great to hear the UV cure works with a cheap flashlight. Great work. Did you treat the lens from the back or from the front?
I set the lens, front down, on a piece of aluminum foil (didn't have a small mirror handy, but would have liked to use one). I then placed 4 small pieces of rubber band on the outer edges of the rear element (to act as "feet") and then placed the flashlight directly on top, so the UV light was shining directly in through the rear element and then reflecting back up and bouncing around inside.
1. Here is a photo of the "long" metal focus grip version.
I am now a believer! Cool!
2. I own a "short" metal focus grip version 200xxxx that definitely shows not the slightest sign of yellowing. I had linked the comparative picture above. I do not believe that the lens was ever treated with UV, but will try to confirm from previous owner.
Very interesting. If the lens was used outdoors enough, it is possible that UV light from the Sun all those years kept the yellowing at bay. Hmmm. It would be interesting to compare exact serial numbers with my 200xxxx copy (don't know mine right now, as I am not at home).
3. I doubt that optical changes coincided with outer design changes. For other Minolta lenses it is known that there are metal grip versions with and without yellowing (e.g. MC Rokkor-PF 1.7/85mm).
Details like screws etc. hint towards production time and hence, albeit not perfectly, towards optical versions.
So this is my best knowledge: MC Rokkor(-X)(-PG) 1.2/58mm
#1 Long metal focus grip. Radioactive.
#2 Short metal focus grip. Some radioactive, some not - optical change at some point during production of this type.
a) Slot screws (earlier)
b) Cross head screws.
c) Other? Progression of serial numbers? - this is open to investigation.
#3 Rubber Grip
a) w/ or w/o "-X" (regional, no connection to production date)
b) in MD-era: "-PG" dropped
Coatings were updated without announcement, and probably more often than outer lens design....Show more →
It is more confusing all the time, I must admit. If you go by serial numbers, it seems odd that they used Phillips heads, then slot, then Phillips again.
4. It seems the first three digits of serial numbers are not sufficient to identify a Minolta lens anyway. After all, I own a 250xxxx Minolta lens, and it is a 1.7/85mm MC Rokkor metal grip telephoto. This source always gives the first five digits. I am trying to contact the author at the moment. Maybe he knows more about the lens´ production history.
I would think that serial number ranges for a specific lens (the 58/1.2, in this case) would at least indicate a chronological order. 200xxxx would seem to come before 250xxxx, for instance, but I have 200xxxx with Phillips screws and you have 250xxxx with slot screws ?
My wife is Japanese, so I'll ask her to interpret that chart for me and maybe she would be willing to assist in conversing with the author.
The following statement was made (in response to a question)by the seller of a 58 1.2 on Ebay.
"Q: If I win the bidding, I want to use this Minolta MC Rokkor-X 58/1.2 for my Sony a700. In your ebay statement, you said you use that with Maxxum 7D. Did you use that with Adapter+Chip or Mod kit from Pete Ganzel (http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/image/71175094)?? Or perhaps you sell that as well? Thanks.. 23-May-08
A: Hi: Thanks for your interest in my auction. Yes. You may use this lens with adapter or Mod kit from Pete Ganzel on your Sony A700 digital. The Asian engineers had develped both MD/MA adapters with or without chip. The one I used was with chip. However, from my own experience, you will have to attach the adapter to the lens first and then attach the whole lens assembly with adapter to the body before you turn the power on. The motor will make some noise for 6 to 7 seconds and stop (The same holds true when you turn the power off. I guess that's due to the chip. It's too bad that none of the sellers even mentioned this in their description!). At that time you may turn the focusing ring of the lens to close to complete focus and then lightly touch the shutter button while turning the focusing ring back and forth. You should see the AF Confirmation works by flashing red rectangular box and beeping sound (very brief). If you use the adapter without the chip, you will not get the AF Confirmation. However, you will not hear that relatively loud initial motor noise either. You may purchase both adapters on eBay by searching "AF Confirmation adapters". Some China and Hong Kong sellers have this innovative device in their stores. I hope this helps."
I would like to know if this statement holds true for EOS conversion using an M42 with a chip? Is there the same motor noise as stated above with a sony camera?
shaglepus wrote:
The following statement was made (in response to a question)by the seller of a 58 1.2 on Ebay.
"Q: If I win the bidding, I want to use this Minolta MC Rokkor-X 58/1.2 for my Sony a700. In your ebay statement, you said you use that with Maxxum 7D. Did you use that with Adapter+Chip or Mod kit from Pete Ganzel (http://www.pbase.com/pganzel/image/71175094)?? Or perhaps you sell that as well? Thanks.. 23-May-08
A: Hi: Thanks for your interest in my auction. Yes. You may use this lens with adapter or Mod kit from Pete Ganzel on your Sony A700 digital. The Asian engineers had develped both MD/MA adapters with or without chip. The one I used was with chip. However, from my own experience, you will have to attach the adapter to the lens first and then attach the whole lens assembly with adapter to the body before you turn the power on. The motor will make some noise for 6 to 7 seconds and stop (The same holds true when you turn the power off. I guess that's due to the chip. It's too bad that none of the sellers even mentioned this in their description!). At that time you may turn the focusing ring of the lens to close to complete focus and then lightly touch the shutter button while turning the focusing ring back and forth. You should see the AF Confirmation works by flashing red rectangular box and beeping sound (very brief). If you use the adapter without the chip, you will not get the AF Confirmation. However, you will not hear that relatively loud initial motor noise either. You may purchase both adapters on eBay by searching "AF Confirmation adapters". Some China and Hong Kong sellers have this innovative device in their stores. I hope this helps."
I would like to know if this statement holds true for EOS conversion using an M42 with a chip? Is there the same motor noise as stated above with a sony camera?...Show more →
It is possible to use an M42-EOS adapter with an AF-confirm chip for the mount conversion.
KOJI, cogitech,
I am in contact with Mr. Kim. Maybe he can help us with the MC 58mm history and perhaps he allows us to publish some helpful knowledge here.
cogitech, I send you my 200xxxxx serial number via PM. Your questions are reasonable, and I would have to speculate.
cogitech: What diameter does a M42 adapter have to be to be usable as new mount, the M42 to P/K is 2.360" in diameter, i figured i could spend the $10 on one of those hong kong adapters, even if they would cause a M42 lens to never achieve infinity focus, wouldn't matter with a Rokkor on it.
So what's the minimum diameter that is usable based on the Rokkor's bolt circle?
Luckily the flange is only .032"/.813mm thick, I may have to sit down and calculate my register distance and required modification to the Rokkor based on that thickness and the difference in register distances, but first i need the diameter to see if i even have a usable mount.
Those 21 mm shots look pretty good to me too. I am also waiting to see some comparisons between the 58mm 1.4 and 58mm 1.2 -- if they're anywhere near each other......
If it weren't for the mount conversion issue, they would be polular. If they were popular, they wouldn't be so cheap. If they weren't so cheap they wouldn't be so popular. Round and round it goes...
The 21 looks pretty good, but not Zeiss 21 quality. More comparable to the Olympus 21's. My Nikon 20/4 looks at least as good stopped down to f11.
Daniel Goller wrote:
Looks good, if it wasn't for the mount conversion, i'd wager that Rokkors would be the most popular alternative lenses people use.
Personally i found that scans from 6x9 or panoramic format 6x12/6x17 is far superior than any wideangle for digital, for serious landscape photo i will take MF/LF. Not only the resolution is the reason, the big minus is ugly diagonal lines.
But concerning our Rokkor 58 1.2 - does anybody have the article from the magazine Popular Photography 1976 May -There were tested 32 normal lenses from 8 major manufacturers? Rokkor was second - after Leica 50mm Noctilux f1.0
Well, then my lens operation is done according to Paul/Cogitechs clear and precise manual. Unfortunately I have a problem with the lens, which was obvious from the moment I received it in the mail - the aperture is stuck wide open. The ebay seller did not disclose this in the ad, most likely from lack of knowledge more than trying to sell a bad item. However I am (with Pauls generous advices through PMs) in the process of figuring out how to activate the aperture. It might be due to oily blades, or a bad spring or something else altogether. Will hopefully figure it out in a few days.
Posting a few pictures (in-camera high contrast B/W settings with sepia for fun - originals of course in RAW
1. My focus process as I was filing down the shim about 1,5mm: I hit perfect focus at infinity taking my time and checking every ten minutes of sanding.
(Sorry for the various colors, just the random settings and various times of day while testing.)
Regarding mirror on my 5D - yes the mirror hits the rear lens when focused between about 15meters and infinity. I will have to think about doing a mirror shave, however much I dont like it.
But this lens is something else - look at the sharpness of the following walkaround shot I took this afternoon -
That is amazing at 58mm f1.2. Practically no halo, no glowing, soft filter look, sharp as a tack, about 10 meters away. This is looking to become my new favorite daily lens, even stuck wide open. My currently most used lens is a OM Zuiko 50 f1.2, but it always has this soft look to it, that I have gotten used to. But this is nicer ! Thanks, Paul, for making this beautiful lens available to this Canon user
News from Mr. Kim - and thanks to him:
He has updated his chart of Minolta MC 1.2/58mm Serial numbers and types. http://homepage1.nifty.com/~Kim/Camera/MC58_12-4.html
The columns denominated (1) to (4) are the different main types, as shown in photos when you click the link in the respective columns´ head. (4) is the rubber grip type without the "-PG".
