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Question about Minolta MF lens
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:36 pm    Post subject: Question about Minolta MF lens Reply with quote
Hi all ...
I just found a nice ( and cheap) minolta lens in a store :
MINOLTA MC-Macro 1:3,5 / 50 mm
The lens looks well built and robust but I am far away to be a Minolta specialist and I m wondering about the lens quality .
Haven't found any revelant informations about this lens on the web...
So I would be very pleased if you could give me some informations and advices ...
To Buy or not to buy That's the question ... Laughing
thanks in advance


PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi!

It is not easy to convert a Minolta lens to a EOS-mount.
I just tried it with a 1.7/50 and although I removed the original mount and replaced it by an M42-EOS-adapter, I did not gain enough to get inf. focus, well, not even close. This lens focuses to about 1m. Sad

Last edited by LucisPictor on Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:13 am; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
LucisPictor wrote:
Hi!

It is not easy to convert a Minolta lens to a EOS-mount.
I just tried it with a 1.7/50 and although I removed the original mount and replaced it by a M42-EOS-adapter, I did not gain enough to get inf. focus, well, not even close. This lens focuses to about 1m. Sad


there are something like half millimeter difference in register. After removal of mount you need to take into account the thickness of the adapter and whatever the difference between the two, apply it to the half millimeter register difference between EOS and manual Minolta.

The work should not be impossible. You only need to verify the distances very accurately.
-


PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I ordered a Minolta adapter to my Olympus so I able to show some Minolta reviews. Yeah, this is the main benefits of 4/3 40,5mm register distance!Almost all lenses are usable on my camera.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I, too, currently shoot Canon EOS, and used to use Minolta MD. I have several lenses, and not one is a viable candidate for conversion. With the lenses I have you cannot remove enough of the existing mount, have the lens still workable, and adapt to the Canon.

I would submit that if you are going to stick with Canon, as I will, just put Minolta--and for that matter, old Canon FD, out of your mind.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
440roadrunner wrote:
I, too, currently shoot Canon EOS, and used to use Minolta MD. I have several lenses, and not one is a viable candidate for conversion. With the lenses I have you cannot remove enough of the existing mount, have the lens still workable, and adapt to the Canon.

I would submit that if you are going to stick with Canon, as I will, just put Minolta--and for that matter, old Canon FD, out of your mind.


I would never deface a lens in such a way. If I feel the need to use a Minolta manual lens, I will buy a Minolta manual camera. They come super cheap. There is still life beyond digital.

-


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
I ordered a Minolta adapter to my Olympus so I able to show some Minolta reviews. Yeah, this is the main benefits of 4/3 40,5mm register distance!Almost all lenses are usable on my camera.


If you were wanting to purchase an Olympus digital SLR now, which one would you buy? Are there any past models that would be particularly good cameras?

I LOVE to ask questions of you, Atilla! Laughing

Seriously, I value your opinion highly.

Best, Laurence


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Orio wrote:
LucisPictor wrote:
Hi!

It is not easy to convert a Minolta lens to a EOS-mount.
I just tried it with a 1.7/50 and although I removed the original mount and replaced it by a M42-EOS-adapter, I did not gain enough to get inf. focus, well, not even close. This lens focuses to about 1m. Sad


there are something like half millimeter difference in register. After removal of mount you need to take into account the thickness of the adapter and whatever the difference between the two, apply it to the half millimeter register difference between EOS and manual Minolta.

The work should not be impossible. You only need to verify the distances very accurately.
-


This is correct, but it is only possible with some lenses. My lens for example has the original mount just added to the back of the lens. So when you remove it, you don't gain any space, so the adapter will at max. be as deep as the original, which in turn means you don't have inf.focus.
Other lenses can be dis- and re-assembled in a way that you get enough space to add an adapter. You need to check the lens beforehand.
(I just paid € 1,50 for mine, so that was no loss.)


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 10:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Laurence wrote:
Attila wrote:
I ordered a Minolta adapter to my Olympus so I able to show some Minolta reviews. Yeah, this is the main benefits of 4/3 40,5mm register distance!Almost all lenses are usable on my camera.


If you were wanting to purchase an Olympus digital SLR now, which one would you buy? Are there any past models that would be particularly good cameras?

I LOVE to ask questions of you, Atilla! Laughing

Seriously, I value your opinion highly.

Best, Laurence


Laughing Thank you !!!

I restarted photography with a Nikon D50 , fantastic camera especially for money what you have to pay, but because register distance is the longest to use other lenses chance is very limited.

I had to choice a different camera I could choice from following ones:
- Canon 350D
- Pentax K100D
-Olympus E300,E500,E1

Canon 350D was to small to my hand any other parameter was pretty ok.
Built in Flash not allowed to use large diameter lenses like Russian mirrors.
Can't use one of the finest Konica lenses.
It has focus confirmation adapters HUGE BENEFITS!

-Pentax choices same limited than on Nikon, so wasn't a serious possibility.

Olympus Exxx

E300,E500 mostly ok, but I bought an E500 and black LCD was so crappy, I brought back immediately the shop after some test shoots. I thought both have same crap LCD back so I didn't count with E300 too. E330 was so expensive and no benefits from live view to me.
Only choice remain E-1 , this time latest copies were still available brand new in some shop.

E-1 benefits
- short register distance as all 4/3 system allmost all lenses are adaptable
- professional wheather proof build
- huge I hate small woman cameras like latest DSLR-s
- no built in flash so large diameter lenses are usable
- with little modification Konica lenses are adaptable
- compare camera quality price is low.
- easy user replacable split screen

Disadvantages
- no focus confirmation adapter available
(changing Russian made for Olympus E-300,E500, E410,etc, only E-1 not works fine yet.)

I sugesst to take a look on latest models , how the black LCD works and try to get information about Russian made confirmation adapter.If you have adapter black LCD not very important so you can get cheaply an excellent E-300.

If I have money for a second camera I will take a Canon D400 it has so many benefits I listen to Orio.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
If you don't mind a smaller cam, the E-510 would be a great choice today!


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 11:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi,
I have read about the way to hack the legendary Rokkor 58/1.2 to the EOS mount. Someone has tried to modify (to shave) the m42-EOS mount to fit the original edge. Today I received the same one with smarter solution. The original mount has been changed by the T mount- EOS adapter. And the lens has absolute infinity focus ( I have tried with the object in 30 meter distance).
In the afternoon I will send some pictures about the lens and the changed mount.
.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 12:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes the legendary Rokkor 1.2/58 is one of the lenses with which a hack is possible, since you can remove the mount including some rings.

See here: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7qf7h/minolta/id2.html


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 1:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
These pics show the problems that you have with some Rokkors:

1. Original mount:


2. "Naked" lens (no mount):


3. Lens with M42-EOS-adpater:


4. This is the only ring that you can remove:


5. This shows the difference between the Minolta-mount and the adapter:


You can't remove another ring from such a lens, because you need the next ring to change the aperture. Sad
All I could do is to thin the adapter. But I doubt that it's worth it, because I think I still won't get infinity with this lens.

So, with some Rokkor lenses it works, with others it doesn't.



Congratulations, iha, to your lens! Fine glass!


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here some picture to show we did the changing.
The lens without the original mount. See at the red tape on the back of T-EOS adapter. It is thin enough and it helps to correct the different of flange-to-focal-plane distance.
Before we fix the screws


I think I need to do some mensuration to fix the horizon.


In the front



I have ordered the AF confirm chip. The next work is to manage to glue it on the adapter.
.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, exactly. Here you can see the different lenses. Those that have a thick mount that, when removed, leaves enough space to add a new mount and those that only have a small mount (my one) which does not leave any space, since it originally "sits" on the rear ring of the lens.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Guys ...
thanks for all this information, very helpfull....
The lens I m interrested with is a macro lens , so the infinity focus is not on the highest priority ...
I have seen some MD to eos adaptater on the bay but a bit expensive compared with the lens price... I think i will let this lens on the seller shelves ...
thanks again...


PostPosted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Here is a thread with details on minolta mf to a mount conversion you may be interested in, i must admit i would love a rokkor 1.2

http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19601

tim


PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Some shots in wide open


(a last one was modified with lighter effect)
.


PostPosted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 2:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow! That looks fantastic! I really like the bokeh, definitely not bad for wide open!


PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 12:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
It was success to glue the AF confirm chip onto the adapter.
I did some test shots, and I noticed there is a "back-front focus" problem.
The problem I think is that the adapter has not fit to the mount in same flat (hope you understand), so the lens can not do the centered focus.
.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:23 am    Post subject: Rokkor vs Planar 50/1.4 Reply with quote
Here a test shot I took in f2

I think the Rokkor does very impressive, creamy bokeh. The Planar does the sharper, more contrast one.
.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:27 am    Post subject: Re: Rokkor vs Planar 50/1.4 Reply with quote
iha wrote:
Here a test shot I took in f2

I think the Rokkor does very impressive, creamy bokeh. The Planar does the sharper, more contrast one.
.


Fascinating how different the renditions are - thanks for these.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 12:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Does the Planar having 6 blades aperture ? I see many hexagonals lines in this bokeh.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 2:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, it has 6 blades.
An other comparision between M42 - Yashinon 55/1.2 and Planar 50/1.7 in f2 (Planar f.17 has not f2 setup so the aperture was in around f2)

.
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