MC Rokkor-PF 58mm F1.4 - can it be cleaned?

allohse · Feb 21, 2022

I know I'm posting way too much, but here I go again:

Is there any hope for a lens like that? Could it be cleaned in a specialized shop?

There's a Minolta SRT 101 with a very good price for sale, along with a 28mm lens, and it would be pretty nice if I could also use the Rokkor 58mm along with it. But I'm not sure if it is (or can) be functional.

There are what I believe are some spots of fungi (you can see them under the "rokkor" name) and whatever that oily stain is, but it does not appear to be scratched.

Also, not sure exactly the best way to take pictures of the lens (or what I should be looking for).

Thx

BobD · Feb 21, 2022

Yes, it can be cleaned

__Brian · Feb 21, 2022

Have you tried cleaning it yourself?

From the pictures, it looks like coating damage and possible etched glass. To clean and recoat this lens, several $100.

I bought a Minolta MD 50/1.4 at a show for $15 that had some fungus, mostly along the edges. Much less damage than this. I cleaned it myself, used a UV light to "sterilize"- just for peace of mind. It came out well. I bought a Minolta 50/1.4 MC in perfect condition for $50, converted it to Leica M-Mount, made an RF coupling. Really good lens.

Minolta made good lenses, F1.4 lenses are plentiful, and usually found inexpensively. To repair this one: will be costly.

allohse · Feb 21, 2022

I wouldn't know where to start. Could I do something about the coating damage?

I'm actually finding it very hard to find minolta lenses (or any manual lenses - most are AF) around here. I have a nikon telephoto lens (could buy an adapter, I guess) but I'm not a big fan of it.

__Brian · Feb 22, 2022

John Van Stelton charged $200 to polish and recoated the front element of my collapsible Summicron. He is retired now.

You can send lenses to Skyllaney in Scotland for full service.

This is only worth it for expensive lenses.

The Nikon lens cannot be used on a Minolta camera.

dynachrome · Feb 22, 2022

The 58 was Minolta's standard f/1.4 lens from the start of its SLR series until 1973 when it was replaced by the 50/1.4. A repairman once told me that the 58 has only one hard coated surface, the front surface of the front element.
He said that he would use a blower brush on the other surfaces but would not use any cleaning fluids or cloths. Unless the particular 58 you have has some sentimental value, I don't think it's worth spending too much on it. Of the standard 1.4 lenses, the 50/1.4 MC is my favorite. When the 58 is closed down a few stops it is very similar in performance to the 50. At or near wide open, the 50 is better. Some people like the out of focus rendition of the 58 better. That's an artistic consideration.

gone · Feb 23, 2022

It's normally less expensive, sometimes much less expensive, to sell the lens and get another clean one. I'm not sure what the value is of that particular lens. CLA's can cost $100, $200, and up.

Kino · Feb 23, 2022

allohse said:
I know I'm posting way too much, but here I go again:

Is there any hope for a lens like that? Could it be cleaned in a specialized shop?

There's a Minolta SRT 101 with a very good price for sale, along with a 28mm lens, and it would be pretty nice if I could also use the Rokkor 58mm along with it. But I'm not sure if it is (or can) be functional.

There are what I believe are some spots of fungi (you can see them under the "rokkor" name) and whatever that oily stain is, but it does not appear to be scratched.

Also, not sure exactly the best way to take pictures of the lens (or what I should be looking for).

Thx

Personally, I would judge the value of the package based only on the camera body and the 28mm lens. If this is still a good price, you can attempt to clean the 50mm yourself without anxiety about destroying that lens.

If the lens cleans well, you are ahead. If it does not, no real loss.

Here is a good tutorial on how to clean the lens;

__Brian · Feb 23, 2022

The Father-in-Law of a friend passed away some 5 years ago, and I've been asked to look at the lenses and cameras in his collection.
They were not stored properly. What cost many $1,000s originally, Nikon S4, Contax IIIa, Biogon 21/4.5, and about 8 other lenses and assorted finders
Told him the first thing I did was take the compartment case and bags they were stored in and tossed into the trash, mold infested. And Dead Insects. And other assorted gross stuff.
Made an offer, cleaned front/back elements of each- stated if the Mother-in-law wants wants them back they will be better than they were and the tears on them are mine.

MC Rokkor-PF 58mm F1.4 - can it be cleaned?

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