Category Archives: MS-Optics

Review: Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF

Introduction

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Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF on Leica M10

In 1971 – two years before the Leitz/Minolta CL with its 40mm 2.0 lens – Minolta released the Hi-Matic E, a compact fixed lens 35mm rangefinder camera with a 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF lens.
While this lens is manual focus its aperture is being controlled electronically, which is why it is very difficult to turn it into an interchangeable lens that can be used on other cameras.
There might be only one person crazy enough to salvage the lens elements from such a Hi-Matic E camera, design a new housing for them and adding a manually controlled aperture diaphragm and that is Miyazaki Sadayasu from MS-Optics.
I came across one of these rare lenses in a small camera shop in Hong Kong and as this was a bit of a “once in a lifetime opportunity” I bought it without really knowing what I am getting myself into, so here we are.
This lens will be reviewed on the 42mp Sony A7rII and the 24mp Leica M10.

Sample Images

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Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/5.6
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Minolta CLE | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7 | 500T
review minolta ltm m39 leica 40mm 1.7 hi-matic e miyazaki sadayasu modified lens contrast resolution m10 42mp 24mp 61mp m6 analogue contrast bokeh vignetting
Leica M10 | Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 | f/1.7

Continue reading Review: Minolta/MS-Optics 40mm 1.7 Rokkor-QF

Analogue Adventures – Part 22: Istanbul

Introduction

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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 Apoqualia | f/11 | Agfa Vista 200

It was my second time in Istanbul and as I already covered many of the “must see” tourist sights the first time I thought it was a good opportunity to shoot some more film this time around. Being less flexible with film it also helped that I already knew what to expect and where to go.

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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/11 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | Hologon 16mm 8.0 | Fuji Superia X-Tra 400 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Fuji X-Tra 400 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/11 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Portra 400

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 22: Istanbul

Review: MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia

Introduction

ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny
MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia on Leica M6

The MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia must be a bit of a fan favorite, as it has been rereleased – and the mechanical design improved – several times over the years, making it the first MS-Optics lens available in a Mark III version. I will be having a look how it all started though by reviewing a first generation Mark I version provided by a long-time reader.
Lens is being tested on 42mp Sony A7rII (UT) and 24mp Leica M10

Sample Images

ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny
Sony A7rII UT | MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 | f/2.0 | LM-EA9
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Leica M10 | MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 | f/2.0
ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny
Sony A7rII UT | MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 | f/2.0 | LM-EA9
ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny
Leica M10 | MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 | f/2.0
ms-optics ms-optical apoquala f/2.0 2.0 28mm fast leica m10 24mp 42mp review sharpness bokeh vignetting comparison compact tiny
Sony A7rII UT | MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 | f/2.0 | LM-EA9

Continue reading Review: MS-Optics 28mm 2.0 Apoqualia

Analogue Adventures – Part 21: Kodak Portra 400

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Kodak Portra 400

The Kodak Portra 400 is Kodak’s midspeed film from the Portra series sitting inbetween the Portra 160 and Portra 800. It is also the more expensive ISO 400 color negative film in the Kodak lineup, the cheapter alternative being the Ultramax 400.
Processing (C-41) and scanning was done at urbanfilmlab in Germany.

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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Portra 400
kodak portra 400 analogue leica m6 contax canon fd olympus om
Leica M6 | MS-Optics 50mm 1.0 ISM | f/1.4 | Kodak Portra 400
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/4.0 | Kodak Portra 400
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Kodak Portra 400

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 21: Kodak Portra 400

Analogue Adventures – Part 20: Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2 processed

Kodak Color Plus 200

Even with the limited amount of different color negative films available these days Kodak manages to confuse the people by offering two different “low cost” ISO 200 daylight films: the Kodak Gold 200 (which I already had a look at here and here) and this Color Plus 200.
From what I gathered the Color Plus is based on older emulsion technology leading to slightly grainer and contrastier pictures, so let’s have a look at some samples.
Processing (ECN-2) and scanning was done at Silbersalz35 in Germany.

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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/8.0 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.0 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2
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Leica M6 | MS-Optics 35mm 1.4 | f/2.8 | Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2

Continue reading Analogue Adventures – Part 20: Kodak Color Plus 200 ECN-2 processed