Minolta MC 1.4/50

[Phillip Reeve]

I just finished a review of the Minolta MC 1.4/50.

 

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The difference between 50mm isn't that big but I think the Minolta is one of the more attractive options because of it's sharpness, build quality and price.

 

 

 

[kiawui]

Nice lens. Compared to the Nikon 50 f1.4 ai which is a better bet or sharper wide open?

 

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[nomad]

When I compared them the Nikon had more glow wide open, but that might have been my sample. Resolution as such was quite close.

[Golem]

When I compared them the Nikon had more glow

wide open, but that might have been my sample.

Resolution as such was quite close.

 

Uh huh. Samples. Fast 50s are among the

most inconsistent from sample to sample. 

  

There is today almost no awareness of the

intended use and the advantages of 50/1.4

lenses. One of the major advantages only

applies to pre-AF classic SLRs. Another is

useful mainly for a photographic style that's

not popular today.  

  

IOW, these things are dinosaurs. Keep that

in mind and you can enjoy using them.

[finarphin]

I have one of these.  This is at Pt. Lobos, with a Sony a7ii, this lens, and a polarizer.  I like it.  But I like my Summicron better.

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[VLReviews]

 

 

 

Uh huh. Samples. Fast 50s are among the

most inconsistent from sample to sample. 

  

...

 

I often see posts stating that old lenses in general show higher sample variation. However, I've never actually seen any measurements being done to examine this proposition. I don't know if it's true. I once had a copy of this lens (MC Rokkor-PG) which I assembled from two defective lenses: One with a seperation in the front group and one with a badly scratched rear element. Using the non-defective parts of each lens, I just screwed everything together and tested it with my chart against a good copy I also owned. They performed absolutely identical

 

[nomad]

Then you just did a good job!

 

Older lenses have been through different uses (and abuses) and it would be difficult to approach this issue scientifically. I own a beautiful collection of old lenses and I can confirm that in some cases I needed to try three or more until I had a good one. Lenses from the Eastern block are notorious for sample variation since their optical concept was great in many cases, but QC was very sloppy, so they were different right from the start.

 

OTOH, I read again and again that demanding customers keep bringing back their lenses made today by respected brands until they find a good one…

[Phillip Reeve]

I would differentiate between lenses from the East and those from Japan though. I have had much less decentering issues with old Minoltas than with modern Sonys.