XPro 1 – 28mm Minolta MD/MC/Auto Rokkor f/2.8 & 3.5

Note: This is not a scientific test or lens review and should not be taken in anyway shape or form as such, i simply write my experience with these lenses and an attempt to give those interested an idea of what to expect using this combination.

28mm 2.8 Minolta MD 49mm Thread ( 42mm equivalent ) 1984

This version was the last to be introduced by Minolta, it received an optical modification, 5 elements in 5 groups, and it was the base for the Minolta AF 28mm f/2.8. Mounted on the X-Pro 1, it is a joy to use. Sharp wide open at 2.8, very well built as with other Minolta lenses of this era, light weight with nice heft really balances well on the X-Pro 1. Half click stops from f/2.8 to f/22 on the aperture ring which is nice for fine tuning exposure. Razor sharp when stopped down, fantastic between f/4-5.6. It is the sharpest of the 28mm 2.8/3.5 MD/MC variations i have used to date. Easily found on the used market for almost next to nothing.

All Images shot wide open at F2.8 JPEG SOOC, minimal processing, B&W conversion in LR4

Lens Data

Year – 1984 – 1997
Focal Range – 28 mm
Angle of View – 75º
Max. Aperture – f/2.8
Min. Aperture – f/22
Elements/Groups – 5 in 5
Blades – Non circular
Minimum Focus Distance – 0.30 m
Filter Diameter – 49 mm
Weight – 185 g
Width x Length – 64 mm x 40 mm
Filter Rotates – No
Mount Type – MD
Features – Aperture lock for smallest aperture
Price New – US: $195 (In 1983)

Minolta 28mm f/2.8  MC W.Rokkor-X 55mm Thread ( 42mm equivalent ) 1975

This lens replaced the mid-speed f/2.5 type of 28mm. It’s noticeably smaller, and focuses closer as well. I would say from my test, it is not as sharp as the 28mm f2.8 49mm thread wide open, though sharp enough, at f/4 to 5.6 there is no difference to any other Minolta lens i own as they are all excellent or at their best within this range. Fantastic better build quality as all MC’s are compared to the MD’s. Nice compact size, weight and balance on the X-Pro 1. I really like the MC’s for their build quality and performance, i must say though that for some reason they seem to perform better wide open on m43 sensors, not really sure why – on the other hand the MD’s do better on the X-Pro 1 especially the 49mm filter threads, i guess one of those things that make you scratch your head. Regardless, the difference is almost negligible… Excellent IQ when stopped down, totally usable wide open…

All Images shot at F2.8-4 JPEG SOOC, minimal processing, B&W conversion in LR4

Lens Data

Year – 1975
Focal Range – 28 mm
Angle of View – 75º
Max. Aperture – f/2.8
Min. Aperture – f/16
Elements/Groups – 7 in 7
Blades – ??
Minimum Focus Distance – 0.3 m
Filter Diameter – 55mm
Weight – 240g
Width x Length – 64.5 x 43.5mm
Filter Rotates – No
Mount Type – MC
Features – Rubberized focusing ring
Price New -

Minolta Auto W.Rokkor-SG 28mm f/3.5 – 67mm Thread ( 42mm equivalent ) 1963

The second widest angle lens produced by Minolta back in the days, although slow at 3.5, it was the fastest wide for a long while until the 28mm 2.5, it was a real winning design at the time. Back in that era, 28mm was considered to give an extreme wide view! The Auto W.Rokkor 28mm SG is exactly the same as the MC version below with a few cosmetic changes. This lens has a DOF lever opposite the ( Black ) aperture ring, other than that it is identical. The mechanical build quality of the Auto Rokkor lenses are simply bar none! You would have to pay extremely high dollars for lenses built to these standards today, no question… If you are into looks, this lens looks gorgeous on the X-Pro 1, it marries well with the retro look of the X-Pro 1, if spotted on the street with this combination, be prepared for some old school photography conversation… Excellent IQ when stopped down, totally usable wide open…

First 3 images shot at F3.5 last 3 at 5.6 JPEG SOOC, no post processing in LR4

Lens Data

Year – 1963
Focal Range – 28 mm
Angle of View – 75º
Max. Aperture – f/2.8
Min. Aperture – f/16
Elements/Groups – 7 in 7
Blades – ??
Minimum Focus Distance – 0.6 m
Filter Diameter – 67mm
Weight – 345g
Width x Length – 70 x 50mm
Filter Rotates – No
Mount Type – MC
Features – Knurled Metal focusing ring
Price New -

Minolta MC W.Rokkor-SG 28mm f/3.5 – 67mm Thread ( 42mm equivalent ) 1966

An up-dated version of the Auto Rokkor 28mm. An MC transformation of the same lens as the Auto version, with a cosmetic difference that included a chrome metal aperture ring. Excellent IQ when stopped down, totally usable wide open…

First 2 images shot at F3.5 last 2 at 5.6 JPEG SOOC, no post processing in LR4

Lens Data

Year – 1975
Focal Range – 28 mm
Angle of View – 75º
Max. Aperture – f/2.8
Min. Aperture – f/16
Elements/Groups – 7 in 7
Blades – ??
Minimum Focus Distance – 0.6 m
Filter Diameter – 67mm
Weight – 350g
Width x Length – 70 x 50mm
Filter Rotates – No
Mount Type – MC
Features – Knurled Metal focusing ring
Price New –

Minolta MC W.Rokkor-SG 28mm f/3.5 – 55mm Thread ( 42mm equivalent ) 1968

This lens has the same optical formula as the previous 28mm albeit a radical change. Using new glasses, Minolta was able to make this a lot more compact and lighter than the Auto Rokkor – styled wide-angle lenses. This lens is a prime example of how you take something that was already very good and make it great! I’ll simply let the images speak for themselves… Not much to say, it’s a beauty all around on the X-Pro 1.

First 3 images shot at F3.5 last 4 at 5.6 JPEG SOOC, no post processing in LR4

Lens Data

Year – 1968
Focal Range – 28 mm
Angle of View – 75º
Max. Aperture – f/2.8
Min. Aperture – f/16
Elements/Groups – 7 in 7
Blades – ??
Minimum Focus Distance – 0.6 m
Filter Diameter – 55mm
Weight – 245g
Width x Length – 63 x 45mm
Filter Rotates – No
Mount Type – MC
Features – Knurled Metal focusing ring
Price New –

Conclusion

It should be no secret by now to anyone following this blog how i feel about Minolta/Konica lenses, i strongly believe they are capable of delivering incredible performance on a really good sensor as the one found in the Fuji X-Pro 1. To me it just makes sense assuming you don’t mind MF lenses, building an inexpensive system around the X-Pro 1 with Minolta legacy lenses really is a no brainer. You are rewarded with serious IQ using this combination, depending on how you use the lenses, you get that old school rendering shooting wide open, want a modern rendering, stop down! These lenses are so versatile, it empowers you as a photographer to choose your end vision by simply stopping down or shooting wide open, i really can’t say that about lenses of today which are skewed mostly towards one dimension and lack that old school character rendering, Rokkors let me go anyway i want…