Production
1958 – 1973
Country
Japan
Optical
5 elements in 4 groups
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
Minolta MC
Production
1958 – 1973
Country
Japan
Optical
5 elements in 4 groups
Updated
Feb 15, 2026
The Minolta MC Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 is Minolta's portrait gem — a relatively unknown lens outside dedicated circles that punches way above its weight. While Canon and Nikon got the glory for their 85mm offerings, the Minolta quietly delivered beautiful portrait rendering at a fraction of the price.
Verdict: The portrait secret. The MC Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 delivers gorgeous portraits at a price that makes Canon/Nikon owners jealous. If you shoot Minolta or adapt to mirrorless, this deserves attention.
Pleasant for a wide lens
Warm Minolta tones
Good center wide open, excellent stopped down
Well-controlled
Medium contrast
Present wide open
Summary: The Minolta MC W.Rokkor-HG 35mm f/2.8 lens is widely praised for its excellent build quality, exceptional sharpness, and unique character that it brings to images. However, some users have reported issues with oil buildup on the aperture blades over time. Sentiment: Mixed Top Praised: - Excellent build quality and construction - Exceptional sharpness and image quality - Unique character and rendering - Compact and lightweight design - Affordable price point for a vintage lens Top Complaints: - Potential for oil buildup on aperture blades over time - Manual focus can be challenging for some users - Lack of modern features like autofocus Use Cases: - Street photography - Landscape and architectural photography - General-purpose photography - Filming with vintage lens aesthetics Disagreements: - Some users report no issues with oil buildup, while others have experienced the problem. Confidence: 0.8 The review provides a comprehensive overview of user experiences with the Minolta MC W.Rokkor-HG 35mm f/2.8 lens, with a mix of positive and negative feedback. The information is generally consistent, with the main area of disagreement being the prevalence of the oil buildup issue.
https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-minolta-mc-rokkor-85mm-11-7/minolta_mc_85mmf1p7-11/
https://www.myfavouritelens.com/minolta-mc-rokkor-hg-35mm-f2-8-lens-review/
The Minolta MC Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 is Minolta's portrait gem — a relatively unknown lens outside dedicated circles that punches way above its weight. While Canon and Nikon got the glory for their 85mm offerings, the Minolta quietly delivered beautiful portrait rendering at a fraction of the price.