Author Topic: Has anybody tried a Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2? (Read 5068 times)

davide · « **on:** July 20, 2009, 08:47:22 AM »

The Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 looks like a "perfect" portrait lens for a E-P1. It's really tiny (smaller and lighter than the already tiny Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4). Available in both single- (CL) and multicoated (CLE) versions.
This was a standard lens for a Leica-like camera: http://www.cameraquest.com/cle.htm

Unfortunately there aren't much on sale around (I found none on craiglist, and only two on ebay, at a price higher than I would pay, because the sellers were selling a kit with other stuff - that I didn't want).

There is also a very similar 40mm f/2 Leica, more easily found, but way too expensive (for me

)

I look forward to see if any of you can find one of these lenses and post his/her impressions, before Olympus (or panasonic) decides to build their own 40mm f/2 which is very much needed!
Thanks,
;Dav

rickfieldrj · « **Reply #1 on:** July 24, 2009, 11:35:52 PM »

Not tried that lens yet, but my other two Minolta lenses (both for CLE, 28mm and 90mm) are fine with the Elephoto Leica M adapter. The Voigtlander 35mm, f1.2 also works beautifully!

scottwallick · « **Reply #2 on:** July 27, 2009, 06:50:53 PM »

For the E-P1, instead of the M-Rokkor (or the Summicron-C [same leneses, different branding]), I would suggest getting a Voigtlander Ultron 28/2, which (for me) is a better all-around focal length than 40mm. On the E-P1, these focal lengths are doubled of course.

I have used the Summicron-C and it is a top-notch lens. Avoid the Summicon-C, though, because it takes these ridiculous Series 5,5 filters (and hood) which are hard to find, whereas the M-Rokkor takes regular 40.5mm filters (same as the M.Zuiko 14-42mm).

Another option would be to get the Voigtlander Nokton Classic 35/1.4. I personally love this lens, but some finds is bokeh unpleasant. Personally, I like it. It is, after all, a classic lens and does have classic lens character (or at least an impersonation of it).

Hope that helps.

privatedoc · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2009, 06:04:59 AM »

I just got a summicron-c for a good price on ebay, its a stunning lens, highly reccommend it and , of course, its tiny, cannot be much deeper than the pancake (but you do need to add an adaptor

ChipNovaMac · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2009, 05:26:08 PM »

Quote from: rickfieldrj on July 24, 2009, 11:35:52 PM

Not tried that lens yet, but my other two Minolta lenses (both for CLE, 28mm and 90mm) are fine with the Elephoto Leica M adapter. The Voigtlander 35mm, f1.2 also works beautifully!

Any idea how that adapter compares to the Voightlander one?

davide · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2009, 07:41:45 PM »

Thanks.
I was talking about a portrait lens, not all-around

Bye,
;Dav

Quote from: scottwallick on July 27, 2009, 06:50:53 PM

For the E-P1, instead of the M-Rokkor (or the Summicron-C [same leneses, different branding]), I would suggest getting a Voigtlander Ultron 28/2, which (for me) is a better all-around focal length than 40mm. On the E-P1, these focal lengths are doubled of course.

jerrycan · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2009, 07:56:43 AM »

I just found a CLE-version for â‚¬160, but I'm still waiting for my Novoflex LeicaM-M43 adapter, so haven't had the opportunity to test it yet.

Here's some photos (not mine) using it on a G1:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=32334994

jerrycan · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2009, 05:05:18 AM »

It's about the same size as the 17mm pancake, but I'm still waiting for my adapter though, so haven't had a chance to actually use it yet... Should be here next week.

davide · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2009, 08:50:33 AM »

Thanks for your message!

Quote from: jerrycan on August 22, 2009, 07:56:43 AM

I just found a CLE-version for â‚¬160,

Where? I'd love to buy it for so little money!

Quote from: jerrycan on August 22, 2009, 07:56:43 AM

Here's some photos (not mine) using it on a G1:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1041&message=32334994

The author also claims that I can buy one for $200/$300, but that isn't the case. The cheapest I've found was $500 plus shipping (and not great shape either!)

Grrrr!

jerrycan · « **Reply #9 on:** September 19, 2009, 12:55:01 AM »

Well, it was a private sale, a guy using it on his film-Leicas, that wanted more than f2.

I got the Novoflex adapter now, works fine and does not add that much size to the E-P1, the Leica-M/Voigtlander lenses seems to match the body really well size-wise. I'm struggling a bit with manual focus on the EP-1, should probably open another thread for this. Focusing and switching between the zoomed in focusing screen and normal view with people moving around in the picture really takes some training.

davide · « **Reply #10 on:** September 20, 2009, 08:36:17 PM »

Thanks!
I agree, manual focus of moving subject is a challenge, as I wrote in my review of the Pentax f/1.4
It wasn't that bad with film, though.
Bye,
;Dav

Has anybody tried a Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f/2?