When I got my first mirrorless camera I started hawking for lenses at thrift shops and stuff. First one I found was one of these beaten up on an old slr for 5.00. Scratches on the lens, dented filter ring and all, it shoots great. I'm a huge fan too. Amazing painting like bokeh. Yes, the minimum focus is a drag. Focus ring feel and build quality are awesome.
Started selling photo equipment in the early 70s, from an x15 kodak to 4x5 linhoffs with leica hassy, nikon , and basically all of em, 70s was a golden era . Still hold on to and use my leica 1a,m3,m6 and nikon f2
I have two first version Rokkor 58mm lenses. Had three, gave one away. Damn good piece of glass. If you want to dabble in manual focus lenses this is the go to lens so you will get great quality and sharpness in your images. Focusing is super easy. On the A7rIV it resolves the large megapixel sensor just fine. A very hard to beat fast manual focus lens. Heavy but worth the buy. If you go with the Super Takumar 55 1.8 lens you will have some vignetting on full frame but it too is a superb bit of glass in the 55mm range. I also have the 55mm Canon FL 1.2 and the Canon 58mm 1.2 FL lenses. I like the 58mm focal length.
I have quite a few vintage lenses. Bought this one. Serial # 578....... It is very sharp and one of the sharpest vintage lenses that I have and it is sharper than the Sony 1.8 50mm lens. And for the price, it is a fantastic buy.
Very nice lens and great camera too. Back in 2012 I bought my first mirrorless camera (Olympus E-PL1). There were not a lot of cheap lens options back then, so I went looking for vintage film lenses. After comparing prices and availability I went and bought the Minolta SRT lenses because Canon/Olympus lenses were more expensive. Also I wanted to keep to one vintage lens mount because I didn't want to buy so many adapters. I decided to buy the MD Rokkor 50mm F1.4 and had lot of fun using it. I also bought the MD Macro 100mm F4 and MD Macro Rokkor 50mm F3.5 because the M43 macro lenses were expensive (this was when the only M43 macro lens was the Panasonic 45mm f2.8 Macro Leica D). I would love to get a full frame mirroless to use them on 😁
I've got this exact lens. I paid way too much for a mint condition one (sent from Turkey), I don't think it had ever been used (not a scratch or mark, perfect glass). I use it on my Fuji XT2 for portraits (so it becomes an 87mm f2.1 effectively). It takes really beautiful portraits. I actually prefer manual for portraits so that is no problem also.
I have to agree, I already have the 2nd version and thought it was good but it doesn't begin to match the 1st version I just purchased because of this video! Thank you!
How much of a difference is between the first and second version? In which areas is different? I'm on the fence to buy a 58mm f1.4 first version, serial number 5041xxx
I bought a Minolta Srt101 with lens for 38$ ... the aperture blades stuck wide open ... I disassemble it and clean the blades ... it worked for few days and then stuck again at wide open ... haven't had a chance to shot a film with it but hopefully soon I'll
Do not like this lens at all wide open, it's soft with nervous background. But at f2, it becomes a perfect portrait lens. Beautiful soft background with the subject very sharp. As good as the $1800 Nikon 58mm 1.2, but at a cheaper price. Mine was $5.00.
It's the Minolta SR mount. But it's typically called Minolta MD or MC. Just look for a Minolta MD to (camera mount) adapter. Also keep in mind it cannot be adapted to any DSLRs without correcting glass in the adaptor
Hello from Tampa Florida... thanks for the information and review of the lens. Yesterday I managed to pickup a Rikenon 55mm f1.4, and a week before that I grabbed a Minolta 85mm f2. Have you had an opportunity to shoot on either of those lenses? Be well and stay encouraged!!!
I've wanted to pick up the 85mm F2 for quite a while I just never had the chance to. That 55 1.4 looks really interesting though I might pick one up and do a video on it. Thanks for letting me know about it
@@aChairLeg I will keep my eyes posted for another 85mm F2, but in the meantime you've earned a loyal subscriber and I clicked the gray notification bell thingy. Be well and stay encouraged!!!
Are you sure about the serial? I have 50681** but it has a flat (not hills and valleys) focus ring. I would have assumed it was a v1, but the serial would suggest a v2....
I don't have any sources from Minolta due to that being so hard to find. But, it is incredibly easy to switch the nameplate on these lenses. It's very possible someone got them mixed up or deliberately switched them.
When I got my first mirrorless camera I started hawking for lenses at thrift shops and stuff. First one I found was one of these beaten up on an old slr for 5.00. Scratches on the lens, dented filter ring and all, it shoots great. I'm a huge fan too. Amazing painting like bokeh. Yes, the minimum focus is a drag. Focus ring feel and build quality are awesome.
I wonder how it would perform with a good close-up lens added, for closer focus. Or perhaps a small extension tube.
"coz....still throwin' that out there" Love your style of narration, enthusiastic, relaxed but still full of info. +1 :)
Started selling photo equipment in the early 70s, from an x15 kodak to 4x5 linhoffs with leica hassy, nikon , and basically all of em, 70s was a golden era . Still hold on to and use my leica 1a,m3,m6 and nikon f2
One of my grandfather's lenses he had laying around, easily my favorite of the bunch. I use this one all the time.
I have two first version Rokkor 58mm lenses. Had three, gave one away. Damn good piece of glass. If you want to dabble in manual focus lenses this is the go to lens so you will get great quality and sharpness in your images. Focusing is super easy. On the A7rIV it resolves the large megapixel sensor just fine. A very hard to beat fast manual focus lens. Heavy but worth the buy. If you go with the Super Takumar 55 1.8 lens you will have some vignetting on full frame but it too is a superb bit of glass in the 55mm range. I also have the 55mm Canon FL 1.2 and the Canon 58mm 1.2 FL lenses. I like the 58mm focal length.
I agree with everything you mentioned, I have 5 takumar lenses including the 55 1.8, the 55 2.0 And my favorite the SMC 50mm 1.4, all are awesome!
I have quite a few vintage lenses. Bought this one. Serial # 578....... It is very sharp and one of the sharpest vintage lenses that I have and it is sharper than the Sony 1.8 50mm lens. And for the price, it is a fantastic buy.
Very nice lens and great camera too.
Back in 2012 I bought my first mirrorless camera (Olympus E-PL1). There were not a lot of cheap lens options back then, so I went looking for vintage film lenses.
After comparing prices and availability I went and bought the Minolta SRT lenses because Canon/Olympus lenses were more expensive. Also I wanted to keep to one vintage lens mount because I didn't want to buy so many adapters.
I decided to buy the MD Rokkor 50mm F1.4 and had lot of fun using it.
I also bought the MD Macro 100mm F4 and MD Macro Rokkor 50mm F3.5 because the M43 macro lenses were expensive (this was when the only M43 macro lens was the Panasonic 45mm f2.8 Macro Leica D).
I would love to get a full frame mirroless to use them on 😁
I've got this exact lens. I paid way too much for a mint condition one (sent from Turkey), I don't think it had ever been used (not a scratch or mark, perfect glass). I use it on my Fuji XT2 for portraits (so it becomes an 87mm f2.1 effectively). It takes really beautiful portraits. I actually prefer manual for portraits so that is no problem also.
Thanks for the review and the warning about the minimum focusing distance. Appreciate the humor, too.
"This Vintage Lens Has A SECRET" ...not anymore.
I have to agree, I already have the 2nd version and thought it was good but it doesn't begin to match the 1st version I just purchased because of this video! Thank you!
How much of a difference is between the first and second version? In which areas is different? I'm on the fence to buy a 58mm f1.4 first version, serial number 5041xxx
I found a pretty mint unit for 40 USD. I am also testing by the Canon FL 58mm 1.2. Both are very charming looking lenses.
Beautiful review! Is the MC 2 lens version radioactive by any chance? Thanks!
I bought a Minolta Srt101 with lens for 38$ ... the aperture blades stuck wide open ... I disassemble it and clean the blades ... it worked for few days and then stuck again at wide open ... haven't had a chance to shot a film with it but hopefully soon I'll
Do not like this lens at all wide open, it's soft with nervous background. But at f2, it becomes a perfect portrait lens. Beautiful soft background with the subject very sharp. As good as the $1800 Nikon 58mm 1.2, but at a cheaper price. Mine was $5.00.
What adaptor ring would work for EF to MFT? Are these complicated like the Canon FD?
No.
what's bad about the other versions?
Why do you say Ver II is the best and what is wrong with version 1 or later auto rokkors?
One of the Best Vintage Lens !
Love your videos man! Just curious what lens mount is it so we find the right adapter?
It's the Minolta SR mount. But it's typically called Minolta MD or MC. Just look for a Minolta MD to (camera mount) adapter. Also keep in mind it cannot be adapted to any DSLRs without correcting glass in the adaptor
Hello from Tampa Florida... thanks for the information and review of the lens. Yesterday I managed to pickup a Rikenon 55mm f1.4, and a week before that I grabbed a Minolta 85mm f2. Have you had an opportunity to shoot on either of those lenses? Be well and stay encouraged!!!
I've wanted to pick up the 85mm F2 for quite a while I just never had the chance to. That 55 1.4 looks really interesting though I might pick one up and do a video on it. Thanks for letting me know about it
@@aChairLeg I will keep my eyes posted for another 85mm F2, but in the meantime you've earned a loyal subscriber and I clicked the gray notification bell thingy. Be well and stay encouraged!!!
Can these lenses be used on anything other than Sony mirrorless, i.e adapted for Nikon f mount?
What about the 50mm wersion?
I love this lens
Are you sure about the serial? I have 50681** but it has a flat (not hills and valleys) focus ring. I would have assumed it was a v1, but the serial would suggest a v2....
I don't have any sources from Minolta due to that being so hard to find. But, it is incredibly easy to switch the nameplate on these lenses. It's very possible someone got them mixed up or deliberately switched them.
Someone selling me one for $40. its the new one serial 56....