avatarLI Sam

Summary

The Minolta W.Rokkor-PI 21mm f4.5 lens is an ultra-wide-angle lens for rangefinder cameras, known for its excellent image quality, deformation control, and sharpness, but primarily targeted at collectors due to its specialized usage with mirror lock-up cameras.

Abstract

The article discusses the Minolta W.Rokkor-PI 21mm f4.5 lens, an ultra-wide-angle lens designed for rangefinder cameras, which was produced in the early 1960s. It is praised for its exceptional image quality, minimal distortion, and high sharpness, attributed to its Biogon optical design. The lens requires a mirror lock-up mechanism and an external viewfinder, making it less convenient for novice users. Despite its high-quality performance, especially in black and white photography, its niche functionality and the need for specific camera models limit its practicality for general photography enthusiasts. The author, who has two such lenses in their possession, provides a brief introduction and shares sample images taken with the lens, noting that the lens's design and performance make it a valuable piece for collectors and enthusiasts of vintage photography equipment.

Opinions

  • The author believes the lens is excellent for black and white photography due to its low contrast and detail retention.
  • The lens is considered more suitable for negative film photography, as digital sensors may not capture its strengths effectively.
  • The author suggests that the lens is not practical for everyday use due to its requirement for specific camera models with mirror lock-up functionality.
  • The lens's value is seen as more collectible than practical for most modern photographers.
  • The author appreciates the lens's ability to control deformation and its close resemblance to the Biogon optical symmetry structure.
  • The article implies that the lens's operation, which includes manual focusing and aperture adjustment, is reminiscent of classic rangefinder lenses.
  • The author notes that the lens's rear element is very close to the camera's metering unit, which may require exposure compensation when used with certain cameras like the Minolta CLE.
  • The author provides a historical perspective by attaching an operating manual copy that is over 50 years old.
  • The author encourages readers who appreciate their work to support them by buying them a coffee or following their social media and Patreon accounts.

Minolta W.Rokkor-PI 21mm f4.5 — Biogon type Rangefinder ultra wide-angle lens (Part II)

Excellent in the image quality, deformation control, sharpness

Minolta XM with Minolta W.Rokkor-PI 21mm f4.5

Minolta produced two 21mm ultra-wide lenses in the early 1960s, both of which required the same technique for the ultra-wide rangefinder camera. Although these two lenses are very similar in appearance, their optical structures are very different. Unfortunately, there is no introduction to these two lenses on the Internet, so I have two of them in my possession and can briefly introduce them.

The two lenses have different optics, but both resemble the Biogon optical symmetry structure.

Operation:

The most important feature of this lens is that it can only use mirror lock models, such as the Minolta srt, sr7 and XK, and requires an external 21mm viewfinder. The lens feels similar to the Minolta 21/4 in hand and uses a 55mm calibre. The closest focusing distance is 0.9m, which is a little farther for a 21mm lens. Because of the need to use a pre lift mirror, no image can see from the viewfinder, and an external viewfinder is required. The lens also operates similarly to a side-by-side lens, with a handle in the focus ring for easy focusing, and it feels very similar to an RF lens. The lens does not have any linkage, but as long as the aperture is closed to around f5.6, there is enough depth of field to go to infinity after 1.2m, which means there is no need to focus. When using the CLE, as the rear lens is too close to the metering unit, the metering value may need to be compensated by +1EV.

There are two different versions of this lens viewer, one with a rounded square ring as shown above and the other with a rounded inner ring, the best look is of course on the Minolta SR7 or SRT
From the outside, it is difficult to tell the difference between 21/4 and 21/4.5

Another Minolta W.Rokkor-QH 21mm F4

Image performance and experience.

Although not many samples were taken, the lens is still very close to the negative due to the Biogon optical design, and the distortion control is excellent. The lens has low contrast and retains more detail, making it ideal for black and white photography. On the other hand, this lens is very close to the sensor so that the digital image will become scattered, and the contrast is not good, making it a lens for the negative era.

Conclusion.

Although the time spent with the lens is not too long, the overall result is still satisfactory, except that this lens is mostly aimed at collectors. As there are only a few Minolta cameras with mirror lock function, it is not suitable for novice users as it is inconvenient to use.

A copy of the operating instructions, which should be over 50 years old, is attached for reference

Minolta W.Rokkor-PI 21mm f4.5, Minolta XK, Kodak ProFoto XL /2013

The Biogon rear lens is designed to fit close to the film and its deformation control is a definite selling point.

The author is used to using early lenses with higher saturation and contrast negatives, which gives a more pleasing result. The matching of lens and negative is also a kind of post-production/colour management, so don’t believe too much in the direct from the negative, there are too many ways to change the colour of the lens.

Minolta W.Rokkor-PI 21mm f4.5, Minolta XK, Neopan 400 / 2013

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Rokkorx’s Blog | Facebook https://youpic.com/photographer/samleehk/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/rokkorx/ https://www.instagram.com/samlee.hk/

here are my another camera/lens reviews

The Film style files used in this article:

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Rokkorx’s Blog | Facebook https://youpic.com/photographer/samleehk/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/rokkorx/ https://www.instagram.com/samlee.hk/

You can also follow me by pressing the Follow button, but unfortunately, you can’t set up a sneak preview XD. If you are willing to pay USD 1 per month for a cup of coffee, you can support me in my “Words are worth it, photos are worth it”. I have been writing blogs for more than ten years so that you may have read my Minolta articles, other equipment and photo tips in the past. It is not easy to maintain this interest in blogging. Today, many photographers like to shoot youtube or use pictures instead of writing, so in-depth introduction and evaluation may be a chore for many people. Still, I believe that words and photos have a specific value. I have many more pictures and photographs that I would like to share with you, and a little financial contribution from you would help me go further or write.

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Minolta
Biogon
Rokkor
Ultra Wide
Rangefinder
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