I am posting a couple of shots from the Minolta Rokkor 58 f/1.2 on my Canon R5 II that I took of my son for his grade 8 graduation last night. I shot the lens adapted to Canon using the Shoten Leica M to RF electronic adapter and an Canon EF to Leica M adapter (so two adapters and the Minolta lens was converted to Canon EF mount with a Leitax mount adapter). This setup allows the Canon focus aids and I can report those aids even indicate eye AF. The aids make it a lot easier to shoot than using magnification or ground glass screen in a DSLR. It was super easy to use for portraits.
I had the lens a number of years ago and shot it on Canon DSLRs, so I knew I liked it, but shooting it yesterday reminded me that I like the look that it produces a lot. Sharp enough and with really nice bokeh when stopped down a little. Philip at philipreeve.net reviewed it years ago, (see the review here: https://phillipreeve.net/blog/minolta-mc-rokkor-58mm-11-2/
I agree with Philip that the lens really shines at f/2 especially for portraits, but I would add that it is especially good with bright contrasty light if you don't shoot into that light. The lens really holds the highlights well. Below I will post a couple shots with the lens in fairly bright afternoon sunlight (a little after 3:00PM in Toronto) and then post a couple shots (one with the Voigtlander 40 f/1.2 and one with the Canon 135 f/2L) all shot within minutes of each other in the same location with the same camera and the same settings (AV mode, f/2, and ISO 100). The more modern lenses are sharper, but the 1960s era lens held the highlights from being too bright much better and the first Minolta shot is my keeper for his grad portrait.
Let me know what you think.
Canon EOS R5m2Minolta MC Rokkor lens58mmf/1.21/400s100 ISO0.0 EV
Canon EOS R5m2Minolta MC Rokkor lens58mmf/1.21/320s100 ISO0.0 EV
Canon EOS R5m2Voigtlander NOKTON 40mm F1.2 lens40mmf/2.01/500s100 ISO0.0 EV
Canon EOS R5m2EF135mm f/2L USM lens135mmf/2.01/1000s100 ISO0.0 EV
joakim wrote:
Just so I understand this correctly, it’s the Shoten Leica M to RF adapter that makes the focus aids work and the other one is just a dumb adapter?
Yes, that is correct. You need the Shoten M to RF adapter with electronic contacts. They do make one without contacts and that doesn't work with the focus aids, but this relatively new one with electronic contacts works great.
Steve, did you notice if the EF-M-RF adapter combo resulted in any additional vignetting? The M mount is fairly narrow while I'm guessing the Rokkor has a relatively large rear element...
I seem to recall the Rokkor was a fairly popular Alt forum lens for a while, way back, but have not seen much recent discussion about it. Have people kind of forgotten about it? Moved on? Are there any recent lenses that kind of emulate its characteristics?
rscheffler wrote:
Steve, did you notice if the EF-M-RF adapter combo resulted in any additional vignetting? The M mount is fairly narrow while I'm guessing the Rokkor has a relatively large rear element...
I seem to recall the Rokkor was a fairly popular Alt forum lens for a while, way back, but have not seen much recent discussion about it. Have people kind of forgotten about it? Moved on? Are there any recent lenses that kind of emulate its characteristics?
Hi Ron,
I didn't noticde any additional vignetting, but the lens has quite a bit no matter what camera on which it is shot. The lens still has a bit of a following and the used price is similar to what it was when I bought my first one over fifteen years ago. That said, it in many ways is a typical double gauss design with 7 elements and 5 groups a formula that was very common in its day. What I think is a bit unique about the lens is that at f/2 (but not at f/1.2) the bokeh is quite smooth and I like the look of the bokeh. The shots above are a pretty good example of that. Interestingly, most recent lenses have moved away from a double gauss design and ones that keep it tend to add aspherical elements so the lens is sharper at wider apertures. The Minolta Rokkoer 58 seems to rely on having a wider aperture, so the lens sharpens up sooner instead. I kind of like that approach if it is indeed the approach. The recent lens that may be most similar is probably the Mr. Ding 50mm f/1.1.
rscheffler wrote:
...I seem to recall the Rokkor was a fairly popular Alt forum lens for a while, way back, but have not seen much recent discussion about it. Have people kind of forgotten about it? Moved on? ...
Every time someone asks about it, a bunch of us come out of the woodwork.
