Minolta V mount

Minolta RD-3000 w/ system flash & several system lenses. The mounted lens is a 17mm wide-angle lens. image by René Maly (Image rights)

Minolta Vectis S-1 with system flash & system lens, (left image) and the bayonets, male bayonet on lens, female bayonet in body (right image). image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)

Minolta was the only camera maker that created a new autofocus SLR camera system with a complete set of new lenses for the APS film system. Only three camera models got the lens bayonet that fits for these precious lenses: The Minolta Vectis S-1, the Minolta Vectis S-100, and the digital SLR Minolta RD-3000. All automatic control signals are given electronically to the lens barrel. Camera body and lens, both sides have the necessary electrical contacts. The image shows the Minolta Vectis S-1 with the 1:3.5/50mm macro V-lens. The system flash SF-1 bears a macro diffusor, and the lens is focused to nearest distance (23mm, magnification 1:2) .

The RD 3000's ½" CCD sensors with 6.4×4.8mm image area usually would mean a crop factor of 5.4 compared to 35mm format (full frame), whilst the APS format means 1.5 crop. The very compromise of the RD3000's two sensors is to divide incoming light, one share going to a green-sensor, the other half to a blue&red-matrix sensor. In addition, inside the camera the incoming light-stream is optically converted to simulate an APS-C size sensor, virtually reducing crop to APS-film's 1.5, but also effective aperture, meaning almost double depth-of-field of this digital camera system. The 35mm focal-length equivalents in the table below are given for crop 1.5.

The system lenses for Minolta's Vectis S-1, Vectis S-100, and Dimâge RD-3000

V lens	description	image	digital re‑use**
V 17mm f/3.5 RD	A super wide-angle lens (35mm film equivalent: approx. 26mm)		possible
V 22 - 80 mm f4 - 5.6	A standard type 3.6X zoom lens that covers wide angle to telephoto range, compact and lightweight (35mm film equivalent: approx. 34 - 123mm)	image by Alf Sigaro (Image rights)	possible
V 28 - 56 mm f4 - 5.6	A standard type 2.0X zoom lens (35mm film equivalent: approx. 48 - 86mm)	image by Mikel Adell (Image rights)	impossible
V 80‑240mm f4.5‑5.6 APO	An apochromatic (=highly colorcorrected) high-performance 3.0X tele zoom lens (35 mm film equivalent: approx. 123 - 370mm)	image by Alf Sigaro (Image rights)	recommended
V 50 mm f3.5 MACRO	A macro lens with focus from infinity to a 1:2 magnification ratio (35 mm film equivalent: approx. 77mm)	image by Alf Sigaro (Image rights)	recommended
The following lenses lenses can be attached to the Minolta RD-3000, but may not perform to 100% of their capabilities.
V 56-170mm f/4.5-5.6		image by Alf Sigaro (Image rights)	possible
V Reflex 400mm f/8		image by René Maly (Image rights)	possible
V 25-150mm f/4.5-6.3		image by Mikel Adell (Image rights)	impossible

For all lenses listed above: - Effective aperture range: f/6.7 - 22 - Focal length: approx. 1.5 times longer when compared to 35mm film usage.

** digital re-use on Sony NEX and its successors
Sony A5x00 & A6x00 is possible by means of the
MonsterAdapter LA-VE1

This kind of re-use is recommended only for two of the
lenses, the APO tele zoom lens and the 50mm Macro lens,
since both have a manual-focusing ring that works
sufficiently with this adapter. It supports manual focus
and automatic aperture.

The APO lens 80-240mm, adapted to a Sony Alpha 6000 by means of MonsterAdapter LA-VE1 image by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)

V lenses are for APS film format, but are they ideal for digital re-use?

The most DSLR cameras and mirrorless system cameras rely on imaging sensors of APS-C format. Thus all Minolta V Lenses should be ideal partners for the modern digital way of photography, but there was only one adapter available, branded MonsterAdapter, type name is LA-VE1. Thus re-use is only possible on Sony NEX cameras and its successors. Only the re-use of the tele zoom 80-240, a nicely sharp apochromatic lens, and the re-use of the 50mm macro - Minolta was a real good maker of 50mm macro lenses - only for owners of both lenses who also like them, the Adapter can be recommended.

Surprisingly, in 2022 another adapter that supports autofocus followed, despite of such a specialty product's limited market, when we take a view onto the sales of the MonsterAdapter LA-VE1. Production of one small series after the other seems to make it possible. So now it's there, the LA-VE2. It makes more V-lenses reusable in Sony's e-mount.