Sony Alpha 350 DSLR. Wrong Camera For Coins?

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Author	Replies: 4 / Views: 1,509
jwm74 Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 03/13/2017 01:40 am I have been reading the posts on photographing coins and want in! My camera choice came about without coins in mind. I purchased a Minolta Maxxum back in the 80s when they first appeared. I had a completely manual SLR before the Maxxum. I purchased a 35-70 zoom and a 70-210 zoom. They served me well for various National Park visits as well as everyday use. When I decided to upgrade to a DSLR in 2009, the lenses I already had pushed me toward the Sony Alpha 350 which could utilize the Minolta lenses. So now I have a nice camera setup that does not seem to be well suited to coin photography. The smaller zoom lens claims to be a macro lens, but it cannot focus closer than about 3-4 feet. So, what are my options with the equipment I already own? Thanks for any advice you can share. Edited by jwm74 03/13/2017 01:42 am Report this Post to the Staff

spru Bedrock of the Community United States 12477 Posts	Posted 03/13/2017 02:05 am You need a new lens. Specifically, a macro lens, not a zoom lens with a "macro" function. The camera is not the issue. Edit: I don't know much about these but, I have to think the lenses you have aren't 100% compatible with the camera's functions. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020 In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020 In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024 Edited by spru 03/13/2017 02:17 am Report this Post to the Staff
pepactonius Pillar of the Community United States 9395 Posts	Posted 03/13/2017 04:10 am If your camera has a Minolta bayonet mount, maybe you could find Minolta to M42 adapters. If so, then the famous "$400 setup" is one way to go. Things will be much easier if the camera has PC tethering with magnified on-screen LiveView, and EFCS/EFSC (electronic first shutter curtain) to reduce camera shake. Report this Post to the Staff
jwm74 Valued Member United States 68 Posts	Posted 03/13/2017 09:44 am spruett001, Sony "purchased" Minolta's camera business. The Minolta AF lenses are 100% compatible with the Sony Alpha 350 (as well as the other early Alpha) cameras. Any suggestions for a lens? pepactonius, once I have a Minolta/Sony A mount to M42 adapter, the rest would be the same? The Alpha 350 has "live view," but it is on the built-in LCD, not attached to a computer (at least not that I can find). I am pretty sure there is no tethering in the 350 line. That comes into play with the more recent Sony offerings. Not sure about EFCS/EFSC. Will have to investigate that further. I do have a remote shutter release. My major concern is that the unit would be a kludge starting with the wrong camera body. Hoping for a simple solution to a complex problem! Thanks for the input. Edited by jwm74 03/13/2017 10:35 am Report this Post to the Staff
pepactonius Pillar of the Community United States 9395 Posts	Posted 03/13/2017 11:46 am Quote: My major concern is that the unit would be a kludge starting with the wrong camera If you go down the "$400 setup" route, and later switch cameras (which will happen eventually, anyway), the only thing that will be wasted (beside the camera) is the Minolta to M42 adapter. It would have to be replaced with one for the new brand of camera. This assumes the Sony 350 is a typical APS-C DSLR, and can be switched out for a Canon, Nikon, or whatever. All the other stuff should still be usable -- bellows or extension tubes with focusing helicoids, enlarger/duplicating lenses, microscope objectives, copy stand, microscope focus block, Z-stage, goniometer, dial indicator, lights and diffusers, Zerene Stacker, StackShot, etc. Report this Post to the Staff
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