How Good are Minolta MD-series Lenses?

[dougjgreen]

hey Ralph, how's the Tamron Teleconverter test project going?

 

[Chaplain Jeff]

Thank you, Fred De Van.



By the way, that Maxxum 9 is now in Bremen, Germany, at Runtime receiving the IC-1 chip upgrade that will allow it to work with the most recent Sony SAL lenses.

Ralph,

What did they charge you for the upgrade and how did you contact them?

Thanks and let me know.

 

[jalbert]

Minolta manual focus lenses are on par with any other 35mm brand optics in terms of image quality. The lens lineup was smaller than some of its competitors, so you won't find a range of fast telephotos nor any f/2 lenses wider than 28mm.

I've shot with Leica, Olympus, Canon, Pentax, and Nikon 35mm equipment as well. All were marvelous. Minolta lenses have very nice, smooth bokeh, as do Olympus and Leica. I especially enjoy the 100/3.5 mc-rokkor-x macro lens, after having the harsh bokeh of many other macro lenses ruin an otherwise beautiful shot. It is my all-time favorite macro lens, followed by the Olympus 90/2.

 

[flashgumby]

Ralph,

What did they charge you for the upgrade and how did you contact them?

Thanks and let me know.

Chaplain, I can't say for sure, but my guess is that he has been to Dyxum.com - there are threads (and people!!!) dedicated to getting the upgrades done. Reading how members have worked together to help each other out getting this elusive upgrade done is one of the best examples of community spirit I've encountered on any forum. It's worth taking a look if for no other reason than to read a feel-good story.

I'd better stop now, I'm starting to cry...

 

[Ralph Javins]

Minolta Maxxum 9 IC-1 Chip Upgrade Costs

Ralph,

What did they charge you for the upgrade and how did you contact them?

Thanks and let me know.

Good morning, Chaplain Jeff;

Boy, you go off to a three day conference with other ham radio people, and all kinds of things happen.

The total for the Minolta Maxxum 9 IC-1 Chip Upgrade looks like it is coming out to between $ 550 and $ 600. I have not really done an accurate accounting of all of the expenses, but it seems to be in that range.

I will send a message to you with some detailed information.

 

[trahan]

It's a great pleasure to read all those good words about XD11. My first 35mm SLR was a Minolta SR3 bought used in 1975 (still working...). I owned an XE5, an SR-M, an XD11 and finaly an X700 before choosing Nikon for AF equipment (F801, then an F100). I now use Canon for digital (I also use a Mamiya 645 as a medium format, Olympus XA and Minox 35 for pocket sized material).
I recently (4 days ago) brought 2 XD11 to a repair shop to have one fonctionnal body. My actual XD11, bought in 1978, came to an end several years ago as it had an encounter of the third kind with a Coca Cola can in a bag... I know, shame on me. A friend gave me an XD11 witch has a broken film spool but otherwise is in a very good shape and fonctionning. I should get the beast soon.
From all the cameras I owned, the XD11 is the one I would bring with me on a deserted Island... X700 has qualities but never had the charisma of it's predecessor. SR3 gets the nostalgia of the first experience (every first experience has a nostalgic aura). For all the others, including my recently acquired Canon 5D MkII, all of them has been tools. Nice working tools, enjoyable, maybe, but still working tools. The XD11 has been, is, and will be forever, a love affair. Perfect marriage...

 

[Cliffy13]

I have only started using Minolta MD in the last month but I have been astonished by the quality of the 50mm f1.7 and 28mm f 2.8,at least as good if not better than the Nikkors I used many years ago

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have only started using Minolta MD in the last month but I have been astonished by the quality of the 50mm f1.7 and 28mm f 2.8,at least as good if not better than the Nikkors I used many years ago

Try the f/1.2 or f/1.4 58mm or the f/2.8 21mm lenses!

Steve

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Yeah, Minolta has had some great glass over the years. Welcome to APUG, trahan.

 

[stillsilver]

Welcome to the site trahan. Damn this G.A.S. Now I have to buy another lens.

Mike

 

[Joe O'Brien]

I've shot MD/MC glass for my entire photogrphic career, I've found nothing comparable. I love my 50mm rokkor-x 1.4, and the 85mm 1.7 rokkor-x only makes me that much more confident in minolta's ability to produce quality glass.

 

[Steve Smith]

I love my 50mm rokkor-x 1.4, and the 85mm 1.7 rokkor-x only makes me that much more confident in minolta's ability to produce quality glass.

I have the 50mm f1.4 too. I would like to get an 85mm though.


Steve.

 

[Wade D]

I've been using Minolta cameras since the 70's. SRT101, SRT201 & 2 X-700's along with all the MD & MC lenses. All I can say is the Minolta glass is VERY good. I bought a few after market lenses for them at first but sold them quickly in favor of the real thing.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

And the is some good aftermarket MD glass. I got a Makinon 135mm macro lens a year and a half ago. It is probably my favorite, even more than the 50 1.4.

 

[trahan]

The XD11 is back!

Thanks for your welcoming words, the XD11 is back home and I already did some (B&W) good shots! I still had several lens from my minolta years a 55 1.7 and a 135 Soligor preset (!!!) that came with my SR3, a 50mm f2 and a 35-70 2.8-4 sigma zoom lens and a magnificent 58mm f1.2 Rokkor X (wich is big and heavy and, above all, impressive...) but the 28mm 2.8 was my favorite lens with the XD11. Perfect match. I couldn't resist and bought one on ebay. Every time I shoot, I look at the back of the camera but this happens less often with use... sometimes, I try to shoot but nothing happen (just forgot to crank it as I don't use the winder on a regular basis. If there's some people around, I turn it off. The thing is a lot more noisy than modern drives. Otherwise, discretion is a virtue of the Eleven. Small black body, smooth, no beep beep... I enjoy the viewfinder and focusing with the split...
With modern cameras, we are more used to High shutter speed. Even with the F801 or F100, ther was no problem to go to 1/4000 or 1/8000 sec. to get minimal depth of field. Going to some extremes like 1.2 with the 58, is a good way to remember that 1/1000 sec. is the limit... Probably the same way you remember that there are drum brakes under your 57 Bel Air... I will edit some pictures of the Eleven soon. Keep in touch...

 

[TimmyMac]

With modern cameras, we are more used to High shutter speed. Even with the F801 or F100, ther was no problem to go to 1/4000 or 1/8000 sec. to get minimal depth of field. Going to some extremes like 1.2 with the 58, is a good way to remember that 1/1000 sec. is the limit....

It's a good thing the powers that be are still making 25 speed film, then!

 

[Excalibur2]

And the is some good aftermarket MD glass. I got a Makinon 135mm macro lens a year and a half ago. It is probably my favorite, even more than the 50 1.4.

..and the Makinon 28mm f2.8, that can be bought for peanuts, is quite good as well. There is no reason these days why anybody shouldn't be able to produce very good quality shots on 35mm film for such a little outlay.

 

[TheSohnly]

MC/MD lenses are awesome.

I own the 45 f/2 Rokkor, the Makinon 28 f/2.8, and the standard 50 f/1.7 and I love them all.

 

[Excalibur2]

***MC/MD lenses are awesome.***

Well I have only one....58mm f1.4 pf and I can't see what's special about it, it's not very good wide open and just a very good nifty fifty stopped down, erm like most makes are in that range.

 

[Cliffy13]

Picked up a preset MC 135mm F4 and an MD 45mm F2 yesterday and if they are half as good as the MD 28mm and MD 50mm F1.7 I already have then I will be well pleased

 

[Jedidiah Smith]

Minolta MD glass is on the whole very good to excellent. Lens copies will vary. That 58mm f1.4 you have is not one of the sharpest lenses Minolta ever made, as has been discussed often in Minolta circles. What's more, if you have an "optically poor copy" or one that has been treated rather poorly or taken apart and repaired, I'm sure the results did not meet your expectations.
However, that is one of my wife's favorite lenses, though as it is slightly more tele than a 50mm, and has nice Bokeh.
My favorites in the MD Rokkor-X category are the 50mm f1.4 & 85mm, and the 24mm is quite nice as well!

Jed

 

[Excalibur2]

Minolta MD glass is on the whole very good to excellent. Lens copies will vary. That 58mm f1.4 you have is not one of the sharpest lenses Minolta ever made, as has been discussed often in Minolta circles. What's more, if you have an "optically poor copy" or one that has been treated rather poorly or taken apart and repaired, I'm sure the results did not meet your expectations.
However, that is one of my wife's favorite lenses, though as it is slightly more tele than a 50mm, and has nice Bokeh.
My favorites in the MD Rokkor-X category are the 50mm f1.4 & 85mm, and the 24mm is quite nice as well!

Jed

Well the 58mm f1.4 PF lens didn't put me off Minolta cameras as besides the SRT 101b have the X-700 with other makes of lenses.

 

[TimmyMac]

***MC/MD lenses are awesome.***

Well I have only one....58mm f1.4 pf and I can't see what's special about it, it's not very good wide open and just a very good nifty fifty stopped down, erm like most makes are in that range.

I have the 58 1.4 and MD 50 1.4 - there is something nice about the 'look' of the 58 on fast black and white film, but otherwise there isn't a ton of difference. The newer 50 is likely sharper and certainly has better contrast at 1.4. GAS got me to pick up a 58 1.2 when it appeared on that bank account draining site to see what all the fuss is about, though.

My collection now is
20 2.8 (awesome)
24 2.8 (needs no introduction - awesome)
50 1.4
58 1.4 converted to EOS
58 1.2 on the way
135 2.8 on the way

I desparately want one of those 85s but they cost even more than the 58 1.2!

 

[hoffy]

OK, can I do a quick pipe in here as well and ask some questions.

I am looking at expanding my ROKKOR range and probably am looking at getting the following (in time of course and as money permits. I have a 50 1.4 and a 50 2) - 24 F2.8, 35 F2.8, 85 F1.7 (maybe,well...), 135 F2.8 and some form of 300.

In regards to the 300, what are the key ones to look for?

 

[lxdude]

Minolta and Nikon were the two lens manufacturers in Japan who made their own glass back in the 1960's and 1970's.

I've heard that before, but it's not true. Fuji bragged on making their own glass, including how they used platinum crucibles to eliminate contamination. I don't remember if any other makers beyond those three made their own.