Lens Review

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 85mm 1:1.7 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 85mm 1:1.7 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PF 1:1.7 f=85mm)

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC II, Hills &Valleys, Knurled

Let’s look at another one legendary lens produced by Minolta. A lot of photographers consider that this is the best portrait lens ever. And in overall unformal rating, it may stay in second place by popularity, right after the bokeh-monster Rokkor 58mm F1.2 which I consider as mostly known Minolta lens.

One time I was lucky to get the copy in ‘like new’ condition with original lens-shade, caps, and case and that occasion has driven me to find and review the full set of MC-II line Minolta Rokkor lenses. Some of the articles have been published earlier but this lens was a pusher to the full idea. (UPD: it is done! – the site contains articles about the whole line of MC II lens)

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 100mm 1:2.5 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 100mm 1:2.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PF 1:2.5 f=100mm)

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC II, Hills &Valleys, Knurled

Here is another one telephoto lens by Minolta. Very suitable for portraits because it is ‘100mm fast’ – the focal distance is not short, but the lens is still convenient in operation. Also, it is ready for landscapes from F5.6 and totally sharp over the frame if closed to F8 – this ability makes this lens enough universal. It may be interesting for photographers who are looking for a mix of good IQ and classic rendering.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QD 1:3.5 f=135mm)

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC II, Hills &Valleys, Knurled

Small but very proud lens. Like many other lenses of that era, it is already very good in terms of performance, but in the next versions, it has been improved even more. The regular representative of ‘Hills&Valleys’ hull design.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 135mm 1:2.8 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 135mm 1:2.8 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QF 1:2.8 f=135mm)

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC II, Hills &Valleys, Knurled

This is the fast lens with classic focal distance – very suitable for portraits and landscapes. Tons of such lenses have been produced by a lot of competitors, many of them are beautiful, and it’s very hard for any lens to get a ‘recommended’ status in so huge and cool collective.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor QF 200mm 1:3.5 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor QF 200mm 1:3.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QF 1:3.5 f=200mm)

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC II, Hills &Valleys, Knurled

The first impression was – it’s solid and heavy. It would be strange to recommend this lens today for photographers because many other much lighter options on 200mm focal distance are available, but for guys who like to take portraits with the feeling of a big piece of steel and glass in the hand – that’s the paradise. Anyway – a good IQ is also a trait of this lens.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 Tele – MC I – review

Minolta MC Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-HF 1:4.5 f=300mm )

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC I

It’s difficult for me to make an objective conclusion about this lens – I don’t use such focal distances in real photo-sessions. This lens is for something like birds or foxes or maybe for Moon. Anyway – I can test it in the standard way.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor QE 100mm 1:3.5 Tele – MC I – review

Minolta MC Rokkor QE 100mm 1:3.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QE 1:3.5 f=100mm )

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC I

This is the final reincarnation number four of Minolta SR-mount 100mm lenses with faster F=3.5. Production started in 1959 (AR-I design by collectors indexing) and finished with this MC-I between 1969-1970.

Since the first test results were obtained I don’t understand – why Minolta stopped to produce it? This lens is one of the biggest sensations since the site was started.
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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Tele Rokkor PE 200mm 1:4.5 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PE 200mm 1:4.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PE 1:4.5 f=200mm )

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC II, Hills &Valleys, Knurled

This is a “classic” or “vintage” long lens with elegant shape and with a good enough IQ for any photographer task. Of course, it has “steel and glass” construction as any lens from this line.

(Note: this is the starting article of the reviews cycle about Minolta MC Rokkor lenses in “Hills and Valleys” body design. The author hopes that every lens from this line will be tested on the site. Stay tuned.) (more…)

By Tony, ago

Minolta MD 75-150mm 1:4.0 Zoom – review

Minolta MD 75-150mm 1:4.0 Zoom lens review

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

There are a few popular 2x-zooms produced by the genius of Minolta’s engineers. Everyone knows at least MD 35-70/3.5 and I can add into that list Minolta MD 24-50/4 and maybe MD 24-35/3.5. This reviewed MD 75-150/4 is a further level. See the test results – it’s fantastic.

The tested copy is in beautiful condition in all aspects, something like ‘Near Mint’ in Japanese sellers terminology. No traces of disassembling and damages.

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By Tony, ago

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…)

By Tony, ago