Minolta CLE lenses for R-D1

[gonzo]

What's a fair price for a Minolta Rokkor CL 40mm/f2 lens in good condition?

 

[kds315]

Hard to say, I got mine for about $300 in like new condition.

 

[pfogle]

I just swapped 4 lenses I wasn't using much for a Minolta 40/2. It's in pretty good condition, but I wouldn't say like new. But I'm liking it at first acquaintance, and as reported, the 35 frame lines are a very good match (at last! a lens that matches one of the frames 🙂 )

Lenses passed on: an old Summar, a Jupiter 12, a Jupiter 8 and a rather nice Canon 35/2.8 - they will be missed, but not too much, I think.

Should have some samples this weekend, if the weather isn't too foul.

 

[vrgard]

I just swapped 4 lenses I wasn't using much for a Minolta 40/2. It's in pretty good condition, but I wouldn't say like new. But I'm liking it at first acquaintance, and as reported, the 35 frame lines are a very good match (at last! a lens that matches one of the frames 🙂 )

Lenses passed on: an old Summar, a Jupiter 12, a Jupiter 8 and a rather nice Canon 35/2.8 - they will be missed, but not too much, I think.

Should have some samples this weekend, if the weather isn't too foul.

That Minolta is a great lens, Phil. I'm sure you'll be happy with it. Do post some shots when you've got them.

-Randy

 

[ampguy]

probably $225 to $325

probably $225 to $325

or so depending on condition. Check KEH, classifieds, and auction sites.

I'm not so sure about the reports that the CLE with it's MC coating, is much better than the CL or Summicron 40 (for the CL), perhaps it depends on bw/color use. I had the Rokkor CLE, and it flared more than my Hexanon. The bokeh is also a unique signature with these lenses, it tends to circularize the OOF portions in a unique way, though pleasing, and a sharp lens with good build quality.

What's a fair price for a Minolta Rokkor CL 40mm/f2 lens in good condition?

 

[Palaeoboy]

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

None of the CLE Rokkors are made by Leitz. They are all made in Japan by Minolta themselves. The only Rokkor made by Leitz was the 90mm made for the Leitz Minolta CL and is clearly marked as being made by Leitz. The 40mm Rokkor for the Leitz Minolta CL was also made in Japan by Minolta.

That said all three CLE Rokkors will work with your RD1. A nice chap on the Leica user forum LCT often posts some nice images using his RD1 with Rokkor 28 and 40mm lenses.

I believe the price of the 40mm Summicron/Rokkors will climb substantially when the M8 is all sorted as it will become the perfect compact 50mm (53mm anyways) so the days of $250.00 USD will probably be one of those tales you tell, "I remember when you could get one of those for only $250"

That said, a forum member Captain has both a CLE Rokkor and Summicron for sale for around that price maybe even a bit less. He is just cant be bothered to advertise them because he is too slack to get some rear caps for them! (Sorry Captain you know its true you lazy thing! LOL)

 

[jim_buchanan]

Although the CL lenses are M mount and fit and focus on the RD-1, I was led to believe, by E Puts, that the focus cam of the lens was steeper than a Leica M lens and the close/midrange focusing would be off.

 

[Graham Line]

Although the CL lenses are M mount and fit and focus on the RD-1, I was led to believe, by E Puts, that the focus cam of the lens was steeper than a Leica M lens and the close/midrange focusing would be off.

You were misled. Cams are steeper on the original CL 40/90 pair -- but in order to focus, there still has to be the same relationship between the roller and the cam, right? Because it's steeper, there's a greater range for error because the change in position is more pronounced. CLE lens slopes are more or less the same as mainline Leica M lenses.

 

[vrgard]

You were misled. Cams are steeper on the original CL 40/90 pair -- but in order to focus, there still has to be the same relationship between the roller and the cam, right? Because it's steeper, there's a greater range for error because the change in position is more pronounced. CLE lens slopes are more or less the same as mainline Leica M lenses.

Thanks, Joe. That's the best explanation I've seen of this. And it helps me understand why I've not encountered any "real world" problems focusing these lenses.

-Randy

 

[kds315]

Never had a problem focusing my 40mm and 90mm CLE lenses.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Thanks, Joe. That's the best explanation I've seen of this. And it helps me understand why I've not encountered any "real world" problems focusing these lenses.

Ditto. As a side comentary, I've never seen a poor sample shot of the Rokkor CL/CLE lenses.

 

[pfogle]

Well, I've had a blue day... the funeral of a relative, and autumn setting in.

However, the 40mm Rokkor cheered me up. This lens is going to be my best friend. It's so light and quick to focus. These were shot at f8 (the leaves on the grass) and f5.6 - I'm very pleased. Devved in C1-LE with just a touch of sharpening.

ps the 35mm frame is spot on - no guessing! 🙂

 

[mwooten]

Sorry for your loss Phil. I'm glad the lens brightened your day up.

Take care,
Michael

 

[Adam-T]

Sorry for your loss Phil - and for grabbing the three M adapters (though EVERY lens I have is screwmount so Justified 🙂 .....

I have the CV35 F2.5 and it`s amazingly sharp but as I`ve got the 28mm end sorted it`s rather in the middle so may well sell it (for not too much cash UK) and get a better 50mm than my Jupiters (better for focussing mainly, the Jupes don`t like infinity)...... Aperture have a Konica M-Hexanon at £220 which doesn`t seem that cheap, may as well go for a used CV Nocton F1.5 for less money unless the Konica is a stunning lens (Related to the 40 Rokkor? - Did Konica and Minolta work together that early?) ..

 

[pfogle]

Sorry for your loss Phil - and for grabbing the three M adapters (though EVERY lens I have is screwmount so Justified 🙂 .....

I have the CV35 F2.5 and it`s amazingly sharp but as I`ve got the 28mm end sorted it`s rather in the middle so may well sell it (for not too much cash UK) and get a better 50mm than my Jupiters (better for focussing mainly, the Jupes don`t like infinity)...... Aperture have a Konica M-Hexanon at £220 which doesn`t seem that cheap, may as well go for a used CV Nocton F1.5 for less money unless the Konica is a stunning lens (Related to the 40 Rokkor? - Did Konica and Minolta work together that early?) ..

thanks for the thoughts, Adam and Michael.

The Hexanon in Aperture is my old one - I traded it for a Nokton 50/1.5 which I feel handles better. The Hexanon, to my eyes, is no better than the Nokton, is a bit more flare-prone, and has a longer throw of the focus ring, so it's a bit slower to use. I think optically it's related to the earlier Summicrons, at least it seems to have a similar look, though, as I say, it has a tendency to that yellow, veiling flare that was so characteristic of the earlier Nikkors. Very romantic on Kodachrome 😉 🙂 . Also, that particular one has a loose lens shade which used to annoy me. It's fixed in place, so replacing the felt would be a repair job. As it is it rattles around a bit. I know it's irrational, but things like that get to me 😉

The CV 35/2.5 was the lens I was aiming for, but I'm really happy now that I went for the Rokkor 40mm - I did have the CV 40/1.4, but the focusing was a bit stiff, and it didn't feel as nice to use. The Rokkor is well used, so the focus is quite free which makes it quick to handle, but my results from the weekend suggest that the focus is very accurate in normal use.

I'm tending towards smaller, lighter lenses now, and I may end up with just the 40mm Rokkor and the new 28/2.8 Elmarit as my base kit. I find the CV 28/1.9 a bit on the heavy side, though I can't fault it optically. That's the thing about rangefinders... if you don't use the maximum aperture, it's no use to you, unlike a DSLR where at least it contributes to a brighter viewfinder image.

 

[Adam-T]

I think the Nokton is the lens I`ll be going for too but that used one at Aperture there now is a silly price, only £20 less than a brand new one at Robert White !! . As I said before, I like Aperture a lot but their used prices range from a rare bargain to the more usual "What Planet are you on Rich?" - shame as the staff and the service is very good.

I bought the 28mm CV new (for not a great deal more than LCE have one for used) because of F1.9, I`d have liked it to be smaller but Physics come into play of course and I DO use the max aperture, for instance, yesterday morning I was scoping out the location for a wedding I`m shooting in 3 weeks and was happily taking shots indoors at ISO400 at F1.9 (I use a small camera to take notes, the RD1 is ideal) and it was tack sharp..

couple the fast F1.9 aperture with excellent High ISO performance and that you can hold a RF for a good couple of stops (if not more) slower than 99% of DSLRs and the lack of acoustic noise (just a light metallic click) and the RD1 makes a great low light camera with this lens..

Regarding "Fast apertures are only worth buying if you use them" - that`s totally true, they may not add much in Price in CV glass but they sure do in bulk - I`ll add another anecdote "Fast apertures are only any good if the lens is usable WIDE OPEN" and the CV glass scores here too unlike most fast lower cost SLR Primes such as the Nikon & Canon 20, 24 and 28mm ones which are pretty much Pants wide open, even the highly rated 35mm F2.0 C&N primes aren`t anywhere near as sharp as the CV Skopar F2.5 all at F2.8 ... some of the higher cost ones (such as the canon 24mm F1.4L ) aren`t up tp much either and cost Leica money! ..