MINOLTA 35mm f1.8 LENSES


Minolta made a lot of great 35mm f2.8 lenses. There is only one problem with these lenses -- they are kind of slow.  Many people like to use 35mm lenses as their all-round lens and a f2.8 is just too slow for that.  Minolta appreciated ths and developed the 35mm f1.8.  It's a fast, top-quality lens.  In fact, many people state that if they had to live with just one lens -- this would be it.  The original lens was quite large and heavy -- about the size of a 100mm lens -- but the results are superb.  It is considered the gold-standard of 35mm lenses. The later versions were smaller and lighter, but they are not better in results.

The competition

While there are lots of alternative 35mm lenses out there, there are only a couple of FAST 35mm lenses.  The best are the Soligor 35mm f2.0 and the Vivitar 35mm f1.9, but the results don't match those of the Minolta 35mm f1.8.  

MINOLTA 35mm f1.8 LENSES

LENS FEATURES

IMAGE

COMMENTS

FOCAL LENGTH: 35mm
f-STOPS: 1.8-16
PERIOD: 1966-1972
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC W. ROKKOR - HH 1:1.8 f=35mm
DESIGN: 8/6
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 1'
SIZE: 2.6"x2.6"
WEIGHT: 14.8oz.

A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses appearing in 1968. Think of it as a faster version of the MC Rokkor 35mm f2.8. It is substantially larger and heavier (thanks to its retro-focus design), but it focuses closer. Users are very impressed with the results from this lens. Even opened up to f1.8, the results are great (although the DOF is shallow), and stopped down two f-stops, the results are superb. It has a six-blade aperture and a built-in DOF lever. With it's fast f1.8 aperture, great close-focusing capability, wide coverage, and superb results, many prefer this as their normal lens. Although it was designed before the MC Rokkor-X period, it's f-stops will appear in the viewfinder of cameras that have that option.

FOCAL LENGTH: 35mm
f-STOPS: 1.8-16
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC W. ROKKOR-X HH 1:1.8 f=35mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC W. ROKKOR-X 1:1.8 f=35mm
DESIGN: 8/6
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 1'
SIZE: 2.6"x2.6"
WEIGHT: 14.6oz.

An updated version of the MC Rokkor 35mm 1.8 with the improved cosmetics and lens coating of the MC Rokkor-X series. The early version of this lens retained the DOF button.

FOCAL LENGTH: 35mm
f-STOPS: 1.8-22
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:1.8 f=35mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 35mm 1:1.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
DESIGN: 8/6
FILTER: 49
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 1'
SIZE: 2.5"x1.9"
WEIGHT: 8.4oz.

An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 35mm 1.8 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. This model was made substantially smaller and lighter due to a new optical design and plastic parts. The filter thread was reduced from 55mm to 49mm.

FOCAL LENGTH: 35mm
f-STOPS: 1.8-22
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD 35mm 1:1.8 JAPAN ø49mm
DESIGN: 8/6
FILTER: 49
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 1'
SIZE: 2.5"x1.9"
WEIGHT: 8.4oz.

An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 35mm 1.8 with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series.

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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.