MINOLTA 28mm f3.5 LENSES
"Bricks", 2016
Minolta X-700
Minolta 28mm f3.5 MC W-Rokkor SG
Kodak TYM 400
Copyright @ 2016 by Peter Elgar
The Minolta 28mm f3.5 lenses were always the economy models of the 28mm. This does not mean that they are poor-quality shooters or cheaply-made. What it does mean is that they are smaller, lighter and cost less. Even the first Minolta 28mm f3.5 lens was a seven group design, which is quite complicated to manufacture. The only drawback to these lenses is that the viewfinder is slightly darker, and you'll have to move the camera to a tripod sooner in low-light conditions. If size, weight, or cost are factors in your 28mm decision, then the f3.5 model is perfect for you. The problem will be deciding which Minolta model to buy. The table below will help you decide.
The competition
There are very few 28mm f3.5 competitor lenses out there, and they should all be thought of as low-cost junk. Many people opt for a competitor's 28mm f2.8 version over a Minolta f3.5. This can be a big mistake since many competitor lenses are less expensive because they use fewer elements in their construction. For example, you can find on Owens 28mm f2.8 for under $20, but the results aren't worth a nickel.
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LENS FEATURES |
IMAGE |
COMMENTS |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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Minolta's first 28mm lens for the SLR cameras. At the time, 35mm was as wide as you could go without having to use a mirror lock-up design in an SLR. This lens has a retro-focus design to solve that necessity. It has a very wide filter thread, and came with an unusual rectangular lens shade which had to be carefully positioned. Fortuantely, the front filter thread does not rotate as you change focus. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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This is a continuation of the 28mm f3.5 from the Auto Rokkor series -- with meter coupling. There was a very slight change in the optical formula, but it didn't change the size or weight very much. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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A later version of the MC f3.5 with a standard 55mm thread. There was a significant change in the optical formula even though the number of elements and groups remained the same. The change made the lens slightly smaller and lighter. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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An updated version of the MC Rokkor 28mm 3.5 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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A less expensive version of the MC Rokkor-X 28mm 3.5. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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A late variant of the MC Rokkor-X 28mm 3.5 with a 5/5 construction. This 5/5 lens design continued into the MD Rokkor-X version of this lens. The advantage of this lens is that it focuses much closer and is two ounces lighter. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 28mm 3.5 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 28mm 3.5 with a smaller filter thread. If you want a tiny 28mm, this is it. |
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FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm |
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An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 28mm 3.5 with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. Hard to find in the USA. |
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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.
