MINOLTA 85mm LENSES

MINOLTA 85mm LENSES

"Stepping Stones", Japanese Garden, Portland, Oregon, 2005
Minolta XD-11(model b) at ¼ sec.
Minolta MC Rokkor-X 85mm f1.7 at f8
Fujichrome Velvia 100F
Hoya HMC Skylight (1B) filter
Copyright @ 2005 by Scott DeSelle

Many consider an 85mm to be the perfect portrait lens. It's long, but not too long. Most camera companies offer one 85mm lens -- or, at the most, two 85mm lenses. Minolta did it one better by producing a superb, soft-focus 85mm. All of these lenses are wonderful optics and are highly rated. As a result, all of them can be hard to find, and pricey -- often both.

The competition

There are very few 85mm lenses from other companies. The only ones to consider are the Rokunar 85mm f1.7 -- which is impossible to find -- and the Fujinon f4.0 for soft-focus work. The Fuji is also impossible to find and requires a P-adapter since it is only available in a 42mm universal thread.

MINOLTA 85mm LENSES

LENS FEATURES

IMAGE

COMMENTS

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-16
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA VARISOFT ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 2.6'
SIZE: 2.8"x3.1"
WEIGHT: 15.2oz.

A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MD Rokkor-X series, it adds "Varisoft" -- adjustable softness control of spherical aberration. It lacks the MD tab because that is only used when the lens is set at the minimum f-stop -- for shutter priority or programmed automatic exposure mode. With this lens, the f-stop and varisoft dial are used in compination to control the soft-focus effect.

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-16
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA VARISOFT 85mm 1:2.8 JAPAN ø55mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 2.6'
SIZE: 2.8"x3.1"
WEIGHT: 15.2oz.

An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 85mm 2.8 Varisoft with some of the changes of the MD Minolta series -- it kept the green distance lettering and rubber waffling of the MD Rokkor-X series.

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 2-22
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=85mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 49
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 2.8'
SIZE: 2.5"x2.1"
WEIGHT: 9.9oz.

A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MD Rokkor-X series. Think of it as a smaller, lighter, less expensive version of the MD Rokkor-X 85mm 1.7 -- with a smaller filter thread.

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 2-22
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD 85mm 1:2 JAPAN ø49mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 49
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 2.8'
SIZE: 2.5"x2.2"
WEIGHT: 10.1oz.

An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 85mm 2.0 with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series.

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 1.7-22
PERIOD: 1966-1972
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:1.7 f=85mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 3.3'
SIZE: 2.8"x2.5"
WEIGHT: 1lb. 2oz.

Introduced in September of 1970, it is a new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MC Rokkor series. This was Minolta's first 85mm lens for their SLR cameras, and it was a real speed demon.

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 1.7-16
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X PF 1:1.7 f=85mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=85mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 3.3'
SIZE: 2.5"x2.8"
WEIGHT: 1lbs. 0.3oz.

An updated version of the MC Rokkor 85mm 1.7 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series.

FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm
f-STOPS: 1.7-22
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=85mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:1.7 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 3.3'
SIZE: 2.8"x2.4"
WEIGHT: 1lbs.

An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 85mm 1.7 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. This lens has a slightly different lens design compared to the previous model.

**MINOLTA 85mm LENSES**
LENS FEATURES	IMAGE	COMMENTS
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 2.8-16 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA VARISOFT ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 2.6' SIZE: 2.8"x3.1" WEIGHT: 15.2oz.		A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MD Rokkor-X series, it adds "Varisoft" -- adjustable softness control of spherical aberration. It lacks the MD tab because that is only used when the lens is set at the minimum f-stop -- for shutter priority or programmed automatic exposure mode. With this lens, the f-stop and varisoft dial are used in compination to control the soft-focus effect.
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 2.8-16 PERIOD: 1981-present INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA VARISOFT 85mm 1:2.8 JAPAN ø55mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 2.6' SIZE: 2.8"x3.1" WEIGHT: 15.2oz.		An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 85mm 2.8 Varisoft with some of the changes of the MD Minolta series -- it kept the green distance lettering and rubber waffling of the MD Rokkor-X series.
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 2-22 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=85mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 49 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 2.8' SIZE: 2.5"x2.1" WEIGHT: 9.9oz.		A new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MD Rokkor-X series. Think of it as a smaller, lighter, less expensive version of the MD Rokkor-X 85mm 1.7 -- with a smaller filter thread.
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 2-22 PERIOD: 1981-present INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD 85mm 1:2 JAPAN ø49mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 49 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 2.8' SIZE: 2.5"x2.2" WEIGHT: 10.1oz.		An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 85mm 2.0 with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series.
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 1.7-22 PERIOD: 1966-1972 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:1.7 f=85mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 3.3' SIZE: 2.8"x2.5" WEIGHT: 1lb. 2oz.		Introduced in September of 1970, it is a new lens to the Minolta line-up of SLR lenses in the MC Rokkor series. This was Minolta's first 85mm lens for their SLR cameras, and it was a real speed demon.
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 1.7-16 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X PF 1:1.7 f=85mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=85mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 3.3' SIZE: 2.5"x2.8" WEIGHT: 1lbs. 0.3oz.		An updated version of the MC Rokkor 85mm 1.7 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series.
FOCAL LENGTH: 85mm f-STOPS: 1.7-22 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=85mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:1.7 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 3.3' SIZE: 2.8"x2.4" WEIGHT: 1lbs.		An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 85mm 1.7 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series. This lens has a slightly different lens design compared to the previous model.

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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.