The Fab 50’s: Minolta MD (III) 50mm f/1.4

Minolta made excellent 50mm lenses.  While it may be entertaining to quibble over which is the best, I am not finding a major difference.  In fact, my main criteria have become weight and metering requirements.  That being said, the f/1.7 lenses tend to be slightly less sharp than the f/1.4 lenses, but I quibble.  The MC PG 50mm f/1.4 seems to be the sharpest, but I can’t prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt. (If you see any pun in the prior sentence, enjoy.)

As stated earlier, weight and metering have become my basis for grabbing a 50mm when heading out.  The MD 50mm  (III) meets all the requirements.  It is the second-lightest of the 50mm f/1.4 group, and it can be used on all Minolta manual-focus SLRs while fully functional in “Program Mode” on the X-700.  One caveat is that it uses 49mm filters, whereas most earlier 50mm lenses use 55mm filters.

The Minolta AF 50mm f/1.4 usually sells for 50-100.00.  Yes, that is a wide range, and I have no idea why.  The 50mm f/1.7  usually costs less, $25-35.00.

The first version of the MD (III) 50mm f/1.4 was released with the Minolta X-700 in 1981.

Aperture: f/1.4 – f/16

Optics: 7 elements in 6 groups

MFD: 17.7 inches (450mm)

Weight: 8.29oz (235g)

These images are Kodak Tri-X and Kodak Portra 160 made with a Minolta X-700.   The sun was low in the sky for Tri-X images, so I had to shoot where there was sufficient light—which limited my subjects and resulted in high-contrast images.  The deep shadows covering the massage storefront forced me to lean against a tree and use a larger aperture than desired for the image—explaining some of the softness.

The day was bright and sunny when I set out with the Portra 160, but it became overcast, which also limited my subject choices.      The difference in lighting is readily seen in the light striking the “Event Entrance” sign and the cloudy skies in the background of the statue.

Tri-X images were developed in df96.  Portra 160 was developed using the CineStill 2 Bath Color Kit. All images were scanned with an Epson v600 and Epson Scan 2 software.

The Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4 is a compact and capable 50mm lens.   It is a lightweight, perfect companion to Minolta’s X series cameras, fully supporting the X-700’s “Program Mode.”  Consider a price of $70.00 or less a good buy. Happy Shooting!