position on the market that you only look after problems by choosing anything else. This does not mean their optical or mechanical quality were better than the others, but they offer the best availability of used equipment on the market. If you are not going to purchase used equipment, you don't have to care about this - but then you have no way to use Minolta MF either! On the other hand, if you already have a good start of Minolta there is no reason not to expand it, and the Tamron interchangeable mount lenses make a very reasonable option for that. With Tamron lenses, you could choose any 35mm SLR system camera body you want (except Minolta AF and Canon EOS, which are not practical to use with mf lenses, although there are adapters to use Tamrons with them) and continue to use your expensive lenses. It is especially important now, when the X-700 has been discontinued, to make sure you have a way out of the system - sooner or later you will have to change ovver, and the Tamrons keep your doors open. The Minolta lenses in this outfit are relatively cheap and easy to replace, if moving to another system. The two Tamrons mentioned here are also top quality lenses, and you are not loosing optical quality by using them - the 90mm macro is fully compareable to any brand macro, and the 300/2.8 LD IF only a tad behind the top-of-the line brand lenses. Word of warning, though: Do not replace the wideangle with Tamron 24 or 28mm, you won't get similar optical quality with them.
X-700 is chosed instead of XM or XD to provide TTL flash, wide accessory range and repairability together with acceptable ruggedness. The Sr-T provides a fully mechanical backup with MLU.
Lenses make a system that is easy to use also in general photography by leaving the macro and tele lenses away. All lenses except the 300mm share 55mm filter thread. They are also light and optically excellent. Both Tamrons can use the same tele converter. The differencies in the colour renditions between Tamrons and Rokkors are corrected to acceptable level by using suitable protective filters (1B "Strong skylight" in Tamrons and UV filters in Minolta lenses). Note, that I would choose a used, older Tamron 90mm macro over the current 90mm f2.8 macro, because it becomes much cheaper, but if you find the current model for a good price, there is no reason not to pick it. You get 1:1 magnification with it without accessories.
Camera bodies: Minolta X-700, MD-1, full matte focusing screen
Minolta Sr-T 101, 303 or any one with MLU and hot shoe.Lenses: Tamron SP 300mm f2.8 LD IF, 1A filter (preferably 112mm front filter for protection, can also use 43mm filters in a filter drawer), own hood.
MD Zoom 70-210mm f4, UV filter, hood
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 Macro (later model, 55mm thread), 1B filter, hood
MD Rokkor 50mm f1.7, UV filter, lens hood (55mm thread)
MD W. Rokkor 24mm f2.8, UV filter, hood (55mm thread)Tamron SP 2x tele converter
Other: Minolta Auto Extension tube set (or similar 3rd party set)
Minolta Auto 360 PX flash with cable OC
Anglefinder V or VnCable release
GOOD Tripod and head
Monopod
Table tripod
55mm Minolta circular polarizer (must be useable with 24mm!).Tight budget? At minimum budget I would consider the following system, or something like it:
Camera body Minolta X-700, full matte screen, MD-1 if possible Lenses: MD Tele Rokkor 300mm f4.5 IF or the MC Tele Rokkor 300mm f4.5
Tamron 70/80-200/210 zoom (several versions - could also be Tokina); Nikon 5T and 6T or 3T and 4T close-up lenses adapted to this lens.
MD Rokkor 50mm f1.7
MC W.Rokkor 28mm f3.5Other: Auto extension tube set
Vivitar (or similar) 2x macro tele converter
Auto 280PX or Auto 132PX
Cable release
GOOD tripod and head
Polarizing filterA Tokina SD 400/5.6 or Sigma APO 400/5.6 could replace the 300/4.5, if you find one easier and like to get a longer lens. Don't mess with cheap tripods, get a good one that can be used at the low levels also. Manfrotto/Bogen is propably the most common choise, but consider the Benbo and Unilock models, too. They need some time to get used to, but work great if you do a lot macro photography. Be also careful when choosing the head for the tripod.
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