MINOLTA 1600mm LENSES

MINOLTA 1600mm LENSES

The 1600mm is the longest focal length lens that Minolta ever made, and appeared in three of Minolta's lens series. It changed a little over time, regarding its filters, optical design, and appearance -- but you will see the same results, no matter which version you find.

The 1600mm lens isn't for everyone. The angle of view of the lens is so narrow that many people can't even find the subject! In fact, Minolta even built a little spotting sight on the top of the lens, just to help you find your "target". It takes a lot of experience to get used to this lens. You'll also need a good back because the lens weights around 15 pounds, and that's without the case or camera. Oh yeah, you'll need a heavy, steady tripod as well -- there's just no way that you can use this lens hand-held.

The 1600mm is a mirror lens, so it's a lot smaller and lighter than it would otherwise be. It has a fixed aperture at f11, which provides almost no depth of field. The exposure can be changed by adjusting the shutter speed, and Minolta included neutral density filters in case you need to reduce the light -- an unlikely occurence. In fact, you'll usually find yourself wishing you had used a faster film with this lens. On a sunny day, with the subject in full sunlight, you'll be shooting at 1/250 with ISO 100 film.

The competition

The Minolta 1600mm lens is very expensive, no matter which version you are looking at. So people want alternatives. There are very few lenses like the 1600mm, but there are some, such as the Honeywell Lumitar 1250mm f10 -- actually a stripped-down Celestron C5 telescope. Most telescopes are designed for astronomical use and produce soft terrestrial pictures.

MINOLTA 1600mm LENSES

LENS FEATURES

IMAGE

COMMENTS

FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm
f-STOPS: 11---
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm
DESIGN: 7/6
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 70'
SIZE: 7"x12.6"
WEIGHT: 14lbs. 12oz.

A new mirror/reflex lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in March 1974, and labelled "RF" for "REFLEX". Like it's 800mm brother, its rear filtration system consisted of slide-in and screw on filters -- interchageable with the 800mm. It came with an INTEGRAL slide-in filter marked "F11", and another slide-in ND4X filter marked "F22" -- as well as 39mm, screw-in L39 (UV), Y48 (Yellow), O56 (Orange), and R60 (Red) filters.

FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm
f-STOPS: 11---
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 66'
SIZE: 7"x12.7"
WEIGHT: 15lbs. 1.6oz.

An updated version of the original with a change in the optical formula, slightly closer focusing, and the Y48 filter changed to Y52.

FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm
f-STOPS: 11---
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 1600mm 1:11 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 70'
SIZE: 7"x12.7"
WEIGHT: 15lbs. 1.6oz.

An updated version of the MC-era Rokkor-X 1600mm 11.0 with the typical cosmetic changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. The UV filter is now labeled "NORMAL".

FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm
f-STOPS: 11---
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA RF 1600mm 1:11 JAPAN
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 66'
SIZE: 7"x12.8"
WEIGHT: 13lbs.14oz.

An updated version of the MD-era Rokkor-X 1600mm 11.0 mirror with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. It's a pound lighter, AND has a new white shell.

**MINOLTA 1600mm LENSES**
LENS FEATURES	IMAGE	COMMENTS
FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm f-STOPS: 11--- PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm DESIGN: 7/6 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 70' SIZE: 7"x12.6" WEIGHT: 14lbs. 12oz.		A new mirror/reflex lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in March 1974, and labelled "RF" for "REFLEX". Like it's 800mm brother, its rear filtration system consisted of slide-in and screw on filters -- interchageable with the 800mm. It came with an INTEGRAL slide-in filter marked "F11", and another slide-in ND4X filter marked "F22" -- as well as 39mm, screw-in L39 (UV), Y48 (Yellow), O56 (Orange), and R60 (Red) filters.
FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm f-STOPS: 11--- PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 66' SIZE: 7"x12.7" WEIGHT: 15lbs. 1.6oz.		An updated version of the original with a change in the optical formula, slightly closer focusing, and the Y48 filter changed to Y52.
FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm f-STOPS: 11--- PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 1600mm 1:11 LENS MADE IN JAPAN DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 70' SIZE: 7"x12.7" WEIGHT: 15lbs. 1.6oz.		An updated version of the MC-era Rokkor-X 1600mm 11.0 with the typical cosmetic changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. The UV filter is now labeled "NORMAL".
FOCAL LENGTH: 1600mm f-STOPS: 11--- PERIOD: 1981-present INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA RF 1600mm 1:11 JAPAN DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 66' SIZE: 7"x12.8" WEIGHT: 13lbs.14oz.		An updated version of the MD-era Rokkor-X 1600mm 11.0 mirror with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. It's a pound lighter, AND has a new white shell.

COPYRIGHT @ 1995-2024 by Joe McGloin.

All Rights Reserved. The material on this website is protected by US Federal copyright laws. It cannot be copied or used in any manner without specific approval from the owner.

The material on this website is protected by US Federal copyright laws. It cannot be copied or used in any manner without specific approval from the owner.