MINOLTA M ROKKOR 40mm(CLE)
Review and Photo example of the SUMMICRON C 40mm F2.
Table of contents
Gallery
- The sample photo were taken with the EPSON R-D1
Review
1．Overview
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 is to an Amazon Affiliate),” the lens coating is different from the old 40mm for the CL. Since the two lenses were released about 10 years apart, the coating materials have likely evolved, so the view that the lens coating is different seems correct.
Lens coatings deteriorate over time, so I don’t think it makes much sense to compare it with current used lenses.
2．Usage
I used this lens with the Epson R-D1, which has an APS-C size sensor, so the focal length is 60mm in 35mm equivalent, a little longer than the standard 50mm. Therefore, when shooting, I displayed the 50mm viewfinder frame and took pictures while being conscious of what was inside it. Even so, the subject was almost never cut off, so I think it will be fine once you get used to it.
This lens was purchased together with the Minolta CLE, and it is compact and matches the R-D1 well. Looking at the results, I feel that this is a lens that should not be underestimated in terms of color and resolution.
3．Add Info.
At the moment, I have a Summarit 40mm on hand, so I don’t intend to purchase it again, but you can still get a good feel for the Summicron with this lens.
If you try to get one 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 kind of bonus with the Minolta CLE, so it wasn’t an expensive lens.
I sold it piece by piece, 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 |
*2: The numbers are for compact cameras, Leica MINILUX. It is estimated that several dozen Ms-Optics modified products were manufactured.
Reference links
- Leica wiki 40mm f/2 Summicron-C
- Akagi Koichi’s “Akagi Camera” No. 23: Re-examination, Leitz Minolta CL
- Camera Repair Shop’s Whimsical Blog: Questions about Current Leica Lenses
Update history
- 2024.06.05
Affiliate link
- Amazon Affiliate link leica lenses
- Amazon Affiliate link konica lenses
- Amazon Affiliate link Minolta books
