MINOLTA M ROKKOR 40mm(CLE)

Review and Photo example of the SUMMICRON C 40mm F2.

Gallery

The sample photo were taken with the EPSON R-D1

Review

A lens developed by Minolta for the rangefinder camera CLE.

The basic design is the same as the Rokkor and Summicron C from the CL era. The Rokkor 40mm for the CLE uses a standard parallel cam, and is compatible with other Leica M-mount cameras.

According to the reference “Leica Lenses of the World, p. 158 (link to Amazon Affiliate),” the lens coating is different from the old 40mm for the CL. Since the release dates of the two lenses differ by about 10 years, the coating agent has probably evolved, so the view that the lens coating is different seems correct.

The lens coating will deteriorate over time, so I don’t think it makes much sense to compare it with a current used lens.

This lens was used with the EPSON R-D1, and since the R-D1 has an APS-C size sensor, the focal length is 60mm in 35mm equivalent, which is a little longer than the standard 50mm. Therefore, when shooting, I displayed the 50mm viewfinder frame and took pictures while being conscious of the inside of it. Even so, the subject was rarely cut off, so it should be fine once you get used to it.

This lens was purchased together with the Minolta CLE, and it was compact and matched well with the R-D1. Looking at the results, the color and resolution are not to be underestimated.

At the moment, I have a Summarit 40mm on hand, so I don’t think I’ll buy it again, but I’m sure you can still get a good feel for the Summicron with this lens.

If you try to get it now in 2024, there will be fewer lenses available, and it will be on the expensive side for a Minolta lens. At the time of purchase, it was sold as a bonus with the Minolta CLE, so it wasn’t an expensive lens.
I sold it separately, so I think I probably sold it for more than I bought it for.

Specification

Items	SUMMARIT	SUMMICRON C	ROKKOR for CL	ROKKOR for CLE
Focal length(mm)	40	←	←	←
Max aperture	2.4	2	←	←
Min aperture	16 *1	16	←	←
Lens Construction	6elements in 4groups	←	←	←
Leaf blade	12 *1	10	←	←
Min distance(m)	0.8 *1	0.8	0.8	←
Lens length(mm)	21 *1	23.5	22.5	24.5
Max diameter(mm)	49 *1	50	51	←
Filter Size(mm)	37 *1	39	40.5	←
Hood	Cylindrical screw-in hood (provided by Ms-Optics)	Rubber trumpet-shaped screw-in hood, 12518	Rubber trumpet-shaped screw-in hood	←
Helicoid and Cam	? and parallel cam	Single helicoid and tilt cam	←	Double helicoid and parallel cam
Release date	1995 *2	1972	1973	1981
Production number	120,000 *2	54,350-	–	–
Weight(g)	54 *1	120	125	105

*1: The numbers are for Ms-optics modified lenses.
*2: The numbers are for compact cameras, Leica MINILUX. It is estimated that several dozen Ms-Optics modified products were manufactured.