Lens Test

Chiyoko 135mm 1:4.0 Tele Rokkor – review

Chiyoko Tele Rokkor 1:4 f=13.5cm (c) lens review, aka Chiyoko 135mm f:4.0

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

This lens is from the list of four very first lenses released by Minolta for 35mm standard film. Just 4 years after the end of WWII. We can say that this lens is a museum exhibit, but nevertheless, nothing prevents photographers from using it. I even think that if these lenses were alive, then they would really like to participate in photographing despite their age.

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By Tony, ago

Helios 44M-7 58mm 1:2.0 – review

The popularity of Russian lenses has grown considerably over the past few years. And Helios 44M-7 58mm 1:2.0 is from the top of that list. Perhaps this is the result of globalization, perhaps – Photographers protest against the principles of modern lenses – sometimes too featureless.

One day I spotted in the sale Гелиос 44М-7 at an attractive price. Directly with the camera Zenit-122 instead of the back cover. So…

Lens review: Helios 44-7 58mm 1:2.0 MC Zenit

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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 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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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

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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By Tony, ago

Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Zoom Macro Lightweight – review

Minolta MD 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 Lightweight-version Zoom Macro lens review

  • Official classification: New-MD
  • Collector’s classification: MD IIIa

This lens is from the latest generation of manual lenses with the Minolta logo. However, it is not ‘truly’ Minolta because it was developed and produced by some third party company. There were two (at least?) different MD 28-70/3.5-4.8 lenses, the first one “the heavy” has been reviewed here,  and now the article about the “lightweight” version is finished too.

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By Tony, ago