Chiyoko 35mm 1:3.5 Rokkor – review

Chiyoko Rokkor 1:3.5 f=3.5cm lens review (Chiyoko 35mm 1:3.5 Rokkor)

Mount – M39 or Leica screw mount (flange focal distance – 28.8 mm)

Here is an review of the lens, which is a legend not only of the company, but in general of the entire photographic industry. This is one of the vast number of examples from the beginning of the Japanese Economic Miracle. No matter what results it shows in tests, its value is historical: it is the world’s first mass-produced multi-coated lens.

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Chiyoko 135mm 1:4.0 vs Minolta MD 135mm 1:2.8 – comparison

Chiyoko 135mm 1:4.0 vs Minolta MD 135mm 1:2.8 – Comparison

I wouldn’t say that this is a fair battle because of the huge difference between the age of these lenses. It is better to call it a demonstration of the development of Japanese optics. How much the great-granddaughter differs from the great-grandmother.
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Chiyoko 135mm 1:4.0 Tele Rokkor – review

Chiyoko Tele Rokkor 1:4 f=13.5cm (c) lens review, aka Chiyoko 135mm f:4.0

Mount – LTM, Leica Thread Mount, or LSM, Leica Screw Mount, or M39

This lens is from the list of four very first lenses released by Minolta for 35mm standard film. Just 4 years after the end of WWII. We can say that this lens is a museum exhibit, but nevertheless, nothing prevents photographers from using it. I even think that if these lenses were alive, then they would really like to participate in photographing despite their age.

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Chiyoko 45mm 1:2.8 Minolta Super Rokkor – review

Chiyoko Super Rokkor 1:2.8 f=45mm (Minolta) lens review , aka Chiyoko 45mm 1:2.8 Tele Rokkor

Mount – LTM, Leica Thread Mount, or LSM, Leica Screw Mount, or M39

This is the first “Minolta” interchangeable lens for the most popular in the world 35mm standard – the new era has been opened. It is difficult to overestimate its historical significance. In a sense, it can be called as the great-grandmother of modern lenses Minolta/Sony family.

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Chiyoko 110mm 1:5.6 Tele Rokkor – review

Chiyoko Tele Rokkor 1:5.6 f=11cm C (Minolta) lens review , aka Chiyoko 110mm 1:5.6 Tele Rokkor

Mount – LTM, Leica Thread Mount, or LSM, Leica Screw Mount, or M39

This lens hasn’t a practical meaning in modern times, so, this article is something like “Tester’s pride” – to review a lens which is considered as rarest in the very first series of Minolta’s lenses for 35mm film.

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Chiyoko 85mm 1:2.8 vs Minolta MD 85mm f/2.0 – comparison

Ciyoko 85mm 1:2.8 vs Minolta MD 85mm 1:2.0 – or, in other words – Super Rokkor and MD III – one of the first versus one of the best. Not a battle actually, better to call it friendly match. It is clear in advance that the more modern MD version will win but it isn’t a problem because these two lenses are absolutely different – mount, age, speed, materials, logo – everything is different, except for two points: both are Minolta and both are 85mm.

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Chiyoko 85mm 1:2.8 Super Rokkor – review

Chiyoko 85mm f:2.8 Super Rokkor aka Chiyoko Super Rokkor 1:2.8 f=85cm C (Minolta) lens review.

This lens is from the first years after WWII and it’s a part of the history of Japan’s photo-industry, from the times when the poor and the ruined country started the race against the world’s most famous corporations producing photo equipment and finally have won. The reason is clear – one glance at Super Rokkor 85mm is enough to see that it was created and built with incredible quality. Touching this lens drives me to feel that I touch history.

Some amateur photographers say that they love real ‘glass and metal’ lenses, and this feeling drives them to create better photos than with lenses that are built using plastic and rubber elements in construction. Quite often when saying these words they are holding in their hands something like Minolta MC or Canon FL or Nikon pre-AI, etc. I believe that these MC and FLs against this Chiyoko are looking like aluminum trinkets. (more…)

Chiyoko Super Rokkor 50mm 1:2.8 vs Super Rokkor 50mm 1:2.0 – comparison

Chiyoko 50mm lenses comparison:

  • Chiyoko Super Rokkor 50mm 1:2.0 (Minolta)
  • Chiyoko Super Rokkor 50mm 1:2.8 (Minolta)

I have warm feelings for both lenses, and it isn’t secret that 50/2.0 is more powerful, but it may be interesting to see the difference in real samples.

(LTM lenses)

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Canon S 50mm 1:1.4 I vs Canon S 50mm 1:1.5 vs Canon S 50mm 1:1.8 vs Chiyoda Kogaku 50mm 1:1.8 vs Chiyoko 50mm 1:2.0 vs Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.4 – comparison

Minolta and Canon 50mm LTM lenses comparison:

  • Canon S 50mm 1:1.4 I
  • Canon S 50mm 1:1.5 Serenar
  •  Canon S 50mm 1:1.8 Serenar
  • Chiyoda Kogaku 50mm 1:1.8 Super Rokkor (Minolta)
  • Chiyoko 50mm 1:2.0 Super Rokkor (Minolta)
  • Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.4 MD III

This comparison is correct only for conditions and equipment used for tests. An element changed – the result changed.

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