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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

Finally got a 200mm f4.0 for a bottle of wine... so could not resist although I clearly don't need it. Unfortunatly not the latest version which is only 400g but the MD rokkor which is over 500 g.
First tries is that it is lighter (700g for the 2.8) but same length. focusing is lighter image quality looks the same but it does not have the 2.8 opening nor the 8 blades bokey. Given the difference in price (I paid over 250-300€ for the 2.8) f 4 was probably the better choice.
Been making quite a bit of small birds picture (blue tits,...) in the garden with the 200mm 2.8 and 300s (*2) which gives me a 400 mm f 5.6 (eq 600mm FFeq) with a compact combined camera lenses weighing just above 1 kg.
Not sure which is quite more comfortable: the 500mm f8 mirror (lighter shorter focusing ring large diameter) or the 400mm f 5.6 (1 stop better)... or the 400mm f8 (200mm f4)
 
Antoine S said:
Finally got a 200mm f4.0 for a bottle of wine... so could not resist although I clearly don't need it. Unfortunatly not the latest version which is only 400g but the MD rokkor which is over 500 g.
First tries is that it is lighter (700g for the 2.8) but same length. focusing is lighter image quality looks the same but it does not have the 2.8 opening nor the 8 blades bokey. Given the difference in price (I paid over 250-300€ for the 2.8) f 4 was probably the better choice.
Been making quite a bit of small birds picture (blue tits,...) in the garden with the 200mm 2.8 and 300s (*2) which gives me a 400 mm f 5.6 (eq 600mm FFeq) with a compact combined camera lenses weighing just above 1 kg.
Not sure which is quite more comfortable: the 500mm f8 mirror (lighter shorter focusing ring large diameter) or the 400mm f 5.6 (1 stop better)... or the 400mm f8 (200mm f4)
Click to expand...

Don't get the 500mm mirror. You can't convert that to EF, plus the bokeh is weird. Not sure about the 400mm. Check before you commit.
 
Finally started pulling trigger on these. the info in this thread has been amazing. Reslly got me going in right direction. And Nick Morrison has been fielding some emails as well, thanks Nick!

So far I have bought the 28mm F2 W Rokkor X MD and have a 21 F2.8 MC on the way as well.

These will be used on a Red One and BMPCC. For mounting options I have an Optitek Nikon mount and All Star Mount for Red One and I can do either nikon mount or All Star mount on BMPCC. I have not found anyone who can convert the lenses to Nikon mount. I know there was a suggestion to go from MD to M42 which could then go to All Star. The benefit is I could also then use my M42 Takumars. But if there are better options let me know. I want to maintain infinity and not have a glass element in the adapters.

next lenses on the hot list would be 50 F1.4 PG and 85mm f1.7. And of course because lens collecting is addictive I already have a few others I'm watching.

I won't mod them until I test and see if I like the look but my goal is a relatively cheap color matched set for small projects. My Nikons are nice but not color matched. Sounds like Minolta is more consistent across the line. They also seem to have more character. Some of my Nikons have character but perhaps these will be better overall.
 
Hi Steve,
nice to see you over here too after encountering you so often in other threads!

Regarding adapters for Minolta SR to M42: that's impossible, since the flange distance would be too long.
What I got are adapters to Leica-M and then the Leica mount from RED. You know, the distance of SR is relatively short. That's why those lenses are still cheap, since you can't get most of them on Canon EF (only some by exchanging the mount). But now that Sony A7x ae becoming popular, I expect prices to rise.
Adapters to MFT are readily available, both directly from SR or from Leica-M.

Regarding the 85mm f1.7 I'd think twice: it's quite dreamy WO, all portraits will look like fashion photos from the sixties!
Stopped down it get's sharp, but then it's quite a chunk of metal and glass. I'd consider the 85mm f2, which is far smaller, not much bigger or heavier than a 50mm, and really sharp.
I second the 50mm f1.4 PG, just used it a lot again recently. Man, that lens is sharp! I used it for reproductions on an A7R when a scanner was too slow for the number of originals and stopped down just a little bit those looked like coming from a scanner…

And if I write "sharp", I'm referring to resolution, not biting sharpness like some contemporary glass.
 
You know, seeing this makes me wonder if one could possibly use an MC/MD to EOS adapter (no glass version) with the Red Epic canon mount and then perform a backfocus adjustment to achieve hyperfocal? I mean it might be a pain later if you decide to switch over to some EF zooms later, but that may be unlikely if you are shooting with the rokkor primes, as using an adapter on a native mount may warrant a back focus check anyways. Thoughts?

On another note, I'm still looking to replace my 24mm Rokkor with something that does not have the rotating filter threads, anyone have experience with the later Minolta MD 24mm (non-rokkor)? It looks to be bit closer to leica's barrel design, but with more plastic. If not that, how about the Tokina 24mm RMC, I have the 17mm RMC and really like it over the 17mm Minolta, plays well with the others too.
 

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Uli Plank said:
Hi Steve,
nice to see you over here too after encountering you so often in the C/Y thread!
Regarding adapters for Minolta SR to M42: that's impossible, since the flange distance would be too long.
What I got are adapters to Leica-M and then the Leica mount from RED. You know, the distance of SR is relatively short. That's why those lenses are still cheap, since you can't get most of them on Canon EF (only some by exchanging the mount). But now that Sony A7x ae becoming popular, I expect prices to rise.
Adapters to MFT are readily available, both directly from SR or from Leica-M.

Regarding the 85mm f1.7 I'd think twice: it's quite dreamy WO, all portraits will look like fashion photos from the sixties!
Stopped down it get's sharp, but then it's quite a chunk of metal and glass. I'd consider the 85mm f2, which is far smaller, not much bigger or heavier than a 50mm, and really sharp.
I second the 50mm f1.4 PG, just used it a lot again recently. Man, that lens is sharp! I used it for reproductions on an A7R when a scanner was too slow for the number of originals and stopped down just a little bit those looked like coming from a scanner…

And if I write "sharp", I'm referring to resolution, not biting sharpness like some contemporary glass.
Click to expand...
Hmm...So there's no way to mount on a Red One? unfortunately won't be worth it only to do for Pocket camera.
 
@ Steve: As I said: a two-step mount.

@ Ronald: I tried that, but the range of adjustment is not enough. But there are a few Minoltas which you can change to EOS with correct flange distance, like the 58mm f1.2. Have a look at: http://digitalrokkor.altervista.org

If you are looking for a 24mm with a non-rotating front, try to find the 24mm VFC. The later MD with a 49mm filter thread is not as great as the earlier ones with 55mm.

While I own (and like) the Tokina 17mm too, the 24mm is no match for the Minolta. The older 24mm was made by Minolta for Leica too!
 
Uli Plank said:
@ Steve: As I said: a two-step mount
Click to expand...
which would be easy on Red DSMC. I guess I'm wondering if this is at all practical on the Red One. I originally thought I'd be able to use adapters to get to the All Star mount but that seems like it won't work and even if there was a dedicated Leica M mount for the Red One, I'm not sure how practical that would be for me.
 
Yes, sorry, I overlooked that you are on the R1.

Which adapters exist for the AllStar mount?
 
Uli Plank said:
Yes, sorry, I overlooked that you are on the R1.

Which adapters exist for the AllStar mount?
Click to expand...
No worries Uli. Here are the available adapters.
Canon EF
Nikon F
Nikon G
C/Y
Leica R
M42
PL
BNCR
OCT 19
 
None of these has a shorter flange distance than SR and you'd need space for the adapter too.

You might be better off looking for Contax C/Y glass then, as nice as those Minolta SR lenses are. BTW, I tested their 35-70mm (co-branded with Leica in it's time) against the acclaimed Contax 35-70 and they were really close.

If you've got any questions about these, I suppose you know the thread by Nick Morrison. Or go for Pentax SMC lenses, there are some really good ones.
 
Steve Sherrick said:
No worries Uli. Here are the available adapters.
Canon EF
Nikon F
Nikon G
C/Y
Leica R
M42
PL
BNCR
OCT 19
Click to expand...

Steven another option could be to send the lenses to RP lens, and have him convert them to NIKON mount.

That would match them to your other NIKON glass, and also make them All-Star compatible.
 
Uli - what are your thoughts on the Rokkor 24 VFC? I keep thinking about that lens. Have you ever used one? How practical is it for cinematography?
 
Uli Plank said:
None of these has a shorter flange distance than SR and you'd need space for the adapter too.

You might be better off looking for Contax C/Y glass then, as nice as those Minolta SR lenses are. BTW, I tested their 35-70mm (co-branded with Leica in it's time) against the acclaimed Contax 35-70 and they were really close.

If you've got any questions about these, I suppose you know the thread by Nick Morrison. Or go for Pentax SMC lenses, there are some really good ones.
Click to expand...
Thanks Uli. Yes, I've now moved my attention to Zeiss. C/Y lenses have shot up in price thanks to that great thread by Nick and all of the cameras sprouting up that can be adapted to take them. So I also have been looking at ZF and Milvus. Here's what I already have for lenses by the way, just in case you are wondering what I'd be comparing to.

Nikon

24mm F2 Ai-s
35mm F2 Ai-s
50mm F1.4 Ai-s
50mm F1.2 Ai-s
85mm F2 Ai-s
105mm F2.5 Ai-s
200mm F4 Ai-s
35-70 F3.5 Ai-s

Pentax

28mm SMC F3.5
50mm SMC F1.4
50mm SMC F4 Macro
135mm SMC F3.5
300mm SMC F6.3

Rokinon

85mm F1.5 Cine

Sigma

Sigma 18-35 F1.8 (Nikon mount)
Sigma 50-150 F2.8

Tokina

Tokina 11-16 F2.8 (V1)
Tokina 16-50 F2.8
 
@Steve: With all that nice Nikon glass I doubt that you'll gain much from Minolta SR, apart from a few jewels or specialties, which are not cheap any more.

@Nick: Yes, I have the 24mm VFC.
Apart from it being the best 24mm in the SR line, the VFC feature is not very efficient for a S-35 sensor without a SpeedBooster. The effect is too weak.

But it shines for landscape on my Sony A7R.
 
Thanks Uli,

Thanks for the info guys...

Yeah, I thought that would be the issue with the back focus, good to hear it from someone else.. I've been looking at that 24mm VFC, but at the price as of late (700-$800), I'd rather focus on getting my rokkor set EOS mounted ASAP. The set was inherited, so I'm thinking spending a couple grand to cine mod and remount them to EOS should be better than trying to buy and build a new set. I'll let you guys know how it goes. By the way, does anyone have any Red footage with the Rokkors? Kind of dying to see some RED + 100mm 2.5 MC shots!
 
OMG, that much for the VFC? I need to up my insurance.
 
Uli,
Are there some speedboosters from Minolta SR lenses to Sony A6000? Allowing more or less to keep the focal length.
I mean high quality speedbooster focal reducer especially for wide angles (I can see many sub 100£ ones on ebay but they mention blue spot if facing light)
 
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There are original ones from Metabones both for MFT and E-Mount. The second generation by Zhongyi has been said to be better regarding the blue spot.
I can't speak from experience, but I don't doubt the Metabones, since I have one for Contax C/Y.
 
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