Minolta MD 28mm f/2.8 - thoughts?

AlexWicks · Joined: 16 May 2012 Posts: 57 Location: Ipswich, UK

So i got a Minolta 28mm f/2.8 MD recently for £15, late MD version with 49mm filter thread. I haven't recieved my adapter yet so I can't test it - does anyone have this lens and if so, how do you find it? Samples would be nice too if possible, and once I recieve my adapter I will post some soon.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4288 Location: Switzerland

The MD-III version of the Minolta 2.8/28mm exists in two different versions:

* 7-lens
* 5-lens

From outside they are difficult to distinguish; performance-wise the older 7-lens version (which was made as MC-X, MD-II and MD-II as well) is slightly better:

http://www.artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektiv-vergleiche/330-nex-5n-und-28mm-objektive

Stephan

miran · Joined: 01 Aug 2012 Posts: 1364 Location: Slovenia

I have it and I think it's an ok lens for the money. Not really special in any way but good enough for most purposes. Here's my flickr album for this lens, but it doesn't contain many photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8800601@N04/sets/72157645460465821

AlexWicks · Joined: 16 May 2012 Posts: 57 Location: Ipswich, UK

Thanks guys! Great pictures too miran, seems like the lens is quite capable!

So I got bored and decided to "freelens" with it, with a metabones EF adapter mounted onto the a7s:

(IS04000 btw, so maybe not the best representation of quality but still quite good IMO)

listera · Joined: 24 Oct 2013 Posts: 126 Location: Ankara

If wonder which version your MD is, this page may help. Hint: presence of the thin ring over the frontmost element.
http://home.kpn.nl/dielpeet/minolta/minolta-28mm-lenses.htm

I have the 7/7 version. It produces photos with nice background at close distances. Stopped down a bit, results are not bad. And Minolta colors are always with you.

I like this photo very much, maybe more than I should as it is the second time I am sharing it here (sorry)

Foliage

.

NACEOD · Joined: 04 Jan 2015 Posts: 12 Location: Arizona

I just converted the Celtic version to a direct Canon EOS mount. I took it to the Grand Canyon earlier this month. Here's a panorama stitched together using Microsoft Image Composite Editor. It is 10 photos, 5 across and 2 high. Not the best quality but fun to use.

Here's one of the center photos used in the panorama.

Here's a 100% crop from the center of the above panorama and photo. The distance to this point in the photo from where I was standing is about 3 miles.

I took the photos in the middle of the day under the blazing Arizona sun. I had a polarizing filter on to cut through the haze and smoke from a controlled burn in the forest that was drifting into the canyon. The photos were taken using a Canon 50D at 1/800 sec at f11. I also used a tripod and delayed shutter release. I wish I had brought along my Canon EF 28-135mm to compare.

I'm pretty happy with the results for a lens I purchased for $5.00.

WNG555 · Joined: 18 Dec 2014 Posts: 784 Location: Arrid-Zone-A, USA

^ $5?!! Oy! Lucky dog!

Killer photos folks!

I also have the MD Celtic version with 55mm filter, same lens as the MD W Rokkor-X. 7 elements.
It has excellent resolution, and vibrant colors thanks to the MD coating.
It's one of my top favorite 28mm lenses.

tf · Joined: 29 Sep 2017 Posts: 162

As it known, the late Minolta MD (New MD, MD III) has a two versions of 28mm F2.8 lens - one is 7 elements in 7 groups, another is 5 elements in 5 groups
Here the review with tests for older 7x7
Here the review with tests for newer 5x5 (I met the opinion somewhere that the autofocused Minolta AF lens has the same scheme, but I have no confirmation)

And all four Minolta MD 28mm lens comparison "head to head"

sergun · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2018 6:59 pm Post subject:

Minolta MD 28mm f2.8 for the money a very good lens (low ca, as do many other Minolta lenses) I have a copy to sell because he is much "lathering" on one side.
A7R + Minolta Md 28mm f2.8

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4288 Location: Switzerland

Steakface · Joined: 19 Oct 2017 Posts: 18 Location: Royal Oak, Michigan

I have this lens, 7/7 MD-III version, I only find it OK. Center is nice and sharp but edges and corners never really get there. My copy is its sharpest at f/5.6, diffraction degrades image quality at f/8. I find it performs better on 24m-pix full frame than it does on 16m-pix APS-C.

I have an MD-I 28mm f/3.5 5/5 on the way, it should be a bit better on the sides but we will see!

EDIT: Got the MD-I 28mm f/3.5 5/5. It's sharper in the center at all aperture lengths but corners are worse. I'm wondering if Minolta changed the glass from the MC-X 5/5 version. Oh well, still a good lens.

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4288 Location: Switzerland

Here's a link to my comparison of all the Minolta MC/MD 28mm lens designs:

* 3.5/28mm (MC-I [7/7], 67mm filter diameter)
* 3.5/28mm (MC-I/MC-II/MC-X, [7/7], 55mm filter diameter)
* 3.5/28mm (MC-X, MD-I/MD-II/MD-III, [5/5])
* 2.5/28mm (MC-I, MD-II, MC-X)
* 2/28mm (MC/MD-I/MD-II)
* 2/28mm (MD-III)
* 2.8/28mm (MC/MD-I/MD-II/MD-III, [7/7])
* 2.8/28mm (MD-III, [5/5])

http://artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/objektiv-vergleiche/506-minolta-mc-md-28mm-lenses-on-24mp-full-frame

Stephan

vivaldibow · Expire: 2021-03-09

tb_a · Expire: 2019-08-28

Alun Thomas · Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 682 Location: New Zealand

lumens pixel · Expire: 2021-06-25

I have been very unhappy with a Minolta MD 28 7/7 I bought long time ago and I got rid of.

I bought since the newer computation 5/5 and have been very happy with for landscape use.

I also opened my purse to buy the MDIII 2,0 version, which is excellent, but expensive.

Two remarks concerning the 5/5 version: some CA (quite easily dealt with in post processing) and underwhelming performance near minimum focus distance. I noticed that lately since my main use of 28mm is landscape.

Out of curiosity and for a very good price I bought a MDIII 28 2,8 7/7 and tested it, not expecting much. It is an interesting lens and I must say my copy is well centered and assembled which was certainly not the case of the first copy I bought (which was a MD I or MDII).

Is it better than the 5/5 for landscapes? No. Resolution is quite close, minimally inferior in some parts of the frame and a tiny better on other parts and I would say the 5/5 is marginally better but you would not notice that if you close half a stop more and add microcontrast in post. So quite manageable. However lateral CA is superiorly managed by the 7/7 and that might appeal to some.

The biggest difference between the 5/5 and the 7/7 to the advantage of the latter is short distance resolution. The 7/7 delivers results that are very homogeneous at long and short distance where the 5/5 crumbles.

So, if you are not in the market for the excellent MDIII 28 2,0 and wish to use a 28mm on a wide range of distances, there is something quite interesting in the 7/7 lens.

I do not know if computation modifications occurred between the 7/7 generations so my comments only apply to the MDIII version and based on a good copy.

I finally compared the 7/7 with another excellent 28: the Canon nFD 28 2,8 which I consider as a sharpness king, (equal to the Minolta MDIII 2,0 for landscape use) provided you catch a good copy (had to buy three...). The nFD is slightly ahead at infinity but again with a half stop difference the Minolta is not humiliated with some adjustments in post. But the Minolta is slightly better at very short distance.

So an interesting lens overall that deserves more love than what I usually read on the web (and to which I have alas contributed).

Justice for all.

gaeger · Expire: 2026-01-06

I have a later version of this lens and it is absolutely fantastic. I use it on my Minolta film cameras -- its part of a great small kit for traveling: 28mm, 50mm f1.7, and 100mm f2.5. Here's the 28mm in action:

lumens pixel · Expire: 2021-06-25

Is this converted negative or slide? Very nice job on the highlights. I remember negative being quite tolerant to highlights. Nice pics and exposure.

jamaeolus · Expire: 2015-08-20

stevemark · Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 4288 Location: Switzerland

Ultrapix · Joined: 06 Jan 2012 Posts: 608 Location: Italy

I had a number of Minolta 28mm a while ago in my hands, and I checked them in a quick, non scientific test.

28mm 2.8 7 elements
28mm 2.5
28mm 3.5 MD II
28mm 3.5 MD III

I kept the 2.5 (genuine vintage rendering, very good on center and mid-frame area, superb building), and the 3.5 II (slightly worse corners against the III, but much better mid-frame, and better made). The 2.8 is a good all round performer, I already had another sample, same IQ, not something to die for, but solid and honest lens.

lumens pixel · Expire: 2021-06-25

Ultrapix · Joined: 06 Jan 2012 Posts: 608 Location: Italy

gaeger · Expire: 2026-01-06

lumens pixel · Expire: 2021-06-25

Here's an illustration of the use of Minolta MD III 28 2,8 7/7. Raw cooked to taste. F4,5.

Gare de Paris la Défense by lumens pixel, sur Flickr