Canon FL lens into a Minolta XD-11?

jaimeb82 · Jun 23, 2009

I have a Minolta XD-11 that works well, and then I purchased a Canon FL 50mm 1.2 for an older AE-1, the lens that seems to take great pictures, but here is my question. Is there a way I can adapt the FL Canon lens to the Minolta DX-11?

mfophotos · Jun 23, 2009

Nope. The mounts are totally incompatible, due to throat diameter and lens to film-plane distance. Get a 58mm 1.4 for the Minolta.

Steve Smith · Jun 23, 2009

mfophotos said:
Get a 58mm 1.4 for the Minolta.

There is a 50mm 1.4 too. I have one.

Steve.

dougjgreen · Jun 23, 2009

In general, I'd say that the Minolta 50mm f1.4 is better than the 58mm. Look for the MD-Rokkor-X version, as it will support all of the auto-exposure modes of the XD-11. None of the 58mm lenses will support the Shutter priority mode of the XD-11. That mode requires Minolta MD lenses, not MC lenses.

You won't be able to use any Canon lenses on any Minolta.

Steve Smith · Jun 23, 2009

I will have to have a look at mine now. I use it on an XE-1 (XE-7). It has an auto mode but I rarely use it.

EDIT: Mine is an MC Rokkor PG. Is that o.k with the XE-1 auto setting?

I assume it's fine as the XE-1 auto is aperture priority, not shutter. I have been thinking about getting an XD-11 (like I need another camera!) so it would be interesting to know what is compatible and what isn't.

Steve.

aparat · Jun 23, 2009

I have the Rokkor MD 50mm f/1.4 and it is a fantastic lens. It has both a classic and modern feel, if that makes sense . It's more than sharp enough even wide-open. I think it would be a simpler and cheaper solution than trying to adapt a Canon FD lens. On the other hand, if you want to mount other, more "exotic" lenses, you may want to look into using M42 lenses with an adapter. I don't have one, but know people who do.

Steve Smith · Jun 23, 2009

aparat said:
I have the Rokkor MD 50mm f/1.4 and it is a fantastic lens. It has both a classic and modern feel, if that makes sense .

Makes perfect sense too me, my MC lens feels that way too.

Actually, I get the same feeling about the SRT bodies too. From some angles they look modern and from others, they look classic.

Steve.

aparat · Jun 23, 2009

Steve Smith said:
Makes perfect sense too me, my MC lens feels that way too.

Actually, I get the same feeling about the SRT bodies too. From some angles they look modern and from others, they look classic.

Steve.

I am so glad we agree! My SRT 101 feels so smooth. I could not ask for more camera! It serves my needs perfectly, and is so much joy to use.

dougjgreen · Jun 24, 2009

Steve Smith said:
I will have to have a look at mine now. I use it on an XE-1 (XE-7). It has an auto mode but I rarely use it.

EDIT: Mine is an MC Rokkor PG. Is that o.k with the XE-1 auto setting?

I assume it's fine as the XE-1 auto is aperture priority, not shutter. I have been thinking about getting an XD-11 (like I need another camera!) so it would be interesting to know what is compatible and what isn't.

Steve.

Yes. The XD series cameras added shutter priority mode that requires the MD feature on the lens, and the X-700 requires the MD feature for program mode. All the other Minolta manual focus cameras will work perfectly in every mode with the MC-Rokkor-PG lenses. The XD series and X700 will still work fine in aperture priority mode and manual mode with those MC-lenses, just not the shutter priority and program modes I mentioned above.

I used to own an XE-1, and now I have an XE-7 which is the same camera, except in black, not chrome. The XE (Asia), XE-1 (Europe), and XE-7 (Americas) were the identical camera released for different markets. They're great cameras.

Steve Smith · Jun 24, 2009

dougjgreen said:
I used to own an XE-1, and now I have an XE-7 which is the same camera, except in black, not chrome. The XE (Asia), XE-1 (Europe), and XE-7 (Americas) were the identical camera released for different markets. They're great cameras.

I think they are great too (I really like the two tone (black and chrome) of the prism area on the XE-1).

For many years, my only 35mm SLR was a Nikon FG for which I only had a couple of zooms. I was looking for some prime lenses but couldn't really afford them.

I had never thought about Minolta until father bought a couple of SRT bodies - then I started looking.

I found that I could buy Rokkor lenses for around a third of the price of the Nikkor equivalents so I bought the XE-1 with the 50mm f1.4 from a dealer and added a 28mm and a 135mm from ebay.

I am very impressed with the sharpness of these lenses. The first time I printed a 10 x 8 from a negative shot with the 50mm lens I was amazed by the amount of detail on it. It was in the same league as prints I have made from my Bronica 6 x 4.5 negatives.

I know a 10 x 8 print isn't a major challenge for a 35mm negative but I think it's enough of an enlargement to get some idea.

Steve.

fmajor · Jun 26, 2009

Hey Steve -

I have both the MD Rokkor-X 50mm f1.4 (actually 2x of this lens) and the MC Rokkor-X PG 50mm f1.4 for use on my SRT102/202's and XD-11's. The MD Rokkor-X's are in the bag and the MC is on a camera. I also have a 58mm f1.4 and it's not quite as sharp as the MC or MD, but it's just right for the b&w portraiture i like to do.

andrewc · Jun 27, 2009

I have the MC Rokkor-X 50/1.4 which is an amazingly sharp lens. I also have the 58/1.4 which I probably use more than just about any other Rokkor that I own. While it may not be quite as sharp as the 50/1.4, it's still very sharp and it has a very pleasing bokeh, which is one of the reasons it's a very popular lens. I use it on my XD-11, XE-7, and SR-T 102, depending on which camera body suits my fancy on a given day.

Anscojohn · Jun 27, 2009

jaimeb82 said:
I have a Minolta XD-11 that works well, and then I purchased a Canon FL 50mm 1.2 for an older AE-1, the lens that seems to take great pictures, but here is my question. Is there a way I can adapt the FL Canon lens to the Minolta DX-11?

*****
No.

dynachrome · Jun 29, 2009

There never was a 50/1.2 Canon FL lens. There was a 55, which I have and a 58 which I don't. I have the 58/1.4 Minolta MC lens as well as the 50/1.4 MC Rokkor-X, 50/1.4 MC Rokkor-PG (2 of these), both versions of the 50/1.4 MD Rokkor-X lenses and a 50/1.4 MD. I would say that the 50/1.4 MC Rokkor-X and Rokkor-PG lenses are my favorites. They have the all metal construction which the later lenses lack and also show nice out of focus rendition. The 58/1.2 and later 50/1.2 Rokkor lenses are hard to find and expensive. If I did not already have the 55/1.2 Canon FL as well as two 57/1.2 Konica Hexanons, I might look for one. You might be able to have a 55/1.2 or 58/1.2 Canon FL lens permanently modified for use on Minolta manual focus SLR cameras but you would probaby be left with manual diapgragm operation. The FL lens would need to be used in stop down mode for metering on any FL or FD mount cameras. I have seen several adaptations of f/1.2 Canon FL lenses for use on DSLR cameras.

dougjgreen · Jun 29, 2009

As a general comment, the prices that Minolta Manual Focus gear is selling for nowadays on ebay is unbelievably low.

I just picked up 3 very good lenses for completely ridiculous prices: Yesterday, I paid $19.99 INCLUDING Shipping for a pretty minty 80-200mm f4.5 MD Rokkor-X.

And I also paid $8.50 plus $8 shipping for a Kiron 28-70mm f3.5~4.5 MD mount zoom, and $19.99 plus $10 shipping for a Vivitar Series One 100-500mm f5.6~8 Zoom. In each case, I got these for the starting bids because I was the only bidder on the items.

And in the last couple of weeks, I got a good working XD-11 body for $35, a really beautiful XE-7 body for $30, and a true mint X-570 for $17 including a 50mm f1.7 MD lens, and a Winder D for $12. These prices are unbelievable for the very best Minolta gear. The prices are running around 1/3 the prices of comparable Nikon gear, and even noticeably lower than Canon FD gear, which is probably a more relevant comparison because it's a similarly dead end lens mount.

Canon FL lens into a Minolta XD-11?

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