Wolfpro lens?

[Nathan Riehl]

Hi there! So the shutter curtain in my X-700 got completely destroyed mid-shoot. I decided to take a break from shooting film afterwards and have recently come back to it after finding a cheap replacement X-700 at my local antique store! Now, of course I plan on using my Rokkor glass, as it has the quality I expect from an excellent Minolta setup such as this one, but the body I found came with a lens that I am unfamiliar with and was hoping someone else might have some more information on it. It's called a Wolfpro lens and it's a 28mm lens with a maximum aperture of 2.8. Great lens specs by normal standards, but the only info I could find on it was someone saying it was their EF version was their worst lens. If anyone knows who made it, where it came from, or whatever other info there might be on the lens, please let me know!

 

[ciniframe]

Probably a 'house brand' of Wolf Camera. Quite a few cameras dealers had house brand lenses. Quality varied. If the mechanicals are in order, focus smooth, aperture stop down action crisp then just use the lens for the the type pictures you take. If you are satisfied with the results then keep it. You are the best and final judge of this lens.

PS; What if you use the lens, find out you really like it, and then someone on a photo forum said they were junk. Would you then believe them or your own eyes?

 

[Rick A]

Most likely a lens marketed by Wolf Camera, usually an inexpensive model produced under contract much like Penneys or Sears did.

 

[gone]

It's probably OK stopped down. Might be a Sigma or Quantaray, as well as the other brands mentioned. Just don't expect Leica like bokeh!

Is Wolf Camera still in business? I hated those stores. They had the most unknowledgable sales help I have ever seen. You were basically ignored unless you wanted to buy something expensive.

 

[Nathan Riehl]

Never heard of it. I'm only 21, so I'm a little unfamiliar with anything but Ritz, B&H, Adorama, and my local camera store Southern Photo Supply. The popular places that are around today.

Also, I'm not really taking their judgement into mind, that just happened to be the only info I could find. Not very helpful, as everybody's experiences are usually pretty different.

 

[Marvin]

When I lived there Wolf had a big store in Atlanta and a Professional division that I bought my first Bronica Etrsi from. Wolf may have been bought out by someone else later. The big 14th street store is gone.

 

[Jon Buffington]

I have a wolfpro 28/2.8 macro in fd mount. It was my dad's from late 70's early 80's and was with his ae-1 kit I have now. The absolute worst lens I have ever used and I have used a bunch in many mounts. Stopped down it still has horrible corners. Here is an example. Excuse the horrible scan. Didn't feel like tweaking colors much due to subpar quality of lens.

 

[summicron1]

For what its worth, you can almost certainly pick up minolta-brand lenses for $20 or so if this doesn't work out.

Just saying ...

 

[Nathan Riehl]

I'll stick with my Rokkor 50mm f1.7 for now. I want a wide angle lens, but I can't see myself investing too much more into lenses. Oh, and Jon, it was your comment I saw about the Wolfpro lens. I made a mistake in the mount when explaining what info I had found, but I specifically remember reading your comment about your dad's lens and it's sentimental value.

 

[shutterfinger]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritz_Camera_Centers
Ritz Cameras bought out or operated under Kits Camera, Wolf Camera, Camera World.
WolfPro is a house line of lens sold by Wolf Camera, Dead Link Removed.

 

[Jon Buffington]

Hi Nathan,

I bought a budget 28/2.8 for my minolta's. It was the Minolta celtic 28/2.8. The celtic line was the budget line of Minolta lenses. I find there is nothing budget in the image quality of this 28. Maybe something to consider if your on a really tight budget.

 

[Nathan Riehl]

Thanks Jon, I'll look into it. It appears that there are quite a few options just from a simple eBay search.

 

[Prest_400]

I have a wolfpro 28/2.8 macro in fd mount. It was my dad's from late 70's early 80's and was with his ae-1 kit I have now. The absolute worst lens I have ever used and I have used a bunch in many mounts. Stopped down it still has horrible corners. Here is an example. Excuse the horrible scan. Didn't feel like tweaking colors much due to subpar quality of lens.

Wow! That looks like if it were taken with a disposable camera; well, even perhaps one of those has slightly better corners.
I'd say however that yours has something that went out of whack. It shouldn't be that horrible.