Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.2 two copies comparison – LensRomantic

Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.2 two copies comparison (New-MD, MD III)

The description of a LensRomantic test is here. These comparisons are for collectors or tech-enthusiasts. Photographers may go directly to a lens review.

MD 50/1.2 – the latest superfast lens by Minolta. The queen. Here is the comparison even of three different copies – it has been started with two copies, but the results were abnormal, so, the third copy has been added lately.

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Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.7 two copies comparison – LensRomantic

Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.7 two copies comparison (New-MD, MD III or Plain MD design)

The description of a LensRomantic test is here. These comparisons are for collectors or tech-enthusiasts. Photographers may go directly to a lens review.

Minolta New-MD 50mm F1.7 is from the top of popularity among other fifties – great IQ for a minimal price.

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Minolta MC Rokkor PF 100mm 1:2.5 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor PF 100mm 1:2.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-PF 1:2.5 f=100mm)

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

Here is another one telephoto lens by Minolta. Very suitable for portraits because it is ‘100mm fast’ – the focal distance is not short, but the lens is still convenient in operation. Also, it is ready for landscapes from F5.6 and totally sharp over the frame if closed to F8 – this ability makes this lens enough universal. It may be interesting for photographers who are looking for a mix of good IQ and classic rendering.

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Minolta MC Rokkor PF 135mm 1:2.8 vs. MC Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 vs MD 135mm 1:2.8 – comparison

Minolta SR 135mm lenses comparison:

  • Minolta MC Tele Rokkor PF 135mm 1:2.8 (MC II)
  • Minolta MC Tele Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 (MC II)
  • Minolta MD 135mm 1:2.8 (MD III)

135mm is the very popular focal distance for many styles of photography: portraiture, landscapes, street-photo, etc. – it’s great for scenes which are required a compressed perspective for a more tight feeling of the picture. This comparison should show the difference between very budget manual 135mm lenses. Actually, Minolta produced the only one expensive 135mm – the famous MD 135mm 1:2.0, and all another 15 models for SR-mount looks cheap enough, so, three are here.

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Minolta MC Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 – MC II – review

Minolta MC Rokkor QD 135mm 1:3.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-QD 1:3.5 f=135mm)

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

Small but very proud lens. Like many other lenses of that era, it is already very good in terms of performance, but in the next versions, it has been improved even more. The regular representative of ‘Hills&Valleys’ hull design.

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Minolta MC I Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 vs MD 300mm 1:4.5 – comparison

Minolta SR 300mm lenses comparison:

  • Minolta MC Tele Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 (MC I)
  • Minolta MD 300mm 1:4.5 (New-MD, MD III)

This focal distance is enough long to use “on sensor stabilization” during real photography, but for testing, OSS-systems are inappropriate because may affect the results. So, for this comparison, a combination of two tripods was used. It was looked a bit funny but I’m sure that the camera and lens were fixed enough.
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Minolta MC Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 Tele – MC I – review

Minolta MC Rokkor HF 300mm 1:4.5 vintage manual lens review (Minolta MC Tele Rokkor-HF 1:4.5 f=300mm )

  • Official classification: MC
  • Collector’s classification: MC I

It’s difficult for me to make an objective conclusion about this lens – I don’t use such focal distances in real photo-sessions. This lens is for something like birds or foxes or maybe for Moon. Anyway – I can test it in the standard way.

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Canon FDn 50mm 1:1.2 vs Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.2 – comparison

Canon FDn 50mm 1:1.2 vs Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.2 – comparison

  • Canon FDn 50mm 1:1.2 (New-FD)
  • Minolta MD 50mm 1:1.2 (MD III)

This comparison is very important for the honor of both manufacturing companies. Mostly for Canon, because they are alive. What about Minolta – they are dead and have nothing to lose, you know.

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