![\"Minolta](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01065.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Minolta MC 35mm 1:1.8 usually sells for around $115-160<\/strong>\u00a0at ebay.com <\/a>(affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em> <\/p>\n The Minolta MC W.Rokkor-HH 1:1.8 f=35mm <\/em>(exact inscription) was introduced in 1968 with a flat, all metal focusing ring (MC-I), in 1970 the focusing ring was updated to the hill and valley design (MC-II). The next update was the rubberized focusing ring (MC-X), you see it pictured in this review.\u00a0Some MC-X lenses\u00a0carry the HH in the name (which indicates that it is a 8 elements in 6 groups design), younger ones\u00a0don’t.<\/p>\n All three versions use the same optical design and the only difference is the different design of the focusing ring.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Minolta MD (W.Rokkor) 35mm 1:1.8 <\/em>which was introduced in 1978 is much lighter and smaller, the optical design is also different.<\/p>\n You can find the full resolution test images in the Minolta MC 1.8\/35 flickr set<\/a>.<\/p>\n f\/1.8:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>The resolution is\u00a0quite high in the center and midframe region but due to spherical aberration contrast is quite low.\u00a0The corners are soft.<\/p>\n f\/2.8:\u00a0<\/strong>Most of the image is very sharp and contrasty, midframe decent but the corners are soft.<\/p>\n f\/4:\u00a0<\/strong>Midframe and corner region improve a little.<\/p>\n f\/5.6 and f\/8:\u00a0<\/strong>Best apertures for midframe sharpness,\u00a0only the extreme \u00a0corners are soft.<\/p>\n f\/11:\u00a0<\/strong>Best aperture for the extreme corners.<\/p>\n The Minolta MC 1.8\/35 is not a lens you buy for it’s\u00a0sharpness but for it’s character and great built quality.<\/p>\n At f\/1.8<\/strong> there is quite a lot of spherical aberration<\/strong> (especially at very close distances) so while images\u00a0have quite a bit of detail they have a lower contrast and a bit of glow<\/strong>. Vignetting<\/a><\/strong> is\u00a0very high at 2,6 stops and\u00a0easily visible<\/strong> in most pictures. Bokeh is mostly\u00a0smooth at short distances<\/strong> (where the lens is noticeably softer) and a bit funky at longer distances<\/strong>.\u00a0 The less than spectacular flare resistance is also a fact that you have to<\/strong> consider.<\/p>\n These are the reasons why I would call this a character lens.<\/strong> It can still produce very nice images but you will have an abundance of aberrations<\/strong> in the image.<\/p>\n Stop the 1.8\/35 down to f\/2.8<\/strong> most of the aberrations are reduced a lot<\/strong>. Contrast and sharpness are good, the bokeh is smoother as well and vignetting is no longer an issue.<\/p>\n For landscape photography<\/strong> I would recommend f\/5.6 or f\/8<\/strong> where only the extreme corners are soft<\/strong>, the rest of the image is very sharp<\/strong> and on the same level as e.g. the FE 4\/16-35 ZA<\/a>, the much smaller and cheaper 2.8\/35 is a bit better. Vignetting is negligible and lateral CA moderate.<\/p>\n Typically for a Minolta MC lens built quality is great<\/strong>, it doesn\u2019t get much better than this. The lens is made of nothing but metal and glass (well and some rubber for the focusing ring but it has aged very well). The focusing ring is a pleasure to use<\/strong>.\u00a0The MC 1.8\/35 is neither small nor light\u00a0and\u00a0handling on the Sony a7 series is still okay<\/strong> but certainly less pleasant than that of smaller lenses<\/strong> like the Minolta MD 2.8\/35.<\/p>\n All in all I enjoyed using the Minolta MC 1.8\/35 but that was more because of the aberrations, not because it is a technically good lens at f\/1.8. Modern lenses like the Voigtlander 1.7\/35<\/a>\u00a0play in a different league. From f\/2.8 it is a technically good lens but still not as good as the much smaller MD 2.8\/35 or FD 2.8\/35<\/a>. So I would recommend it to those who like it’s character\u00a0at f\/1.8 but for most purposes a cheaper and smaller 2.8\/35 will perform as good or better.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The Minolta MC 35mm 1:1.8 usually sells for around $115-160<\/strong>\u00a0at ebay.com <\/a>(affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em> If this review was helpful to you, please consider using one of my affiliate links. I will earn a small commission on your purchase and it won\u2019t cost you anything. Thanks!<\/em><\/p>\n More full resolution images can be found in my\u00a0Minolta MC 1.8\/35 flickr set<\/a>.<\/p>\n This site contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using any of the links marked as affiliate links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the creation of future content.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Specifications Diameter: 66mm Length: 68mm Weight: 415g Filter Diameter: 55mm Number of aperture blades: 6 Close Focusing Distance: 0.3m Mount: Minolta SR The Minolta MC 35mm 1:1.8 usually sells for around $115-160\u00a0at ebay.com (affiliate link).\u00a0 In Germany\u00a0you can buy it for 120-160\u20ac\u00a0at ebay.de (affiliate link). Also check out my Minolta SR-mount adapter guide. Sample images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[419],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-vintage"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nIn Germany\u00a0you can buy it for 120-160\u20ac<\/strong>\u00a0at ebay.de<\/a> (affiliate link).
\nAlso check out my Minolta SR-mount adapter guide<\/a>.
\n<\/em><\/p>\nSample images<\/h1>\n
![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-24.jpg\")
![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-11.jpg\")
![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-23.jpg\")
Versions<\/h1>\n
![\"DSC01073\"](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01073.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSharpness<\/h1>\n
![\"Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8_infinity2\"](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8_infinity2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"DSC00179\"](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC00179.jpg\")
<\/p>\nComment<\/h1>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-9.jpg\")
![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-6.jpg\")
![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-2.jpg\")
![\"Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-25\"](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-25.jpg\")
![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-4.jpg\")
Sony a7 | Minolta MC Rokkor 35mm 1:1.8 | f\/2.8 | full resolution<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-7.jpg\")
Sony a7 | Minolta MC Rokkor 35mm 1:1.8 | f\/2.8 | full resolution<\/a><\/p>\nSony a7 | Minolta MC Rokkor 35mm 1:1.8 | f\/2.8 | full resolution<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-5.jpg\")
\nIn Germany\u00a0you can buy it for 120-160\u20ac<\/strong>\u00a0at ebay.de<\/a> (affiliate link).\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\nMore sample images<\/h1>\n
<\/div>\n![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-10.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"Sony](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/Minolta_MC_35mm_f1p8-8.jpg\")
![\"DSC01025\"](\"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/DSC01025.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nFurther Reading<\/h1>\n
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