Minolta 100mm f/2.5

[dynachrome]

The various Minolta 100mm f/2.5s are some of my favorite lenses. I already had two of the late versions, I think an MC Rokkor-X and an MD Rokkor-X. My understanding is that the final MD version with the 49mm filter rim is the same optically as the two previous versions. I bough another MD Rokkor-X from the auction site and I hope to see it next week. I think I have all of the other versions with one exception. From photos I have seen, the first MC Rokkor model came in two versions. The first one has a wider focusing ring and the second has a narrower one. The one with the wider ring is the one I do not have. My usual reference for Minolta manual focus SLR lenses is the eazypix.de website, which does not show that there were two versions. That website also does not show photos of the lenses. The Sub Club website does show photos but not one of the lens I am looking for. I suspect that the version with the wide focusing ring was made for only a short time. I recently saw one online from a seller in Japan. It was one of those descriptions that looked like EXCELLENT+++++. The translation was that it had haze. One of my favorite photos of our son was taken with a 100/2.5 MC Rokkor. I keep a copy in my wallet. I took it more than 25 years ago. Now that I think of it, the first photo of our son walking as taken with a Minolta Hi-Matic 7S and I took a Minolta X-700 with a 50/1.7 MC Rokkor-X into the delivery room when he was born.

 

[Paul Howell]

Right now I have the 100 2.5 early non X version. It is Multi coated, not sure which version it is. It compares well to the Nkion 105 2.5 I had, and to the Konica 100 2.8 and a Nikon 100 2.8 E I also use. I am looking at getting another Nkion 105 2.5 non AI as the E is good on my F4, but it is an E lens, ok when stopped down but a bit soft at 2.8. The Minolta is part of my current kit, X700, 28 2.5, 50 1.4 X version and 200 F4. I dont have a 135, another lens to add to my list.

 

[dynachrome]

I have at least one example of all of the items you mention. You have to remember that the X designation for MC Rokkor-X and MD Rokkor-X lenses was only used for the U.S. market. When the 50/1.7 MC Rokkor replaced the 55/1.7 MC Rokkor in 1973, all of the 50/1.7 lenses were multicoated, whether they had the X designation or not. Another way to tell if an MC Rokkor is multicoated is whether there is a rubber covering on the focusing ring. Minolta made some other things confusing. The early 50/3.5 MC Rokkor and Rokkor-X lens has a metal barrel. The late 50/3.5 MC version has the same plastic barrel as the later MD Rokkor-X and plain MD. I'm happy to have all of them.

 

[Bob Merlin]

Minolta used to make a 100mm f:2 lens. I had one that I bought in '67 when I was in Japan. It's a wonderful lens and very sharp. If you get a chance to buy one, take it!
I'll be selling some of the Rokkor lenses I have in a week or two.
18mm f:9.5 Fisheye, full frame
21mm f:4 (mirror lock up) No finder
45mm f:2.8 Pancake lens Pre MC in original box w/ "leather" case
50-200 f:2.-4 Vivitar Series 1 zoom. This lens was made by Tokina and was a "prototype."
Minolta SRM - Battery compartment has all lugs.

 

[xkaes]

As far as I know -- and Dennis of EAZYPIX, and Red Bailey concur -- is that the first Minolta 100mm f2.5 was made shortly after the introduction of the SRT101 -- and is labeled "MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.5 f=100mm". It is NOT a Rokkor-X, and has a 6/5 design, and a metal focusing ring. All of the later versions have a 5/5 design and a rubberized focusing ring.

The only 100mm with a wider focusing ring is the 100mm f2.0 -- which came in two versions -- but was replaced by the f2.5 model. I suspect that the price of the f2.0 model was simply too high.

https://www.subclub.org/minman/1002.htm

 

[dynachrome]

I know that the first 100/2.5 was not a Rokkor--X. I will have to find an example of the early lens and post a picture of it next to the next MC Rokkor (also not a Rokkor-X). I have a theory about the 100/2.5 with the wider focusing ring. Some might have been made with left over parts from another earlier lens in the 100 range. I have a Canon FD SSC 24mm f/2.8 with a chrome front. The breech-lock ring is not spring loaded. There are undoubtedly left over parts involved. There is one more Minolta 100 I am interested in. It is the first version of the 100/3.5 Macro with the metal focusing ring.

 

[xkaes]

 

[Paul Howell]

As far as I know -- and Dennis of EAZYPIX, and Red Bailey concur -- is that the first Minolta 100mm f2.5 was made shortly after the introduction of the SRT101 -- and is labeled "MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.5 f=100mm". It is NOT a Rokkor-X, and has a 6/5 design, and a metal focusing ring. All of the later versions have a 5/5 design and a rubberized focusing ring.

The only 100mm with a wider focusing ring is the 100mm f2.0 -- which came in two versions -- but was replaced by the f2.5 model. I suspect that the price of the f2.0 model was simply too high.

https://www.subclub.org/minman/1002.htm

This is the version I have.

 

[dynachrome]

I found two examples of the 100/2.5 MC Rokkor (non-macro and pre-Rokkor-X) with the wider focusing ring on the auction site. The number of the first one is 326159689343. It is listed as having a thin haze on a middle element. If it did not have the haze, I would be interested in it. The number of the second one is 389669091312. It looks very nice. With shipping and duty from Japan to my location in the U.S., the cost would be US$211.99. I am considering it. I do not expect it to take different pictures from the model with the narrower focusing ring but it would round out my collection of Minolta 100/2.5 lenses. Based on the relative rarity of the model with the wider focusing ring, I believe it was an early version.

 

[xkaes]

I now know what you are talking about. There are two versions of the first MC Rokkor-PF 100mm f2.5. They are the same lens except for a small difference in the metal focusing ring. Dennis at EAZYPIX refers to this difference as: MC I and MC II. The 100mm f2.5 was not the only Rokkor lens that saw this change -- but many (most?) don't even consider them different lenses. Here's how Dennis describes this very minor difference -- which most people don't even notice until it is pointed out to them. (Dennis does not list the 100mm f3.5 MACRO as available in the MC I version, only the MC II version.)

"This lens series (MC II) features a new focusing grip, but is else unchanged to its predecessor. The new focusing grip has the serrated sections formed concave, so that they form a "valley" between to "hills". This lead to the german name "Berg und Tal", in the anglophone region it's usually called "knurled grip". Since the grip section is considerably shorter than with the MC I series, its also called "short grip"."