MINOLTA 800mm LENSES

MINOLTA 800mm LENSES

The 800mm f8 holds the record as Minolta's longest made CAT -- from BEFORE the Rokkor-X series until AFTER Minolta dropped the Rokkor name from their lenses. It changed very little over time, and you will see the same results, no matter which version you purchase because it has the same optical design.

The 800mm lens isn't for everyone. The angle of view of the lens is so narrow that many people can't even find the subject. It takes a lot of experience to get used to this lens -- and you'll need a heavy, steady tripod as well.

The 800mm is a mirror lens, so it's a lot smaller and lighter than it would otherwise be. It has a fixed aperture at f8, which provides almost no depth of field. The exposure can be changed by adjusting the shutter speed, and Minolta included a neutral density filter in case you need to reduce the light -- and unlikely occurance.

The competition

There are a few lenses like the 800mm, from the likes of Vivitar, and most have a T-mount for easy attachment to any SLR.

MINOLTA 800mm LENSES

LENS FEATURES IMAGE COMMENTS

FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm
f-STOPS: 6.3-32
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: LEITZ TELYT-S
DESIGN: 3/1
FILTER: 132
DIAPHRAGM: preset
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 41'
SIZE: 6"x31"
WEIGHT: 15lb. A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses. This is actually a Leitz Telyt refractive lens with a Minolta SR mount. It bore the Leica name and was only available at Leitz dealerships -- but most large photo shops carried both Minolta and Leitz products at that time. It was introduced at Photokina in 1972 in time for the Olympics in Munich. In 1974, the lens sold in the US -- for $23,000 (that's $1,500 per pound) with a complimentary Volkswagen Beetle thrown in with it! Only 350 were made.
At the same time, Minolta sold the 800mm RF Rokkor-X (below) at Leitz dealerships with a Leica mount, and kept the Minolta label -- for a "little" less than $23,000, and no Beetle.

FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm
f-STOPS: 8---
PERIOD: 1966-1972
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR 1:8 f=80cm
DESIGN: 8/7
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 26'
SIZE: 4.9"x5.8"
WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz. A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MC Rokkor series -- it is marked in centimeters (CM) instead of millimeters (MM), like all of Minolta's early lenses over 200mm. Mirror optics design. It comes with two slide-in, integral filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X -- to approximate f16. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted, threaded color filters -- L39(UV), Y48 (yellow), O56 (Orange), R60 (Red).

FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm
f-STOPS: 8---
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:8 f=800mm
DESIGN: 8/7
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 26'
SIZE: 4.9"x5.8"
WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz. An updated version of the MC Rokkor 800mm 8.0 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series. It has two built-in filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted threaded filters -- Y48 changed to Y52.

FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm
f-STOPS: 8---
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:8 f=800mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 800mm 1:8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
DESIGN: 8/7
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 26'
SIZE: 4.9"x5.8"
WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz. An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 800mm 8.0 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. It has two built-in filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted threaded filters -- UV re-labeled as NORMAL.
This lens was also sold by Minolta with a Leica mount for use on cameras with that mount, and why not? A Leica 800mm (non reflex optics) was also sold by Minolta with a Minolta mount -- see above.

FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm
f-STOPS: 8---
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA RF 800mm 1:8 JAPAN
DESIGN: 8/7
FILTER: special
DIAPHRAGM: fixed
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 26'
SIZE: 4.9"x5.8"
WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz. An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 800mm 8.0 mirror with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. It has two built-in filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted threaded filters. New white shell.

**MINOLTA 800mm LENSES**
LENS FEATURES	IMAGE	COMMENTS
FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm f-STOPS: 6.3-32 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: LEITZ TELYT-S DESIGN: 3/1 FILTER: 132 DIAPHRAGM: preset MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 41' SIZE: 6"x31" WEIGHT: 15lb.		A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses. This is actually a Leitz Telyt refractive lens with a Minolta SR mount. It bore the Leica name and was only available at Leitz dealerships -- but most large photo shops carried both Minolta and Leitz products at that time. It was introduced at Photokina in 1972 in time for the Olympics in Munich. In 1974, the lens sold in the US -- for $23,000 (that's $1,500 per pound) with a complimentary Volkswagen Beetle thrown in with it! Only 350 were made. At the same time, Minolta sold the 800mm RF Rokkor-X (below) at Leitz dealerships with a Leica mount, and kept the Minolta label -- for a "little" less than $23,000, and no Beetle.
FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm f-STOPS: 8--- PERIOD: 1966-1972 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR 1:8 f=80cm DESIGN: 8/7 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 26' SIZE: 4.9"x5.8" WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz.		A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MC Rokkor series -- it is marked in centimeters (CM) instead of millimeters (MM), like all of Minolta's early lenses over 200mm. Mirror optics design. It comes with two slide-in, integral filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X -- to approximate f16. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted, threaded color filters -- L39(UV), Y48 (yellow), O56 (Orange), R60 (Red).
FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm f-STOPS: 8--- PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:8 f=800mm DESIGN: 8/7 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 26' SIZE: 4.9"x5.8" WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz.		An updated version of the MC Rokkor 800mm 8.0 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series. It has two built-in filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted threaded filters -- Y48 changed to Y52.
FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm f-STOPS: 8--- PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:8 f=800mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 800mm 1:8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN DESIGN: 8/7 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 26' SIZE: 4.9"x5.8" WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz.		An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 800mm 8.0 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. It has two built-in filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted threaded filters -- UV re-labeled as NORMAL. This lens was also sold by Minolta with a Leica mount for use on cameras with that mount, and why not? A Leica 800mm (non reflex optics) was also sold by Minolta with a Minolta mount -- see above.
FOCAL LENGTH: 800mm f-STOPS: 8--- PERIOD: 1981-present INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA RF 800mm 1:8 JAPAN DESIGN: 8/7 FILTER: special DIAPHRAGM: fixed MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 26' SIZE: 4.9"x5.8" WEIGHT: 4lb. 5oz.		An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 800mm 8.0 mirror with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. It has two built-in filters: one is clear and the other is an ND4X. In addition, it comes with a set of four 39mm rear-mounted threaded filters. New white shell.

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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.