Minolta M-Rokkor 90mm F4

[wilfredo]

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I previously owned a late version 90mm Emarit, which I found to be a great lens, but I hardly ever used it on my M8.  Now that I own a Leica Monochrom, I'm wishing I had not sold it.  I'm not feeling the desire to burn $1200. on a replacement Elmarit.  The slower Rokkor 90mm F4 seems to be a relatively cheap option.  Can anyone comment on this lens?  How good is it wide open?  When stopped down to F5.6, or F8, is it just as sharp as the Elmarit?  I've read that it has a slightly more pleasant bokeh.

 

Thanks!

[lct]

I have no experience with Rokkors 90/4 from the seventies, only the latest version for Minolta CLE. Compared to the last Elmarit, if find it is less contrasty, expecially in borders and corners, but resolution is very good at all apertures. Flare control is generally good also, better than Elmar-C and "thin" Tele-Elmarit. Bokeh is a personal thing but i find it harsh in neither lens.

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[bocaburger]

If money is an object, IMHO I would look for a CV 90/3.5 APO-Lanthar (available only in LTM, needs just an M adapter).  I had one and it was every bit as sharp and contrasty as the e46 Elmarit. 

[ramarren]

I previously owned a late version 90mm Emarit, which I found to be a great lens, but I hardly ever used it on my M8.  Now that I own a Leica Monochrom, I'm wishing I had not sold it.  I'm not feeling the desire to burn $1200. on a replacement Elmarit.  The slower Rokkor 90mm F4 seems to be a relatively cheap option.  Can anyone comment on this lens?  How good is it wide open?  When stopped down to F5.6, or F8, is it just as sharp as the Elmarit?  I've read that it has a slightly more pleasant bokeh.

 

I  have an M-Rokkor 90mm f/4 (first series, made in Germany). It's a lovely performer, small and light, with very nice imaging qualities on both film bodies (CL and M4-2) as well as the M9 and M-P. It's been a long time since I had the Elmarit-M 90mm f/2.8 but I can't say for sure that I miss the additional stop of speed. The M-Rokkor performs well even wide open, sharpens up nicely when stopped down to f/5.6 and f/8, and holds that through f/16. It takes JIIS standard 40.5mm filters, which are easier to find than the E series filters of the Elmar-C sibling model. I believe that Ebay vendor "heavystar" is selling a nicely finished metal lens hood for it too—I bought one and it fits perfectly. 

 

I paid $320 for mine in very minty condition, with caps and hood, in 2011. It's a solid all-round performer that keeps your kit small and your wallet from becoming too thin.

Edited November 16, 2015 by ramarren

[wilfredo]

This is all very helpful, and yes price is a factor. Going forward I won't sell any of my Leica lenses because they keep going up in price, and it becomes prohibitive to buy one back, at least for now. I have two CV lenses, one 75mm, and I'm satisfied with them, but not crazy about them. I think I will give the Rokkor a try.

 

Cheers!

[Schrödinger's cat]

I have not used the Minolta version of this lens, but I just sold my Leica 90mm f4 Elmar-M, which is almost identical.  It was excellent and I only sold it because I upgraded to the collapsable 90mm f4 Macro version.

 

Performance was exceptional for my use, but I generally used it outdoors in bright sun, either wide open or at f 5.6.   The essentially identical Leica version, as you are probably aware, has an odd filter size and required an adapter in order to use standard 39mm accessories.  The supplied collapsable rubber hood was annoying and I replaced it with an eBay metal screw in version for $15.

 

The only really negative thing I could say about this lens is that there seems to be a large number of them out there with a bit of haze on the inside of the rear element.

 

There seems to be a general understanding that the Minolta version may have a superior lens coating and a different cam angle, although I was unable to find reference to either actually being preferable.

 

I don't think you will be disappointed with this lens.

Edited November 16, 2015 by Schrödinger's cat

[wilfredo]

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Before I take the plunge on the Rokkor, what about the 90mm Konica Hexanon M?  I previously owned a 50mm Hexanon M and enjoyed it very much until I sold it.  I actually liked it better than the 50mm Summicron I also owned at the same time and sold, keeping the Hexanon.  I preferred the extra contrast of the Hexanon. That lens was sold when I decided to take the bigger plunge for a 50mm Summilux ASPH!

[bobbywise]

I have the Leica 90 mm Elmar-M version, which many people say is a great performer. Some people say the rokkor version is better due to the coatings used, resulting in slightly better contrast (they say similar for the 40 mm too).

 

I don't use the Elmar-M anymore, because I got the Tele-Elmerit. It's the same size as the Elmar-M/rokkor, but a brighter lens. If you get lucky, the price difference isn't too much.

 

Good luck, and let us know what you end up getting !

[luigi bertolotti]

I have the Leica 90 mm Elmar-M version, which many people say is a great performer. Some people say the rokkor version is better due to the coatings used, resulting in slightly better contrast (they say similar for the 40 mm too).

 

I don't use the Elmar-M anymore, because I got the Tele-Elmerit. It's the same size as the Elmar-M/rokkor,

Sorry, not to be pedant... but Leica 90s are so many that a correct naming has a certain importance to avoid confusion... the "Leica 90 mm Elmar-M" you quote ought to be referred to as the "Leica 90mm Elmar-C"

[jaapv]

As an alternative you could consider a Zeiss 85/4.0 Tele Tessar ZM.. A more modern lens, high image quality, the normal blue fringing on extreme contrast edges, like most modern lenses (LR is your friend ) - and at a very reasonable price.

[Fotoklaus]

I own a Minolta M-Rokkor 4/90, Made in Japan. It´s a great, lightweight, good performing lens with exellent multicoating.

The build- quality is Leica-like, no compromise. I first owned a Tele- Elmarit 2.8/90 but sold it immedialtely, because of flare-problems.

I would never change anymore.

For small money you will get a great lens on Leica- Level. Really underrated, in my opinion.

[bobbywise]

Sorry, not to be pedant... but Leica 90s are so many that a correct naming has a certain importance to avoid confusion... the "Leica 90 mm Elmar-M" you quote ought to be referred to as the "Leica 90mm Elmar-C"

Yes, my error (like the 40 mm Summicron-C) .... I was influenced by the post above ;-)

[Schrödinger's cat]

Sorry, not to be pedant... but Leica 90s are so many that a correct naming has a certain importance to avoid confusion... the "Leica 90 mm Elmar-M" you quote ought to be referred to as the "Leica 90mm Elmar-C"

This is actually rather important.  I find myself using the incorrect name with some regularity and at some point it's bound to cause confusion.

[lct]

Same for the Rokkor.. The one from the eighties for CLE is not the same as the one (or ones?) from the seventies for CL.

[sdk]

I just got a copy of the Voigtländer Apo Lanthar 90mm/3.5 LTM lens and am so far quite impressed with it. Nice, modern, high-contrast rendering, very low axial chromatic aberration. Size similar to the thin Leica 90mm/2.8 Tele-Elmarit and 90mm/4 Elmar C, but better optically.

[pixie]

I tried a number of Minolta 90mm lenses.

None focused correctly with my M3 or M2.

Check before you buy!

[mirekti]

On 11/18/2015 at 3:21 PM, lct said:

Same for the Rokkor.. The one from the eighties for CLE is not the same as the one (or ones?) from the seventies for CL.

How can you tell the difference between CLE and CL versions? Thanks.

Edited July 5, 2020 by mirekti

[Einst_Stein]

Do not overlook the old 9cm/f4 in M mount. 

Personally I feel Rokkor the least characteristic among the Leica 90mm f4. The old 9cm f4 has a very pleasing flavor.  

[mirekti]

13 minutes ago, Einst_Stein said:

Do not overlook the old 9cm/f4 in M mount. 

Personally I feel Rokkor the least characteristic among the Leica 90mm f4. The old 9cm f4 has a very pleasing flavor.  

I actually own a single coated 40mm Rokkor, and would like to pair it with 90mm that draws the same, that's why I started considering Rokkor 90mm.

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[adan]

1 hour ago, mirekti said:

How can you tell the difference between CLE and CL versions? Thanks.

I believe the CL version is engraved on the front, "M-Rokkor" and "Made by Leitz" - while the CLE version is engraved "M-Rokkor" and "Minolta" with no mention of Leitz.

Not sure how consistent such markings are, however. Nor whether there is any functional optical/performance difference.

Also, it appears the 1970s lens for the CL has a sharp drop-off or stair-step ("L") between the base and the focus ring, whereas the 1980s CLE version has a sloped chamfer ("\").

Edited July 5, 2020 by adan