MINOLTA 100mm & 135mm BELLOWS LENSES

MINOLTA 100mm & 135mm BELLOWS LENSES

"Glacier Lilies", Mt. Zirkel Wilderness, Colorado, 1977
Minolta SRT102 at 1/25 with Minolta Auto Bellows I
Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor-X 100mm f4.0 at f8
Kodachrome 25 color slide film
Hoya UV filter
Copyright @ 1977 by Joe McGloin

Bellows lenses are sometimes referred to as short-mount lenses since the part of the lens barrel that focuses the lens has been removed. It's not needed since these lenses are designed to be used on a bellows -- and the bellows does the "focusing". This keeps the lenses small, light and less expensive -- BUT, you have to have a bellows. Fortunately, these are not expensive, but they are more difficult to use than a typical lens.

Unlike many SLR manufacturers, Minolta always had a commitment to close-up photography, and sold a wide range of lenses designed for use on a bellows and for macro- and micro-photography. Minolta made bellows lenses in five focal lengths:

12.5mm
25mm
50mm
100mm
135mm

At one end of the spectrum are the 100mm and 135mm lenses. These were the first bellows lens made by Minolta and are considered the standard by which the other bellows lenses are measured. The first bellows lenses were designed to be able to focus to infinity. This is useful under some circumstances, but most people use a bellows for macro-photographic purposes -- focusing to infinity is the last thing on their mind. These lenses will focus to 1:1, AKA (Also Known As) 1X or life-size -- or closer, depending on the amount of extension on the bellows. Some even have automatic diaphragms which was a breakthough in bellows operations, but you'll need an automatic bellows to utilize this feature. Minolta later added shorter focal length lenses to their line-up to get even higher magnifications!

Minolta also made a wide variety of enlarging lenses that make exellent bellows lenses with the correct adapter. In addition, Minolta made macro lenses in 50mm and 100mm lenses which allow close-up photograhy WITHOUT a bellows, but if you want to get REALLY close, you need a bellows and a bellows lens!

MINOLTA 100mm & 135mm BELLOWS LENSES

LENS FEATURES

IMAGE

COMMENTS

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 4-22
PERIOD: 1958-1966
INSCRIPTION:
FIRST STYLE: MINOLTA BELLOWS ROKKOR - TC 1:4 f=135mm. "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" unpainted on the barrel
SECOND STYLE: MINOLTA BELLOWS ROKKOR - TC 1:4 f=135mm. "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" painted white on the barrel
THIRD STYLE: MINOLTA BELLOWS ROKKOR - TC 1:4 f=135mm LENS MADE IN JAPAN
DESIGN: 3/3
FILTER: 46
DIAPHRAGM: preset
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: --
SIZE: 2.2"x2.2"
WEIGHT: 7oz.

Minolta's first short-mount lens (i.e., designed for use on a bellows), it has a Leica thread (39mm) and was supplied with a Leica-to-Minolta adapter. Why a Leica thread? Minolta knew that sales of a specialty lens, such as this, would be relatively low. By supplying it with a Leica thread, users of other cameras (not just Minolta and Leica) could adapt it to their particular camera. The lens was not, as some suggest, designed, nor maufactured by -- or for -- Leica. The lens is, in fact, the Minolta 135mm f4.0 Rokkor with the focusing mount removed. Consequently, for close-up work the results are not as good as might be expected with a bellows lens, since the lens is not a flat-field optic.

FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm
f-STOPS: 4-32
PERIOD: 1966-1972
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR 1:4 f=100mm
DESIGN: 3/3
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: --
SIZE: 2.5"x1.4"
WEIGHT: 5.9oz.

A short-mount bellows lens that replaced the Rokkor 135mm 4.0. It came with an auto-diaphragm (quite an achievement for a bellows lens) and did not require a special adapter. It was designed to be used with the Auto Bellows I which provided automatic diaphragm operation, but is usable on any Minolta bellows. And because it has an automatic diaphragm, it has a stop-down button to allow for depth-of-field previewing for cameras lacking that feature. Like it's predecessor, it is not a flat-field optic, so it's best to stop-down as much as possible.

FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm
f-STOPS: 4-32
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm
DESIGN: 3/3
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: --
SIZE: 2.5"x1.4"
WEIGHT: 5.9oz.

Identical in all respects to the earlier Rokkor 100mm 4.0 bellows lens, except for the lens inscription. It might have benefited from the improved lens coating of the MC Rokkor-X period.

FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm
f-STOPS: 4-32
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
DESIGN: 3/3
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: --
SIZE: 2.5"x1.4"
WEIGHT: 5.4oz.

Identical in all respects to the earlier Rokkor-X 100mm 4.0 bellows lens, except that it lacked the stop-down button to allow for depth-of-field preview. It was also slightly lighter. It was sold during the MD Rokkor-X period, so for a time, Minolta sold two 100mm bellows lenses (see below) which seems odd. Keep in mind that one of the two lenses was more expensive, and perhaps Minolta had a lot of left-over stock to "unload".

FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm
f-STOPS: 4-32
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:4 JAPAN
DESIGN: 5/4
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: --
SIZE: 2.2"x1.1"
WEIGHT: 5.3oz.

This is an updated version of the Rokkor-X 100mm 4.0 bellows lens with more glass elements to allow for a larger image circle for use on the new Auto Bellows III. The ABIII has shift and swing movements, so the lenses need to be able to cover a much larger area when at lower magnifications. Despite the change in optical formula, the new 100mm bellows lens is smaller than the earlier versions. One reason for this is the separate lenshood. Unlike the EARLIER MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 100mm LENSES which had a built-in 55mm filter thread, this model has a 34mm filter thread and an accessory lens shade that has a 55mm filter thread on the front of it. With the lens shade attached, the lens looks a lot longer, but it really isn't. Filters can be used on the 55mm front, or if space is limited, in a special 34mm gelatin filter holder that is placed between the lens and the lens shade. The rear element of this lens sticks out from the back even more than its predecessor. To deal with this issue, Minolta rubber-coated the rear edges of the lens, so that if someone places the lens on a camera without a bellows -- a complete waste of time -- the mirror will be protected if the shutter release is pressed. The only drawbacks to this lens are the price, the low availablity, and the fact that the lens cannot be used with a normal rear lens cap because the rear element sticks out too far! (If you lose your lenscap, a lenscap from a Tamron-Minolta Adaptall 2 adapter or Sigma lens will probably fit.)

FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm
f-STOPS: 4-32
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS MACRO 100mm 1:4 JAPAN
DESIGN: 5/4
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: --
SIZE: 2.2"x1.1"
WEIGHT: 5.3oz.

Identical to the MD Rokkor-X 100mm 4.0 bellows lens but sold at the same time as the MD Minolta series -- so it lacks the ROKKOR name.

MINOLTA 100mm & 135mm BELLOWS LENSES
LENS FEATURES	IMAGE	COMMENTS
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 4-22 PERIOD: 1958-1966 INSCRIPTION: FIRST STYLE: MINOLTA BELLOWS ROKKOR - TC 1:4 f=135mm. "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" unpainted on the barrel SECOND STYLE: MINOLTA BELLOWS ROKKOR - TC 1:4 f=135mm. "LENS MADE IN JAPAN" painted white on the barrel THIRD STYLE: MINOLTA BELLOWS ROKKOR - TC 1:4 f=135mm LENS MADE IN JAPAN DESIGN: 3/3 FILTER: 46 DIAPHRAGM: preset MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: -- SIZE: 2.2"x2.2" WEIGHT: 7oz.		Minolta's first short-mount lens (i.e., designed for use on a bellows), it has a Leica thread (39mm) and was supplied with a Leica-to-Minolta adapter. Why a Leica thread? Minolta knew that sales of a specialty lens, such as this, would be relatively low. By supplying it with a Leica thread, users of other cameras (not just Minolta and Leica) could adapt it to their particular camera. The lens was not, as some suggest, designed, nor maufactured by -- or for -- Leica. The lens is, in fact, the Minolta 135mm f4.0 Rokkor with the focusing mount removed. Consequently, for close-up work the results are not as good as might be expected with a bellows lens, since the lens is not a flat-field optic.
FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm f-STOPS: 4-32 PERIOD: 1966-1972 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR 1:4 f=100mm DESIGN: 3/3 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: -- SIZE: 2.5"x1.4" WEIGHT: 5.9oz.		A short-mount bellows lens that replaced the Rokkor 135mm 4.0. It came with an auto-diaphragm (quite an achievement for a bellows lens) and did not require a special adapter. It was designed to be used with the Auto Bellows I which provided automatic diaphragm operation, but is usable on any Minolta bellows. And because it has an automatic diaphragm, it has a stop-down button to allow for depth-of-field previewing for cameras lacking that feature. Like it's predecessor, it is not a flat-field optic, so it's best to stop-down as much as possible.
FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm f-STOPS: 4-32 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm DESIGN: 3/3 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: -- SIZE: 2.5"x1.4" WEIGHT: 5.9oz.		Identical in all respects to the earlier Rokkor 100mm 4.0 bellows lens, except for the lens inscription. It might have benefited from the improved lens coating of the MC Rokkor-X period.
FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm f-STOPS: 4-32 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN DESIGN: 3/3 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: -- SIZE: 2.5"x1.4" WEIGHT: 5.4oz.		Identical in all respects to the earlier Rokkor-X 100mm 4.0 bellows lens, except that it lacked the stop-down button to allow for depth-of-field preview. It was also slightly lighter. It was sold during the MD Rokkor-X period, so for a time, Minolta sold two 100mm bellows lenses (see below) which seems odd. Keep in mind that one of the two lenses was more expensive, and perhaps Minolta had a lot of left-over stock to "unload".
FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm f-STOPS: 4-32 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:4 JAPAN DESIGN: 5/4 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: -- SIZE: 2.2"x1.1" WEIGHT: 5.3oz.		This is an updated version of the Rokkor-X 100mm 4.0 bellows lens with more glass elements to allow for a larger image circle for use on the new Auto Bellows III. The ABIII has shift and swing movements, so the lenses need to be able to cover a much larger area when at lower magnifications. Despite the change in optical formula, the new 100mm bellows lens is smaller than the earlier versions. One reason for this is the separate lenshood. Unlike the EARLIER MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 100mm LENSES which had a built-in 55mm filter thread, this model has a 34mm filter thread and an accessory lens shade that has a 55mm filter thread on the front of it. With the lens shade attached, the lens looks a lot longer, but it really isn't. Filters can be used on the 55mm front, or if space is limited, in a special 34mm gelatin filter holder that is placed between the lens and the lens shade. The rear element of this lens sticks out from the back even more than its predecessor. To deal with this issue, Minolta rubber-coated the rear edges of the lens, so that if someone places the lens on a camera without a bellows -- a complete waste of time -- the mirror will be protected if the shutter release is pressed. The only drawbacks to this lens are the price, the low availablity, and the fact that the lens cannot be used with a normal rear lens cap because the rear element sticks out too far! (If you lose your lenscap, a lenscap from a Tamron-Minolta Adaptall 2 adapter or Sigma lens will probably fit.)
FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm f-STOPS: 4-32 PERIOD: 1981-present INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS MACRO 100mm 1:4 JAPAN DESIGN: 5/4 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: -- SIZE: 2.2"x1.1" WEIGHT: 5.3oz.		Identical to the MD Rokkor-X 100mm 4.0 bellows lens but sold at the same time as the MD Minolta series -- so it lacks the ROKKOR name.

"Can't Miss", Branford, Connecticut, 1975
Minolta XE-7 at 1/60 with Minolta Auto Bellows I
Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor-X 100mm f4.0 at f11
Kodachrome 25 color slide film
Hoya UV filter
Copyright @ 1975 by Joe McGloin

COPYRIGHT @ 1995-2021 by Joe McGloin.

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