Lens Review

Minolta MD 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 Zoom Macro – review

Minolta MD 28-85mm 1:3.5-4.5 Zoom Macro lens review

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

This MD 28-85/3.5-4.5 usually is hidden behind the shadow of much more famous MD 35-70/3.5 but about me personally – I prefer to take this 28-85/3.5-4.5 instead of 35-70/3.5 in any case. Real convenience in using is better than a tiny better resolution in some positions.

This has been tested by Great and Powerful Antony Hands in his The 35mm Shoot-out – as a zoom which can compete with wide-angle primes.
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By Tony, ago

Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm 1:1.4 MD I – review

Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm 1:1.4 MD I – vintage manual lens test and review (55mm filter thread)

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

This is the first Minolta MD series lens with 50mm focal distance and the second 50 mm lens in the whole Minolta SLR career – for SR-mount cameras. This note about SR-mount is required because there were three 50mm lenses by Minolta for LTM (1947-1958?) – all three have been reviewed on this site, so, this article is about one of the famous SLR fifty in the world – the great Rokkor MD of the first generation.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor PG 50mm 1:1.4 – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PG 50mm 1:1.4 – vintage manual lens test and review

This was the first 50mm F1.4 lens by Minolta, only 58mm with F1.4 was in production earlier. It has so great reputation that even younger and modern fifties sometimes hide in the shadow of this MC. You can find a lot of opinions about this lens, sometimes very objective, sometimes too personal, and the target of this review is to understand the real abilities of this piece of ‘glass and metal’ (and a few rubbers).
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By Tony, ago

Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm 1:2.0 – review

Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm 1:2.0 MD II – vintage manual lens test and review

This lens was produced only in one incarnation – MD II version. It has no analogs before and after, and this case is quite rare for Minolta because usually, we can see product lines of the lenses with identical focal distances and apertures, like MC -> MD-I -> MD-II, etc. That’s why we have a right to call this lens as unique, so let’s see the abilities of one of the most famous pancakes in the world’s lens history in Minolta Rokkor MD 45mm 1:2.0 lens review.
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By Tony, ago