Minolta Rokkor-MD 50mm f/1.4 Review
Vložit
- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- In this video, I review a lens that is very dear to my heart: the Minolta Rokkor-MD f/1.4 (also referred to as MD III in collector circles).
The review covers the lens' handling, optical performance and shows a wide range of sample photos taken on film in Munich and Berlin.
The Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4 feels very solid and high-quality. The lens barrel, lens mount, helicoid and filter threads are made out of metal, only the aperture ring is made of plastic in the later version and aluminum in the earlier version. The lens weighs around 240g, is 40mm in length and 64mm in diameter. The filter size is 49mm for the later version (shown here) and 55m for the earlier version.
The optical performance of the Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4 is really nice. The optical construction of seven elements in six groups combined with Minolta's coatings and corrections for aberrations creates excellent results in most situations. The bokeh is mostly beautiful, there is only some slight fall-off when shot at f/1.4 and the lens is not very prone to ghosting and flare. Watch the video for all the details.
Gear used:
Minolta SRT 101x
Minolta Rokkor-MD 50mm f/1.4
Films used:
Ilford Pan F
Ilford Delta 400
Scanned with my Epson F3200.
Take a look at Lens QA Works if you are curious about more technical details and test results: lens.ws/minolta-md-50mm-f1-4/
If you'd like to get in touch or see some early behind the scenes footage, find me on Instagram: / analog_insights
I bought a Minolta X700 three years ago for $99 US at a local vintage camera shop. It was already serviced and the light meter is still going strong. Came with the F/2. I have been blown away by the photo quality. I think Minoltas might be the most ignored and under-rated cameras in history.
Shhhhh. We don’t want the secret to go out! 😃 it keeps the prices down.
Hahahahahahaha!!!
Great job Max. Would love to see your dad in one of these episodes as well.
My Minolta XD11 and Rokkor 58/1.2 is the main setup for film photography. So much love this, especially with B&W contrast film. 🙂
Thanks for your kind comment. Sounds like a wonderful setup. Enjoy it!
I bought one last week for a good price, wasn't much info around on CZcams so I'm happy you've made this review!
Your video reminded me how much I love my MC version of this lens. It’s the first vintage 50mm lens I purchased a couple years ago (adapted to Sony mirrorless). I shot with it again after watching this. I really love the lens, and appreciate your emotional connection to this great kit.
Great video as always! Thank you for always putting on great content!
I have a similar story, although my lens is the older MC Rokkor PG 50mm f/1.4 model, and my camera is the X-700. Both belonged to my mom, who got the camera as a highschool graduation present in 1983 and passed it down to me when I showed an interest in analog photography. It's really beautiful lens, both in use and the pictures it takes.
Lovely. Thanks for sharing. 🙏🏻
Your videos are therapeutic. Thoughtful and calculated. Really appreciate this presentation of a wonderful lens.
I learned my photography as a young boyback in the 70's with that camera and lens. Wonderful experiences and memories captured.
I have this f/1.4 and also the f/1.7 and basically this is my go to lens on my fuji Xe1. The lens is extremely sharp and he bokeh is pleasing. I love the color rendering but in black and white photos are mind-blowing. Thanks for this review, as always really good
I loved this review, not only because I own the MD 50/1.4 and have enjoyed both its lovely feel and mage-making on my XD-S film SLR, but because the the continuity with your childhood. A charming story, warmly related.
Max could take interesting photographs with ANY camera !! He has such inherent talent. Thank you. RS. Canada
This was the first film lens I ever bought, after watching one of your videos years ago. At the time, I didn't even shoot film; I adapted it to my Fujifilm XT2 and shot everything (even my first wedding shoot) with this lens. Still one of my favorite lenses today, now that I'm primarily a film shooter. Also, my first film camera was an XD11 (XD7) because of your video on it. Thank youǃ
My dad had a minolta as well. IVe kept it all these years. Now I have the sony a7iii and use the minolta AF adapter with it, I love it . ! There is a special touch to it. Thank you for the review
As always a phenomenal piece on an unsung hero of a lens.
Yay Minolta! The 50/1.4 is fantastic! Also gotta love those original mechanical SRT cameras. Every one of them I've ever encountered still has a perfectly fine (and wonderfully loud) working shutter!
Great video. I bought the SRT 101 with the previous version of the lens in 1978 (?).
It cost me a full 6 weeks wages!
I still use it to this day.
Thank you. 👍🏻
A super review , many thanks .
Aww, little Max is so cute😊
Thank you, Max, for sharing your family history with this wonderful 📷. The still images are gorgeous. I’m sold. Gotta check eBay before prices 🚀✌🏼
Thank you for a great video as always
Any of these high quality SLR's made in the period 1950's through the 1980's were a pleasure to use. The felt good in your hands and always yielded great results.
My Uncle taught me how to use his Minolta SRT101 way back in the 1960's. Great camera/lens combination. He still owns it! And uses it frequently.
I enjoyed this video thoroughly! An interesting review as always, with a personal history attached to it. And damn, you look good: glasses, jacket and all. You are by far the best dressed photographer ever! 😻
I own that lens, the new MD III with yellow and white distance marks. I absolutely love it! Very sharp and controller behaviour, lightweight for what it is. This is a total keeper. Thanks!
Hi. I also own this lens. It has a locking switch right next to the field of view scale, that locks the aperture ring when it is on the f16 setting.
Do you know what this is used for?
Thank you
I have this adapted to my fuji XT1, and my Olympus E-M1. It is an amazing lens. I love it. The lens came from my Minolta X700 with a motor drive I bought locally. All in mint shape. I used to shoot film, and might start black and white again. Develop the film myself, and scan the negs. Thanks for the video review.
My XD11 came with this lens and has such a history I couldn't imagine splitting the two, or passing it on to just anyone.
Спасибо большое Вам за обзор Минолта объектив! Как всегда отлично!
Thanks so much! Perfectly as usual
Thank you so much for this wonderful video, Max
A collegue gave me this lens attached to a Minolta X-700. Both are like new. Minolta lenses are often excellent, i like them. I sometimes use them on my Fujifilm X-pro1 with adapter, but most of the time i shoot B&W film. Nice video for a nice lens! Thank you Max!
Ahhh my favourite lens! Glad it's been given the Analog Insights treatment ☺
Sentimental indeed, all our family holiday photos were taken with the SRT101- 50mm 1.4- Kodachrome combo during the 70’s 🙌.
I think that this lens is very close to being the Holy Grail of vintage lenses - fast, cheap, good image quality and coatings.
Great review, as always
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks.
Very nice episode, as always...
I recently got a Minolta MC 1.4/50mm in near mint condition. It has a slightly different optical formula (7 lenses in 5 groups) and is much heavier. Build qualitiy ist great. It is said to be as sharp as the later MD-Version, but has harsher bokeh. Unlike the MDIII it struggles a lot with backlight, correction of CA should be worse.
But it's very fun to use and in good light conditions it brings very beautiful colors. Minolta for me is all about these beautiful colors.
One of my favorite lenses
Great review, thank you !
I have one of these lenses and I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of it :D A great lens!!! I also have the f/2 version as well.
I got the 28, 50, and 80mm. And i love them.
Great review as usual. I’ve been buying up Minolta glass to use on my Fuji gfx 50r. Minolta seemed to over engineer their lenses. As a result they vignette minimally on a medium format sensor. I have the 58mm f1.4 and the 45mm f1.8 and the 35mm f1.8 . All of them are fantastic. I’m gonna pick this one up now. Your reviews are excellent and really enjoy them. Thank you for what you do. Your work is appreciated.
I'm curious to see the results of these lenses with the GFX system, are your photos somewhere online?
This was my first lens (slightly different version) and then I got the 50 1.4 AF for my minolta a9 which I'm surprised you haven't covered!! My family camera was a minolta freedom 90 that I used to play with all the time. Its funny how life works..that almost 15 years later my first photography purchase would be a vintage minolta lens!
My dad gave me his XD7 with this lens, and this lens got me into photography
I want to buy a Minolta XD7 but I am not an expert on analog cameras (I only have many analog lenses that I use with a digital camera). What should I check? What can lower the price? What can't be fixed or is it too expensive? What is a fair price?
@@PaisOnAir im not sure about the XD7, it's fully electrical, and mine had problem with the aperture stops and after a while the electronic fails. So I bought myself an SRT101 body with the same price as repairing my XD7. Ofcourse the SRT101 is fully mechanical which means it doesn't have aperture priority or shutter priority. If you want a camera with manual control, shutter and aperture priority, XD7 is the best choice. But if you just want a tanky and reliable, SRT/SR series is the best choice.
@@pinkkid9433 I like the aperture priority but you're right, something without electronics is better.
@@pinkkid9433 hi! My SRT101 has a really long stroke on the film advance and often I’ll have to double stroke to fully cock the shutter. Does yours do this too?
@@mattdavis9986 yes, it's that way for me too
Hi , i have used minollta srt201 with same 50mm lens back in days 90s ... it was wonderful set if camera and lens but, now actually i got realised that i should not get dis cart this set at all... thank you so, much .
I fully agree with you. It's one of my favorite lens; i own 2 pieces of it (the 55mm filter ones). The zuiko 50mm 1:1.4 (with more 3d depth but not such a nice portrait bokeh) is nice too but most of the time i use the rokkor.
You could consider doing ASMR videos. Not that you are boring, pretty far from it, but mostly because of you voice. It's very calming. I'm a pretty speedy guy, but you manage to get me in a very calm mood.
Thank you for your kind feedback. Glad to hear these videos have such a calming effect. :)
@@AnalogInsights and also learning.
I just ordered an XD-7 + 50mm 1.4, I'm very excited to test them out. The 50mm 1.7 is an excellent lens also, so I'm excited to see how this compares.
I have the MC version, probably my favorite lens ever. Max if you ever get a chance to review the MC 100mm f/2.5 you have to! The loveliest bokeh I’ve ever seen in my life.
I had been eyeing that lens a while ago. The rokkor-PF telephoto 135mm 2.8 has been my favorite portrait lens but just a little too long sometimes so I end up pulling out a modern lenses instead.
Thanks so much for this vid. Informative and inspirational to get out and use my Minolta gear!!! And I don't have the 1.4. Will have to look for one.
Go for it! And thanks for your kind comment.
The first vintage lens I bought was the 1.7 version of this lens and it came with a matching camera thrown in. I really enjoyed adapting it and have only recently started playing around with the original camera.
That was a few years ago, wasnt it? Cant imagine anyone do this now :D
Excelent review and a nice lens. I do have the 1.7 and I love it, but looking for one 1.4.
Great review for a great lens, I have it along with rokkor 55 1.7 and 135 2.8, I get excellent results adapting them on Sony a7r and Fuji xt2.that said, we would appreciate a full review on 135mm portrait lens.
My SRT-100 came with this lens (bought in 1974 and still have camera and lens).
Love mine!
Your youtube channel is very nice! There are many underestimated lenses, I use some Minolta Rokkor lenses with a Fuji X-T20 (35/2.8, 35/1.8, 58/1.4 and 135/2.8) but for the 50mm focal length I use a SMC Pentax-M 50/1.7: I think it's a great lens. I also love Olympus Zuiko lenses but, lately, I bought a Rolleinar MC 85/2.8 and it was a very pleasant discovery. Very beautiful! Nobody knows him.
Someone told me that modern Chinese manual lenses (Meike, Neewer etc) have more sharpness than lenses like Olympus Zuiko MC 24/2.8 and Minolta MC W. Rokkor 35/2.8 (at f5.6 or f8): is this true? I'm talking about use with APSC sensor. Chinese lenses "scare me" because of their rough construction.
I have 3 generations of this lens. MC-X (1973-76), MDII (1978-1980), and MDIII (1981-1984). Yours is in fact a MDII. I love all three, but the II has the best of the "Minolta colors"
How can you tell the MDII apart from the MDIII?
I have the 1.7 and the 135mm and I love them. I find myself reaching for the 135 over my $800 lens it's such a treat to shoot with🤗
Great video!
My dad was also a Minolta fan. The best picture I have taken was with the MD 50mm f1.2.
Whatever Rokkor Minolta lens you get, it will become your favorite. The 1.4, 1.7, 2.0, in 50, 55, 58mm will cost you less than 50 bucks. Although I have the 1.4's, I grabbed the 1.7 55mm to test it out. Of course it was about 28 dollars. It's as sharp as the 1.4's and the treatment it gives is the same. I own Fuji gear and have it's fast primes. But all I want to shoot with is the Minoltas.
I can certainly relate to that. Thank you for your kind comment.
Thanks great video. I have with the 2.0. and also great.
I was fortunate to grab a 50mm 1.2 back in the day. Still have all my manual Minolta bodies as well. Fun stuff.
This lens must be, if not, my favorite. I use it every day on digital and my SRT200.
Nice content.... I don't understand those seven dislikes... Moving on I suggest you to try - even only for yourself - a really dreamy and cheap lens, the Pentacon 50mm f1.8...
Truly a wonderful lens value these days! My copy is a bit of an odd duck in that it's an MC Rokkor-X PG, made before Minolta retired their old two-letter naming system but after they attached the "X" to U.S. products. If I recall correctly this means that mine probably has both the coatings of an MD lens & the metal aperture ring. Whatever exactly its front indicates, however, mine was an exquisite bargain under €40 & I'd still be proud to extoll its virtues at more than twice that price.
I own and prefer this copy as well. One of the many gems from Minolta. Might just be my favorite lens I own.
All three versions of this lens are just amazing though...
Great to see your first camera Max was minolta. I have three SRT 100x like you 101 and 303b 58mm 1,4 45mm.f2 28mm f2,8 i love how fine the detail and or how it Renders long-distance people.
My dad first camera is the Russia Zenit Snipper gun mount. 300mm
After your video I feel a little prouder to own one.
Minolta are great cameras and lenses. I think they are under estimated. Even the last Konica Minolta 70 was a great camera.
I recently purchased a minolta SRT-101 with a mc Rokkor pg 50mm 1: 1.4 lens, and was thinking of shooting black and white. I sure do enjoy your story about your experience.
Mike
It's on my SRT100B most of the time. Took some of the best photographs with it.
XD7 with 50 1.4! What a discerning father, you must have wonderful pictures from those years. Great video once again. Minolta friends can pay a visit to Tony's Lens QA Works.
Great content as always! Would love to see you handling the OM 85mm f2 portrait lens. Grusse aus Melbourne
I own this lens and use it on my XG-M but... It's not a lens I particularly like. I also own the MD 50mm 2.0 and 1.7 (the 1.7 is worse but the 2.0 is much sharper, has a built in lens hood, less CA, and more attractive OOF). The only reason I use the 1.4 is because that extra stop is handy.
For my digital 'fun' photography, I mostly use a Canon FDn 50mm 1.4 which has more aperture blades and far more attractive OOF. The Canon does feel a lot cheaper and the aperture ring sucks but I do really enjoy the longer focus throw and less dampened throw. I do also own a Canon film SLR (AE-1) but the Minolta feels a lot better to me.
Bought this lens (55 mm lens diameter) seven years ago in the used gear section of a local photo store in Germany for 75 Euro in excellent condition. I never used a Minolta SLR camera but wanted to use this lens on my Sony A7R with adapter. It makes a great combo with a lovely bokeh wide open.
Thanks for this, I just found on ebay an MD (3), on it box!.. paper , everything. Seller say is an old new stock the box was necer open😮!. It is free of all the bad stuff so really looking forward to see how it look that gem. I’ll be using with a7iv and techart 9
Mein Vater hat mit vor kurzem seine Minolta XD7 und einigen Objektiven, unter anderem auch die 50mm 1.4 und 135mm 2.8, vermacht. Ich bin total begeistert von Analog und habe ebenfalls sehr schöne Erinnerungen an meinen Vater mit der 50mm.
The Minolta 50mm f1.4 from the late 70s may be the first lens I ever looked through.
Back in the 1970's a Minolta SRT-101 was my brother-in-law's choice of 35mm SLR camera. I was a Nikon user, so Minolta Rokkor lenses were a different species. Looking back, It's as good/basic/useful as the Pentax K1000, and not battery-dependent, like later, automatic exposure models.
Great video. I started with an SRT-101 and 50 f1.7. Good times. Watching this brought back memories. Your B&W images are awesome. Happy for you that you still have this gear, still use and enjoy it.
My first film camera was a black XD7 with this lens. Unfortunately the camera died and had to replace it with the silver version. Such a great combo though. Thanks for another great video Max.
Thanks so much for your comment. And glad to hear you have this lens as well. Beautiful set in combination with the XD7.
I want to buy a Minolta XD7 but I am not an expert on analog cameras (I only have many analog lenses that I use with a digital camera). What should I check? What can lower the price? What can't be fixed or is it too expensive? What is a fair price?
@@PaisOnAir the shutter jammed on my first XD7, not sure if this is a common fault with them but these things happen when using any old camera. In my experience, I have the best luck shopping with Japanese eBay vendors. They offer warranties and fully test their cameras before selling them. If shopping on eBay, try and avoid private listings where they say that the camera is untested. Usually the camera has been tested and it found to be faulty. Alternatively, you could find a reputable camera store and shop with them. The prices will be higher but you will get peace of mind that the camera will be in good working order and have the back up of a warranty.
@@mattdavis9986 Thanks for your suggestions. I've never bought from Japan for customs fees but I see that they often have perfect equipment at lower prices.
@@PaisOnAir happy to help. Customs fees are a downside but I think that it’s worth it in the long run.
I have 3 Rokkor lens from the 1960, all coming from m y father, that I mount on my Fujifilm X-T20 and the results are superb. I did not expect that level of quality in the image from some 1960's lens on a very modern camera
What lenses do you have?
@@PaisOnAir the 35mm f/2.8, the 50 mm macro f/3.5 (this is my favorite) and the 135mm f/3.5
@@nelsonm.5044 How do you rate the sharpness of 35/2.8 in landscape photographs with 5.6/8 aperture? Do you print your photographs? Do you like the results of this lens?
@@PaisOnAir I do not use the 35 mm for landscape photography. I use it mainly for urban and street photography. The lens is not as sharp as more modern lens and the coulours are not as saturated but they are well within and acceptable range and in urban or street photography, this does make a difference in the final product. You can do a side by side print comparison with modern lens, and the average Joe will not see the difference. The advised photographer, probably will see some difference. The adaptor cost me 25 $ and for that price I can use 3 lens that would otherwise collect dust on my shelves. It would have cost me thousand of $$$ to get modern version of those lens, so for the price I love the results.... and you must love manual focusing
@@nelsonm.5044 Thank you. I know the Minolta 35/2.8 because I also use it with an X-T20 (I also have many other vintage lenses), I was interested in your opinion.
awesome video! I believe this is the MD II version of the lens though. The MD III has a bigger focus grip and yellow focus depth markings instead of green.
I love this lens adapted to my Sony A6500
Great review as always! I’d like to hear your opinion on the Minolta Rokkor 40mm/f2 for the Leica M mount or the Minolta CLE. ☮️✌🏾
Thanks for your comment. The 40mm f/2 is solid, not outstanding but alright.
Max: "It's a very affordable lens with great performance"
ebay sellers: "time to up the prices"
I hope not. Thanks for your comment. :)
Seems like that doesnt it lol, every time a CZcams Channel recomends or speaks positively about film gear Prices suddenly go up lol.
These things are so numerous you'd have to buy them by the hundreds if not thousands to meaningfully changes the supply
@@maxwellwellmax878 Exactly, sad, but true. Analog Insights is my #1 Film Photography Channel on YT, there are many, even great Ones, but i prefer Analog Insights here. Beautiful Samples, and it almost feels like a BBC Documentary. Well made, -produced. Love it.
Great video. Thank you for posting. I wonder whether you would consider doing a video with a comparison between this lens, the Pentax Super-Takumar and the Canon LTM? Cheers from Canada.
This lens is the best 50mm lens i have ( in terms of image quality ), only the Canon FD 50mm f1.4 is on par with it.
Even the Rokkor 50mmf1.2 isn't that good, but only when you compare very closely.
Especially between f1.4 and f2.8 the Rokkor 50mmf1.4 is clear, precise and precious in different situations.
(I use all Rokkors on Minolta cameras exclusively.)
I have always thought this lens was severely under rated
I’m always surprised how good Minolta MD 50mm 1.4 is. It’s my best lens (among aprox 30x 50-58mm lenses)
great lens, great guy and as always a great review. But... since we all learned about homeoffice over the last year, i cant stop picturing you sitting there in flamingo boxershorts. upper half all neat 'n fancy. 😂🤣
My only retro lens. But dammit, one of my favorites ^_^
Great review sir, this and Minolta Rokkor-MC 50mm f/1.4 PG , which one is better image quality?
The bad thing Max, with Videos like that, Prices raising up. I have mine since Decades, and just last Fall, received another one as "Bodycap" with a 3rd X700. Literally, it was
Great video. How do you feel about the vintage Mintolta equipment vs. similar from Leica M? Would you ever pick up the Mintola instead of the Leica?
Of course. Doing it all the time. Love my Minolta equipment and get great results with it.
Have you ever tried the Miranda cameras and the Soligor lenses? I have found them to be quite good.
Love this lens and the background music who are they?
Grreetings Max, i must admit, that your shown Minolta MD 50/1.4 Lens is the MD-II Version, the MD-III Version, from 1981 on, does look something different, the markings on the Lens are orange and white, not green & white, as your shown Lens here onto the lovely SRT-100x body.
good video, I am curious to use this lens. how dose this compare with contax 50 1.7 and Pentax 50m 8th edition? regarding bokeh and wide open photos overall?
I'm new to photography, bought a Minolta x700. I built up some supplies...camera bag, strap, tools and had to add 3 light seals that were missing. I'm ready to go but looking for instructions on how to use the lenses I have. I have a prime lense being the Minolta 49mm f 1:17 MD manuel focus. Can you tell me or direct me to how to use the lenses with it's different dials and so forth?
I have a decent sized collection of Minolta MD-mount lenses, but this lens in particular is far and away the one I use the most, not just for my film photography but also adapted to my mirrorless camera.
If anyone is interested in learning more about not only this lens but every other manual focus lens Minolta made, and their manual focus film SLRs, I highly recommend visiting rokkorfiles.com. Tons of information there.
Photographers are some of the most biased people! I started out with a Minolta XG1. Serious people laughed. They kept laughing when I moved thru the SRT's and on to the X700. As film collapsed I could afford the XD and XE series! I still shoot and own several of them with the excellent Minolta Rokar X lenses. They are still a bargain but expect to be hoorawed by the experts!! They don't know or care that Leica had a hand in designing both the XD and XE series and Zeise
helped Minolta with the Rokar glass!! So to all my snooty friends I invite you to blow it out your upturned nose!!
Look up photographer W. Eugene Smith, and his book on the "Minamata disease." He captured this long term environmental catastrophe on Minolta cameras and Rokkor glass, I've read.
Thanks gonna doit!
This lens is so sharp wide open.