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Minolta Rokkor 24/2.8 VFC
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PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:57 pm    Post subject: Minolta Rokkor 24/2.8 VFC Reply with quote
Anyone know anything about this lens?
I've found one for sale and thinking about buying it. I really like odd and unusual lenses.
It's pretty expensive thou.. Confused

I've seen some example pictures from it, and it's seems very sharp and nice.
But I haven't seen any pictures with the VFC effect added.
VFC stands for Variable Field Curvature, and it means that you can bend the area in focus, like an tilt-shift lens, but insted of tilting and shifting, bend it.

For example around a ball, and gett the whole ball in focus and still use very short dept of field.
Thats what it says in the theory at least, I have no idea if it works that good in reality? Razz

http://www.rokkorfiles.com/24mm%20VFC.htm


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
That sounds interesting. Maybe a bit of a Gimmick but, still interesting.

Could you list your basic equipment so we know what bodies you shoot and such?


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Fascinating. I've never seen anything like it before - thanks for the link.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
F16SUNSHINE wrote:
That sounds interesting. Maybe a bit of a Gimmick but, still interesting.

Could you list your basic equipment so we know what bodies you shoot and such?


Done! In the signature.

I only use a Canon EOS 5D and some L-lenses, but the reason for me to hang out at this forum is my absolute favorite lens of all times, the Voigtländer 125/2.5 APO Lanthar.
That one and the Zenitar are the only MF lenses I own at the moment.


This particular Minolta lens is converted to EOS mount but have no AF Confirm chip, but as far as I understand, it's cheap to buy at Ebay and easy to install? Or am I missing something?

And yes, I really like gimmick lenses and things, that's why I bought a fisheye in the first place for example (the Peleng 8mm, now sold).

I'm really curious about this VFC effect.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sorry, I still don't see a signature but, it does not matter now .

Yes, the chips are very easy to install. Best done with the Eos mount off the lens.

It is a fascinating lens. Surely if you can get it for a price that is recoverable you should take it.
Especially considering it is already converted.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
F16SUNSHINE wrote:
Sorry, I still don't see a signature but, it does not matter now .

Yes, the chips are very easy to install. Best done with the Eos mount off the lens.

It is a fascinating lens. Surely if you can get it for a price that is recoverable you should take it.
Especially considering it is already converted.


Assuming the conversion is well made, is that better than using adapter?
Ofcourse it's more easy to use, but other than that?
Could there be any optical or mechanical problems with conversion?

It sure is a rare lens, but I don't know if it's worth the price..?
It's around $500.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Definitely NO. Even fast one like 35mm f1.8 not more than 100 USD as usual.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 5:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Definitely NO. Even fast one like 35mm f1.8 not more than 100 USD as usual.


It is not a standard 24mm Attila.
The unique ability of this lens creates the higher than usual price.
Very Rare as well. The only one on Epay is twice this amount. Of course unsold at Kevinscamera Laughing


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:06 pm    Post subject: I know that lens Reply with quote
It was converted by Dmitry, for another member (Anden I think) on FredMiranda.com

It's a well-done conversion, probably cost a couple hundred just for that. The lens itself can be had somewhere in the $300-400 range normally. So, $500 is not bad.

Check the alt forum on FM for more info/pics/etc.

-Ed


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
F16SUNSHINE wrote:
Attila wrote:
Definitely NO. Even fast one like 35mm f1.8 not more than 100 USD as usual.


It is not a standard 24mm Attila.
The unique ability of this lens creates the higher than usual price.
Very Rare as well. The only one on Epay is twice this amount. Of course unsold at Kevinscamera Laughing


Even if rare and excellent same league than Konica SLR lenses, hard to sell on high price if you don't like it.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:12 pm    Post subject: Re: I know that lens Reply with quote
EdSawyer wrote:
It was converted by Dmitry, for another member (Anden I think) on FredMiranda.com

It's a well-done conversion, probably cost a couple hundred just for that. The lens itself can be had somewhere in the $300-400 range normally. So, $500 is not bad.

Check the alt forum on FM for more info/pics/etc.

-Ed


That is correct. Thats the lens I'm thinking about buying. Smile



And regarding the one on ebay... Well, I see some similarity between that one and the CV 125/2.5 Apo Lanthar that Cameraquest was selleng for $1400... Surprisingly they where sold out when I checked it last time! Shocked



$500 isn't relly that much money if you compare with photo equipment, but it's quite a bit regarding it's an old lens...

Question for me is: Is it worth $500 for satifying my curiosity about this thing? Wink


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:

Even if rare and excellent same league than Konica SLR lenses, hard to sell on high price if you don't like it.


Thats something to think about yes.
The seller told me that he had some other guys showing some to little intrest in the lens, but where mostly wanted to trade it to other lenses.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
For half of money you can by excellent or superb Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AIS , Yashica 24mm f2.8 ML and for same amount I guess you able to take CZ 25mm Distagon all are top lens and easy to sell them if you change your mind.


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
For half of money you can by excellent or superb Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AIS , Yashica 24mm f2.8 ML and for same amount I guess you able to take CZ 25mm Distagon all are top lens and easy to sell them if you change your mind.


Well, I haven't decided yet, but I'm really curious about the VFC thing.
The lens shows some CA and not so nice bokeh, two things that usally are very important for me, but still... How do you say it, curiosity killed the cat? Razz

Well, I'm gonna sleep about it anyways... Thanks for the lens tips, they may come in handy someday. Smile


PostPosted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 7:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Take it and publish result here Wink even better !


PostPosted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well... I bought the lens.
Paid for it today and it should arrive on Thursday or in worst case, Friday.
Then I will see if it's a good deal for me or not. Smile


PostPosted: Sat Sep 28, 2013 11:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Swappo wrote:
Well... I bought the lens.
Paid for it today and it should arrive on Thursday or in worst case, Friday.
Then I will see if it's a good deal for me or not. Smile


Well, was it a good deal? I've been offered one of these lenses and am interested in your findings. Smile


PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
DigiChromeEd wrote:
Swappo wrote:
Well... I bought the lens.
Paid for it today and it should arrive on Thursday or in worst case, Friday.
Then I will see if it's a good deal for me or not. Smile


Well, was it a good deal? I've been offered one of these lenses and am interested in your findings. Smile


Don't you hate it when someone starts a thread like this, discuss the lens and then when he decides to acutally buy it, he stops posting and no update was seen on how it went? Well, I sure do! Embarassed

Anyway... the lens is great. It's extremly sharp, even at f/2.8.
Great colors and contrast. Flare can be a problem. Easy to use and feels very nice.
About the VFC... well, I never figured out a use for it... It does bend the focus plane but I never got it to look nice, just a bit strange.

I sold the lens a while ago and I think I got my money back on it.

I could only recomend this lens to a Minolta collector or to someone that acutally knows how to use the VFC and can find good use of it.
If you are just looking for a good 24mm, go look somewhere else and cheaper. If you are looking for a rare lens that still is usable... well, maybe this one is it.


PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I think I'm the one who bought that lens from you Swappo. Smile

I came to the same conclusion as you, but then rather "shot myself in the foot" by giving a full comparison of it with a standard MD 24/2.8 non VFC, (converted by Jim Buchanan), over on FM Alt. Gear.
Almost exactly the same, just the difference between an MC and MD version 24/2.8, except that using VFC deteriorated image quality! After that no-one would pay the high price again! Crying or Very sad (I'm still glad that I got the chance to play with it and see what it did .)

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1061118/0

I still have it, a lovely standard 24mm, with a bit more heft than the MD version, but I've taped up the VFC ring in case I turn it by mistake! Confused

Last edited by timballic on Tue Oct 01, 2013 8:05 pm; edited 3 times in total


PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Looking through the shots on FM thread, it seems clear that you haven't found yet a suitable subject for VFC. I would suggest trying it on jewelry and perhaps, some distorted portraits. I wonder what application the creators of this lens had in mind. I don't think this was intended as a substitute for T/S lens. The price is surely a collector's price.


PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
find a case for vfc may take some time,
like tilt adapter on nex, or softfocus lenses...

i found tilt adapter on nex most easy to use. nothing i use regularily, but nice to have few special shots.
soft focus took many months before i get known the lens. i need cases that is not easily recreate by post processing.
i am too, curious about the use of vfc. if you got borred, let me know.

Edit: got this beauty too. will post some samples soon...

Last edited by hoanpham on Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:31 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Fermy, I'd agree, for my type of photography it isn't suitable. As you say, it may be good for getting "quirky" results, but they just aren't my thing.
I'll wait till the market comes round again and a collector wants to pay a "good" price. My favourite lens at this fl is my ZS 25/2.8, so the Rokkor isn't getting much use at the moment.
My latest acquisition is an FD 35/2.8 TS with EdMika conversion, so lots of practice and learning now needed with that.
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