Macro lenses
XD 7 with MD 50mm f3.5 Macro
Minolta MC and MD Macro lenses
Minolta offers two macro lenses in their manual focusing lineups. Both are available as MC and MD mount. As far as I know Minolta has not changed the optical construction during all the years these lenses have been in production - at least I have never heard anything about a change. The mechanical construction of these lenses has changed a lot, like the whole Minolta lens system. The earlier versions have metal barrels and less advanced lens coatings, the later having more plastic construction and better coatings.All lens data is from Carl Shipmans book, except the optical structure, which is from a Minolta system brochure (about 1980). You should also read the user reviews of Justin "Red" Bailey and Ryujin. The green coloured text here indicates information sent by someone else to be published here.
50 mm f3.5 Macro
MC 50mm Macro Rokkor-QF f3.5 with the life-size adapter and reverse ring
Photo Joe Sutherland
*) Name Rokkor is used outside the USA - the lenses made for US markets since the introduction of the rubber focusing ring carried the label Rokkor-X. There were no other difference between these than the name, so I don't count the US version as a separate one. All later subtypes have similar rubberized focusing ring.MC Macro Rokkor 50mm f3.5 QF with metal focusing ring MC Macro Rokkor 50mm f3.5 QF with rubber focusing ring** MC Macro Rokkor 50mm f3.5 MD Macro Rokkor 50mm f3.5 MD Macro 50mm f3.5 Celtic** MD Macro 50mm f3.5 -this version was still listed as available in Minolta USA's web site at 15.9.2000
**) Celtic was a cheaper version of Rokkor lenses - same optics, cheaper finishing and more plastic used. Sometimes it is said they also had less advanced lens coatings, but this has never been confirmed to me.
The lens can focus down to 1:2 (half life size) with minimum focusing distance of 25 cm. It is delivered with a special extension tube called life-size adapter that allowed magnifications between 1:2 and 1:1 - "life size", therefore the name. It is 25mm thick. The earlier tubes were well finished and maintained both automatic diaphgram operation and meter coupling. The later versions (from MD-Rokkor up) had somewhat simpler construction, but they worked similarly. The MC versions were sold together with a reversing ring, that allowed the lens to be used reversed for greater than life-size images. It was dropped from the MD Rokkor- and later versions.
The front element is deeply recessed, so it does not need a separate hood, that would be unpractical in close distances. It also has the magnification ratios and exposure corrections needed engraved in the lens barrel - very handy. A special advantage compared to other 50mm lenses of Minolta is the smallest aperture, 22 instead of 16. The obvious disadvantage is, of course, the largest aperture available. This lens has an excellent reputation, and if you don't need a fast normal lens, this were a choise to be considered as your standard lens. It is, however, a lot more expensive in the used markets than the 50mm f2 or f1.7 lenses, but not so much compared to f1.4 lens. The 50mm f1.2 is usually far more expensive than this. It depends on the version and accessories available. A lens in good condition but without the life-size adapter can be reasonably cheaper than a "collectors item". And because the extension tubes from third party manufacturers are common and cheap, it can be a good choose.
MD 50mm Macro with its life-size adapter
Min. aperture 22
Angle of view 47 degrees
Min. focusing 250 mm
Filter mount 55 mm
Length 56 mm (MD Rokkor version), focused to infinity
Weight 210 g (MD Rokkor version)
I have own this lens only a short time, the "plain" MD version, but I have discovered it being the sharpest Minolta lens I have ever seen. Actually, the sharpest lens I have ever used, save the AF-Nikkor 60mm f2.8, which I recently have bought, and cannot make a sure statement.
100 mm f3.5 Macro
MC 100mm f3.5 Macro Rokkor QE with life-size adapter
Like the 50mm Macro, this lens also focuses down to 1:2, but instead 25cm it leaves the photographer more free working distance with the closest focusing distance in 45cm. It goes down to the 1:1 magnification with its life-size adapter. The adapter is longer (50mm) and at least some versions of it have a tripod screw for better balance. I have the old MC lens, and I have seen a MD Rokkor f3.5 lens, both having the tripod screw, but I have heard the newest f4 versions don't have it. This lens did not have the reverse ring as an accessory.MC Macro Rokkor 100mm f3.5 QE with metal focusing ring MC Macro Rokkor 100mm f3.5 QE with rubber focusing ring MC Macro Rokkor 100mm f3.5 MD Macro Rokkor 100mm f3.5 MD Macro Rokkor 100mm f4 MD Macro 100mm f4
-this latest version was still listed as available in Minolta USA's web site at 15.9.2000.
The two latest (f4) versions are lighter and optically obviously different than the earlier ones.
If you do a lot of nature photography, like I do, this lens is a better choise than the 50mm lens, due to the longer free working distance. It allows better handling of the light, and many agile insects and other critters are more easy to photograph with this lens. It is also a good portrait and landscape lens, surely one of the most used ones in my camera bag. At the used markets the 100mm macro lens tends to be about 50% more expensive than the 50mm macro in similar condition. The optical quality of the lens is high enough for any use - the older versions are more vulnerable for flare in direct light than the newer ones, but that's the case with all lenses and all manufacturers, due to less advanced lens coatings. The front element is recessed but not as much as the front element of the 50mm macro. Sometimes an extra hood is needed, but I thought there were not a factory made version available - at least not as new any more.
Bob Johnson corrected me, and here is what he writes about this detail:
Evening (in Michigan) Mikko...
Your Web site for Minolta equipment is a wonder... thank you for the time you obviously put into creating and maintaining it. I was just looking at your section on macro lenses and came to the comment that you didn't know if a lens shade had been made for the 100/3.5... and so this is an Email to tell you that yes, there is one. I have the 100/3.5 macro in absolutely mint condition in original box and display case... its the MC Macro Rokkor-X with rubber focusing ring and it includes a very large lens shade that is marked "Minolta Japan" and "MC MACRO 100 mm F3.5 in white on the outer edge of the shade.
Thanks, Bob!
Optical construction: five elements in four groups
Min. aperture
32
Angle of view
24 degrees
Min. focusing
450 mm
Filter mount
55 mm
Length
89 mm (MD Rokkor version), focused to infinity
Weight
380 g (MD Rokkor version)
Here is mys simple, personal opinion of this lens: I love it!
Bellows Macro lenses
Minolta has made several of these sc. short mount lenses. They do not have a focusing system of their own, so they must be mounted to the bellows to be focused. They can be focused to infinity while mounted on the bellows. These lenses (except the 135 f4) have the automatic diaphgram system, and when used together with Auto Bellows units, they work in combination with the automatic diaphgram system of the body.Auto Bellows Rokkor 100mm F4
The lens data is from Carl Shipmans book. Photo by Justin "Red" Bailey.
Optical construction: Three elements in three groups
Min. aperture
32
Angle of view
24 degrees
Filter mount
55 mm
Length
36 mm
Weight
150 g
Auto Bellows Rokkor 50mm f3.5
In the earlier version of this page I wrote: "I have seen this lens mentioned in some sources - if somebody has information of it available, I would like to receive some. Neither Shipman nor Wolf mentions it. It seems to have been available in 1983 as a "plain" MD series lens, according to a photo of a japanese Minolta brochure, available at Shigeki Kohno's www-pages."
And Ken Kirch (kkirch@lbbincorporated.com) had this information, here is what he mailed to me:
"My notes indicate the following specifications for the Auto Bellows Rokkor 50mm f/3.5 and lists my reference as the Shipman book:
Filter (mm)
55
Min. f-stop
32
Diameter (mm)
57
Length (mm)
25
Diameter (in)
2.3
Length (in)
1
Weight (gm)
120
Weight (oz)
4.1
I did some serious tracking of eBay sales on mf lenses sold sold on eBay between March and August of 2000. Only saw one of these offered/sold. Described in mint condition, sold for US$162.50 in April 2000."
Thanks Ken!
Frank Müller was also able to give some additional information about these interesting lenses, here is what he wrote about them:
Subject: Minolta Macro
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 13:46:29 +1100
From: "Mueller, Frank" <Frank.Mueller@dotrs.gov.au>
To: "'mikko.niskanen@turkuamk.fi'"
<snipped the part that contains info about the macro tele converter - see below>
I noticed that you were looking for more information on the macro and micro bellows lenses. I don't even own a bellows but there is few but interesting material in a Minolta brochure I received with my XD-7. It is in German and entitled 'Fuehrer durch das Minolta Spiegelreflexsystem fuer die kreative Fotografie' (Guide through the Minolta SLR System for Creative Photography). I will quickly translate the relevant passages for you (into English, my Finnish is not very good ;-))
quote
Macro and micro lenses for bellows
For the close-up, macro and magnification glass photography [not sure why they make a distinction between three types of photography and not quite sure what to translate it to] Minolta offers four new lens heads for bellows. The bellows micro lenses 2/12.5mm and 2.5/25mm are attached via M-adaptors to the Minolta bellows and allow extremely enlarged pictures (8 - 20.5x and 3.2 - 9.3x, respectively). These two lenses and the new auto-bellows-macro-lenses fit onto the auto bellows III and the bellows IV. The auto-bellows-macro-lens 3.5/50mm opens up the magnification range from 0.8 to 3.2x, while the auto-bellows-macro 4/100mm can be adjusted from infinity to magnification 1.3x
unquote
More interesting are probably the technical data
and annotations.
| Lens | Elements | Groups | MC Coupling and Auto Diaphragm | Angle of View | Near Focus | Minimum Aperture | Filter Diameter | Size (diam.xlength) | Weight |
| Bellows-Micro 2/12.5mm | 4 | 4 | No | - | - | 16 | *** | 33x23.5mm | 40g |
| Bellows-Micro 2.5/25mm | 4 | 4 | No | - | - | 16 | *** | 33.5x17mm | 40g |
| Auto-Bellows-Macro 3.5/50mm | 6 | 4 | No** | - | - | 16 | **** | 57x24.5mm | 115g |
| Auto-Bellows-Macro 4/100mm | 5 | 4 | No** | - | - | 32 | **** | 57x28.5mm | 150g |
| Auto-Bellows 4/100mm | 3 | 3 | No** | - | - | 32 | 55mm | 63.5x34.5mm | 155g |
** only auto diaphragm
*** foil filter holder available as accessory
**** foil filter holder available as accessory
and 55mm filter thread in lens hood
Thanks, Frank!
This is the oldest of these lenses that I have seen - actually I have one. It has the 39mm Leica screw and pre-set diaphgram with 12 (!) blades, no meter coupling or auto diaphgram. It can be mounted to the bellows with either Minolta-L (Leica screw to Minolta bayonet mount) adapter or with a third-party M39 to M42 adapter and then Minolta-P (Pentax/M42/Practica-screw to Minolta bayonet mount) adapter. None of my sources knows this lens, but it has been mentioned in MML.
TC translated from Minolta jargon to English means three elements in three groups - a simple structure. Unless you use bellows system and look for a longer working distance, it is neither a lens to be actively used, nor a valuable collectible, but something special for a fan of older Minolta gear. Ryujin from japan has a page about this lens, follow this link. I have also added a photo taken with this into my macro shots, have a look at it here.
This lens was also available with focusing system - look here for more details.
Bellows Micro lenses
These are the most specialized lenses for really big magnifications Minolta
ever has made. They are actually microscope lenses with adapters for Minolta
mount, and obviously sold also under Leica name - at least Leica had very
similar looking lenses available. Which one is the original manufacturer,
I don't know - they might even come from a third company, but because Leitz
is a well known manufacturer of microscopes, it is perhaps likely that
they come from the German manufacturer. The lenses can provide high magnifications
when used with bellows, the Minolta 12mm f/2 Bellows Micro lens magnifications
of 8x and up, and the 25mm f/2,5 Bellows Micro 3x and up. The lenses are
corrected for these magnifications. They have aperture settings down to
f16. The lenses have a screw that allows them to be fitted to a microscope,
and they need an adapter to be mounted to the Minolta bayonet. The adapters
are called M-1 and M-2.
Third party macro lenses
These lenses have a good reputation, based on user's comments in MML and other forums and some test results. In addition there are numerous other macro- or cf (close focusing)-lenses available. Some of them might be excellent while most -especially most of the macro zooms - are less than that.Tokina AT-X 90mm Macro f2.5
This is a well made little lens, a lot smaller and lighter than the 100mm Rokkor and also has remarkably better speed. I have never used one but seen it, and if I hadn't already had the 100mm MC Macro Rokkor, I had definitely bought it. Most comments I have read of it are very positive. As far as I can remember, its aperture ring and focusing ring turn opposite way compared to Minolta standard.
The lens uses conventional, not internal focusing. It has a special kind of life-size adapter: It is not an empty tube but includes optics - this means there is more correction for cclose-ups when using it. The lens itself focuses down to 1:2 and the adapter makes it focus to 1:1. The thread is 55mm, so it can easily be used with PX80 Macro flash and all normal Minolta-fit filters. I think it is only available as MD lens.
There are some user's comment about this lens by Justin "Red" Bailey.
There are two versions of this lens: the older version with slightly larger max aperture of 2,5 that focuses down to 1:2, and the current version with max. aperture f2.8, that focuses down to 1:1. Both use Tamrons special Adpatall-2 interchangeable mount, so they can easily be mounted to any SLR. Old adapters are made for MC mounting, newer for MD - the lens itself works with both systems, and the MD adapter can of course be used in MC-era body. The aperture ring moves opposite way than the Minolta standard. These Tamrons have excellent reputation.
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 Macro, later version (55mm filter thread)
with the SP 2x 01F tele converter
This
lens has also two manual focusing and one af versions. The older version
(left picture, scanned by Ryujin) has 49mm filter thread, and model number
is 52B, the newer has 55 mm thread and has the model number of 52BB (picture
above). The AF version is like the 52BB, but the focusing ring is narrow
(like most first-generation AF lenses) and located in the extreme front,
and the plain plastic sleeve is lengthened to cover almost the whole lens.
The AF version has 52mm thread (at least available as Nikon AF mount).
All focus down to 1:2 and with the matching SP 01F converter (cannot be
used in the AF version, you need a converter with fixed mount) you get
a 180mm f5 lens that focuses down to 1:1 - not bad compared to other macros
of that focal length! I have used the later version (mf, 55B) with a tc,
and I can confirm it's good optical quality. The older version seems to
be more common on used markets, I have seen two of them, and Ryujin from
Japan owns one (read also his excellent comment
about these lenses - technical specs are also available there), and all
of them have had problems with focusing thread - it is sticky. So if looking
a used one, check that it focuses smoothly. The 55mm thread version I bought
works fine.
The later version (the one with 55mm thread, pic above) weights about 500g with adapter. It has a specially made hood (part nr. 98FH) with bayonet mount, the 49mm thread version has also a hood of its own but it screws to the filter thread. The tele converter mentioned is made just for Tamron lenses - it must be placed between the lens and the adpater, so you cannot use it with other than Tamron lenses.
The optical quality of the later model (and most likely of all models, as they appear to have the same optical design) is excellent, one of the best lenses I have ever shot - second only to Minolta MD 50mm f3.5 macro and maybe AF-Nikkor 60mm f2.8 Micro, which I havent used enough yet to be sure. It is also a bit better than Sigma EX 180mm f3.5 APO Macro HSM IF. Anyway, it is good enough and then a bit more. Odd thing is that using this Tamron lens with a long extension tube to get 1:1 magnification gives noticeably worse results than using it with the 2x TC. This must be due to the lens being designed with fixed rear element - it does not move when focusing. Anyway, it is better to use a 2x tc than extension tube to reach 1:1 with this lens - you will also gain working distance by doing so! Tamron has made a special extension tube for this lens to make it focus from 1:2 to 1:1. I've only seen it in an ebay ad.
The Tamron is also a joy to use due to relatively large aperture and light weight - it balances well with light camera bodies, unlike the front-heavy MC 100/3.5 Macro Rokkor. But it has a typical Tamron color balance, totally unlike the Rokkor lenses, much colder, bluish, which is very clearly visible when you show pics taken with Rokkors at the same time. Add a strong skylight (1B) filter to get it close to Rokkors.
Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 Macro 1:1 (the current model)
As far as I know this is the only macro lens for manual focusing Minoltas that focuses down to 1:1 without additional equipment. The filter thread is 55mm, construction 10 elements in 9 groups, min. focus distance 29 cm (11.5 in.) length 97mm and diameter 68,2mm. It weights 366 g without adapter. The model number is 72B. There has been many people prising the AF version's optical performance, but it suffers the same problem than most other 1:1 capable macro lenses, shortening of the focal length when focused close, which reduces the free working distance between the lens and the subject.
Vivitar Series I 90mm Macro f2.5
Third of the "third-party" lenses mentioned here, a member of the original Vivitar Series 1, this lens like most of it kind focuses down to 1:2 without extra help and 1:1 with its extension tube. The lens has a great reputation, but I have only once seen it - never used one. I suppose it is available only as MC lens.
Jay Piper writes:
Subject: Happy New Year, minor macro correction
Date: Tue, 2 Jan 2001
10:17:44 -0500
From: Jay.F.Piper@us.mw.com
To:
Mikko Niskanen <mikko.niskanen@turkuamk.fi>
Vivitar made a series I 105/2.5 macro and a 100/2.8 in older MD days, the Kiron 105/2.8 macro was also available in MD mount - no first hand experience with these, the Vivitars were not too much older than the first appearnce of the cosina/phoenix/vivitar/soligor etc... 100/3.5 lens that is available in AF and MF. I also have seen the well-reviewed flat-field 90-180 f/4.5 Vivitar ser I macro zoom in MC mount, it may have persisted into the MD era.
Cosina 100mm f3.5 Macro
Ryujin
continues about the Cosina-made AF/MF 100mm f3.5 Macro lenses - pic at
left is a scan from Cosina brochure. He has found a significant similarity
between the Pentax 100mm f3.5 and Cosina lenses. Here is what he writes:
Subject: Re: more about Cosina 100mm F3.5 macro
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001 19:21:57
+0900
From: "ryujin" <ryugin@peach.ocn.ne.jp>
To: "Mikko
Niskanen" <mikko.niskanen@turkuamk.fi>
I quate from their brochures like this:
Cosina AF 100mm Macro F3.5
Optical formura:
4 elements / 5 groups
Minimum F number:
22
Minimum focus length:
43cm
Largest magnification ratio:
1 to 2
Filter size:
49mm
Weight:
208g
Size:
68mm(width) x 70.5mm(length)
Price:
50000 yen for Canon EF,
48000 yen for M, N, P.
The lens comes with 1 to 1 close up lens.
Pentax FA Macro 100mm F3.5
Optical formura:
4/5 Minimum
F number:
22
Minimum focus length:
43cm
Largest magnification ratio:
0.5x
Filter size:
49mm
Weight:
220g
Size:
68mm(width) x 71.5mm(length)
Price:
37000 yen without a lens case and a hood
The lens does not come with 1 to 1 close up lens
nor extension tube. Pentax does not sell them for the lens.
To make comparison fair, I cited AF versions from each. Pentax is slight heavier (+12g) and longer (+1mm). But when I look at pictures of them on brochures, their barrel designs have similarities except for a rubber pattern of a focus ring and a pattern for a non-slip on a barrel and colors on meter and feet values. Sizes of those patterns look same.
And their similar pricings hints that they come from a same factory. Another Pentax macro lens, Pentax FA macro 100mm F2.8 looks Pentax's original design. It is expensive. 80000 yen. Twice of F3.5 version.
And Cosina MF 100mm macro F3.5 has a slight different dimensions from Cosina AF version. Weight: 256g Size: 65.6(width) x 70.5(length)mm
I think, its slight more slimness comes from no gears for AF. And its slight more heaviness comes from wider focus ring. MF version's focus ring is about three times wider than AF one. AF model has a non slip pattern on a barrel instead.
(Of course, the MF version is available in the Minolta MD mount - but
obviously they are optically identical).
Sigma 180mm f5.6 Macro
Mike Nobbs from England told me about the Sigma 180/5.6 Macro in manualminolta@egroups: (Photo by Mike Nobbs)
Subject: [MINMAN] Re:Sigma 180/5.6 Macro
(was: Re: re:Any experiences with Sigma 14mm f/3.5 MD? please share)
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000
23:03:30 +0000
From: "Mike Nobbs" <viking01@globalnet.co.uk>
To:
<manualminolta@egroups.com>
Mikko wrote:
> Mike, does this macro go to 1:1 without help, or just 1:2 ?
I suppose it
> has conventional focusing, not IF.
>
> I have only recently discovered this lens has been available
in MD mount,
> and I lack all the details - I would really appreciate if you
wrote some details,
> facts and opinions of it so that I could add it to my close-up
page. A pic were
> also fine, if you cannot scan I can do it from a normal 10x15cm
print or
> any negative or slide.
>
> Mikko
The lens goes to 1:2 without help it will reach 1:1 ok using MC extension rings with lens-subject distance of 320 and approx 1.2:1 @280 using closest focus. On autobellows + full ext it goes to approx 2:1 @250 with full extension. Lens is approx 120 long and has 52 filter ring which I have changed with 52-55 step ring to keep in line with most of my MD lenses (and minolta cap). Front element is non -rotating and lens is IF. Apertures from 5..6 - 22. It also comes with a reversible bayonet fit hood.
<snipped some other text>
Mike Nobbs King's Lynn, England
This is one of the only two long macro lenses available to manual focusing Minolta, both from Sigma. It is discontinued, and the current Sigma EX 180mm f3.5 Macro 1:1 is not available in MD mount - only as AF lens. A note about it: I have used it for one summer now (in Nikon mount), and so far it seems to be an excellent lens. The colour rendition also seems to be closer to Rokkors one than the Tamron SP 90/2.5. Want more information, mail me (and remove the no.spam from the address).
The other long Sigma macro for Minolta MD mount is the Sigma 180mm f2.8 Macro, here's what Mike told me about it:
Hi Mikko
Here is a pic of my latest find.
It is a Sigma 180mm f 2.8 Apo Macro for MD
It has internal focussing and a 82mm front filter
and 10 aperture blades
1/2 full size @ 0.64m
Regards
Mike Nobbs
King's Lynn
England
There have been rumours about a Voigtlander (Cosina) 125mm macro lens
being soon available worldwide to manual focusing cameras, here are some
details: Link to Cosina.com http://www.cosina.com/125_Voigt.htm
- it works sometimes, sometimes not.
Macro teleconverters
XD 7 with MD 50mm f1.4 and Teleplus 2x macro tele converter
making a 100mm f3.4 lens that can be focused
from infinity down to 1:1
Photo by Frank Müller
The magnification gained with these devices depends on the lens used in front of the tele converter. They are usually made for normal lenses, and the magnification ranges signed on them are for a 50mm lens focused at infinity. Focusing the lens to it's closest range and using this tc at its maximum extension would give even greater magnifications than 1:1 - and there is no reason why you could not use it, just remember that the markings in the tc or the lens (DOF, magnification) are not accurate that way. A shorter lens would give greater magnifications and a longer lens lower ones. The extension is added between the converter and the lens - this way you don't need as much extension than you would if you added it between the teleconverter and the camera body. This way also the light loss is a lot smaller.
Here is a scan of the manual of the TC by Frank - a large file with poor quality, but you can use it. It also states that the maximum effective aperture you can obtain with this TC (Teleplus) is f3.4. If a 50mm lens with larger aperture than f1.7 is used at full aperture (or any larger than f1.7) the TC will cut the light so that the maximum effective aperture is f3.4 - here is a text from the manual:
"At aperture settings brighter than f/1.7 of the master lens, Teleplus is ineffective owing to its front element serving as a fixed diaphragm. Remember that event if set to f/1.4 or f/1.2 master lens actually works only as f/1.7, (effective f value of f/3.4)."
Thanks to Frank who pointed this fact out!
Subject: Minolta Macro
Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2001
13:46:29 +1100
From: "Mueller, Frank" <Frank.Mueller@dotrs.gov.au>
To:
"'mikko.niskanen@turkuamk.fi'" <mikko.niskanen@turkuamk.fi>
2x Macro tele converter focused in infinity (left)
and to the closest limit (right)
Photos by Frank Müller
Hi Mikko,
I followed your invitation on the Manual Minolta Egroup and had a look at your Minolta macro pages - they are great! Your site is a very useful resource for the use of the manual focus Minolta system for macro photography. If I ever need info on some piece of equipment I know where to look.
(I could not snip that part :-)
Especially interesting I found the paragraph about the Sigma 180mm macro lens. I had never heard about this lens. Recently there was a discussion on the manual minolta egroup regarding, which lenses the manual Minolta system leaves to be desired. I seem to recall that a 200mm macro was about the only thing people could come up with. This 180mm lens would come very close!
I do quite a bit of macro work myself. You will know that I shoot a XD-7 - well not at the moment but hopefully soon again. My 'macro lens' is the MD 50mm 1.4 with a 7-element macro teleconverter.
I originally bought the teleconverter for use with my MD 75-200mm 4.5 but I use it far more often for macro work than to reach focal length beyond 200mm. I find 200mm is usually enough for my purposes. The second most important use of the converter for me turns out to be as a reasonable fast portrait lens in combination with the MD 50mm 1.4. The nice thing is that the converter allows you to focus from infinity all the way to 1:1 without the use of extension tubes, so you don't need to take off the lens. The macro teleconverter is very heavy and well manufactured. I am so pleased with the quality that a proper macro lens is currently not on my shopping list. I had a Teleplus 4-element teleconverter before but I returned it to the shop under warranty because I could not believe the picture quality was so bad. Fortunately the 7-element converter, especially when used with a fast prime lens, is a completely different story.
Most of the Australian insects don't require magnificationd beyond 1:1 ;-) Yesterday, when I walked my dog I found a carterpillar in the park that was a good 15cm long and 2cm in diameter! Anyway, if I do need it I have a Vivitar Automatic Extension Tube Set. I like to use the teleconverter in combination with the tubes. You can fine-tune magnification by using the variable extension of the converter rather than changing between different tubes. Also, you can reach larger magnifications by using the tubes behind the 50mm lens instead of a 100mm lens.
Most manual focus Minolta users would have a reasonably fast normal lens anyway and I think that a macro teleconverter is a very economical way to explore macro photography. I bought mine for only about US$15 but I have seen them sold on Ebay for as much as US$75.
The 7-element macro teleconverter was available under at least three brand names Vivitar, Kenko and Teleplus. The Kenko version was actually called Kenko Macro Teleplus. I own the version marketed without the Kenko name but they look identical. In the Vivitar version only the pattern of the rubber on the focusing ring seems to be different".
Thanks, Frank!
More about close-up photography and Minolta
| Close-up main page | |
| Minolta SLRs | About different Minolta manual focusing 35mm SLR cameras,
specially in terms of close-up photography |
| Extension devices | Extension tubes and bellows |
| Other equipment | Other close-up equipment available for Minolta MF cameras |
| Photos | Some of my close-up photos |
My other pages
| Home | My home page. |
| My photos | My photo pages |
| Subjective lens evaluations | of some Minolta's lenses |
| Minolta XE | The finest Minolta ever made |
| Tele lenses | of 300mm length of longer for manual focusing Minolta |
| Links | Yes, links. |