Lens Review

Minolta Rokkor 45mm 1:2.8 TD – review

Minolta Rokkor TD 45mm 1:2.8 pancake engraved as “Minolta Rokkor-TD 1:2.8 f=45mm” lens review

  • Official classification: SR
  • Collector’s classification: AR C or AR II – depends on the opinion of collectors, there are no clear agreements (for me it seems that AR II is more correct but it is not very important thing to argue, both codes have chances to be used)

    The only pancake from Minolta. After this attempt, the company never produced lenses in this form factor again. No one voiced the reason officially, but given the rarity of pancakes among the products of other companies, there is nothing surprising in this.

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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

    Chiyoko 110mm 1:5.6 Tele Rokkor – review

    Chiyoko Tele Rokkor 1:5.6 f=11cm C (Minolta) lens review , aka Chiyoko 110mm 1:5.6 Tele Rokkor

    Mount – LTM, Leica Thread Mount, or LSM, Leica Screw Mount, or M39

    This lens hasn’t a practical meaning in modern times, so, this article is something like “Tester’s pride” – to review a lens which is considered as rarest in the very first series of Minolta’s lenses for 35mm film.

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    By Tony, ago

    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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    By Tony, ago

    Minolta MC Rokkor SG 28mm 1:3.5 W – MC-I – 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 I, Flat Grip

    This lens is very similar for already reviewed Minolta MC W Rokkor SG 28mm F/3.5 (“Hills&Valleys”/”Knurled” design or MC II). Texts in both articles are the same up to intro and conclusion, except for a few little changes. Test-materials are unique for each version.

    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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    By Tony, ago

    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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    By Tony, ago

    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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    By Tony, ago