{"id":789,"date":"2015-06-25T07:25:20","date_gmt":"2015-06-25T06:25:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=789"},"modified":"2026-01-14T08:51:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T07:51:05","slug":"minolta-md-50mm-2-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/minolta-md-50mm-2-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 Review"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"DSC07992\"<\/a><\/h1>\n

<\/h1>\n

The Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 is one of the smallest and cheapest\u00a0Minolta lenses and\u00a0most importantly it is also an excellent lens for landscape photography.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h1>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Diameter<\/td>\n64\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Length<\/td>\n36\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Thread<\/td>\n49\u00a0mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n150g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max. Magnification<\/td>\n0.15<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Close Focusing Distance from the sensor<\/td>\n45cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Number of aperture blades<\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/ Groups<\/td>\n6\/5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/address>\n
Price<\/strong> (June 2015): $10-30 in good condition.
\nCheck current prices\u00a0at\u00a0ebay.de<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/strong>ebay.com<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate links).<\/address>\n
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Image Samples<\/h1>\n<\/address>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"the<\/a>
Sony Alpha 7 | Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Spring\"<\/a>
Sony Alpha 7 | Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"SonnigerMorgen\"<\/a>
Sony Alpha 7 | Minolta MD 50mm 1:2 | f\/8<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

You can find some\u00a0more samples in this flickr set: Minolta MD 50mm 1:2.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/address>\n

Versions<\/h1>\n

Minolta made three\u00a0different\u00a02\/50’s<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The\u00a0Minolta MC Rokkor 50mm 1:2\u00a0<\/strong>was introduced in 1973<\/li>\n
  2. The Minolta\u00a0MD Rokkor 50mm 1:2 <\/strong>\u00a0was introduced in 1977. As it’s predecessor it has a 55mm filter thready and weights 230g.<\/li>\n
  3. The\u00a0Minolta MD 50mm 1:2<\/strong> was introduced in 1981, it has a 49mm filter thread and only weights 150g.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    This review is about the 3rd version which is lighter and I think it has\u00a0a new optical design.<\/p>\n

    For more technical details visit the Minolta SR lens index<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Build quality and handling<\/h1>\n

    \"Minolta_MD_50mm_f2\"<\/a>
    \nBy today’s standards the built quality is very good but compared to the best manual lenses it isn’t that good. It feels a little plasticky.<\/p>\n

    The barrel and the mount are\u00a0made from metal and anything else is made from plastics or glass.<\/p>\n

    Focusing Ring<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The focusing ring\u00a0travels around 90\u00a0degrees\u00a0from\u00a045cm \u00a0to 1m and a further 40 degrees to infinity.<\/p>\n

    The focusing ring\u00a0isn’t the smoothest, resistance is a bit higher than I prefer it but it is still good.<\/p>\n

    Aperture<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The aperture ring\u00a0has full\u00a0stops from f\/2.0 to f\/2.8 and f\/16 to f\/22 and half stops\u00a0from f\/2.8 to f\/16.<\/p>\n

    The aperture ring is made from plastics\u00a0and clicks quite nicely.<\/p>\n

    The lens has 6 straight aperture blades\u00a0.<\/p>\n

    Hood<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The front element is about 1cm recessed from the front of the lens so it is well protected from the sun and scratching. I think this is really handy because I can throw it in my camera bag without a lens cap or hood and don’t have to worry about it.<\/p>\n

    I don’t own the original hood but I have one similar to this<\/a>\u00a0(affiliate link) which works very well.<\/p>\n

    Size and Weight<\/strong><\/p>\n

    It is the smallest SLR lens I own and even if you include the adapter few M-mount lenses are smaller.\u00a0And people pay lots of money because these are so small.<\/p>\n

    \"DSC07990\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Optical performance<\/h1>\n

    These results are based on the use with a Sony Alpha 7.<\/p>\n

    Flare Resistance<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    About average performance: You can’t shoot directly into the sun because you get ugly flares but with not that powerful light sources there is only a small drop in contrast and little flare.<\/p>\n

    Bokeh<\/h2>\n

    Bokeh is neither a strength nor a weakness of this lens. My Minolta MC 1.2\/58 <\/a>has nicer bokeh. But the Minolta’s bokeh seldom distracting.<\/p>\n

    \"DSC04751\"<\/a>
    f\/2 | some outlining<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"Eilean<\/a>
    f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
    \"lake<\/a>
    f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Chromatic Aberrations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Lateral chromatic aberrations are very well controlled and more or less not visible!<\/p>\n

    Axial chromatic aberrations (“bokeh fringing”) \u00a0can be\u00a0visible at faster apertures.<\/p>\n

    Distortion<\/h3>\n

    I don’t see any. Most other 50mm lenses have a moderate amount of barrel distortion but\u00a0the Minolta MD 2\/50 does not. This really surprised me.<\/p>\n

    \"Minolta<\/a>
    Minolta MD 2\/50 | f\/8 | Distortion test<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Sharpness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    \"Minolta_MD_50mmf2\"<\/p>\n

    f\/2: <\/strong>Sharpness in the center is very good\u00a0and the midframe area is sharp as well. Even the far corners have good resolution but contrast is\u00a0very low.<\/p>\n

    f\/2.8:<\/strong> The center and midframe region improves to excellent levels,\u00a0contrast in the corners improves as well but it is still a bit low.<\/p>\n

    f\/4-8:\u00a0<\/strong>Excellent center and midframe region with very good corners.<\/p>\n

    f\/11: <\/strong>Diffraction reduces image quality to very good levels<\/p>\n

    This is\u00a0similar performance to most other 50s in the center but the corners sharpen up faster than with any other 50mm lens\u00a0I have used.<\/p>\n

    \u00a0Alternatives<\/h1>\n