Minolta MC-X

Minolta MC Rokkor PG 58mm 1:1.2 – MC-X – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PG 58mm 1:1.2 (MC-X) engraved as “Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 1:1.2 f=58mm” lens review

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC-X

A very important introduction: by popular collector’s classification this lens has three main versions (MC I, MC II and MC-X), this review is for the latest version with a rubberized focus ring. The site already has a review of the second version (non-radioactive copy), and from the point of view of mechanics and optics, the difference between these two lenses is either absent or extremely insignificant. Therefore, I will use a lot of copy-paste from an earlier article.
However, all tests are original and made on the specific lens for which this review is written.
(A review of the earliest version will definitely be made in the future in order to completely close the topic of this lens model) (more…)

By Tony, ago

Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.4 vs Minolta MC Rokkor PF 50mm 1:1.7 – comparison

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 50mm 1:1.7 vs Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.4 – comparison

This battle cannot be called fair – the difference in construction between 1.4 and 1.7 usually always makes itself felt. But it so happened that I still have materials that are suitable for such a comparison, and it was decided to use them. Just out of curiosity.
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By Tony, ago

Minolta MC Rokkor 24mm 1:2.8 VFC – MC-X – review

Minolta MC VFC Rokkor-X 24mm 1:2.8 (Minolta MC Rokkor 24mm 1:2.8 VFC) – vintage manual lens test and review

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC-X

This is the first lens with unique Ninolta’s know-how – Variable Field Curvature (VFC). The lens is enough rare, probably because just a few photographers need it, but it is very interesting from the collector’s point of view.

This review doesn’t contain tests of Variable Field Curvature -‘VFC’ feature of this lens. Here you can get information about how this lens works in normal mode.

The lens for the test was provided by Egor Nikolaev (Егор Николаев) – many thanks and greetings.

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By Tony, ago

Minolta SR 50mm 1:1.4 lenses comparison – MC-X, MD I, MD-II, MD-III

Minolta SR 50mm 1:1.4 lenses comparison:

  • Minolta MC Rokkor PG 50mm 1:1.4 (MC-X)
  • Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm 1:1.4 (MD I)
  • Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm 1:1.4 (MD II)
  • Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.4 (MD III or New-MD)

This is the comparison of Minolta-SR 50mm lenses – from Rokkor MC up to New MD – all are the best classic 50mm lenses ever, and this selection of the winner is just an option – photographers can use any of these lenses without doubts and without reading of this article, but it was curious to find out how the Minolta’s optics changes from generation to generation.

The comparison is big enough and maybe boring, so, if you prefer to sort out in details – you need the patience to look over all diagrams with samples, if you just interested who is a winner – go to the end of the article, but such way is not to recommend, because it would be better if someone controls the author’s conclusion.

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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