Rokkor glass

[John Rountree]

I just got my second Rokkor 40mm lens, this one has the modified notch so it brings up the 35mm frame lines on my M7 and it also has the multi-coating. I have been using the Rokkor without multi-coating on my CLE for about 18 months. I really like this lens a lot and for less than $300 USD I don't think there is a better lens out there. I was wondering about the glass and design of this lens. Did Minolta make their own glass for this lens or did Leitz supply glass to them? Is the lens design and element grouping a Leitz design or Minolta? How closely did Leitz monitor the manufacturing of this lens? I would be interested in any and all information about this lovely little lens. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

 

[IGMeanwell]

Minolta until the 90s made all their own glass

Minolta during the 60s and 70s made this point one of their major marketing items ... in other words they bragged about having complete control over the making of their lenses

As far as the relationship of Leitz and Minolta? The Rokkor lenses for the CL were actually German made... so they were in essence Schott glass and not Minolta glass... in other words they are basically rebranded summicrons and Elmars

 

[back alley]

the rokkors for the cle were minolta, made in japan, lenses though.

 

[ddutchison]

...The Rokkor lenses for the CL were actually German made... so they were in essence Schott glass and not Minolta glass...

Sorry, but I thought only the 90mm Rokkor was made by Leitz.

As far as I know, Leitz designed and produced the first 40mm Summicron C's. Once they were satisfied with the lens, Minolta produced the remainder under their own Rokkor name.

The Rokkor 40's made for the CLE were multicoated, and had a different design of focusing cam which was said to be more compatible with the focusing arms on Leica M's (While the focusing cams are different, not everybody agrees that the later CLE versions focus any better on the M.)

Leitz made 40's are called the Summicron C, and have a difficult to find filter size. Minolta produced 40's are called Rokkors, and take 40.5mm filters. The first versions have their serial numbers on the front of the lens - the second version (made for the Minolta CLE), have the serial numbers on the lens barrel. All are equally sharp, the CLE version is a little contrastier and flare-resistant due to its's multicoating.

Leitz also made a very small number of 40, f2.8 Elmars - intended to be offered as an economic alternative to the Summicron C. The lens was a poor performer by Leitz standards and was never released to the public. Today, it's worth a small fortune to collectors.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I am sorry your right ... only the 90mm was made by Leica

the 40mm was in fact a Japanese Rokkor

 

[haagen_dazs]

was never released to the public. Today, it's worth a small fortune to collectors.

if it was never released, how does it get into standard circulation for collectors?
unless those lenses were 'give" out for prototype testing or just given away .... 😕 😕 any idea?

 

[ddutchison]

if it was never released, how does it get into standard circulation for collectors?
unless those lenses were 'give" out for prototype testing or just given away .... 😕 😕 any idea?

That's what happened. The story is that they were given away to Leica employees. I don't think they're worth enough to retire on however😉.

 

[rover]

That's what happened. The story is that they were given away to Leica employees. I don't think they're worth enough to retire on however😉.

We have had this discussion a couple times, a search of RFF will surely turn up some of the conversations.