Samples: Minolta Vectis 50mm f/3.5 Macro

Samples: Minolta Vectis 50mm f/3.5 Macro

mount: Minolta Vectis V
format: APS-H film
year: 1996
max aperture: f/3.5
min aperture: f/32
elements/group: 5/5
aperture blades: 7
min focus distance (mm): 23cm / 0.8'
filter diameter (mm): 46mm
length (mm): 70mm
weight (g): 140

additional information:
Macro lens, magnifies to half life size (1:2)

Made for the Minolta Vectis S-1 and S-100 APS film SLR's and the Minolta DiMage RD-3000 DSLR it compares to 63mm in 35 mm format
Being an all electronic lens both for aperture control and focus ( even manual focus is focus by wire ) it is only fully compatible with those three cameras .

The only way of using the Vectis lenses on modern digital cameras is via the Monster adapter . It supplies power to focus manually , but does not support auto focus .
It does also allow you to control the aperture via the camera .
Although the adapter reports itself as a 24-70mm lens , the correct and current focal length is reported to image stabilisation works correctly on applicable bodies , in this case 51mm .



This thread is open for C&C and for posting additional pictures. Please ONLY post pictures taken with the lens in the title- or start a new thread.
Please state camera, version of the lens and adapter in your post!

Edited by Micholand - 18 November 2021 at 18:54

Very nice shots and super quality, but Minolta's 50mm f3.5 macro lens was great from the beginning. Minolta made six versions of the lens, but the optical design was always the same.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/50macro.htm

I've got to assume that the Vectis macro is very similar optically.

I'm glad you overcame the roadblocks with the Vectis macro, but for anyone else interested in great macro gear, it's pretty easy to find a Minolta Celtic MC 50mm f3.5 with the 1:1 extension tube for around $25.

Happy shooting!

Minolta made four versions of the 50mm f3.5 macro for the MAXXUM cameras, and Sony made an f2.8 version. I am unaware of the optical designs of any of these, and how and if they different from the Rokkor f3.5 model.

Thanks for the correction.

Minolta made four versions of the 50mm macro for the MAXXUM cameras --

TWO were f3.5 -- one of these was a D lens

TWO were f2.8

and Sony made an f2.8 version.

I am unaware of the optical designs of any of these, and how and if the f3.5 versions different from the Rokkor f3.5 model.

http://support.d-imaging.sony.co.jp/www/cscs/lens_body/index.php?mdl=DSLR-A900&area=eu&lang=en

And, of course, Minolta made a V-mount 50mm macro as well.

I know what the optical formula for the Rokkor and Celtic 50mm f3.5 is. I have not explored the Maxxum and Sony designs. I would be surprised if Minolta changed the design of their 50mm f3.5 from the Rokkor to the Maxxum models. They kept the designs of most of the Rokkor and Maxxum lenses the same.

The above shown design of the Minolta Rokkor and Celtic 50mm F3.5 macro lenses has nothing to do with this Vectis 50mm macro lens

While the various styled 50mm macro versions (incl. the 50mm macro bellows) for the SR mount are based on the same 6 elements in 4 groups, the A-mount macro 50mm F2.8 versions have 7 elements in 6 groups instead.

The only exception is the Minolta AF 50/3.5 Macro which is based on a design with 5 elements in 5 groups. So there might be a high likelihood that the Vectis uses the same optical design, especially since the other specs (min. focus, max. magnification, min/max F-stop, ...) look similar, too

XKAES wrote: Thanks for the correction. Minolta made four versions of the 50mm macro for the MAXXUM cameras -- TWO were f3.5 -- one of these was a D lens TWO were f2.8 and Sony made an f2.8 version. .

Sorry , that's not correct .
Yes Minolta did make four 50mm Macro lenses for the Maxxum/Dynax/Alpha A-Mount cameras , but these are as follows .

The first one they did in 1985 was the Minolta-AF-50mm-F2.8-Macro

The second one they did in 1993 was the Minolta-AF-50mm-F2.8-Macro-RS , RS meaning Re-Styled . never Minoltas official designation , but typically referred to as that for clarity .

The third one they did in 1995 was the only A mount 50mm f/3.5 macro , as seen here ;
Minolta-AF-50mm-F3.5-Macro
Unlike the f/2.8 versions , this only goes to half life size reproduction ratio .

The last Minolta 50mm macro came out in 2001 , that was a "D" type lens with an f/2.8 aperture and a reproduction ratio of 1:1 , like all the other Minolta A mount f/2.8 macro lenses . Minolta-AF-50mm-F2.8-Macro-D

This is the lens that Sony re-badge as their own in 2006 , just changing the cosmetics , seen here ; Sony-AF-50mm-F2.8-Macro

The Vectis lens not being compatible with A-mount cameras is not included here .


So of the four Minolta A-mount 50MM macros , three were f/2.8 , including the "D" , four if you include the Sony .
All giving a magnification of life size 1:1 .

And just one f/3.5 giving a magnification of half life size , 1:2 .
It's possible that the Vectis one shares this optical formula .

Edited by neilt3 - 18 November 2021 at 20:53

This is probably one of the first images I took with this lens on a DSLR .
Not adapted , but native on the Minolta DiMage RD-3000 .
F/11 , 1/125" , with a bit of wireless flash , the main flash held below the glass , and the control flash on the camera contributing .

I'm about to pour another glass of this now .

southern comfort by Neil , on Flickr