• From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Registered: 2008-04-14
  • Posts: 10

Topic: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

A friend of mine has a large collection of Minolta manual focus lenses and now wants to get into digital. Are there any DSLR's out there that will take those lenses without corrective optics in the adapter? I've read that you need an adapter with a corrective lens to get infinity focus on the Canon EOS, but what about other cameras?

If he does need a corrective adapter, how badly will that affect his image quality?

He spent thousands of dollars on these lenses back in the day, so he'd hate to stop using them.

Thanks!

Last edited by dutchboy (2008-05-17 15:00:06)

  • From: Leidschendam, Netherlands
  • Registered: 2007-10-13
  • Posts: 520

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

I know the problem of your friend, I started with Minota SLR-camera's in 1966. Some lenses - most older ones - can be converted for use on Canon EOS or Sny Alpha. Only manual aperture.
May be a better policy is to convert a Canon camera mount: see
http://digitalrokkor.altervista.org/
The lense can be used without conversion, but the body is than not to be used for Canon mount lenses.
Using the MC/MD-lenses with optical converter is not an option when fast lenses has to be used wide open and nothing for wide angle lenses. Haoda converters etc deliver 1.2x TC effect costing a half stop and soften the image strong. Original Minolta converter is somewhat better but 2x TC effect, costing 2 stops.
I use a converter without glas (smal extension tube) for macro and have not yet converted any of my MC/MD-lenses. I keep them on film bodies sofar.

Last edited by Minolfan (2008-05-17 20:07:14)

  • KOJI
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  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2005-11-08
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Or you can go to this site > http://digitalrokkor.altervista.org/
then change EOS 350, 400 DSLRs's mount to SR/MD mount.
It is not cheap, but the large collection of MC/MD lenses are usable
by stopping down the aperture.

The change is reversible so that you can later sell your EOS camera.

B200, BC-1s, BX-20s & 20+ Prakticars & Etc. etc...
http://www.pbase.com/kkawakami
  • dwright
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  • From: North Lincolnshire
  • Registered: 2007-06-01
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Most Olympus DSLRs can use Minolta MD lenses with the aid of a mount adapter (no corrective lens).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/2223439531_1a15808910.jpg

Picture shows my E-500 with MD Rokkor f1.4 50mm and MD Zoom f3.5 24-35mm mounted. The adapter was purchased on eBay (Rong Jin) for GBP29.82 including postage. As shown a small Allen key is supplied to secure the lenses to the adapter but the fitting procedure is very simple.

Focal length is multiplied x2 so these lenses become a 100mm and 48-70mm respectively. The photo below was taken using the MD Zoom.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2499505199_47e1edc39a.jpg

No in-built focus confirmation is available with the E-500 but I believe a focus confirmation chip is now available which could be fixed to the adapter.

  • Flor27
  • Focus: Way Over There
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  • From: Paris, France
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Some Rokkor have been successfully converted to EOS mount but it requiere some non reversible modifying if you don't rebuilt the needed part :from scratch :

http://www.cogitech.ca/Rokkor/index.html

Mon matos: click here
  • Registered: 2007-08-26
  • Posts: 2

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

dwright wrote:

Most Olympus DSLRs can use Minolta MD lenses with the aid of a mount adapter (no corrective lens).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/222 … 808910.jpg

Picture shows my E-500 with MD Rokkor f1.4 50mm and MD Zoom f3.5 24-35mm mounted. The adapter was purchased on eBay (Rong Jin) for GBP29.82 including postage. As shown a small Allen key is supplied to secure the lenses to the adapter but the fitting procedure is very simple.

Focal length is multiplied x2 so these lenses become a 100mm and 48-70mm respectively. The photo below was taken using the MD Zoom.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/249 … edc39a.jpg

No in-built focus confirmation is available with the E-500 but I believe a focus confirmation chip is now available which could be fixed to the adapter.

why was there an allen key needed?

wee_ly's Website

  • dickb
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

I've got three glassless Minolta SR to Eos adapters. Two of them are easy to use thick macro adapters and one more fussy thin adapter that falls around the Minolta mount, adding no extra distance. With this adapter, you only get the 0,5mm difference in register, so longer telephoto lenses can be focussed to infinity but wideangles can't. In everyday use this adapter is less easy to use as it needs to be fixed with a small screw and cannot fix the eos camera bayonet pin.

  • Registered: 2008-05-20
  • Posts: 14

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

dwright wrote:

Most Olympus DSLRs can use Minolta MD lenses with the aid of a mount adapter (no corrective lens).

Picture shows my E-500 with MD Rokkor f1.4 50mm and MD Zoom f3.5 24-35mm mounted. The adapter was purchased on eBay (Rong Jin) for GBP29.82 including postage. As shown a small Allen key is supplied to secure the lenses to the adapter but the fitting procedure is very simple.

Focal length is multiplied x2 so these lenses become a 100mm and 48-70mm respectively. The photo below was taken using the MD Zoom.

No in-built focus confirmation is available with the E-500 but I believe a focus confirmation chip is now available which could be fixed to the adapter.

Now question. I have a 58mm rokkor f/1.4 MC. Does the MC and MDs fit the 4/3s Olympus 4/3s DSLRs? I'd love to use this lens and try it out when my E-420 comes

  • dwright
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  • From: North Lincolnshire
  • Registered: 2007-06-01
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

There is an article about the use of Minolta lenses with Olympus 4/3rds cameras at http://www.rokkorfiles.com/olympus.htm which gives further information regarding compatibility.

  • From: Berlin, Germany
  • Registered: 2007-01-12
  • Posts: 68

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Any ideas on how to change infinity on Minolta lenses?
Specifically, an MC Rokkor PF 1.7/50 ?
I plan to convert it to PK.
The easiest would be to use the existing bayonet.
The lens goes easily into a K100D (handheld) and the test pics look promising.
An added ring which I'd have to cut out of say 1,5mm aluminium could fit into this bayonet (and fixed with screws or glued onto it) and have the outer dimensions of the PK-bayonet.
Just the infinity..
This would basically be the same conversion as with the C/Y lenses discussed here before.
Georg
PS: Nice overview: http://members.aol.com/xkaes/mounts.htm
Edit: Removed the focus rubber this morning, no screws under it

Last edited by georgweb (2008-05-27 12:35:31)

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  • Registered: 2005-08-11
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

>why is an allen key needed?<

I think with that adapter it's beacuse it's not a bayonett connector....just a simple bunch of screws that u do up until they grab the donor lens.Lousy design but it works well enough it seems (havent used myself)

Currently: EOS 400d, EFs18-55IS, Homemade super macro lens,Pentax K 50/1:1.2 , Canon FD85/1:1.2 (converted to EOS mount), Tamron 500/8 mirror, Canon FD500/4.5L (converted to EOS mount)
  • robertro
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  • Registered: 2006-09-06
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

You may be thinking of one of the Russian multi-adapters. For the 4/3 Minolta adapters from Cameraquest and other eBay vendors, the Allen key is required for a single set screw; from what I've read it is as solid as any other mount adapter. Because the Olympus 4/3 system has the shortest flange distance of dSLRs, it can take Minolta (or virtually any) MF lenses without reconstructive surgery.

.                                                too many MF lenses, too little time___________
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  • dwright
  • Focus: Over There
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  • From: North Lincolnshire
  • Registered: 2007-06-01
  • Posts: 83

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

This is a photo of my Chinese made Rong Jin Minolta to Olympus 4/3rds adapter. As far as I can see it appears to be very similar to the more expensive Cameraquest version from the USA. I would say that the construction quality is very good.

The purpose of the supplied Allen key is to operate a small grub screw on the outer rim of the adapter which pushes on a springy interior tab to lock the mounted lens securely in position. This can be clearly seen in the left hand picture.

As a matter of interest once the adapter is mounted you can add a Minolta Adapter "L" to use Leica M39 screw lenses (Macro only).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2262/2526979287_01738395b7_o.jpg

  • From: Berlin, Germany
  • Registered: 2007-01-12
  • Posts: 68

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Hello again,

just an update on how far I've come so far in trying to convert a Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 1.7/50 to Pentax K,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26544190@N06/

Yes you can change infinity from the front (I need +2mm, approx 30

Last edited by georgweb (2008-06-11 13:06:04)

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  • From: Oklahoma, US
  • Registered: 2007-09-27
  • Posts: 42

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

georgweb,

I did sucessfully convert the Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58/1.4 into P/K. My approach in adjusting infinity focus is kind of different from yours. I repeated almost exactly the same as cogitech in his instruction of converting the Minolta 58/1.2 to EOS (http://www.cogitech.ca/Rokkor/index.html). The only extra work is to sand the lens mount shim a little more. This helps the lens focus to infinity due to the longer register distance of P/K compared to EOS.

Everything works fine and here are some sample shots of the Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58/1.4 on my K10D

http://lh6.ggpht.com/trantannghia/SFBhCEuxLBI/AAAAAAAACEY/NYou0qASgtw/_IGP7888.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh5.ggpht.com/trantannghia/SE9St2k6i6I/AAAAAAAACB8/XC29wz5Gig4/_IGP7843.jpg?imgmax=576

http://lh6.ggpht.com/trantannghia/SFBgb2SiFmI/AAAAAAAACD0/xjdFChpfLXA/_IGP7884.jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh3.ggpht.com/trantannghia/SFBgd8zPoEI/AAAAAAAACEA/utNc46xD6V0/_IGP7893.jpg?imgmax=512

  • Flor27
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  • Registered: 2007-09-10
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

dickb wrote:

I've got three glassless Minolta SR to Eos adapters. Two of them are easy to use thick macro adapters and one more fussy thin adapter that falls around the Minolta mount, adding no extra distance. With this adapter, you only get the 0,5mm difference in register, so longer telephoto lenses can be focussed to infinity but wideangles can't.

Where did you got the thin one !?
Thanks !!

Mon matos: click here
  • dickb
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

A Chinese gentleman used to sell a few of these handmade adapters on eBay. I've not seen them being offered for quite some time now though. It works best with MC lenses, on MD lenses the MD lug touches the Eos bayonet, as I found out with my new MD Rokkor 85/1.7. Very nice lens though..

  • _VR_
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  • Registered: 2008-01-28
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

I used Rokkor 50/1.4 on my OLYMPUS E-330 through universal adapter:

http://oly43club.ru/_images/adapters/XXX/_mod/XXX_mod_Minolta.jpg

http://oly43club.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=311


OLYMPUS E330 + Minolta Rokkor 50/1.4
f/1.4

http://foto.ixbt.com/photo/238174/2114Z4SmkzNfvr/YIvRfiUNH2/213694.jpg

Last edited by _VR_ (2008-06-16 08:52:18)

http://oly43club.ru/

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  • Registered: 2007-08-26
  • Posts: 2

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

got my adapter and tested a couple of shots with rokkor on e-500.......

http://weelyboleh.multiply.com/photos/album/138

wee_ly's Website

  • cvig
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  • Registered: 2006-07-31
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Which lens are you using, wee_ly?

edit: I see it says now (or I missed it originally). Great results.

Last edited by cvig (2008-06-29 23:44:31)

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  • From: Berlin, Germany
  • Registered: 2007-01-12
  • Posts: 68

Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

Here's an ebay link from an Italian offering conversion mounts,
http://cgi.ebay.de/FLANGIA-EOS-MD-per-o … dZViewItem
think I've seen stuff from this seller before, nice.
Georg

edit: http://digitalrokkor.altervista.org/ is where it comes from

Last edited by georgweb (2008-06-30 17:16:52)

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  • _VR_
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Re: Minolta MD lenses on DSLR's...possible?

OLYMPUS E-330 + Minolta Rokkor 50/1.4

http://forum.manualfocus.org/viewtopic.php?id=10897

http://oly43club.ru/

_VR_'s Website