Universal Thread Mount

[theorist]

I'm looking at a Vivitar Series 1 macro lens for my Minolta. It

comes with a universal thread mount. What exactly does that mean? Do

I need something else to attach this to my camera? Thanks...

[NK Guy]

Universal thread is a screwmount thread 42mm in diameter, sometimes called an M42

mount. You need an adapter for your camera body that lets you attach M42 lenses.

[Brian]

<P>The good news is that there <I>was</I> a M42 to Minolta MD mount adapter made. I doubt that Minolta still lists it as an accessory but you should be able to pick one up on eBay.</P>

[al_kaplan1]

If you keep checking eBay you should be able to find one in Minolta MD mount which will fit your camera directly. They're not all that rare. Without doubt it is one of the sharpest 90mm lenses ever made by anybody.

[larry h.]

Rachel, I agree with Al (?). Do not get the screw mount version. Wait to find the Minolta MC/MD mount version (it may only come in MC mount). Check KEH, B&H and Adorama, also. It's worth the wait. With the screwmount adapter, you'll lose full aperture metering.

 

PS--check your earlier thread for my new response I just posted.

[douglas_green1]

Another choice is the Tamron 90mm f2.5 lens with the Adaptall-2 mounting system. It will fit your camera with an easy and fairly cheap mount, and the auto-diaphragm mechanism will be preserved.

 

BTW, the Tamron is a copy of the Vivitar, with the identical optical formula. It is also just as good a lens as the Vivitar, and just as well built. I used to own that Vivitar lens in Minolta mount, but I sold it and bought the Tamron because I use cameras from several different brands (Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Minolta, Olympus, and Leica) and the Tamron fits them all with different adapters (each of which costs $15-25 or so). Both are equally great lenses, but the Tamron will be easier to find, since all of them will easily fit your Minolta with the correct adapter. You shouldn't get the Vivitar unless you can find it in a Minolta mount, not Universal Mount, because you will lose the auto diaphragm capability, which makes a big difference in actual use. Unlike other adapter systems, the Tamron Adaptall system preserves the Auto-diaphragm mechanism, and is just like using a lens specifically made with the Minolta mount.