Minolta MC Rokkor NL 21mm 1:2.8 W – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor NL 21mm 1:2.8 W vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC W Rokkor-NL 1:2.8 f=21mm)

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

It’s just my personal opinion but this mix of ultra-wide focal distance and the demonstrated resolution was one of the biggest surprises during the testing of lenses from MC II generation.

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Minolta MC Rokkor QF 50mm 1:3.5 Macro vs MD 50mm 1:3.5 Macro – comparison

Minolta SR 50mm macro lenses comparison:

  • Minolta MC Macro Rokkor QF 50mm 1:3.5 (Hills&Valleys/Knurled, MCII)
  • Minolta MD Macro 50mm 1:3.5 (New-MD, MDIII)

This is yet another battle between the generations. But I want to say in advance – regardless of the test result, in macro photography, both the lenses fully cope with their tasks because of closed apertures in this style of photography. Differences can be found at an infinite distance, but it will not affect the choice of the photographer. (more…)

Minolta MC Rokkor 28mm 1:3.5 vs MC 28mm 1:2.5 vs MC 28mm1:3.5 vs MD 28mm 1:3.5 – comparison

Minolta SR 28mm lenses comparison:

  • Minolta MC Rokkor SG 28mm 1:3.5 (MC I) aka Minolta MC W Rokkor-SG 1:3.5 f=28mm
  • Minolta MC Rokkor SI 28mm 1:2.5 (MC II) aka Minolta MC W Rokkor-SI 1:2.5 f=28mm
  • Minolta MC Rokkor SG 28mm 1:3.5 (MC II) aka Minolta MC W Rokkor-SG 1:3.5 f=28mm
  • Minolta MD 28mm 1:3.5 (MD III) aka Minolta New-MD 35mm f/1.8

This is a battle of not expensive Minolta wide lenses – 28mm focal distance with quite slow apertures is on the ring. LensWorks has another one battle dedicated to the New-MD lens generation and it seems that this comparison between fighters from MC era can extend an understanding of how this focal distance was covered by Minolta.

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Minolta MC Rokkor SG 28mm 1:3.5 W – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor SG 28mm 1:3.5 W vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC W Rokkor-SG 1:3.5 f=28mm)

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

28mm/f3.5 – the only one available true wide lens for photographers who need wide-angle in Minolta’s “steel&glass” style for reasonable money and without radioactivity. There were no alternatives in that period.

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Minolta MC Rokkor HH 35mm 1:1.8 vs MC Rokkor HG 35mm 1:2.8 vs MD 35mm 1:1.8 – comparison

Minolta SR 35mm lenses comparison:

  • Minolta MC Rokkor HH 35mm 1:1.8 (MC II) aka Minolta MC W.Rokkor HH 35mm f/1.8
  • Minolta MC Rokkor HG 35mm 1:2.8 (MC II) aka Minolta MC W.Rokkor HG 35mm f/2.8
  • Minolta MD 35mm 1:1.8 (MD III) aka Minolta New-MD 35mm f/1.8

A very important test for me personally, and I think for many other photographers – 35mm focal distance is an over-demanded and a good understanding of “who’s the best” can help to make a correct choice of a lens.

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Minolta MC Rokkor HH 35mm 1:1.8 W – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor HH 35mm 1:1.8 W vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC W Rokkor-HH 1:1.8 f=35mm)

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

One another legend by Minolta – the wide-angle 35mm lens powered with F1.8. The lens is very popular among photographers and should stay in the one row with old-school gems like MC PG 58/1.2 or 85/1.7.

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Minolta MC Rokkor HG 35mm 1:2.8 W – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor HG 35mm 1:2.8 W vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC W Rokkor-HG 1:2.8 f=35mm)

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

This is the first lens that has been acquired after I decided to test every prime lens from Hills&Valleys generation. I have got the copy in “near mint”, or even maybe “like new” condition – almost no signs of use. My interest is enough big because one of the best ever among any other in the whole world (my most favorite too) lens is New-MD 35/2.8, and I was very curious about the IQ of the predecessor from MC-era. But something went wrong and my first “like new” copy is showed a strange result – the huge lack of resolution in middles and corners. But right after that sad day, I was lucky to get another copy. The second one has a lot of signs of use, signs of disassembling, and removed aperture clicker-ball, even one of the screws has been lost. But after CLA it displays the really nice sharpness.

I still don’t know what is the reason for the difference in IQ between these two copies – a quality deviation, or damage of the first lens but without signs of an impact. This article is based on test results from the second good copy, but photos of the exterior were made with both.

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