Just received this from the post office today morning!!! Sorry no photos yet since I'll have to wait another 2-3 weeks for my adapter to arrive... Its a Minolta MD 50mm f/1.7 and I'm super excited to take some photos soon Special thanks goes to Claire aka "nianys"
Congrats! I feel your pain, my Vivitar 28/2 (OM mount) and Konica AR 40/1.8 are both sitting lonely in my cabinet because the free-shipping mounts take forever!
Ah, yes - the agony of waiting for the #&@% adapter to arrive. I know it well. It will be over soon enough and then I think you're in for some fun. I like these old Minotas - they seem to have their own distinct vibe - "smoky" is the latest, best description I've come up with.
Nick , I like this lens so much, and I kind of kicked myself in the ribs for sending away my like new copy while using a fungus one (lol) that I ordered another unit, from the previous series, with the same coatings, but metal build. Should have it this week.
And the LBA ( Lens Buying Addiction ) begins! Welcome to the wonderful world of manual focus legacy lenses.
CONGRATULATIONS I have the same lens like you get now, Minolta Rokkor x 50mm f/1.7 and love it, is one of my favorites, offers great detail, contrast is very good despite its low price.
I'm telling you going to love this lens, I love it because it is very light compared to f1.4, but it is very good, a few shots here. The ring by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr Funny people....nice guy by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr DSC04877 by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr
Thanks friend, it's true this was my first manual lens, let me put first picture on my first attempt with manual focus, it was very easy using the peaking. Policeman by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr The shutter by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr You're trying shooting by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr Paying attention to the show by Freddytto Robles, on Flickr
Thanks all !!! As soon as I receive my adapter I'm gonna try it and post some pics This would be my first try with manual focus on a legacy lens (I've tried MF on Nex lens) so I'm mostly curious to see if I can do MF at all... Q: I've seen some that write Minolta MD-Rokkor X and their aperture ring goes until f/16 (mine says just Minolta MD and goes to f/22). Did they make 2 versions of those?
I'm so excited for you Nick. Most older lenses only stop down to f16. Most modern lens designs can go one stop smaller to f22. I'm guessing your edition is a later model of the same lens.
I'm thinking that the minimum aperture ability has got something to do with the frame size, although I may be wrong. An F/22 aperture would be OK on a crop size sensor, but I can't imagine it being much use on a 35mm full frame, hence why older 'full frame' lenses only stop down to F/16. Anyone know if I'm on the right track ?
Oh man ! I've just rubbished my own theory ! I've just checked both of my Canon FD lenses and they go to F/22 !! So much for my knowledge of apertures and frame sizes
F22 would not be of much use anyway though due to diffraction: Diffraction Limited Photography: Pixel Size, Aperture and Airy Disks
Thanks for the answers & links On another note, I'm suprised no-one noticed the blurred background, lol
This is true for digital photography, and we have to be mindful that pre-digital lenses were designed for exposing film emulsions - where the 'angle of incidence' isn't as critical as that of digital sensors. This is the same reason why some ultra-wide legacy lenses are causing purple fringing on the NEX but never had this issue when used with film (the NEX7 sensor is especially vulnerable to this, with a higher array jammed into the same sensor area). We can safely assume that native AF lenses are compensated for this and are designed specifically for exposing digital sensors. I use my SEL16 wide angle all the time on f22 and I've not had any diffraction issues with it.
