Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

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peterbilitch

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I have posted some images in my gallery that I took this evening using the Epson with a Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2

This lens cost me 1/10 of the price of the Leica Summicron-M Asph. 35mm f/2 and looking at these results, I am wondering if there is a good reason for me to keep the Leica...

I will try and make some similar exposures using the 35mm for an attempt at a comparison, but in the meantime I would appreciate any observations and thoughts on the current images.

Peter
 
I've got front focus issues with the Rokkor-M 40/2 on the R-D1, at short distance mainly.
No problem with the Summicron-C 40/2 though.
Otherwise both lenses show the same (high) qualities but due to the focus issues i don't use the Rokkor any more unfortunately.
Best,
LCT
 
Hallo Peter.

I am glad to see your digital experience with this lens is similar to what it yields on film.

My 'desert island kit' would probably consist of it on my M2 and plenty of color neg.

I love it, for its sharpness, its bokeh, its ergonomics (esp. the corny rubber shade), and its crypto-Leica-ness! (I'd much rather have a Leica design with a Rokkor badge than a so-so Minolta zoom under Leica guise.)

I probably would refuse a trade with your asph Cron. But then you would probably not offer it in the first place! ;-)

Regards,
 
It is interesting to read that the lens is the same or similar to the Summicron in design, I am certainly impressed by the results I have seen since I received the lens yesterday, both with regards to the clarity and the overall character of the images.

Whereas the Leica lenses result in an infamously sharp and smooth yet somehow dreamlike image, this lens seems to provide a distinctly true-to-life image - The images I have posted so far, were taken at night and therefore perhaps not the best to show what I mean. I shall post some daytime scenes later today, so that others can tell me if my idea of a true-to-life image is indeed true to life ;)

The alignment of this lens with the Epson R-D1 35mm framelines is a very good match. Using the 35/2 Summicron I have to guess where the edge of the frame will be on the final image. Using the 40/ M-Rokkor the alignment with the edge of the frame is close enough to regard as a perfect fit.

As regards the overall condition of this particular lens, there is some amount of yellowing on the [originally white painted] f-numbers on the barrel, otherwise the condition of the lens is as new, including a very smooth focus ring movement - So I cannot help but to ask, does the M-Rokkor typically go for such a low [200€/135GBP/240$] price?

Peter
 
In my experience, yes. I recall paying something like $300 for mine a few years ago. The M-Rokkor is a fine performer & a great bargain, but I wouldn't say it's better than the 35/2 Summicron ASPH, particularly @ f/2. You're right that the Summicron may not be better enough to justify the much, much higher price than the M-Rokkor; a better comparison would be to a 1980s-vintage non-ASPH Summicron (which are still considerably more expensive than the M-Rokkor).

peterbilitch said:
So I cannot help but to ask, does the M-Rokkor typically go for such a low [200€/135GBP/240$] price?

Peter
Click to expand...
 
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Thanks for posting those images. I just bought a 40 Rokkor from the Netherlands for 180 Euro to introduce to the Bessa R3a - I'll be interested to see how it compares to the 50 f2 Hexanon I have...I don't think I'll be allowed to keep both :(
 
Yes, my M-Rokkor (CLE-version) also cost around 200 Euros, and I'm equally pleased with its performance (on film). Very sharp, but not unpleasantly so, nice bokeh, very flare resistant.

Roman
 
I have now uploaded some daytime shots and a couple more from last night.

Peter
 
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