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

(more…)

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.

(more…)

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.

(more…)

Minolta MD 35-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 Zoom Macro – 14 elements 12 groups – review

Minolta MD 35-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 Zoom 14el 12gr Macro lens review

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

Almost 3-x zoom with convenient focal distances from enough wide to enough telephoto. The candidate to be the only one lens in a photographer’s bag but… Tests below show that the lens has not enough power to become a favorite. In other words – it’s a really good lens, but not ideal. Such a case often happens with middle-range zooms, even more – this Minolta is not bad by IQ among other lenses with the same diapason.

(more…)