Correct way to use old Minolta lens + teleconverter

iamthejeff · Jan 18, 2018

I got an old universal Soligor 300 f5.5 lens with a minolta mount attached to the back. I noticed the aperture ring has aperture numbers going in both directions. With the minolta mount removed, I can freely move the aperture ring in both directions, with the center position being wide open.

When I attach the mount, I align the pins with the arrows and it works fine, however with the mount attached I can only move the aperture ring into the green numbers. Seems odd but it works.

With a 2x teleconverter attached, I can change the aperture on the lens and the aperture lever pushes the teleconverter's lever accordingly. However as you can see, when the lens is at f16, the teleconverter only shows f8. I know that when you use a teleconverter, you lose light, so shouldn't the teleconverter be showing a smaller aperture? I get the feeling it won't be communicating the correct aperture to the camera this way.

So two questions: Why does the lens have aperture numbers going both ways, and am I using the teleconverter correctly?

ciniframe · Jan 18, 2018

I think that lens has an old T4 interchangeable mount. If my guess is correct, depending on the mount, either one side or the other of the aperture scale is used. But it's been a long time since the T4 system, so I could be wrong. Cannot comment on the aperture scale comparison, that don't make no sense.
That prong is the meter connection for a Minolta MC mount. Maybe mount it up and see if the meter in the camera gives the right reading.
Wait, I have another thought. The meter lever on the lens and the 2X are in the same contact position. So, maybe the aperture scale on the 2X is to advise you to open two stops, ie., if the meter reading shows the correct exposure at f16 on the lens, then set the lens aperture to f8.
This is just a WAG (Wild A** Guess)

John Koehrer · Jan 18, 2018

.I agree with cineframe as the two direction aperture movement and the f stops on the converter. The lens looks to me
more like an even older mount than the T4 though. There were also TX and T mount. The T$ & TX had levers to
stop the diaphragm down but the T was preset so you would have to stop it down yourself before taking a picture.

ciniframe · Jan 18, 2018

The TX was a later, upgraded T4, the T mount was (and still is) used on the last few preset 500mm f8 refractors and fixed aperture mirror lenses still being sold today. I was selling camera gear at Altman's in Chicago in the early 70's and we still had a good selection of T4 while the TX came into production. For some cameras, such as the Exakta's with external auto on the lenses the T4 was the only auto diaphragm lenses available. By that time, just a few folks walked in with Exakta SLR's. I worked through the transition from FL to FD for the Canon, F to F/Ai to F/Ais with Nikon, From the MC to MD for Minolta and the switch from M42 to M42 w/open aperture metering for the Spot F and ES for Pentax and the introduction of the PK mount.
Ah, a (wobbly) trip down memory lane.

John Koehrer · Jan 19, 2018

Gotta love those wobblies.

I was at Helix on Huron then Deerfield, Lombard & Oak Park about the same time you were at Altman's

RichardJack · Jan 22, 2018

Don't expect great results using that junk. Those lenses were horrible. Minolta Rokkor lenses are affordable and blow away the aftermarket lenses. Sorry for being harsh, but I love Minolta equipment and hate seeing anyone not using it (and not enjoying it) to it's potential.
Just my two cents. As long as your having fun, that is all that matters. But do try a Rokkor-X with some TMAX 400 or Ektar film someday.

gary in nj · Jan 22, 2018

I agree with Richard, the correct way to use a teleconverter is to toss it in the trash. Rokker makes great glass, for $50 you can own just about any lens you desire.

Sirius Glass · Jan 22, 2018

ciniframe said:
I think that lens has an old T4 interchangeable mount. If my guess is correct, depending on the mount, either one side or the other of the aperture scale is used. But it's been a long time since the T4 system, so I could be wrong. Cannot comment on the aperture scale comparison, that don't make no sense.
That prong is the meter connection for a Minolta MC mount. Maybe mount it up and see if the meter in the camera gives the right reading.
Wait, I have another thought. The meter lever on the lens and the 2X are in the same contact position. So, maybe the aperture scale on the 2X is to advise you to open two stops, ie., if the meter reading shows the correct exposure at f16 on the lens, then set the lens aperture to f8.
This is just a WAG (Wild A** Guess)

John Koehrer said:
.I agree with cineframe as the two direction aperture movement and the f stops on the converter. The lens looks to me
more like an even older mount than the T4 though. There were also TX and T mount. The T$ & TX had levers to
stop the diaphragm down but the T was preset so you would have to stop it down yourself before taking a picture.

The Soligor 300 f5.5 lens was designed to work in either direction and with a Minolta mount attached to the back only the Minolta compatible direction works.

Sirius Glass · Jan 22, 2018

RichardJack said:
Don't expect great results using that junk. Those lenses were horrible. Minolta Rokkor lenses are affordable and blow away the aftermarket lenses. Sorry for being harsh, but I love Minolta equipment and hate seeing anyone not using it (and not enjoying it) to it's potential.
Just my two cents. As long as your having fun, that is all that matters. But do try a Rokkor-X with some TMAX 400 or Ektar film someday.

+1*109(99) I used Minoltas from 1966 to 2004 and I found that the Rokkor lenses were always worth their price. At today's prices one should choose the Rokkor lenses first.

Wallendo · Jan 22, 2018

It appears that the f-stop readings on the lens run from left to right while the f-stop readings on the teleconverter run from right to left. When you change the f-stop on the lens, does the phalange that communicates with the teleconverter move in the same direction? If so, the readings will never be relevant.

If in doubt, shoot in either manual or step-down metering mode and you should be OK. Try the lens to see if it suits your needs. It won't be particularly sharp, but may suit your needs. I personally have little use for a 600mm equivalent lens, although when I returned to still photography or 9 years ago, I stocked up on telephoto lenses I now rarely use.

John Koehrer · Jan 22, 2018

The f numbers on the converter are just reference to the effective aperture, nothing else.
If you've got a lens that rotates the f #'s the other way you gots to figure it out by yourself.

iamthejeff · Jan 23, 2018

Thanks for the replies. I was mostly just wondering if I was using it wrong. I actually picked it up with an SRT-101 along with a W.ROKKOR-HG 35mm 2.8, and a ROKKOR-PF 55mm 1.7 for only $60 canadian. There were a couple other off brand lenses thrown in, including the soligor 300.

Correct way to use old Minolta lens + teleconverter

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