Minolta CLE lenses for R-D1

[kds315]

Group,

any experience about these highly acclaimed Minolta CLE lenses (40/90mm) which are supposedly made bei Leitz and sold by Minolta?

 

[AhShun]

The Rokkor 40 match the 35mm frameline perfectly!
Decent performance, even compared with current 50cron.

 

[Graham Line]

Sharpness, color rendition and contrast of the 40 and 90 M-Rokkors are excellent. The mounts are very smooth and well-made. Haven't tried them on an RD1 or had a chance to use a 28. There are examples in my gallery.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=46664&cat=500&ppuser=1085

 

[galavanter]

It has a timid nose with the usual notes of oak and vanilla...

It has a timid nose with the usual notes of oak and vanilla...

I just got a 40mm CL Rokkor from another member. It is my first M-mount lens and I was happy to get one for my newly acquired R-D1. I have only been using it a few days and I am not qualified to evaluate it. Just the thought of it reminded me of this cartoon:

http://www.time.com/time/cartoons/20061105/2.html

I'm still learning how to use the R-D1 with it. I did do a lot of reading up and it seems to be a great value. Many compare it to the 35 Summicron in quality. I was looking at the 35 CV and even a used Jupiter 12, but decided against the latter due to focusing issues I read about. The Rokkor is also the fastest of the three, and supposedly has better bokeh than the CV 40mm Nokton, which I also considered.The only negative for me with the Rokkor is the slightly narrower field of view. I can tell you that mine was made in Japan, as most of the CL and CLE Rokkors were, according to Stephen Gandy:

http://www.cameraquest.com/cle.htm
http://www.cameraquest.com/leicacl.htm

He also states this: "The 40/2 lenses for the CL or CLE are among the sharpest lenses I have ever used."

Never would I have thought that I would now be the proud owner of a used camera reputed to have more than its share of QC issues and a thirty year old lens to go with it. 🙂

Jim

Group,

any experience about these highly acclaimed Minolta CLE lenses (40/90mm) which are supposedly made bei Leitz and sold by Minolta?

 

[Flinor]

All three CLE lenses work just fine on the RD-1, including the 90 which I use with an old Canon 135 VF. The 40 seems to suit the 35 framelines better than a 35. One of the attractions of the RD-1 is that using it is just like using a CLE and I often carry them both with Scala in the CLE.

 

[nksyoon]

Here are some samples of the CLE Rokkor 40 on an R-D1:

 

[jrgoldman]

I have used a 28 Rokkor and it isa nice lens and very compact. It does not have the overall impact of my 35 Summicron. I tried the 28 F3.5 CV lens and the corners were black at all f stops.

 

[Paul T.]

As others have siad, I find my 40 Summicron (essentially identical to the Rokkor) just as high quality as my 50 and 35 Summicrons, and it fits the 35mm framelines perfectly. The 90mm is also a bargain.

 

[akptc]

Interestingly, based on Nick's examples above, it would seem that the 40mm Rokkor renders point light sources in the background somewhat similarly to the CV 40mm. I wonder if that's a "feature" of 40mm lenses?

 

[nksyoon]

A couple more samples...

 

[kds315]

Thanks Nick,

I also like my 40mm + 90mm which are both quite sharp and the bokeh seems to be OK. I wonder how they compare to the CV and Zeiss ZM (just bought the 25mm).

 

[Trius]

Jim: thanks for the good info, but vanilla notes in a merlot?

 

[galavanter]

LOL. But of course! Surely you jest. Wonderful tobacco aromas (a la King sized Chesterfields). Subtle, but nonetheless complex. A hint of residual sugar lifts the fruit without being cloying. Pairs well with grilled meats (tacos). Better than Mad Dog! 🙂

Jim: thanks for the good info, but vanilla notes in a merlot?

 

[Trius]

LOL ... tobacco I get, but vanilla is rare in a merlot. The really muscular merlots remind me of Camel and Marlboro. The super-premiums are Gauloise, bien sur.

 

[galavanter]

Well I've quit smoking and my palate has markedly improved. I know when I'm out of my league so I will defer to your expertise. I just know what tastes good to me. But this sipping and spitting out stuff? How boorish! 🙂

LOL ... tobacco I get, but vanilla is rare in a merlot. The really muscular merlots remind me of Camel and Marlboro. The super-premiums are Gauloise, bien sur.

 

[pfogle]

Well I've quit smoking and my palate has markedly improved. I know when I'm out of my league so I will defer to your expertise. I just know what tastes good to me. But this sipping and spitting out stuff? How boorish! 🙂

well, I've spat out quite a few things, but never a 40mm Rokkor!

By the way, there's one available for sale in Aperture in London - they want 220 GBP for it - around $400 US. That seems a bit over the top to me - a new 40/1.4 CV is only about 280 GBP. What do others here think? It's pretty rare to find a 40mm 'cron nowadays...

 

[Adam-T]

I like Aperture photographic but the prices on Rangefinder and Nikon stuff is usually way over the top - they want £90 for a damn Jupiter 9 for instance !! .. As it happens, I bought three genuine Voigtlander L39/M mount adapters from them at a really good price (good even though they had no caps) but their used glass prices never ceases to amaze me, the CV stuff is either nearly as expensive as new or not cheap enough to make you want to go with used mostly..

The company themselves are excellent, I just wish they`d be more realistic on the prices of RF and Nikon Manual stuff

 

[pfogle]

I like Aperture photographic but the prices on Rangefinder and Nikon stuff is usually way over the top - they want £90 for a damn Jupiter 9 for instance !! .. As it happens, I bought three genuine Voigtlander L39/M mount adapters from them at a really good price (good even though they had no caps) but their used glass prices never ceases to amaze me, the CV stuff is either nearly as expensive as new or not cheap enough to make you want to go with used mostly..

The company themselves are excellent, I just wish they`d be more realistic on the prices of RF and Nikon Manual stuff

Damn! So it was you who got the L39/M adapters 🙁 😉

 

[Jim Watts]

Aperture is a good shop with nice guys and they do tend to give you a bit more than most if you are selling or PX-ing so perhaps their margins are not much better. The Leica version seems to be about £220 - 250 when available in London, but the Rokkor is cheaper elsewhere (and not inferior) I missed a mint one at £159 a few weeks back.

 

[kds315]

a Minolta CLE 90mm test

a Minolta CLE 90mm test

A few days ago I made a simple test using R-D1 plus Minolta CLE 90mm.
Astonishingly sharp I have to say....
(the one on the left is a 100% crop)