As a relatively new Sony Alpha user I've been watching out for ebay bargains to build up my kit. Early Minolta lenses fit the Sony and are of very high quality. Last week I picked up an old Minolta 7000 film camera and two lenses, one of which was a 70-210 F4 known as the beercan. It's called that because it's about the same size as a 500ml can and is made of metal. It's very rugged, and that's just as well as the seller should have been shot for non-disclosure. It had had a hard life! There were several micro-scratches on the front element, the barrel was scuffed and the aperture leaves were sticky. Also the camera had a crack in the prism housing and the viewfinder shutter and aperture display wasn't working. If I'd complained though I'd have been obliged to send it back, and I wasn't going to do that. Not on your life! I stripped the beercan down and freed up the aperture leaves, and now, despite the scratched front element it takes super photos.
Here's a shot I took with it a few days ago. There's no extension tubes or attachments, just the beercan and my camera:
But look at the detail from this 100% crop of the same photo:
This was taken from about a meter away, so with a Canon 500D close up lens attached this is most likely going to be my butterfly lens of choice next year.
The cost was £77 for the lot including postage. The camera is back for sale and I doubt if I shall get much for it, a fiver if I'm lucky. But the other lens is a 50mm prime in good order and there's a fair old market for those and I should get around £40-50 for it. AND there was a half tidy camera bag as well.
