Chiyoko Super Rokkor 45mm f2.8 LTM

[AZD]

So I bumbled my way into one of these things today. Strange little lens but clearly made to a high standard. If not mint condition then it’s minty fresh. Traded an equally minty AE1 I’d gotten for a good price, but realized I was never actually going to use it.

Anyhow, does anyone here have experience with this asterisk-shaped oddball? The internet offers very little useful information. I’d like to hear and see what others have to say about it.

I already took it for a test drive while hiking. I like how it handles. Hopefully the pictures convince me it’s a keeper.

 

[madNbad]

I owned one for a few years but it was bundled with a few others for a trade in on a 28 2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH. It’s a fun little lens to use even with its odd shapes. At the time, it was used on a M6TTL and the lack of click stops made dialing in the meter a breeze. It renders much like the 35 3.5 Summaron of the same era, not razor sharp but has a nice glow to the images. When I get to the desktop, I’ll post a few. It’s a bargain and surprisingly heavy for such a small lens. Enjoy!

 

[xkaes]

Minolta, like other Japanese camera makers, made several Leica copies. The biggest difference is the film format size -- from 24x32 to 24x36. They made TWO versions of the 45mm f2.8 which was the standard lens:

http://www.subclub.org/minman/fixlens.htm

 

[AZD]

Looking forward to seeing some images.

Last night I disassembled mine to clean and re-grease it. It was probably fine though a bit slow for my preference. Now focus damping is perfect. Figured out how to adapt a Series V filter holder and shade to it as well.

 

[madNbad]

A36 push on filters will also work. I owned a 35 3.5 Summaron at the same time and had a FOOKH hood, it worked great on the Rokkor. What camera will you be using?

 

[AZD]

It’s on a 1955 M3 with an L39-M adapter. It’s a nice looking, rather compact setup, though not exactly lightweight.

Good to know about the 36mm slip-on filter options. I’ll keep my eyes open for them. The advantage of the Series filters is they’re plentiful, cheap, and come in any color you want. Filter adapters can be a pain though, and slow in use.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

It’s on a 1955 M3 with an L39-M adapter. It’s a nice looking, rather compact setup, though not exactly lightweight.

Good to know about the 36mm slip-on filter options. I’ll keep my eyes open for them. The advantage of the Series filters is they’re plentiful, cheap, and come in any color you want. Filter adapters can be a pain though, and slow in use.

I agree that series filters can be slow to use in the field. But they are inexpensive and available in many colors or densities. Over time, I have slowly bought the correct screw-in or bayonet filters to use on specific lenses to save time. But now I have filters coming out of the wazoo.

 

[AZD]

Well, so far so good. I still need to make some prints, but from the negatives I like what I see.

I don’t think the little Rokkor will win any awards for being the sharpest lens around, but it doesn’t really matter. It has a lot of other great things going for it, like small size and easy handling. I can’t overstate how nice it is having a small lens when you’re walking around for 8-10 hours every day (my vacations are anything but relaxing).

I did actually make 2 prints from a quick test roll and they have a certain look for sure. I like how it blooms around bright lights. And if the sun is just outside the frame it tends to create what I’d call God Rays, like a spotlight beam shining down. Other than that it’s well behaved.

The 45mm frame more or less corresponds to the M3’s full viewfinder, maybe just inside. Whatever, it’s no trouble at all and gives me a little extra room to crop my prints. That, or not worry about stepping back where a 50mm might be too tight.

The only problem? It kind makes me want a 40mm f1.4 Nokton now… Small, similar angle of view, but two stops faster. Sure, but how often do I need f1.4? Often, it turns out.

It will be interesting to see what I think once more prints are done. Regardless, it’s a keeper, and way more fun than the AE1 I traded.

 

[madNbad]

Glad you’re having fun with it. It may have been on this forum but someone had the lens stripped to the brass and painted black.