Minolta MC Rokkor QE 100mm 1:3.5 Macro – vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Macro Rokkor-QE 1:3.5 f=100mm)
The first feeling: it’s not a lens – it’s a howitzer. Every Rokkor from pre-rubberized generations looks like a rock, but this macro-hundred is the champion among others. Even huge and twice heavier Rokkor MC 300mm 1:5.6 looks more elegant than this hunk of metal with a few pieces of glass.
Minolta MD 28mm 1:2.0 two copies comparison (New-MD, MD III or Plain MD design)
The description of a LensRomantic test is here. These comparisons are for collectors or tech-enthusiasts. Photographers may go directly to a lens review.
Minolta New-MD 28mm F2.0 is the best one from the 28mm manual lens line. I have a dream to compare it with modern lenses by Leica or Sony or something like that but today can offer to read just one another LensRomantic photo session.
Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.4 two copies comparison (New-MD, MD III or Plain MD design)
Such comparisons can give us a piece of information about the degree of trust and the degree of applicability of lens testing results. It can be interesting mostly for collectors or technicians and doesn’t contain extended conclusions or descriptions with transcripts of results – everything can be seen on sample diagrams. True photographers can skip it and immediately go to the lens review pages.
Minolta MC Rokkor PF 85mm 1:1.7 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PF 1:1.7 f=85mm)
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)
Minolta SR 100mm lenses comparison:
100mm is a very popular portraiture focal distance for today, greatly demanded by photographers. Historically, the number of available 100mm lenses is much less than 85 mm or 135mm for example, and prices can’t be called small. Each of these three tested objects has its own feature that makes the lens strong. Therefore, the final choice is likely to be based not on the sharpness but on personal preferably of a photographer. Anyway, let’s select a champion in resolution.
Minolta MC Rokkor PF 100mm 1:2.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PF 1:2.5 f=100mm)
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.
Minolta MC Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QD 1:3.5 f=135mm)
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.
Minolta MC Rokkor PF 135mm 1:2.8 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QF 1:2.8 f=135mm)
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.
Minolta MC Rokkor QF 200mm 1:3.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QF 1:3.5 f=200mm)
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.
Minolta MC Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-HF 1:4.5 f=300mm )
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.