Trying to find adapter to mate old Minolta lenses with ZWO camera.

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Steve Solon avatar
Hi all, and Happy Christmas to those who celebrate. I have a set of old Minolta lenses (40+ years) that I would love to use with a ZWO ASI183MC-Pro camera, but after pretty exhaustive searching, I cannot find an adapter to join the two. I have inquired online to many camera companies and stores, including Adorama and B&H Photo, with no luck. The lenses have what I think is a standard male bayonet mount - all I need is the female counterpart that will screw on to any of the ZWO adapters. There are adapters for Canon and Nikon all over the place, but nothing for Minolta. I confess I'm not a knowledgeable lens person, although I did use the lenses on my Dad's old Minolta SRT-101 and 102 cameras, but that was back when Harding was President. It would be a shame not to use these wonderful optics with today's modern cameras - I just don't know why it's so difficult to find an adapter.  If there are any suggestions, they would be much appreciated. I suppose if anyone knows of a custom-adapter machinist, I could go that route, as well, as long as I don't have to mortgage the house. Thanks in advance, and here's hoping for any type of mask-less 2022. Steve
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andrea tasselli avatar
This might a shot in the dark but the following should be able to match those lenses with a Canon  to ZWO adaptor:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265394228451?hash=item3dcaba8ce3:g:M~kAAOSwTRFZnVQH
matthew.maclean avatar
There is probably not a simple, elegant solution for the old Minolta lenses, but you may consider this adapter device which might possibly allow you to do what you need:
     https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/995125-REG/fotodiox_md_eos_g_pro_canon_eos_adapter.html/overview
It converts the old Minolta SR flange (it that is indeed what your lenses have) to fit a Canon EF camera. Then, ZWO sells Canon lens adapters for their cameras.

From the description, this Fotodiox adapter has a correction optic in it to allow proper focus distance for a Canon; I do not know if that will affect image quality any or not? The B&H sales page says that optic is removable if it does cause issues. In that case, ZWO apparently does also make a couple shortened EOS adapters designed for using with their filter wheels, so you possibly could use one of those instead and make up the remaining necessary distance with additional adapters. The thing to be careful of is the back-focus requirement - see this article for details:
     https://briansmith.com/flange-focal-distance-guide/
It seems your Minolta lenses want 43.5mm from the lens flange face using some combination of all these adapters.
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Peter Bresler avatar
Try Ebay for Minolta to M42
Steve Solon avatar
Andrea, Matthew, and Peter,
Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. I had not considered an adapter for an adapter. Yes Matthew, the back focus will be a concern - best bet will be a 'buy it and try it' approach, since the adapters are not all that expensive - what can one lose, yes?

All the best,
Steve
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