Lens ReviewMorten ByskovSeptember 10, 2023Fujifilm GFX 50R, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 Adapted to Fujifilm GFX, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 review, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 sample images, Rokkor 45mm on GFX, Minolta 45mm on GFX, Rokkor 45mm f2 GFX review, Rokkor 45mm f/2 image quality4 Comments

Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 Review - Adapted to Fujifilm GFX

The Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 adapted to a Fujifilm GFX 50R with a K&F Concept MD-GFX adapter — The Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 adapted to the Fujifilm GFX 50R with a K&F Concept MD-GFX Adapter

Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 Review - Adapted to a Fujifilm GFX 50R

For six weeks, this past summer, I was in Denmark and while I visited my hometown of Lemvig, I met up with my friend and fellow photographer, Mads Krabbe.

As soon as we sat down to catch up at the harborfront he mentioned he had something for me. He pulled out a Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 and said; I have two of these and want you to have one of them. I was flabbergasted and thought it was an incredibly nice gesture.

The Rokkor 45mm f/2 was indeed on my radar as one of the lenses I wanted to adapt to my GFX 50R and as soon as I returned to Canada, I ordered a K&F Concept MD-GFX adapter and started using the lens. Let’s see how well this lens plays with a Fujifilm GFX camera.

The Lure of Old Minolta MD Rokkor Lenses

This is my first venture into Minolta Rokkor Lenses and when looking for lenses to adapt to Fujifilm GFX, especially the MD Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 and f/1.4 tend to pop up as good options.

These are fully manual focus lenses and there is no electronic information going from the lens to the camera when using a dummy adapter.

I have had luck with K&F Concept adapters in the past and ordered the MD-GFX for around $40.00. The adapter I received fits like a glove with no wobble.

Low tide at Third Beach in Vancouver. Sample image from a Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 adapted to a Fujifilm GFX 50R using a K&F Concept Minolta MD to GFX adapter. — Third Beach, Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 and K&F Concept MD-GFX Adapter

Handling

The Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 is a pint-size little pancake lens. On its own, it is tiny and weighs a mere 4.5 oz, 127 g, and including the adapter, the weight jumps to a still very manageable 8.9 oz, 249 g.

In comparison, my GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR weighs 11.8 oz / 335 g. The weight difference is not severe but when you take the bulk factor into account, the Rokkor 45mm f/2 is clearly a more lightweight and portable option.

Size comparison between a Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 and Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR — Size comparison, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 versus Fujifilm GF 50mm f/3.5 R LM WR

Vignetting

Vignetting is noticeable at f/2 but it is a soft vignette that is not distracting and sometimes can add a nice character to your photos. Vignetting begins to disappear already by f/2.8 and is insignificant by f/4.

All in all the MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 is so good in this regard that I don’t even worry about vignetting when using it on the GFX.

If you are concerned about vignetting a quick correction in your editing program will help solve the issue and a very minor crop can get rid of it.

St. James Anglican Church on Gore Ave. in Vancouver. Sample image from a Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 adapted to a Fujifilm GFX 50R using a K&F Concept Minolta MD to GFX adapter. — Gore Ave., Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 and K&F Concept MD-GFX Adapter

Image Quality

When shot wide open at f/2 there is visible smudging in the corners and overall the the Rokkor 45mm f/2 suffers from barrel distortion. The sharpness gets better when you stop the lens down but the barrel distortion persists.

Other than the above-mentioned vignetting I found the images when paired with the GFX sensor quite pleasing and surprisingly so. This is pretty good considering it is a lens that can be purchased quite inexpensively.

Prices on eBay vary tremendously, anywhere from around $40.00 to the $200-$300 range for mint copies from Japan.

My landscape shots at f/8 and f/11 show plenty of detail and the rendering is pleasing. There is, however, a bit of smudging in the corners. If this bothers you, consider using it in 35mm mode where the most extreme corners will be cropped out.

Check the sample images in this article which can be viewed up to 2500 pixels wide depending on the size of your monitor.

Conclusion

The Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 was a pleasant surprise. It is portable and lightweight, even with an adapter. And the cost should not frighten you. In my case, it was a gift but it appears the Rokkor 45mm is easy to find on the used market at a good value.

Lions Gate Bridge on a gloomy summer day. The Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 adapted to the Fujifilm GFX 50R with a K&F Concept MD-GFX Adapter. — Lions Gate Bridge, Vancouver, Fujifilm GFX 50R, Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 and K&F Concept MD-GFX Adapter, cropped to a 4 x 5 aspect ratio

You could, of course, splurge and go for the Fujifilm GF 45mm f/2.8 R WR. At $1,699.00 you would need to dig deeper into your bank account but you would get one of the finer lens options in the G-Mount lineup. This lens will give you much better optical performance along with autofocus and weather sealing.

Alternatively, if you would like autofocus, check my review of the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM paired with a Fringer AF adapter. As for lenses I have adapted to the GFX this is probably the best performing.

In wrapping this up I want to give another shout-out and a big thanks to Mads for gifting me the Rokkor 45mm f/2. It has been fun trying it out. You can check Mads’ incredible work here.

madskrabbe.com

Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2 - Sample Images on a Fujifilm GFX 50R

Please see the sample images below. Editing was done in Capture One and I used Fujifilm film simulations for some of the photos. Some of the images are cropped slightly.

Please click to view larger images.