Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 – review

Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 – vintage manual lens test and review
- Official classification: New-MD
- Collector’s classification: MD III
‘The best hundred’ – are appropriated words if linked with this 100/2.5. It gives predictable and guaranteed results without unexpected surprises. It was underrated for about 35 years but now it seems people start to understand what gem it is.
Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 (MD III, New-MD) specifications
minolta.eazypix.de index | 152 |
Name engraved on the lens | MD |
f[mm] | 100 |
A max [1/f] | 2,5 |
A min[1/f] | 22 |
Lens design [el.] | 5 |
Lens design [gr.] | 5 |
Filter thread Ø front(rear)[mm] | 49 |
Lens Shade | built-in |
closefocus[m/ft] | 1/3.5 |
Dimension Ø x length [mm] | 64×65.5 |
Weight[g] | 310 |
Year | 1981 |
Style | MD III |
Code No. (ROKKOR-X) or Order No. | 598-100 |
More data
Floating elements | NO (full support by autofocused adapters) |
Aperture blades number | 6 |
Confidence in the test results of reviewed copies | Very High |
Reviewed lens SN: | 1101416 |
- Minolta MD 100mm f2.5 optical design
- Minolta MD 100mm F2.5 optical design
Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 exterior
Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 mounted on Minolta X-700
This is a very suitable set – the camera and lens have the same design (1981 released)
Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 sharpness
Сlose-distance resolution test, minimal distance
Testing methods description
- Target: 10-15 cm picture, printed on glossy photo paper
- Distance:10% longer than minimal focus distance marked on the lens
- Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF.
- The test was repeated for every F-stop on every focus position with manual focus adjustment for each shot. That is to avoid the effect of field curvature.
- RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px
Scene preview
Test results (selected version, easy to compare – 4 positions)
Test results (full version – all 9 positions)
Long-distance resolution test
Testing methods description
- Target: cityscape
- Distance: > 200 meters to center focus point
- Camera: Sony A7II (24mpx, full-frame, tripod, remote control). M-mode, ISO fixed, WB fixed, SteadyShot – OFF. The focus point is on the center only.
- RAW processing: Capture One, default settings. All quality settings – 100%. Crops – 300×200 px
Scene preview
Test results
Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 aberrations
Vignetting
Geometric distortion
Coma aberrations
Chromatic aberrations
Short-distance bokeh
Test conditions: lens was focused on minimal distance 1m, plants are in 3m distance from the camera
Long-distance bokeh
Test conditions: the lens was focused on half distance on the scale (1.7m), buildings are on “infinity”-distance
Light bubbles bokeh
Test conditions: lens was focused on minimal distance + 10% of scale (about 1.1m), diodes were fixed in 3m distance
Demo Photos dedicated article
Minolta MD 100mm 1:2.5 (or Minolta MD 100mm F/2.5, New-MD, MD III design) – overall conclusion
Do you need to make a beautiful photo? Just use a camera with this lens. On any aperture. This lens is absolutely sharp even wide-opened. It has nice fire resistance and build-in hood for hard light conditions. Bokeh is just stunning. And all of it with really little aberrations, that is even strange for such beautiful bokeh. Small-sized and lightweight for this focal distance. Previous years I thought that this is one of the most underrated Minolta lenses ever, but for today – prices are enough high, anyway they seem acceptable for a lens with such IQ and abilities.
1 Comment
pedro · 2022-11-05 at 18:03
nice lens! the design and the bokeh reminds me of the nikkor 105 f2.5 (Sonar version)