MINOLTA 135mm f2.8 LENSES

MINOLTA 135mm f2.8 LENSES

"Remi", Poland, 2005
Minolta XD-11 at unrecorded shutter speed
Minolta MC Tele Rokkor PF 135mm f2.8 at f4.0
Fuji Superia Reala 100 color negative film
Copyright @ 2005 by Jakub Andrzejewski

Minolta made 135mm f2.8 lenses in all of its lens series -- 13 lenses in all.

The competition

There are dozens of alternative 135mm lenses with a f2.8 aperture. Most are inexpensive and produce mediocre results. Many companies made several versions, just as Minolta did. Some produce fine results, but knowing which one can be a daunting task.

MINOLTA 135mm f2.8 LENSES

LENS FEATURES IMAGE COMMENTS

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1958-1966
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA TELE ROKKOR - PG 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 7/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: preset
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4'
SIZE: 5.9"x2.2"
WEIGHT: ? Minolta's first 135mm lens for the SLR cameras, it appeared at the same time as the SR-2. Unlike the other lenses released at the time, it lacked an auto diaphragm.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1958-1966
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: semi-auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4'
SIZE: 3.5"x2.5"
WEIGHT: 1lb.3oz. A deluxe version of the Rokkor 135mm -- with a semi-auto-diaphragm -- even though the lens says "Auto" on the front. It is one of very few Minolta lenses to have this "feature". Here's how it works. After you advance the film (which also cocks the shutter), the lens aperture remains in the "uncocked" position. In other words, the lens is still stopped-down at the set f-stop. The lens has a large tab on the outside that is pushed, after the film is advanced, which locks the aperture at its maximum setting. It is released at the moment of exposure by a tab in the lens that is held in place by the stop-down lever in the camera. This only gives you an "automatic" lens, of sorts, since the lens will not return to the full aperture setting until you have advanced the film again AND cocked the lens as well. Certainly a slow method, but all that was available at the time. One problem with these semi-automatic lenses lies with the internal tab in the lens that links the shutter release to the aperture. When the film is advanced, this tab is moved beyond the diameter of the lensmount of the camera. Should the lens be removed after the film is advanced, this tab is easily broken. In this case, you end up with a very expensive manual diaphragm lens. (The tab retracts once the shutter release is pressed, so if you need to remove one of these lenses after advancing the film, just waste a shot BEFORE removing the lens.) These lenses are hard to find and often in a broken state (although they are still usable in manual mode). The lens has LV numbers, a locking f-stop tab, and a DOF button -- but unlike other DOF buttons, this one fully releases the aperture. The lens is not reset to the auto-aperture state by releasing the DOF button -- it is necessary to recock the lens. The lens has half-stop aperture settings between f2.8 and f11. The aperture ring is in the middle of the lens so the f-stops will not appear in camera viewfinders.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1958-1966
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4'
SIZE: 3.5"x2.5"
WEIGHT: 1lb.3oz. An updated version of the Auto Rokkor 135mm 2.8 -- with a fully auto-diaphragm. There was no longer a need to cock the lens separately.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1958-1966
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO TELE ROKKOR - PG 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 7/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: no
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 5'
SIZE: 2.2"x4.5"
WEIGHT: 14.7oz. In 1965, Minolta came out with a series of "compact" Rokkor lenses. It was a select group of Rokkors from 35mm to 135mm that were a little thinner, a little shorter and weighed a little less than their predecessors. The 135mm f2.8 Auto Rokkor was one of these. This model was a "compact" version of the original 135mm f2.8 Auto Rokkor. The size and weight of the lens were reduced, and there was a new optical design.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1966-1972
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9'
SIZE: 2.6"x3.7"
WEIGHT: 15oz. The lens was mainly a continuation of the 135mm f2.8 from the Auto Rokkor series, but with meter-coupling. The aperture ring was moved closer to the camera body so that meter-coupling could occur, but the lens features are very similar.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X PF 1:2.8 f=135mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 6/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9'
SIZE: 2.6"x3.8"
WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2oz. An updated version of the MC Rokkor 135mm 2.8 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series. Although the inscription on this 6/5 lens can be the same as that of the later 4/4 model, you can tell the difference by the mark for the focusing scale and the aperture scale. On the later model, there is only one mark, while on this earlier model there are two separate marks -- one for the aperture scale and one for the focusing scale. Otherwise, they are hard to tell apart.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION:
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X QD 1:2.8 f=135mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 4/4
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9'
SIZE: 2.6"x3.8"
WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2.3oz. An updated version with a change in the optical formula. Although the inscription on this 4/4 lens can be the same as that of the earlier 6/5 model, you can tell the difference by the mark for the focusing scale and the aperture scale. On this model, there is only one mark, while one the earlier model there are two separate marks -- one for the aperture scale and one for the focusing scale. Otherwise, they are hard to tell apart.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 5/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 5'
SIZE: 2.5"x3.2"
WEIGHT: 12.9oz. A less expensive version of the MC Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1972-1977
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 4/4
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 5'
SIZE: 2.6"x3.8"
WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2.3oz. An updated version with a change in the optical formula.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 4/4
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: no
CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9'
SIZE: 2.6"x3.8"
WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2.3oz. An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 135mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
DESIGN: 5/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9'
SIZE: 2.5"x3.2"
WEIGHT: 12.9oz. An updated version with a change in the optical formula. The lens become noticeably smaller and lighter in this version even though it maintained the 55mm filter thread and added more glass. If you want a fast 135mm that is small and light, this is the one to get.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1977-1981
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm
DESIGN: 5/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 5'
SIZE: 2.5"x3.2"
WEIGHT: 12.9oz. A less expensive version of the MD Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8.

FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm
f-STOPS: 2.8-22
PERIOD: 1981-present
INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD 135mm 1:2.8 JAPAN ø55mm
DESIGN: 5/5
FILTER: 55
DIAPHRAGM: auto
MC: yes
MD: yes
CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9'
SIZE: 2.5"x3.2"
WEIGHT: 13.6oz. An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8 with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. This is one of the few instances where a Minolta lens actually gained weight over it's predecessor! Could it be that Minolta felt the earlier model had too much plastic?

**MINOLTA 135mm f2.8 LENSES**
LENS FEATURES	IMAGE	COMMENTS
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1958-1966 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA TELE ROKKOR - PG 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 7/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: preset MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4' SIZE: 5.9"x2.2" WEIGHT: ?		Minolta's first 135mm lens for the SLR cameras, it appeared at the same time as the SR-2. Unlike the other lenses released at the time, it lacked an auto diaphragm.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1958-1966 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: semi-auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4' SIZE: 3.5"x2.5" WEIGHT: 1lb.3oz.		A deluxe version of the Rokkor 135mm -- with a semi-auto-diaphragm -- even though the lens says "Auto" on the front. It is one of very few Minolta lenses to have this "feature". Here's how it works. After you advance the film (which also cocks the shutter), the lens aperture remains in the "uncocked" position. In other words, the lens is still stopped-down at the set f-stop. The lens has a large tab on the outside that is pushed, after the film is advanced, which locks the aperture at its maximum setting. It is released at the moment of exposure by a tab in the lens that is held in place by the stop-down lever in the camera. This only gives you an "automatic" lens, of sorts, since the lens will not return to the full aperture setting until you have advanced the film again AND cocked the lens as well. Certainly a slow method, but all that was available at the time. One problem with these semi-automatic lenses lies with the internal tab in the lens that links the shutter release to the aperture. When the film is advanced, this tab is moved beyond the diameter of the lensmount of the camera. Should the lens be removed after the film is advanced, this tab is easily broken. In this case, you end up with a very expensive manual diaphragm lens. (The tab retracts once the shutter release is pressed, so if you need to remove one of these lenses after advancing the film, just waste a shot BEFORE removing the lens.) These lenses are hard to find and often in a broken state (although they are still usable in manual mode). The lens has LV numbers, a locking f-stop tab, and a DOF button -- but unlike other DOF buttons, this one fully releases the aperture. The lens is not reset to the auto-aperture state by releasing the DOF button -- it is necessary to recock the lens. The lens has half-stop aperture settings between f2.8 and f11. The aperture ring is in the middle of the lens so the f-stops will not appear in camera viewfinders.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1958-1966 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4' SIZE: 3.5"x2.5" WEIGHT: 1lb.3oz.		An updated version of the Auto Rokkor 135mm 2.8 -- with a fully auto-diaphragm. There was no longer a need to cock the lens separately.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1958-1966 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA AUTO TELE ROKKOR - PG 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 7/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: no MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 5' SIZE: 2.2"x4.5" WEIGHT: 14.7oz.		In 1965, Minolta came out with a series of "compact" Rokkor lenses. It was a select group of Rokkors from 35mm to 135mm that were a little thinner, a little shorter and weighed a little less than their predecessors. The 135mm f2.8 Auto Rokkor was one of these. This model was a "compact" version of the original 135mm f2.8 Auto Rokkor. The size and weight of the lens were reduced, and there was a new optical design.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1966-1972 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR - PF 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9' SIZE: 2.6"x3.7" WEIGHT: 15oz.		The lens was mainly a continuation of the 135mm f2.8 from the Auto Rokkor series, but with meter-coupling. The aperture ring was moved closer to the camera body so that meter-coupling could occur, but the lens features are very similar.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X PF 1:2.8 f=135mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 6/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9' SIZE: 2.6"x3.8" WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2oz.		An updated version of the MC Rokkor 135mm 2.8 with the improved cosmetics and lenses coating of the MC Rokkor-X series. Although the inscription on this 6/5 lens can be the same as that of the later 4/4 model, you can tell the difference by the mark for the focusing scale and the aperture scale. On the later model, there is only one mark, while on this earlier model there are two separate marks -- one for the aperture scale and one for the focusing scale. Otherwise, they are hard to tell apart.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X QD 1:2.8 f=135mm LATE STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 4/4 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9' SIZE: 2.6"x3.8" WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2.3oz.		An updated version with a change in the optical formula. Although the inscription on this 4/4 lens can be the same as that of the earlier 6/5 model, you can tell the difference by the mark for the focusing scale and the aperture scale. On this model, there is only one mark, while one the earlier model there are two separate marks -- one for the aperture scale and one for the focusing scale. Otherwise, they are hard to tell apart.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 5/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 5' SIZE: 2.5"x3.2" WEIGHT: 12.9oz.		A less expensive version of the MC Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1972-1977 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MC MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 4/4 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 5' SIZE: 2.6"x3.8" WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2.3oz.		An updated version with a change in the optical formula.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 4/4 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: no CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9' SIZE: 2.6"x3.8" WEIGHT: 1lbs. 2.3oz.		An updated version of the MC Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8 with the typical changes of the MD Rokkor-X series.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 135mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm DESIGN: 5/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9' SIZE: 2.5"x3.2" WEIGHT: 12.9oz.		An updated version with a change in the optical formula. The lens become noticeably smaller and lighter in this version even though it maintained the 55mm filter thread and added more glass. If you want a fast 135mm that is small and light, this is the one to get.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1977-1981 INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm DESIGN: 5/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 5' SIZE: 2.5"x3.2" WEIGHT: 12.9oz.		A less expensive version of the MD Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8.
FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm f-STOPS: 2.8-22 PERIOD: 1981-present INSCRIPTION: MINOLTA MD 135mm 1:2.8 JAPAN ø55mm DESIGN: 5/5 FILTER: 55 DIAPHRAGM: auto MC: yes MD: yes CLOSE FOCUS: 4.9' SIZE: 2.5"x3.2" WEIGHT: 13.6oz.		An updated version of the MD Rokkor-X 135mm 2.8 with the typical changes of the MD Minolta series. This is one of the few instances where a Minolta lens actually gained weight over it's predecessor! Could it be that Minolta felt the earlier model had too much plastic?

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All Rights Reserved. The material on this website is protected by US Federal copyright laws. It cannot be copied or used in any manner without specific approval from the owner.

The material on this website is protected by US Federal copyright laws. It cannot be copied or used in any manner without specific approval from the owner.