Showcase Minolta 135mm f3.5 MD

[eno789]

Oak Leaves

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[jarl]

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E-PM1, handheld

 

[jarl]

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Not the best picture at all, but I was surprised with the performance of the lens
Minolta MD 135 f3.5 Celtic @ f8 (I think), using a Minolta MD to mu-43 adapter and ~20mm Minolta spacers. Because of the location of this guy (patio door mesh, some 6ft from the ground) I couldn't use a tripod, and I managed to prop the camera (barely) far from the subject (~20in perhaps), so the fact the picture came out at all is amazing.

 

[MarkRyan]

I picked up a copy of this lens from a thrift store a while back, for $7.50. Didn't know anything about it, the lens was/is MINT so I couldn't resist.

The first time I shot with it was in bad light -- too bright -- and the photos turned out terrible. I just kinda ignored the lens after that.

But newly inspired by a recently-acquired OM 50mm lens, I pulled out the Rokkor...and got some decent results I quite like the focal length, and the colors that come through are warm, contrasty. It doesn't get very sharp, at least not by f/5.6 which is as much as I've stopped it down, but it's not bad at all. A fun lens to use, certainly worth the money I paid.

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[felipegeek]

I like the lens. It imparts a feeling of shot on film all by itself. It's definitely not sharp at 3.5 but that's what I like about it. It does have a pinkish fringe CA in brighter edges in the areas that are just out of focus. All of these taken on an E-M5 with MD 135mm 3.5, shot RAW, Auto tone and/or minor tweaking in LR, exported to 2048px wide JPG for quick upload. I also have the much older early MC QD version. That one is softer still.

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[MarkRyan]

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[WhidbeyLVR]

First few test shots. The E-PL5 was not the ideal body to pair it with, but for now I am just playing. I'll have to get used to manual focus.

Willing test subjects:

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Less willing test subject:

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