Minolta Rokkor Lens Serial Numbers
Minolta 40mm f/2 M-Rokkor CLE description: 'The Water Lens.' In 1971 Leica decided to produce a compact Leica (CL) camera that would be a less expensive alternative to their pro model M5. In the late 60s and early 70s, production costs in Germany had risen high enough that it was beginning to price Leitz products out of an increasingly competitive sales environment. Leica looked for ways to cut costs while expanding their market share. To keep production costs to a minimum, they needed the camera to be manufactured by an outside company with hi-tech capabilities and lower labor costs than those in Germany.
Leitz approached Minolta, and the Leica CL was born. The Leica CL and the Leitz Minolta CL are 35 mm compact mechanical rangefinder cameras with interchangeable lenses in the Leica M-mount. They were developed by Leitz/Leica in collaboration with Minolta, and manufactured by Minolta between 1973 and 1976. Leica put their name on the CLs they sold, and they were put through “German quality control,” but that’s really the only difference between the Leica or (Leitz) Minolta CL. In reality, all of the cameras were made on the same assembly line in Minolta’s factory in Japan. And Europe, the CL was sold as the “Leica CL”.
In Japan it was sold as the” Leitz Minolta CL” and “Minolta CL”. Sixty-five thousand serial numbers were allotted to the Leica CL, and additionally approximately 20,000 Leitz Minolta CL’s were produced. 3,500 examples of the Leica CL received a special 50 Jahre marking in 1975, for Leica’s 50th anniversary. The CL came standard with either a 40mm f/2 Summicron-C or 40mm f/2 Rokkor M.
When sold with a Leitz Minolta CL, the lenses were called Minolta M-Rokkor 40mm f:2 and 90mm f:4. Leitz designed and produced the Summicron-C 40mm in Germany. Minolta produced the M-Rokkor 40mm f/2, which was an optical design identical the Leica Summicron-C 40mm and manufactured it in Tokyo with Minolta glass. The Summicron and Rokkor are identical in performance, and many people prefer the M-Rokkor as it uses a standard 40.5mm filter and hood.
Minolta also produced a later version of the M-Rokkor for the Minolta CLE, the M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 mark II, which is multicoated and reputed to be slightly better optically than the Summicron and first version M-Rokker, although I suspect that’s down to internet speculation. Suffice it to say that the Summicron-C and the M-Rokkor in whatever version are very compact and incredibly sharp, still as good relatively today as they were 40 years ago. Difference between Leica & Minolta 40mm's: Filters — (Minolta) 40.5mm thread; (Leica) Series 5.5 held in place by the screw-in rubber hood. Although a E39 filter may fit, the thread-pitch is subtly different and it won't screw in all the way. Manufacture — (Minolta) Japan; (Leica) Germany; Lens coating — the CLE Minolta is claimed to have a subtle magenta cast.
OTOH the earlier CL Minolta and Leica Summicron are optically identical. 6 elements, 4 groups double-gauss design. The Leica Summicron-C 40/2 is a discontinued normal lens for the Leica M-mount.
MINOLTA SR-1 SINGLE LENS REFLEX SYSTEM A new high in practical automation for Single Lens Reflex Cameras Pictured is a SR-1 'model d' (the first model with a meter shoe) with a SR Meter attached. This was a Selenium cell meter, and thus needed no battery. The serial number of the body is 1250014. It was the first successful new 35mm rangefinder camera with Leica specifications to emerge on the market after World War II that uses the 39mm screw lens-mount. The Minolta-35 range of cameras was manufactured in quantities during its twelve-year production period, totalling about 40,000 units.
Produced for the Leica CL – the “Compact Leica” during 1973–76, there are no versions to keep track of. There is a Minolta descendant – the M-Rokkor 40/2 – with improved coatings but otherwise identical optics.
It seems closely related to the Summicron 35/2 III, sharing the same number of elements and basic optical design, as well as many imaging characteristics. It’s a tiny lens, the smallest Leica’s ever produced. - country of origin: Japan year of manufacture: 1973 minimum focus distance as adapted: 32 inches lens mount: Leica M front filter size: 40.5mm mounted front filter: serial number: 2127762 estimated value: $400 usd date added: March 18, 2016 status: active mounted adapter(s): mounted hood(s): mountable on camera(s).
Condition Bought from a Japanese ebay seller in excellent condition. The lens arrived with no surprises. I don't think this lens was used much if at all. The focus and aperture rings feel fresh and 'sharp' like a new lens would. Internals dust: a few specs haze: none separation: none scratches: none aperture: clean Body focus feel: normal aperture feel: normal with clicks scratches and dings: none tarnish/wear: none.
Minolta Rokkor Lens Serial Numbers Year
If the seller said it was new old stock I'd believe it. Look and Feel Small lens even with the collapsible hood. This lens is not for SLR though due to the very short Focal Flange Distance. Ergonomics are great on this lens. It's a very small lens but the focus feel, tab and everything is just right.
A joy to use. Optical Performance Strong magenta cast on NEX-7. Looks fantastic on A7R with no magenta cast. The lens is so sharp and colors seem so brilliant that it has become one of my favorite lenses.
There is a little bit of flaring when occasionally shooting direct into the sun. Undetectable distortion. Bokeh has a little bit of a vintage look.
It swirls very slightly in some conditions. Cats eyes on the sides and bokeh can look busy at times. The lens is not razor sharp wide open but not bad at all. Stop it down a little and the lens sharpens right up.by f/5.6 it's VERY sharp. Decent landscape lens.
It's sharp enough in corners stopped down. I think the lens gives a really 3D look at times. Images just pop. Lens sharpness example, Sony A7R @f/5.6 1-1 crop.
You can count the number of bricks! Accessories Lens came with the original 'Minolta 40mm f2' rubber hood, and caps. It also came with a period Minolta Skylight 1B filter. Verdict One of my favorite 'go to' lenses. It was my most used lens in 2016. I feel like the 40mm is the perfect 'in the middle' focal length for FF and for crop.
This lens makes a great all purpose walk around because it seems to do everything right. Landscapes, close ups,medium distance all look good. It has that vintage look to the bokeh as well. Ergonomically, it's a very small lens, I have normal sized hands so it feels fine, bigger hands might not feel so comfortable. This lens + a NEX-3 will fit in my jacket pocket.
Minolta Rokkor Lens
Avoid this lens if you are on a NEX-7 due to the heavy magenta cast. In the end this lens gets a 'must buy' recommendation, it's as good as they say and the prices are rising but not super crazy yet. Flick r groups My pictures Sony A7R, most of the pictures taken at f/2 Sony NEX-7 Example of magenta color cast on this camera with this lens. Must be fixed in post processing A7R.