X-PRO1 + Minolta lenses. ikphotography experience

image courtesy: ikphotography

A few days ago i received a mail from ikphotography (click here to visit his blog). He tried out some Minolta lenses on the X-PRO1 (click here). The photographer says: “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.”

To me, he made a really accurate and passionate job (click here, choose a lens to read and look at the picutres). The Minolta lenses tested were:

1) 24mm F2.8 Minolta MC: One of the sharpest, if not the sharpest Minolta lens ever produced. ikphotography says: “This lens is a gem. It is a bit hard to find on the used market.” Well, at this point I would like to share a little secret with you all. I found this lens in a few seconds because there is a really easy way to look for used (or new) products worldwide on ebay. I use slidoo.com (click here to see the results for the 24mm F2.8 Minolta MC). Slide, search, and if you don’t find what you want, simply click “save this search and get notified”, and once the product you looked for is on ebay, you will be informed immediately. For more details read the short and clear “About Us” of slidoo (click here).

But let’s go back to the ikphotography pictures…

2) 28mm F2 Minolta MD W Rokkor-x: “Between f2.8 and 5.6 the optical quality is absolutely fantastic.”

3) Minolta MC 28mm F2.5 W Rokkor SI – 1st Generation: “I’ll let the photos below speak for themselves, notice there’s a tiny bit of distortion though by not much, easily fixed in PP, pleasantly contrasty, has a film like rendering, nice bokeh wide open, sharpens when stopped down. At F4-5.6 which many lenses excel, this lens is no different. It is exquisite! For around $50-$100 on he used market, this is a serious lens to consider.”

4) 28mm Minolta MD/MC/Auto Rokkor f/2.8 and 3.5: “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.”

5) 35mm Minolta MD/MC/Auto Rokkor f/2.8: ” As with all Minolta lenses, they are extremely well made especially the early Auto Rokkor’s, compact and balances very well on the X-Pro 1. Performance of these lenses are also very good, wide open at 2.8 you get a nice soft sharp rendering though the later 35mm’s such as the MD’s in my opinion are sharper wide open, stopped down to f/4-5.6 they are at their best without any noticeable difference amongst the early and later ones.”

Thanks to ikphotography. And if you enjoyed the images so stay tuned, because he will update his blog with more Minolta lenses.