Minolta MD 50mm f1.7

[Brian J Moody]

Has anybody got a Minolta MD 50mm f1.7? If so, I was wondering if you could post some sample shots taken using that lens so I have something to compare to?
I have a panny lumix dmc g3 so shots with a similar spec camera would be great but not essential.
Flower, portrait or landscape, I don't mind.
Once I'm confident with the lens I'll post some shots myself.
Thanks and appreciation in advance!
Thanks,
Brian.

[Aanything]

I Always check WolverineX's threads when looking for samples from some lenses, you can find them in the lenses-sticky section.
There's a huge amount of lenses tested, it's a great resource.
Here's the thread on the minolta 1.7/50:
http://forum.mflenses.com/testing-my-lenses-part-78-minolta-md-50mm-1-7-t42881.html

I don't have samples to post, but I remember this lens as one of the sharpest 50's I tried.

[Excalibur]

[Lloydy]

It's a great lens.

[cooltouch]

My only comment regarding the MD 50/1.7 is it exists in at least two iterations, the earlier MD Rokkor-X and the later MD Rokkor. The earlier has more metal than the later and weighs more. I don't know if the optical formulas are different, however.

Also, the later one has a switch of sorts that can be moved to lock the lens's aperture ring in place for Programmed auto exposure. I don't know if the earlier one has the switch.

[DR.JUAN]

AFAIK there are two MD 50/1,7.

The MD ROKKOR (X) and the MD only.

I had both, and think they are the same lens, with the last having more contrast cos more strong coated.

Both with more contrast and sharpness than the PF version.

[skida]

I have the MD 1.7/50 by Minolta and don't use it as much as I should. It is sharp and I have not noticed any CA on the shots taken with it. I think it has been neglected a bit since I got the Rokkor PF 1.8/55, which isn't better but I like the idea of using a 50s lens. I would post some of my film shots but it will probably kill the thread.

[Lloydy]

I think the X denotes that the lens is a North American market lens, and it is exactly the same as non X models.
Minolta used a letter system to identify elements and groups early on.

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/David%20Lloyd/Desktop/Minolta%20Cameras/Minolta%20MF%20FAQ%20%20Lenses.htm



Lots of useful Minolta Rokkor information at that link

In the book "The Minolta Way" I found this -



Which also seems to indicate that the X is not a designation of anything optical or coating.

[Webwalker]

I think that it is a question of the last "plain MD" version.

About versions we can see here - 5 versions.
And here - about Minolta SR generations.

[Lloydy]

I knew I'd read it somewhere else --

[cooltouch]

Yeah, I have an MC-X 50/1.7 that I use as a loupe and I've owned MD-X's. But I currently own a plain MD 50mm, and it is definitely a more modern, more plasticky version that the old "X" lenses I own and have owned.

I think that what we have here is obviously at least two different types of plain MD lenses: the early one that was made from metal and glass for the non-US market and the later one that was made from plastic, metal, and glass for all markets. Does that make sense? Dunno why Minolta felt compelled to add the -X for the US market because all it does is make folks like me think that there were two different versions from that same time period.

[koji]

Rokkor-X naming was used to identify reduced price US-market lens imported into japanese market
in which Minolta wanted to control the MSRP of their products before 1980s. This was the story I've
heard. It is still relatively speaking a common practice among some makers even today.
But the end? of 90s in japan, MSRP system was banned in order to protect consumers in many areas.

The basic prices of camera and lenses today are almost even with north american market, biggest
difference are local tax (state/provincial value added tax) and national/federal tax. If you subtract
import duty (if there) and shipping cost from your price in US market, japanese people pay slightly
higher price maybe because of complex logistic and market structures in japan.

[Brian J Moody]

Mine starts with 92 so any idea what that would make it?

[skida]

The MD 1.7/50 last version introduced 1981. Should have f22 min aperture. Mine has a number beginning 80 and is of the last type.

[Brian J Moody]

Mine's f22 and has the aperture lock switch but the serial number starts 92.

[Excalibur]

[Lloydy]

[cooltouch]

The 50/2 is likely to have a different s/n, isn't it? I don't have an MD 50/1.7, just the 50/2. It's the later version, 7-digit s/n, starting with 10.