I got one in a bag of Minolta lenses someone gave me for free. I don't use it much, but when I do, I am always surprised by how much I like the photos.
I just found this exact lens at a junk store for $7.98 in beautiful condition. It's the fastest 35mm I have right now and I use it on my Fuji XT-3. I'm so happy I got this and that you like it so much, got very lucky today ! LarryMac
I have the MD iii or new MD version of this lens, think it's the same optically. Very sharp as I recall, yes a little barrel distortion but not much. Thanks for reminding me to use it again!
Great video. As always. ☺️ Some of those mountain shots are truly awesome! When it comes to bokeh out of Minolta's wide angle lenses I have recently got a decent bokeh out of my rokkor 28mm f2.8 ☺️
Thank you so much!! Glad you enjoyed the mountain shots! I love being out in nature and I always bring some vintage lenses with me 😁 Great to know that you are happy with the bokeh from your 28mm f2.8 Rokkor. There so many wonderful Minolta lenses out there!
It's a nice lens, mine costed 8$ at a thrift shop, a fraction of the price of my Canon FD 35mm f2, and my Nikkor 35mm f2. I find Minolta lenses often to be much cheaper than the other of the big five, for no particular reason.
Wow you got such an amazing deal for this lens! It’s true that certain Minolta lenses are much cheaper when compared to other big name manufacturers. Hopefully the prices will stay low, because I’m a huge Minolta fan!
Have the MC version and you're right, it's an unbelievably awesome lens. Pair it with the 75-150 f4 and you've got a stunning light + sharp travel setup
I have the big brother, 45mm f 2.8, and it is just like this lens. I like the 45mm for street work, but I can see the value of the 35mm for landscape. Thanks for sharing
I recently purchased the later MD III version of this lens. It wasn't that easy to find or that cheap, but the one I got included its original box and hood. I really think this is optically a better lens than other 35mm lenses that have a cult following.
Thanks to you I bought for my XT4 this lens in a mint condition on ebay :) I will be going this weekend at the "foire de Bièvres" close to Paris, hoping to find some other vintage lenses. Cheers
It's a great lens, my favorite 35mm. I have the MD II and MC version that is also the same optically. On a Sony a7 the only issue is a small amount of field curvature that makes the edges a bit less sharp than the center.
There's MC W-Rokkor that is also the same lens as this one (with same a bit cheaper build than the older Minolta MC lenses). Otherwise this lens performs much better than the "true" MC 35mm (most noticeably outside of the center of the frame), but I like the MC rendering as well (it's definitely got more interesting bokeh). Minolta's made so many great lenses and in opinion they, on average, outperform Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus lenses from the era; but are still more affordable. I hope they remain more affordable, I still need a few.
I completely agree that Minolta made so many amazing lenses, and many of them are still under the radar and can be found quite cheaply. And just like you I also hope that their prices remain low. That way a lot more people can afford them and try out these wonderful vintage lenses!!
Just so ya know - After watching your review of the SMC Pentax 15mm f/3.5 (the earlier SMC Takumar), 4 times, I obtained a copy from a gentleman in Singapore.....absolutely perfect with a K-mount to Leica L on my Sigma FP - the lens is everything you said, thanks
I really like the video. Firstly, the sample photos that you showed, as well as how you prepared the material. One of the best lenses I've tried. I really like Minolta because these lenses form a very nice picture. This goes for color and type of bokeh. I have this 35 as well as 70-210, 35-70 and 50 1.7 PG. Really want to try MD 24 mm., though. This lens is said to be incredibly sharp and has excellent color reproduction. But ... to be honest, I've been looking for the most versatile all-in-one lens from Minolta for a long time, so that it covers wide angle + tele. And I still could not choose which lens to buy. Because it is not always possible to constantly change lenses. Especially when you shoot some dynamic scenes or where you need to react quickly so as not to miss the moment. They say that the AF 28-105 is a great lens, but at the same time the 28-135 is even more legendary, but its problem is that it is too big. And I still miss 24 mm, as it is even wider. 24-105 turned out to be worse in terms of optical quality. And most of the AF lenses are "dark", unfortunately, since the apperture is 3.5 or 4. And I like to shoot in the city at evenings. Therefore, I don’t even know what to choose :(
Thank you so much! It's really nice to hear that you enjoyed the video. I agree - Minolta lenses produce great images, and the 35mm f2.8 is amazing! I also have the 24mm f2.8 and it's indeed a stellar performer! I understand that finding a zoom that starts at 24mm and goes to telephoto territory can be difficult. The longer the distance between focal lengths, the more problems arise with the optics. Which is why zooms with shorter focal length range perform better. I hope that you'll be able to find something that you'll be happy with. Cheers!
As usual great video! I really like this focal length. I only have one 35mm currently, the Carl zeiss jena flektogon 35mm f2.4. The Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35mm f2.8 looks really excellent.
Nice review! :) Your sample images are great btw., really enjoyed the river shots. I dig the 2nd generation MD Rokkors myself too, even though I don't have a Minolta body. *gg* I have a 28mm f/2.8, this 35mm f/2.8, 45mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.7, ..which are all lovely, I find, and the color rendition has a slightly warm vintage touch. They are supposed to have hard stop infinity focus (which I'm a big fan of), but non of my copies does :( ..so I regularly mess up infinity shots (same with the ED Nikkors). These are my go-to lenses for B&W, so natural and rich in contrast, really love the halos wide open, especially at the short miminum focus distances. They are also great for infrared photography, little to no IR hotspot! which is rare, and ironically, the hard stop infinity works just fine on the IR spectrum. Another thing they do exceptionally well (even better than vintage Nikkors), and I have no reasonable explanation for this, is rendering skies/clouds. Never been able to capture clouds so plastic and three-dimensional and colorful like with these lenses. But maybe I'm just imagining this, who knows. Anyway..
Thank you so much!! It's great to hear that you also appreciate the amazing Rokkor lenses! Their colors are definitely special and unique. I fell in love with them as soon as I tried the Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f2! I couldn't believe the saturation and contrast! And ever since then every Rokkor lens I've tried has been fantastic! Looking forward to reviewing many more Minoltas in the future. Take care and happy shooting!
@@VintageOptiks Thanx, will do :) Back then, when I got myself into this, I did quite a bit of research and found that not all of the Minolta glass is that great! Some interations/generations/models are just.. soso, or not to recommend. The quality is not as consistent as with the AI and AI-S Nikkors, so make sure to do some research, luckily there is a lot of information out there, ... I'm sure you know the drill :) Cheers
@@artoffighting06 Sure. There isn't a single company that only made great lenses :) And I don't expect Minolta to have only gems, but so far I've been very impressed with the lenses I've tried. And that's part of the fun of testing vintage lenses - you never know what you gonna get. :) Cheers
@@VintageOptiks Mhm, I totally agree. Whether it depends on the model or even on a particular copy of a model, some quirks can give an image character and unique style. My ROKKORs all have some amount of halation wide open, most so the fast 50mm, and I like it. It's kind of 'best of both' cause stopped they get super sharp yet they have this creative almost abstract thing going when open :) I also usually don't correct the slight warm green-ish color cast (of mine), gives me a sweet nostalgic vintage feel :) I was suprised to see that your copy of the 35mm is so pristine and clear wide open :O I also have MD ROKKOR 28mm f/3.5 with a defect. Not sure if the seller didn't know or if I got scammed, but it produces a weird tunnel effect, like one gets sucked into a glitch in the space-time-continuum or something, haha. And I have taken interesting images with it nonetheless, which raises the question, what does it take to produce a compelling, pleasant to look at, "good" photograph? I like to ponder over those things.., sorry for rambling! I'm actually thinking about obtaining/trying a lens that some consider 'the worst Nikkor ever made', haha; cause I really wonder what that looks like? Anyway, have a good one..
@@artoffighting06 I absolutely agree! Vintage lenses have a unique character of their own, which comes from the fact that they are not perfect, and that is why they are so special!! One of the main reasons why I fell in love with vintage lenses was because all the modern lenses out there make things way too sterile and perfect, and that looks really boring, at least to me. I still love looking at photos from magazines printed in the 60's and 70's because they seem so magical and different. It's really cool that you got a lens that makes space time continuum effect!! haha That's amazing! I would love to see images from it! Are you on Instagram? You should definitely try the "worst Nikkor ever made"! I love trying all types of odd lenses, because you never know what kind of fun things you might discover! Really great chatting with you! Take care.
opticaly its good，but the problem with this copy is the interior coating evaporate overtime，would cause much more flare，both me and my friend all met this problem with 3 different copies，my main 35mm now is canon fd 35 2
Hi, the images are not straight out of the camera. I do some very light post processing, mainly to adjust the exposure. I will often slightly underexpose my images in order to preserve the highlights. And then in post I will bring up the shadows. Just simple adjustments like that. But I never mess with the colors, contrast etc, because I try to show what the lens can do as much as possible.
Finally. I wonder what will arrive first...the lens or the adapter. I looked for Minolta to Fuji X Helicoid and NONE were available on ebay, and camera depots want around a hundred bucks for them. No way. I'll try an extension tube.
Yeah I've heard form others that the Minolta to Fuji-X helicoid adapters are really hard to find. And there is only one expensive option by Kipon that I've seen. Hopefully some company out there will make more affordable ones.
I like both lenses, and they each can produce great images. The main advantages that the Flek has over the Minolta is that it can focus closer and it’s a bit faster. But if those two things are not that important to you, the Minolta is a killer lens!
Nice video! For a nifty fifty with an aps-c a lens like this would be ideal or should i look for something else, i cant tell when a lens is made for a full frame or a cropped lens!
Thank you! Yeah this lens will be great on APSC! Especially if you don’t need shallow depth of field. All of these vintage SLR lenses were made to cover the dimensions of a full frame (24mm x 36mm). The APSC sensor simply crops the edges of what the lens can see.
Cool as always. Very good little lens, it's very similar to the Canon FD of the same type (have both) also for some weird reason isn't regarded at all, actually a good thing since tge price is still reasonable.
Thank you!! Yeah it’s weird how some lenses are so well regarded and others not so much, even though they are just as good if not even better. But as you mentioned is probably for the best since the prices stay low and more people can afford them. I recently picked up the 35mm FD lens. Looking forward to testing in the future. Cheers!
you should try out the minolta md 28mm 3.5. It performs much better than the 2.8 versions and a fraction of the 2.0 version's price. very underrated lens
The 28mm f2.8 is definitely sharper at 3.5. At least from the 2 lenses I have. But the best 28mm lens from Minolta in my opinion is the 28mm f2! Absolutely incredible. Easily one of my favorite lenses.
Do you have much experience with the earlier Minolta 35mm f/1.8 lens? A friend has the MC W. Rokkor - HH. It has an amzing open aperature of f/1.8. Also a 55mm filter ring size. I imagine it may be a nice one, but I've not tried it. Just wondering how the various editions may compare.
Hello. I do not have experience with the older version of the Minolta 35mm f1.8. I only have the later New MD 35mm f1.8, which is smaller and lighter and has different optical design. Cheers!
Thanks for another interesting video! How does it compare to your czj 35mm f2.4 Flektogon? Also, is the optical formula the same as the older all metal versions? This is the version I have and I took it with me to SC for Thanksgiving Holiday. Thanks again!
You are welcome! The Minolta and the Flektogon are both great, but the Flektogon is so much more expensive. All you need is this Minolta and a helicoid adapter, and you got yourself an amazing lens with super short minimum focusing distance. Killer combo! The older Minolta MC Rokkor HG 35mm f2.8 has a different optical design. It is 7 elements in 6 groups. Take care.
@@VintageOptiks Thank you for your reply. I have a chance to buy the latest MC version with the same design as your MD version. I hope it will be as good as yours🙏
I am considering the choice between a Pentax-A and a Minolta lens with a focal length of 50mm and an aperture of F1.7. In your opinion, which lens has the sharpest images and bokeh results with an almost perfect round shape? My gear is Lumix G85 with mounting MFT (M4/3). Please advise. Thank You.
Hi, If you are looking for a 50mm f1.7 lens, both the Pentax-A and the Minolta will serve you well. There isn't really much of a difference between the two, so get the one that's cheaper and easier to find. Cheers!
Nice video! A small correction: the mount is not called MD-mount, though many make that mistake. The mount is called SR-mount and came in 1958 on Minoltas first SLR system camera, the SR-2 (SR-1 came later!). All Minoltas manual focus lenses therefor also have SR-mount bayonet. Lens lines over the years have been "Auto", "MC" (Meter Coupling) and MD (unknown what it really stands for, there are many theories). So MD is a lens line and not the mount.
Hi and thank you! You are definitely correct in your observation about the name of the mount. I wanted to make it easier for people who are looking for the adapters, because a lot of the adapters have MD on them (and not SR). I thought it will be confusing for people who are trying to adapt Minolta lenses. Also many people on eBay also call the mount MD and it makes it easier for people to find certain lenses. I don’t think this type of confusion exists with any other mount when it comes to classic lenses. Not sure how this happened with Minolta lenses. Cheers and thank you for your message.
@@VintageOptiks I've also seen adapters marked MD but it doesn't make it more right, but I can see why you did the choice you did as many misuse the MD phrasing. Maybe write "SR-mount (aka MD)" or something like that to try to come somewhere in the middle. I don't know either how it happened. What differs the Auto, MC and MD lens lines are that Auto has a stop down lever from the body for the set aperture, MC got the meter coupling for wide open focusing and metering and MD got the possibility to control the aperture from the body for the P and S modes. None of these functions are supported by the adapters I ever have seen so it is just wrongful marketing to put MD on them.
Got one in the mail today. A tank. Missing a lens cap, and I'm never sure about whether caps are larger sizes than filters when looking for one on ebay. A hood is on the way...
Hi! Do you know, if the MC-lenses are the same optical formula? I have a single-coated and a multi-coated MC 2,8/35mm which I like very much and I want to know, if the newer design could be even better than the later MC-version. The single-coated comes nowhere close the performance of the later MC Rokkor.... Thx, Stephan
Hi! The Minolta 35mm f2.8 was made in 2 different optical designs - early version (with 7 elements in 6 groups) and late version (with 5 elements in 5 groups). The easiest way to recognize the early design from the late design are the letters HG after Rokkor. For example, if your lens has MC W.Rokkor-HG on the name plate then you have an early design lens, and if it's just MC W.Rokkor or MD W. Rokkor (with X or no X it doesn't matter) then you have the late 5 in 5 design. Hope this helps. Cheers!
I love the Flektogon, but I also love this Minolta for it’s beautiful colors and amazing resolution! They are both great lenses, and it simply comes down to personal taste and the kind of work you plan to use them for.
Have you tried the Minolta 35mm f/1.8? Those are expensive and I have been curious if they live up to the cost. I have a soft spot for Minolta as I learned on my mother’s Minolta cameras.
It’s funny, because I bought the 35mm f1.8 just 4 days ago, and I’m waiting for it to arrive from Japan. Can’t wait to try it out!!! Yes, that lens is usually expensive and has the reputation for being one of the best 35mm lenses out there. Super psyched to see what it can do! Just like you, I also have a soft spot for Minolta. Which Minolta camera were you using when you were learning photography and what lenses did you have? Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks SRT102 and an XG5, both my mother’s. Later she got me an X700 of my own - still have all 3, and still in working order. She used the Rokkor 50mm f/2, and their Celtic 28mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/3.5, along with an Rokkor 50mm macro kit. My camera came with the Rokkor 50 f/1.7, and I have since added the MC 58 f/1.4 (which I love), and the later 50 f/1.4. I have 2 copies of the latter, and while one is great the other is just terribly soft. Recently got the earlier Rokkor HG 35mm f/2.8, which is wonderful, but does flare. Latest add is the 45 f/2, but I haven’t used it much yet ( but its reputation is excellent).
Fantastic! It’s amazing that your 3 Minoltas are still in working order!! And you have a really great selection of Rokkors! The 50mm f2 is probably the most underrated normal lens! Not sure if you saw the review I did on it, but that lens is amazing! I’m also a huge fan of the Rokkor-X 50mm f1.4 and the MD 50mm f3.5 macro (both of which I’ve reviewed here on the channel). I recently picked up the MC 58mm f1.4 but it has some fungus and I need to open it up and clean it. I know a lot of people that love that lens. I still don’t have any of their Celtic lenses. They were made as a budget lens line, and I’m curious how they’ll perform. What do you think of the ones you have?
@@VintageOptiks The optics on the Celtics are the same as on the Rokkors, but they have generally inferior coatings and are more prone to flaring and minor aberrations as a result. The lens bodies aren't as well finished either. But considering they otherwise have the same glass, they're pretty close in performance (or so I've been told). I think this is why the Celtic line was short-lived - Minolta was undercutting itself. Not yet checked your other Minolta reviews, I will do so shortly though. I spotted a very clean 58mm f/1.2 over the weekend in a used camera store (discounted as the filter threads were badly bent), and was sorely tempted, but it was out of my budget at the time - that's one high on my bucket list. I've already got the Canon FL 55 f/1.2, and I'd like to compare the two.
Sounds good. I gotta try some of the Celtics at some point. I read somewhere that they were only made for the US market and can’t be found in other countries. Not sure if that’s true or not. The 58mm f1.2 is a lens that I’ve been tempted to buy a few times but still haven’t done it. But eventually I’ll get one! :) Same with the 85mm f1.7
That's great you have the Minolta X700! I've reviewed 6 Minolta lenses on my channel and I can highly recommend all of them. When it comes to choosing lenses, the most important question you need to ask yourself is - what do you want to shoot? Landscapes, portraits, still lives, sports, macro, etc. etc? Once you know what interests you, then you can focus on the different lenses that makes sense with your subject matter. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks thank you! I love portraits and the 50 mm is great to do that. I also want to shoot landscapes and street photography. What do you recommend? I’ll check your videos as well. 😊
@@diegogonzalez8659 You are welcome! For landscapes the Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35mm f2.8 is absolutely amazing!! And if you want something a bit wider for street photography, the Minolta 28mm f2 is phenomenal! It is pricey, but is one of my best Minolta lenses! Cheers!
Looks like it'll make a great first 35mm. Until I buy the Voigtlander 35mm F/2 APO. Wonderful example photographs.👍🏼 I wonder if the Minolta 28mm F/2.8 is as good as this 35mm.
Sorry, Vintage Optics. I saw a video on minolta lenses wher you pointed out tha there was an excellent minolta lens , maybe one of the best, and coul be found for 80 dollars on ebay...But I can´t find that video. Do you remember what lens is?
Hello. Do you remember what focal length? The lens in this video is one of my favorite Minoltas. If you need a 35mm lens, you would love this one. Cheers!
I have the MC W Rokkor-X HC 35mm f2.8. I went to go shoot it and it would not focus to save my life, so I put it back in the bag and moved on to another lens. Later I discovered the front element at the bottom of the bag. I have NO IDEA where the retaining ring is or its size. I still have the ring with the writing/info on it, but it does not retain the lens element. If anyone has any information on where to find such a part, I'd appreciate it!
Sorry to hear that. I would suggest to get another MC W Rokkor 35mm f2.8 lens, but look for one with horrible glass, that’s in rough shape and that nobody wants. That way you can get it for cheap. (eBay) Once you have another copy of that lens you can get the exact same parts you need to fix your lens. Hope this helps. Take care.
@@VintageOptiks I have been searching on Ebay and the prices have gone thru the roof. Time to look for one attached to a camera. Thanks for the confirmation!
The question is what filter size fits the earlier version. I ask, as I was told a 51 mm lens cap would fit over it. Amusingly, it fits INSIDE it snugly. You would guess you'd need to find a 53mm lens cap then, but good luck!
Yes, you can use this lens with a normal adapter Minolta to Sony. I personally prefer the helicoid adapters because they allow me to focus closer. But any normal adapter will work fine.
i can recomd some lens i felt good and u havent reviewed yet，nikon ai 50 2 - come second to md 50 2， pentax k 50 2.8 macro - my camera cap lens ，good in every way。pentax 55 1.8 - it renders bokeh like the baby brother of k 50 1.2
Minolta lenses are criminally underrated, Awesome video as always!
I agree! There are so many amazing Minolta lenses out there! Thank you!!
I got one in a bag of Minolta lenses someone gave me for free. I don't use it much, but when I do, I am always surprised by how much I like the photos.
That's awesome you got one for free! Lucky you! :)
Isn't it just amazing how good this little lens is?!!
Warm lenses with decent sharpness
I just found this exact lens at a junk store for $7.98 in beautiful condition. It's the fastest 35mm I have right now and I use it on my Fuji XT-3. I'm so happy I got this and that you like it so much, got very lucky today ! LarryMac
Wow, that is an incredible deal for this lens Larry! It is my favorite 35mm lens for sure. I hope you’ll enjoy shooting with it. Cheers!!
I miss your reviews. I hope you will do some more in the future! Thanks for all the hard work you put in them.
Thank you for your kind message. I’ll try to make some new videos in the near future. It’s been a very busy year.
@@VintageOptiks great to hear!
Fantastic images to support the love for this lens. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much!
I have the MD iii or new MD version of this lens, think it's the same optically. Very sharp as I recall, yes a little barrel distortion but not much. Thanks for reminding me to use it again!
You are welcome! Yes, the new MD version has the same optical design. Very sharp indeed! Enjoy!
Great video. As always. ☺️ Some of those mountain shots are truly awesome! When it comes to bokeh out of Minolta's wide angle lenses I have recently got a decent bokeh out of my rokkor 28mm f2.8 ☺️
Thank you so much!! Glad you enjoyed the mountain shots! I love being out in nature and I always bring some vintage lenses with me 😁 Great to know that you are happy with the bokeh from your 28mm f2.8 Rokkor. There so many wonderful Minolta lenses out there!
It's a nice lens, mine costed 8$ at a thrift shop, a fraction of the price of my Canon FD 35mm f2, and my Nikkor 35mm f2. I find Minolta lenses often to be much cheaper than the other of the big five, for no particular reason.
Wow you got such an amazing deal for this lens! It’s true that certain Minolta lenses are much cheaper when compared to other big name manufacturers. Hopefully the prices will stay low, because I’m a huge Minolta fan!
Thanks for the info, bought this lens for 30 USD. And it's a big wow this lens is god's gift. Good thing is almost same as new from the factory.
You are welcome! Glad to hear you got one of these spectacular lenses for such a low price. Enjoy it!
Have the MC version and you're right, it's an unbelievably awesome lens. Pair it with the 75-150 f4 and you've got a stunning light + sharp travel setup
Glad to hear that you also appreciate this fantastic lens! I agree - with the 75-150 zoom, it becomes a perfect travel kit! Cheers!
Same here, I own only MD III lenses, the 75-150 is unbelievable. Another gem is 100mm 2.5
I have the big brother, 45mm f 2.8, and it is just like this lens. I like the 45mm for street work, but I can see the value of the 35mm for landscape. Thanks for sharing
You are welcome! Did you mean the Minolta MD 45mm f2? There is a Minolta 45mm f2.8 but that was a rangefinder lens - the Chiyoko Super Rokkor.
@@VintageOptiks, yes, the f 2, you are correct. Sharp with great color and cheap
@@ice9phil Thank you for clarifying. I've seen it around but still haven't tried it. 45mm is a great focal length! Would be fun to test it!
Yeah I have the 45 f2 and the 50 f2. I love using the 45 on my Sony zv e10 when out for walks. It makes a great small run and gun for street.
GORGEOUS shots!! Fantastic review!!!
Thank you so much!!
I recently purchased the later MD III version of this lens. It wasn't that easy to find or that cheap, but the one I got included its original box and hood. I really think this is optically a better lens than other 35mm lenses that have a cult following.
That's awesome you got the MD III version! Totally agree with you!! This lens is amazing!!
Wow, this looks like a stunner! Great video and wonderful images!
Thank you so much Radu! It’s a great lens for sure!!
Thanks to you I bought for my XT4 this lens in a mint condition on ebay :) I will be going this weekend at the "foire de Bièvres" close to Paris, hoping to find some other vintage lenses. Cheers
That's great you got this awesome lens! I hope you'll enjoy it. It's a real gem!
It's a great lens, my favorite 35mm. I have the MD II and MC version that is also the same optically.
On a Sony a7 the only issue is a small amount of field curvature that makes the edges a bit less sharp than the center.
It’s great to hear that you also appreciate this wonderful little lens! It’s amazing how good it is. It’s also one of my favorites! A true gem!
I have the MC Rokkor version and absolutely love it as well. Another great video - cheers!
That’s awesome!! Thank you!!
There's MC W-Rokkor that is also the same lens as this one (with same a bit cheaper build than the older Minolta MC lenses). Otherwise this lens performs much better than the "true" MC 35mm (most noticeably outside of the center of the frame), but I like the MC rendering as well (it's definitely got more interesting bokeh). Minolta's made so many great lenses and in opinion they, on average, outperform Canon, Nikon, Pentax and Olympus lenses from the era; but are still more affordable. I hope they remain more affordable, I still need a few.
I completely agree that Minolta made so many amazing lenses, and many of them are still under the radar and can be found quite cheaply. And just like you I also hope that their prices remain low. That way a lot more people can afford them and try out these wonderful vintage lenses!!
Great video as always 🤗 thanks for clarifying the reason of using a helicoidal adpater👌
Thank you so much!!
I wonder how it compares to the 1.8 version of the 35mm !
Just so ya know - After watching your review of the SMC Pentax 15mm f/3.5 (the earlier SMC Takumar), 4 times, I obtained a copy from a gentleman in Singapore.....absolutely perfect with a K-mount to Leica L on my Sigma FP - the lens is everything you said, thanks
Wow, you found one!!! That’s amazing! So excited for you to shot with this magical lens! Enjoy it!!
Interesting. It’s great information for others who are looking for this rare lens! Thank you for sharing.
I really like the video. Firstly, the sample photos that you showed, as well as how you prepared the material. One of the best lenses I've tried. I really like Minolta because these lenses form a very nice picture. This goes for color and type of bokeh. I have this 35 as well as 70-210, 35-70 and 50 1.7 PG. Really want to try MD 24 mm., though. This lens is said to be incredibly sharp and has excellent color reproduction. But ... to be honest, I've been looking for the most versatile all-in-one lens from Minolta for a long time, so that it covers wide angle + tele. And I still could not choose which lens to buy. Because it is not always possible to constantly change lenses. Especially when you shoot some dynamic scenes or where you need to react quickly so as not to miss the moment. They say that the AF 28-105 is a great lens, but at the same time the 28-135 is even more legendary, but its problem is that it is too big. And I still miss 24 mm, as it is even wider. 24-105 turned out to be worse in terms of optical quality. And most of the AF lenses are "dark", unfortunately, since the apperture is 3.5 or 4. And I like to shoot in the city at evenings. Therefore, I don’t even know what to choose :(
Thank you so much! It's really nice to hear that you enjoyed the video.
I agree - Minolta lenses produce great images, and the 35mm f2.8 is amazing! I also have the 24mm f2.8 and it's indeed a stellar performer! I understand that finding a zoom that starts at 24mm and goes to telephoto territory can be difficult. The longer the distance between focal lengths, the more problems arise with the optics. Which is why zooms with shorter focal length range perform better. I hope that you'll be able to find something that you'll be happy with. Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks Hi there, do you have a video about your 24mm f2.8?
Hi, I don’t have a video about the 24mm yet. Sometime in the future.
This Lens is basically "glued" on my XD7 for >3 Decades. Yes, it's the MD III. And i also own the MD II, shown and reviewed here, sits on my X300.
That’s great to hear! Amazing lens for sure!
@@VintageOptiks Yes, it'sa fine lens. But prices went through the roof, during the past 2-3 years...bc of videos like your one here. :D
Thx
You are welcome!
As usual great video! I really like this focal length. I only have one 35mm currently, the Carl zeiss jena flektogon 35mm f2.4.
The Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35mm f2.8 looks really excellent.
Thank you!! This is really one of my favorites! I can highly recommend it if you like this focal length.
Hey, I'm thinking between those two lenses. if you came to minolta what do you have to say about them comparing them? Thanks
Tengo uno de estos. Me encanta su calidad de Imagen. Gracias por los datos
Muchas gracias!
Definitely plan to get this 35 mm Minolta Rokkor to pair it with the SLR magic anamorphot 40
Sounds great!
Nice review! :) Your sample images are great btw., really enjoyed the river shots.
I dig the 2nd generation MD Rokkors myself too, even though I don't have a Minolta body. *gg* I have a 28mm f/2.8, this 35mm f/2.8, 45mm f/2 and 50mm f/1.7, ..which are all lovely, I find, and the color rendition has a slightly warm vintage touch. They are supposed to have hard stop infinity focus (which I'm a big fan of), but non of my copies does :( ..so I regularly mess up infinity shots (same with the ED Nikkors).
These are my go-to lenses for B&W, so natural and rich in contrast, really love the halos wide open, especially at the short miminum focus distances. They are also great for infrared photography, little to no IR hotspot! which is rare, and ironically, the hard stop infinity works just fine on the IR spectrum.
Another thing they do exceptionally well (even better than vintage Nikkors), and I have no reasonable explanation for this, is rendering skies/clouds. Never been able to capture clouds so plastic and three-dimensional and colorful like with these lenses. But maybe I'm just imagining this, who knows.
Anyway..
Thank you so much!!
It's great to hear that you also appreciate the amazing Rokkor lenses! Their colors are definitely special and unique. I fell in love with them as soon as I tried the Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f2!
I couldn't believe the saturation and contrast! And ever since then every Rokkor lens I've tried has been fantastic! Looking forward to reviewing many more Minoltas in the future. Take care and happy shooting!
@@VintageOptiks Thanx, will do :) Back then, when I got myself into this, I did quite a bit of research and found that not all of the Minolta glass is that great! Some interations/generations/models are just.. soso, or not to recommend. The quality is not as consistent as with the AI and AI-S Nikkors, so make sure to do some research, luckily there is a lot of information out there, ... I'm sure you know the drill :) Cheers
@@artoffighting06 Sure. There isn't a single company that only made great lenses :) And I don't expect Minolta to have only gems, but so far I've been very impressed with the lenses I've tried. And that's part of the fun of testing vintage lenses - you never know what you gonna get. :) Cheers
@@VintageOptiks Mhm, I totally agree. Whether it depends on the model or even on a particular copy of a model, some quirks can give an image character and unique style. My ROKKORs all have some amount of halation wide open, most so the fast 50mm, and I like it. It's kind of 'best of both' cause stopped they get super sharp yet they have this creative almost abstract thing going when open :) I also usually don't correct the slight warm green-ish color cast (of mine), gives me a sweet nostalgic vintage feel :)
I was suprised to see that your copy of the 35mm is so pristine and clear wide open :O I also have MD ROKKOR 28mm f/3.5 with a defect. Not sure if the seller didn't know or if I got scammed, but it produces a weird tunnel effect, like one gets sucked into a glitch in the space-time-continuum or something, haha. And I have taken interesting images with it nonetheless, which raises the question, what does it take to produce a compelling, pleasant to look at, "good" photograph?
I like to ponder over those things.., sorry for rambling! I'm actually thinking about obtaining/trying a lens that some consider 'the worst Nikkor ever made', haha; cause I really wonder what that looks like? Anyway, have a good one..
@@artoffighting06 I absolutely agree! Vintage lenses have a unique character of their own, which comes from the fact that they are not perfect, and that is why they are so special!! One of the main reasons why I fell in love with vintage lenses was because all the modern lenses out there make things way too sterile and perfect, and that looks really boring, at least to me. I still love looking at photos from magazines printed in the 60's and 70's because they seem so magical and different.
It's really cool that you got a lens that makes space time continuum effect!! haha That's amazing! I would love to see images from it! Are you on Instagram?
You should definitely try the "worst Nikkor ever made"! I love trying all types of odd lenses, because you never know what kind of fun things you might discover!
Really great chatting with you! Take care.
Love this channel
Thank you!
Great video as always
Thank you!! I appreciate it!
opticaly its good，but the problem with this copy is the interior coating evaporate overtime，would cause much more flare，both me and my friend all met this problem with 3 different copies，my main 35mm now is canon fd 35 2
Glad that my copy is doing great so far. Hopefully I won’t run into this issue.
Have you tried using a hood?
Hi, are your images straight out of the camera or have you done some post procesing?
Hi, the images are not straight out of the camera. I do some very light post processing, mainly to adjust the exposure. I will often slightly underexpose my images in order to preserve the highlights. And then in post I will bring up the shadows. Just simple adjustments like that. But I never mess with the colors, contrast etc, because I try to show what the lens can do as much as possible.
my dad left me an md 35 2.8 and md 50 1.4, gonna pair them with an Zf
Awesome. Enjoy!
Finally. I wonder what will arrive first...the lens or the adapter. I looked for Minolta to Fuji X Helicoid and NONE were available on ebay, and camera depots want around a hundred bucks for them. No way. I'll try an extension tube.
Yeah I've heard form others that the Minolta to Fuji-X helicoid adapters are really hard to find. And there is only one expensive option by Kipon that I've seen. Hopefully some company out there will make more affordable ones.
How would you compare this lens to the CZJ Flektogon 35mm f2,4?
I like both lenses, and they each can produce great images. The main advantages that the Flek has over the Minolta is that it can focus closer and it’s a bit faster. But if those two things are not that important to you, the Minolta is a killer lens!
Nice video! For a nifty fifty with an aps-c a lens like this would be ideal or should i look for something else, i cant tell when a lens is made for a full frame or a cropped lens!
Thank you! Yeah this lens will be great on APSC! Especially if you don’t need shallow depth of field. All of these vintage SLR lenses were made to cover the dimensions of a full frame (24mm x 36mm). The APSC sensor simply crops the edges of what the lens can see.
@@VintageOptiks thank you! Will look for one then, in the video it looks amazing
Cool as always.
Very good little lens, it's very similar to the Canon FD of the same type (have both) also for some weird reason isn't regarded at all, actually a good thing since tge price is still reasonable.
Thank you!! Yeah it’s weird how some lenses are so well regarded and others not so much, even though they are just as good if not even better. But as you mentioned is probably for the best since the prices stay low and more people can afford them. I recently picked up the 35mm FD lens. Looking forward to testing in the future. Cheers!
you should try out the minolta md 28mm 3.5. It performs much better than the 2.8 versions and a fraction of the 2.0 version's price. very underrated lens
Definitely! It’s already on the list for future reviews! 😬
Would you say the 3.5 is sharper at 3.5 than the 2.8 is at 3.5?
The 28mm f2.8 is definitely sharper at 3.5. At least from the 2 lenses I have. But the best 28mm lens from Minolta in my opinion is the 28mm f2! Absolutely incredible. Easily one of my favorite lenses.
This version is really good but you should try the 35mm F1.8 design...that is a superb lens in terms of character abd I totally love that lens
Yeah definitely! The f1.8 version is on my “to buy” list. 😁 I’m super excited to try it out! I’ve heard so many great things about it.
Do you have much experience with the earlier Minolta 35mm f/1.8 lens? A friend has the MC W. Rokkor - HH. It has an amzing open aperature of f/1.8. Also a 55mm filter ring size. I imagine it may be a nice one, but I've not tried it. Just wondering how the various editions may compare.
Hello.
I do not have experience with the older version of the Minolta 35mm f1.8. I only have the later New MD 35mm f1.8, which is smaller and lighter and has different optical design. Cheers!
Thanks for another interesting video! How does it compare to your czj 35mm f2.4 Flektogon? Also, is the optical formula the same as the older all metal versions? This is the version I have and I took it with me to SC for Thanksgiving Holiday. Thanks again!
You are welcome! The Minolta and the Flektogon are both great, but the Flektogon is so much more expensive. All you need is this Minolta and a helicoid adapter, and you got yourself an amazing lens with super short minimum focusing distance. Killer combo! The older Minolta MC Rokkor HG 35mm f2.8 has a different optical design. It is 7 elements in 6 groups. Take care.
@@VintageOptiksplease what do you want to say about the older HG design? Are you saying the newer MD is better or?
Yes, newer design is better.
@@VintageOptiks Thank you for your reply. I have a chance to buy the latest MC version with the same design as your MD version. I hope it will be as good as yours🙏
You are welcome. I’m sure you’ll love this lens! It’s one of my favorites.
I am considering the choice between a Pentax-A and a Minolta lens with a focal length of 50mm and an aperture of F1.7. In your opinion, which lens has the sharpest images and bokeh results with an almost perfect round shape?
My gear is Lumix G85 with mounting MFT (M4/3).
Please advise. Thank You.
Hi, If you are looking for a 50mm f1.7 lens, both the Pentax-A and the Minolta will serve you well. There isn't really much of a difference between the two, so get the one that's cheaper and easier to find. Cheers!
Stellar
Thank you!!
Nice video! A small correction: the mount is not called MD-mount, though many make that mistake. The mount is called SR-mount and came in 1958 on Minoltas first SLR system camera, the SR-2 (SR-1 came later!). All Minoltas manual focus lenses therefor also have SR-mount bayonet. Lens lines over the years have been "Auto", "MC" (Meter Coupling) and MD (unknown what it really stands for, there are many theories). So MD is a lens line and not the mount.
Hi and thank you! You are definitely correct in your observation about the name of the mount. I wanted to make it easier for people who are looking for the adapters, because a lot of the adapters have MD on them (and not SR). I thought it will be confusing for people who are trying to adapt Minolta lenses. Also many people on eBay also call the mount MD and it makes it easier for people to find certain lenses. I don’t think this type of confusion exists with any other mount when it comes to classic lenses. Not sure how this happened with Minolta lenses. Cheers and thank you for your message.
@@VintageOptiks I've also seen adapters marked MD but it doesn't make it more right, but I can see why you did the choice you did as many misuse the MD phrasing. Maybe write "SR-mount (aka MD)" or something like that to try to come somewhere in the middle. I don't know either how it happened. What differs the Auto, MC and MD lens lines are that Auto has a stop down lever from the body for the set aperture, MC got the meter coupling for wide open focusing and metering and MD got the possibility to control the aperture from the body for the P and S modes. None of these functions are supported by the adapters I ever have seen so it is just wrongful marketing to put MD on them.
@@lattesweden That sounds like a good idea. Thanks for your input.
You are probably right, but on all the adapters it says MD, so....... LarryMac
@@larrymccormick3226 So what? Your sentence isn't complete, what do you try to say?
Impressionante!
Thank you!
Got one in the mail today. A tank. Missing a lens cap, and I'm never sure about whether caps are larger sizes than filters when looking for one on ebay. A hood is on the way...
Glad to hear you got one! I hope you’ll enjoy it.
Hi! Do you know, if the MC-lenses are the same optical formula? I have a single-coated and a multi-coated MC 2,8/35mm which I like very much and I want to know, if the newer design could be even better than the later MC-version. The single-coated comes nowhere close the performance of the later MC Rokkor.... Thx, Stephan
Hi! The Minolta 35mm f2.8 was made in 2 different optical designs - early version (with 7 elements in 6 groups) and late version (with 5 elements in 5 groups). The easiest way to recognize the early design from the late design are the letters HG after Rokkor.
For example, if your lens has MC W.Rokkor-HG on the name plate then you have an early design lens, and if it's just MC W.Rokkor or MD W. Rokkor (with X or no X it doesn't matter) then you have the late 5 in 5 design. Hope this helps. Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks Good morning and thx a lot for the quick reply! It helps perfectly!
Have a nice day! Stephan
You are welcome. Have a great weekend!
Seems great! How dose this compare to CZ fecigom 35? I think to change lenses.
I love the Flektogon, but I also love this Minolta for it’s beautiful colors and amazing resolution! They are both great lenses, and it simply comes down to personal taste and the kind of work you plan to use them for.
Will this fit in my sony alphas (slt33 ang a700)
Would it be better to save up for the 1.8 over the 2.8?
To be honest, I don't think the f1.8 lens is worth the crazy price. I have both and I actually prefer the f2.8.
Have you tried the Minolta 35mm f/1.8? Those are expensive and I have been curious if they live up to the cost. I have a soft spot for Minolta as I learned on my mother’s Minolta cameras.
It’s funny, because I bought the 35mm f1.8 just 4 days ago, and I’m waiting for it to arrive from Japan. Can’t wait to try it out!!! Yes, that lens is usually expensive and has the reputation for being one of the best 35mm lenses out there. Super psyched to see what it can do!
Just like you, I also have a soft spot for Minolta. Which Minolta camera were you using when you were learning photography and what lenses did you have? Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks SRT102 and an XG5, both my mother’s. Later she got me an X700 of my own - still have all 3, and still in working order. She used the Rokkor 50mm f/2, and their Celtic 28mm f/2.8 and 135mm f/3.5, along with an Rokkor 50mm macro kit. My camera came with the Rokkor 50 f/1.7, and I have since added the MC 58 f/1.4 (which I love), and the later 50 f/1.4. I have 2 copies of the latter, and while one is great the other is just terribly soft. Recently got the earlier Rokkor HG 35mm f/2.8, which is wonderful, but does flare. Latest add is the 45 f/2, but I haven’t used it much yet ( but its reputation is excellent).
Fantastic! It’s amazing that your 3 Minoltas are still in working order!! And you have a really great selection of Rokkors! The 50mm f2 is probably the most underrated normal lens! Not sure if you saw the review I did on it, but that lens is amazing! I’m also a huge fan of the Rokkor-X 50mm f1.4 and the MD 50mm f3.5 macro (both of which I’ve reviewed here on the channel). I recently picked up the MC 58mm f1.4 but it has some fungus and I need to open it up and clean it. I know a lot of people that love that lens. I still don’t have any of their Celtic lenses. They were made as a budget lens line, and I’m curious how they’ll perform. What do you think of the ones you have?
@@VintageOptiks The optics on the Celtics are the same as on the Rokkors, but they have generally inferior coatings and are more prone to flaring and minor aberrations as a result. The lens bodies aren't as well finished either. But considering they otherwise have the same glass, they're pretty close in performance (or so I've been told). I think this is why the Celtic line was short-lived - Minolta was undercutting itself. Not yet checked your other Minolta reviews, I will do so shortly though. I spotted a very clean 58mm f/1.2 over the weekend in a used camera store (discounted as the filter threads were badly bent), and was sorely tempted, but it was out of my budget at the time - that's one high on my bucket list. I've already got the Canon FL 55 f/1.2, and I'd like to compare the two.
Sounds good. I gotta try some of the Celtics at some point. I read somewhere that they were only made for the US market and can’t be found in other countries. Not sure if that’s true or not.
The 58mm f1.2 is a lens that I’ve been tempted to buy a few times but still haven’t done it. But eventually I’ll get one! :) Same with the 85mm f1.7
I have the Minolta X700 camera and I’m looking for other options of lenses. The camera has de 50 mm lenses. What other lenses should I get?
That's great you have the Minolta X700! I've reviewed 6 Minolta lenses on my channel and I can highly recommend all of them. When it comes to choosing lenses, the most important question you need to ask yourself is - what do you want to shoot? Landscapes, portraits, still lives, sports, macro, etc. etc? Once you know what interests you, then you can focus on the different lenses that makes sense with your subject matter. I hope this helps. Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks thank you! I love portraits and the 50 mm is great to do that. I also want to shoot landscapes and street photography. What do you recommend? I’ll check your videos as well. 😊
@@diegogonzalez8659 You are welcome! For landscapes the Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35mm f2.8 is absolutely amazing!! And if you want something a bit wider for street photography, the Minolta 28mm f2 is phenomenal! It is pricey, but is one of my best Minolta lenses! Cheers!
Wonderful 🤗👍
Thank you!
Looks like it'll make a great first 35mm. Until I buy the Voigtlander 35mm F/2 APO. Wonderful example photographs.👍🏼 I wonder if the Minolta 28mm F/2.8 is as good as this 35mm.
Thank you!! It’s definitely a great first 35mm lens! The 28mm f2.8 is not as as good as the 35mm. From the 28mm lenses I like the 28mm f3.5.
@@VintageOptiks Thanks for information. I couldn't find a prime Minolta 28mm F/3.5. Unless you're talking about the zoom?
The MD 28mm f3.5 is a bit harder to find but it’s definitely around. It shows up from time to time on eBay.
Is this Radioactive Thorium?
No
Sorry, Vintage Optics. I saw a video on minolta lenses wher you pointed out tha there was an excellent minolta lens , maybe one of the best, and coul be found for 80 dollars on ebay...But I can´t find that video. Do you remember what lens is?
Hello. Do you remember what focal length? The lens in this video is one of my favorite Minoltas. If you need a 35mm lens, you would love this one. Cheers!
@@VintageOptiks I found it! It´s the Minolta MD W.Rokkor 35mm f 2.8... Thanks!
I have the MC W Rokkor-X HC 35mm f2.8. I went to go shoot it and it would not focus to save my life, so I put it back in the bag and moved on to another lens. Later I discovered the front element at the bottom of the bag. I have NO IDEA where the retaining ring is or its size. I still have the ring with the writing/info on it, but it does not retain the lens element. If anyone has any information on where to find such a part, I'd appreciate it!
Sorry to hear that. I would suggest to get another MC W Rokkor 35mm f2.8 lens, but look for one with horrible glass, that’s in rough shape and that nobody wants. That way you can get it for cheap. (eBay)
Once you have another copy of that lens you can get the exact same parts you need to fix your lens. Hope this helps. Take care.
@@VintageOptiks I have been searching on Ebay and the prices have gone thru the roof. Time to look for one attached to a camera. Thanks for the confirmation!
The question is what filter size fits the earlier version. I ask, as I was told a 51 mm lens cap would fit over it. Amusingly, it fits INSIDE it snugly. You would guess you'd need to find a 53mm lens cap then, but good luck!
Which version did you get?
It's possible to use with anyone adapter minolta sony for a7iv? Ty
Yes, you can use this lens with a normal adapter Minolta to Sony. I personally prefer the helicoid adapters because they allow me to focus closer. But any normal adapter will work fine.
@@VintageOptiks ty so much
@@VintageOptiks thanks to your video I bought this lens and I must say that it is truly exceptional. extraordinary sharpness. thank you
Glad to hear you are happy with it! I agree, it’s an exceptional lens! One of my all-time favorites! 🙌
Would you be so kind as to let us know what the second track is please?
Unfortunately I don’t know who made it or what it’s called. I only have this super short segment.
@@VintageOptiks thanks vintage.
@@VintageOptiks may I ask where you found it please?
I believe it was on Internet Archive. It was a long time ago.
@@VintageOptiks Thanks for replying.
i can recomd some lens i felt good and u havent reviewed yet，nikon ai 50 2 - come second to md 50 2， pentax k 50 2.8 macro - my camera cap lens ，good in every way。pentax 55 1.8 - it renders bokeh like the baby brother of k 50 1.2
Yeah the Nikkor 50mm f2 is a great lens for sure. There are so many lenses for me to review! My houses is full of lenses waiting for their turn. :)
Love your stuff but...it's either "off the bat" or "out of the box" "Out of the bat" does make me laugh...but it's wrong.
Haha sorry I messed up 😬
I am not looking for perfect lens. I am looking for lens with right mistake.
There is no perfect lens. All vintage lenses have some imperfections, which is why I love them so much!
Me too
First. Hehe boi
😄