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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Minolta Rokkor Survival Guide

It's an excellent lens, good optics and mechanics. But it's radioactive and getting very yellow over time. OTOH, this kind of radioactivity is not dangerous to your health, unless you grind the glass and eat or inhale it ;-)

The yellowing can be cured by intensive UV light over a few days. But if you want a lens without these problems, the later 28mm 2.0 is optically even better when stopped down a tad.
 
Uli Plank said:
It's an excellent lens, good optics and mechanics. But it's radioactive and getting very yellow over time. OTOH, this kind of radioactivity is not dangerous to your health, unless you grind the glass and eat or inhale it ;-)

The yellowing can be cured by intensive UV light over a few days. But if you want a lens without these problems, the later 28mm 2.0 is optically even better when stopped down a tad.
Click to expand...

I have the 28 F2, it's a fun lens. Uli I've heard rumors it's design was licensed from Zeiss...and it's a cousin of the 28 "Hollywood". They both have floating elements, so who knows...there may be a kernel of something there. Have you heard anything similar? Can't remember if we went over this or not!

best
 
I don't think so. AFAIK, there was no cooperation between Zeiss and Minolta, only with Leica.

Floating elements were introduced by several companies at the time (like the Canon FD 28mm f2 of the same year, for example) to keep the optical performance constant over the whole focusing range, which was until then difficult with retrofocus designs.
Looking at the designs (there are two versions, one with 10 elements and one with 9), I think that the later, smaller version with 9 elements was continued in the Minolta AF lens. It has 9 distinct elements, though, while the "Hollywood" has 9 lenses in 8 groups.
 
Uli Plank said:
I don't think so. AFAIK, there was no cooperation between Zeiss and Minolta, only with Leica.

Floating elements were introduced by several companies at the time (like the Canon FD 28mm f2 of the same year, for example) to keep the optical performance constant over the whole focusing range, which was until then difficult with retrofocus designs.
Looking at the designs (there are two versions, one with 10 elements and one with 9), I think that the later, smaller version with 9 elements was continued in the Minolta AF lens. It has 9 distinct elements, though, while the "Hollywood" has 9 lenses in 8 groups.
Click to expand...

Cool. Yeah, it may just be a rumor. Thanks Uli as always for the info!!


best
 
100mm 2.5 (5/5) MC Rokkor-x or MD-x?

100mm 2.5 (5/5) MC Rokkor-x or MD-x?

Which 100mm 2.5 are you referring to? I am in the market for the 100mm 2.5 MC-X (5/5 version) Is the MD version just as good?
 
Which 100mm 2.5 are you referring to? I am in the market for the 100mm 2.5 MC-X (5/5 version) Is the MD version just as good?
 
The MC version and the MD version are very similar, so what I mention as following are subtle nuances:

The MC has a bit more flare (older coatings) and a slightly rounder aperture when stopped down. The MD can focus a bit closer and flares a bit less. You can't go wrong with either one.

But careful if you see an offer for the f2.0 version (if at all)!
It is mechanically the worst Rokkor of all times, the tube get's damaged by just holding it too tight and in most cases it will not focus smoothly any more.
 
Uli we have a Rokkor 100 f2 - and a funny story behind it too.

My father (in Spain) noticed one on sale at Adorama in NYC, and sent me over to investigate. The aperture had been declicked and was loose (Im guessing hacked at by someone shooting video?), but otherwise it was close to mint. They were selling almost for parts (I was shocked), so I ended up purchasing it for 75% off street value - and then sent it to RP lens to be modded/serviced/converted to EOS.

Beautiful, and rare hunk of glass. Design dates to early 60s and our lens appears to predate MC all together! Gorgeous bokeh wide open. Sharp enough....Mechanically odd yes, but luckily ours got serviced!
 
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I remember you mentioning it, I'm glad you got it serviced and modded and it's working well!
 
This is a great thread and has inspired me to build a Minolta set of lenses for filming with (also to use with anamorphic adapters).

I have a question re. consistency in colour. I've started my set with a 58mm f/1.2 (Older 2nd version with metal grooved focus ring) and i'm now aiming for a 85mm f/1.7. Is it that important to go for the older metal focus ring version to compliment the 58 or can I go for the rubber studded focus ring of the later Rokkors? The metal 85mm is harder to find but I'd keep searching if I knew it would compliment the 58 better than a rubber version. Flares don't bother me, in fact I seek them out (the 58 flares wonderfully).

Thanks
 
Well, the older one flares more, but in general Minolta has achieved better color consistency than most anybody else.
After all, they were (and are) into color measurement too and they had their own glass factory.
 
Uli Plank said:
Well, the older one flares more, but in general Minolta has achieved better color consistency than most anybody else.
After all, they were (and are) into color measurement too and they had their own glass factory.
Click to expand...

Hi Uli, thanks for your answer.

So even the different coatings used between the versions wouldn't affect colour?
 
Only to a minor degree. They really took pride in color consistency.

BUT: Some of the older lenses had elements with traces of a radioactive substance (Thorium) and they became yellow over time. This can be cured to some degree by extended exposure to UV light, but it's a tedious process. This applies to some of those with the metal grooved focus ring. You can see that colorization when holding it against a sheet of white paper.

IMHO, the later, non-radioactive versions flare nicely too.
 
Dusted my set off!

Dusted my set off!

Late to the party here, but you guys inspired me to break out my old Rokkor (and 17mm Tokina RMC) set! Man I loved these lenses, especially the 100mm 2.5! I've been talking to Peter (RPlens), but have been flaking out about pulling the trigger on a full mod. Does anyone have any Rokkor/Red projects that I can see for motivation? Any doubts about whether it is worth it? I mean, even with the remount and cine mod it'd still be around 3 grand, which I suppose is a good deal for a set of 10 cine modded lenses? Right?
 

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Ronald Widerberg said:
Late to the party here, but you guys inspired me to break out my old Rokkor (and 17mm Tokina RMC) set! Man I loved these lenses, especially the 100mm 2.5! I've been talking to Peter (RPlens), but have been flaking out about pulling the trigger on a full mod. Does anyone have any Rokkor/Red projects that I can see for motivation? Any doubts about whether it is worth it? I mean, even with the remount and cine mod it'd still be around 3 grand, which I suppose is a good deal for a set of 10 cine modded lenses? Right?
Click to expand...

Peter modded a full set for us. Totally worth it. Fantastic lenses. I'd totally do it!
 
What is the focus rotation like on these lenses? Looks like the prices have creeped up. Should have bought way back when. :-)
 
Thanks Nick, I think I'll go with it!

I'd say that if we were talking focus rotation and the shortest throw might be Nikon and the longest, maybe leica R, I'd say that the wider lenses lean towards the center and that the longer lenses go into leica R rotation territory. Watch the wider ones though, I have the 20 and 24 MD's and the front element rotates, I got them because they keep my whole set at a uniform 55mm thread, but I believe the 24mm MC and the 21mm MC both do not rotate (and are probably better overall)... Though I could be wrong, anyone else on this?
 
How are the lenses since de-clicking, I have heard that the Rokkor iris rings drift a little when de-clicked..
 
Ronald Widerberg said:
How are the lenses since de-clicking, I have heard that the Rokkor iris rings drift a little when de-clicked..
Click to expand...

I have a set of these. My 35 does drift, it closes all the way at F8. So from F8 to F16 it's stopped all the way down, but some of my other lenses, like my 58 have no issues. Regardless, I think they are still great.
 
Pictures?

Pictures?

<Anyone have pictures of their cine modded Rockers?>) Have to ask!
 
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