Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 – review

Published by Tony on

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 – vintage manual lens test and review

  • Official classification: New-MD
  • Collector’s classification: MD III

‘The best hundred’ – are appropriated words if linked with this 100/2.5. It gives predictable and guaranteed results without unexpected surprises. It was underrated for about 35 years but now it seems people start to understand what gem it is.

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 + X700

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 (MD III, New-MD) specifications

minolta.eazypix.de index 152
Name engraved on the lens MD
f[mm] 100
A max [1/f] 2,5
A min[1/f] 22
Lens design [el.] 5
Lens design [gr.] 5
Filter thread Ø front(rear)[mm] 49
Lens Shade built-in
closefocus[m/ft] 1/3.5
Dimension Ø x length [mm] 64×65.5
Weight[g] 310
Year 1981
Style MD III
Code No. (ROKKOR-X) or Order No. 598-100

More data

Floating elements NO (full support by autofocused adapters)
Aperture blades number 6
Confidence in the test results of reviewed copies Very High
Reviewed lens SN: 1101416

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 exterior

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 mounted on Minolta X-700

This is a very suitable set – the camera and lens have the same design (1981 released)

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 sharpness

Сlose-distance resolution test, minimal distance

Testing methods description

  • Target: 10-15 cm picture, printed on glossy photo paper
  • Distance:10% longer than minimal focus distance marked on the lens
  • Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF.
  • The test was repeated for every F-stop on every focus position with manual focus adjustment for each shot. That is to avoid the effect of field curvature.
  • RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px

Scene preview

Test results (selected version, easy to compare – 4 positions)

Test results (full version – all 9 positions)

Long-distance resolution test

Testing methods description

  • Target: cityscape
  • Distance: > 200 meters to center focus point
  • Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF. The focus point is on the center only.
  • RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px

Scene preview

Test results

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 aberrations

Vignetting

Geometric distortion

Coma aberrations

Chromatic aberrations

Short-distance bokeh

Test conditions: lens was focused on minimal distance 1m, plants are in 3m distance from the camera

Long-distance bokeh

Test conditions: the lens was focused on half distance on the scale (1.7m), buildings are on “infinity”-distance

Light bubbles bokeh

Test conditions: lens was focused on minimal distance + 10% of scale (about 1.1m), diodes were fixed in 3m distance

Demo Photos dedicated article

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 (or Minolta MD 100mm F/2.5, New-MD, MD III design) – overall conclusion

Do you need to make a beautiful photo? Just use a camera with this lens. On any aperture. This lens is absolutely sharp even wide-opened. It has nice fire resistance and build-in hood for hard light conditions. Bokeh is just stunning. And all of it with really little aberrations, that is even strange for such beautiful bokeh. Small-sized and lightweight for this focal distance. Previous years I thought that this is one of the most underrated Minolta lenses ever, but for today – prices are enough high, anyway they seem acceptable for a lens with such IQ and abilities.


2 Comments

pedro · 2022-11-05 at 18:03

nice lens! the design and the bokeh reminds me of the nikkor 105 f2.5 (Sonar version)

    Bartek · 2024-06-29 at 00:22

    I have the slightly older lens, an MC ROKKOR. it can confirm the lens is absolutely incredible optics wise. one thing that wasnt mentioned here is that this lens feels amazing in the hand. just a thick and very very dense piece of glass and metal. quite possibly my best made rokkor and i have a few even older ones which people claim to be the best in terms of build quality. this lens never leaves my camera/bag

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