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Rokkor

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Some Minolta Rokkor tele photo lenses
Minolta SR-T 303 camera with MC Rokkor-PG 50 mm 1:1.4 lens.

Rokkor was a brand name used for all Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō and later Minolta lenses between 1940 and 1980,[1] including a few which were marketed and sold by other companies like Leica. The name was derived from the name of Rokkō (六甲山), a 932 metre (3058') high mountain, which could be seen from the company's glass-making and optics factory at Mukogawa near Osaka, Japan.[1] The company's founder Kazuo Tashima [ja] wanted the name to symbolize the high quality in optics.[1]

Overview

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The first lens to carry the Rokkor designation was a 200mm f/4.5 lens that came with the hand-holdable aerial camera Chiyoda SK-100 in 1940.[1] After the Rokkor name was dropped and no longer engraved in new lenses after 1980/1981,[1] the Rokkor name resurfaced two times. As was revealed not before 2006, the Rokkor name was still used internally for prototypes of a never released SR-mount Minolta MD Apo Tele Rokkor 300mm f/2.8 manual-focus lens in the early 1980s,[2] a lens design, which later saw life as the A-mount Minolta AF Apo Tele 300mm f/2.8 G in 1985, a non-Rokkor auto-focus lens. The Rokkor name was also resurrected for a short time between 1996 and 1998 for the Minolta G-Rokkor 28mm f/3.5 lens. As the only officially released auto-focus Rokkor ever, this lens was incorporated into the Minolta TC-1 135 film compact camera.[1] To celebrate Minolta's 70th anniversary in 1998, the same optics were also used in the Minolta TC-1 Limited as well as in a Leica thread-mount version of the lens in a limited production run of 2000 units for the Japanese market only.

When the brand was still used by Minolta, there were also printed Minolta magazines named "ROKKOR" in Austria and Japan.[1]

The brand was so well respected among photographers that some customers asked for "Rokkor cameras"[1] and questioned the origin of the lenses when the first Minolta lenses without the Rokkor designation hit the market between 1977 and 1980.[1] Many continued to call at least the manual-focus Minolta SR-mount lenses "Rokkors" long after the name was dropped. Even decades later, when Sony took over the A-mount auto-focus SLR system from Konica Minolta in 2006, for which no Rokkor lenses were ever produced, there were (unsuccessful) petitions to reintroduce the old Rokkor brand. There are now even totally unrelated pseudo-brands named Rokunar and Rokinon trying to capitalize on the power of Minolta's brand.

Rokkor suffix coding (pre-1975)[3]
Elements
Groups[4]
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
C D E F G H I J K L
3 (trēs) T -TC
(100, 135) 		-TD
(45, 300) 		—
4 (quattuor) Q — -QD
(135, 300) 		-QE
(35, 100, 200) 		-QF
(50, 200, 250) 		— -QH
(21) 		—
5 (penta) P — -PE
(200) 		-PF
(50, 53, 55, 58, 85, 100, 135) 		-PG
(18, 50, 58, 135) 		— -PI
(21) 		—
6 (hexa) H — -HF (300) -HG (35) -HH (35) —
7 (septem) S — -SG (28) — -SI (28) —
8 (octō) O — -OK (16) —
9 (novem) N — -NL (21)

For some while in the 1960s and 1970s SR-mount SLR lenses manufactured for the North American market were engraved with Rokkor-X rather than just Rokkor (as was used in the rest of the world) in order to improve trackability and dry out the gray market. Although some buyers from the USA and Europe each associated either the Rokkor-X or the non-X-ed Rokkor designation with a higher quality, respectively, both types of lenses were built to exactly the same specifications and quality standards in the factory. They differed only in their name plate.[3] In the 1980s and 1990s, Minolta used a similar scheme for A-mount lenses, which were labelled Maxxum AF in the USA and Canada (where the A-mount camera bodies were labelled Maxxum) and just AF elsewhere (including in those regions otherwise using the Dynax and α labels for the cameras).

Until around 1975, the Rokkor (or Rokkor-X) name was followed by a two-letter combination indicating the optical formula of the lens. The first letter stood for the number of groups, while the second letter indicated the number of elements; for example, a Rokkor-QF was a six element lens with four groups.[1][3]

Specialist types of Rokkor lenses

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Super Rokkor, Boen Rokkor, Fish-Eye Rokkor, VFC Rokkor, Shift CA Rokkor, Varisoft Rokkor, Bellows Micro Rokkor, Micro Rokkor, Bellows Macro Rokkor, Macro Rokkor, Tele Rokkor, RF Rokkor, Zoom Rokkor, Rokkor-TC, Rokkor-TD, TV Zoom Rokkor.

List of Rokkor lenses for 35mm cameras

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Interchangeable Rokkor lenses for 35mm SLR cameras[5]
FL
(mm)		 Aperture Name SR[a] MC[b] MD[c] Construction Focus Notes
Ele Grp
Fisheye lenses
7.5 f/4–22 Fish-eye Rokkor No Yes Yes 12 8 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) circular fisheye lens
16 f/2.8–16 Fish-eye Rokkor-OK No Yes Yes 11 8 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) "full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens
18 f/9.5–22 UV Rokkor-PG Yes No No 7 5 fixed "full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens
Ultra wide angle lenses
17 f/4–16 W Rokkor No Yes Yes 12 9 0.25 m (9.8 in) Retrofocus design
20 f/2.8–22 W Rokkor No No Yes 10 9 0.25 m (9.8 in) Retrofocus design with floating element
21 f/2.8–16 W Rokkor-NL No Yes No 12 9 0.25 m (9.8 in) Retrofocus design
21 f/4–16 W Rokkor-QH Yes No No 8 4 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) symmetric lens, requires mirror lock-up
21 f/4.5–16 W Rokkor-PI Yes No No 9 5 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in) symmetric lens, requires mirror lock-up
Wide angle lenses
24 f/2.8-16 W Rokkor No Yes Yes 9 7 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
24 f/2.8-16 W Rokkor VFC No Yes Yes 9 7 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
28 f/2–16 W Rokkor No Yes Yes 10 9 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
28 f/2.5–16 W Rokkor-SI No Yes No 9 7 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) Retrofocus design
28 f/2.8–16 W Rokkor No Yes Yes 7 7 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
28 f/3.5–16 W Rokkor-SG Yes Yes No 7 7 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
28 f/3.5–16 W Rokkor-PE No Yes Yes 5 5 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
35 f/1.8–16 W Rokkor-HH No Yes Yes 8 6 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
35 f/2.8–16 W Rokkor-HG Yes Yes No 7 6 0.4 m (1 ft 4 in) Retrofocus design
35 f/2.8–16 W Rokkor No Yes Yes 5 5 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design
35 f/2.8–22 Shift CA Rokkor No Yes Yes 9 7 0.3 m (1 ft 0 in) Retrofocus design, includes variable field curvature control (VFC)
35 f/4–22 W Rokkor-QE Yes No No 5 4 0.4 m (1 ft 4 in) Retrofocus design
Normal lenses
45 f/2.8–16 Rokkor-TD Yes No No 4 3 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in)
50 f/1.2–16 Rokkor No No Yes 7 6 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)
50 f/1.4–16 Rokkor No Yes Yes 7 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in)
50 f/1.4–16 Rokkor No No Yes 7 6 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)
50 f/1.7–16 Rokkor-PF No Yes Yes 6 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in)
50 f/1.7–16 Rokkor No No Yes 6 5 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)
50 f/2–16 Rokkor No Yes Yes 6 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in)
50 f/3.5–22 Macro Rokkor-QF Yes Yes Yes 6 4 0.23 m (9.1 in)
53 f/2–16 Rokkor-PF Yes No No 6 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in)
55 f/1.7–16/22 Rokkor-PF No Yes No 6 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) multiple versions with different minimum aperture
55 f/1.9–16 Rokkor No Yes No 6 5 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)
55 f/1.8–16/22 Rokkor-PF Yes No No 6 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) multiple versions with different minimum aperture
55 f/2–16/22 Rokkor-PF Yes No No 6 5 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) multiple versions with different minimum aperture
58 f/1.2–16 Rokkor-PG No Yes No 7 5 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in)
58 f/1.4–16 Rokkor-PF Yes Yes No 6 5 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in)
Portrait lenses
85 f/1.7–22 Tele Rokkor-PF No Yes No 6 5 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
85 f/2–22 Rokkor No No Yes 6 5 0.85 m (2 ft 9 in)
85 f/2.8–16 Varisoft Rokkor No No Yes 6 5 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in)
100 f/2–22 Tele Rokkor-PF Yes Yes No 6 5 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
100 f/2.5–22 Tele Rokkor-PF No Yes No 6 5 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
100 f/2.5–22 Tele Rokkor-PE No Yes Yes 5 5 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
100 f/3.5–22 Tele Rokkor-QE Yes Yes No 5 4 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
100 f/3.5–22 Macro Rokkor-QE No Yes Yes 5 4 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)
100 f/4–32 Macro Rokkor No No Yes 5 4 0.45 m (1 ft 6 in)
100 f/4–22 Tele Rokkor-TC Yes No No 3 3 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) preset aperture
135 f/2–22 Rokkor No No Yes 6 5 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in)
135 f/2.8–22 Tele Rokkor-PF Yes Yes No 6 5 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
135 f/2.8–22 Tele Rokkor-PG Yes No No 7 5 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
135 f/2.8–22 Tele Rokkor-QD No Yes Yes 4 4 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
135 f/2.8–22 Rokkor No No Yes 5 5 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
135 f/3.5–22 Tele Rokkor-QD No Yes Yes 4 4 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
135 f/3.5–22 Rokkor No No Yes 5 5 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
135 f/4–22 Tele Rokkor-TC Yes No No 3 3 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) preset aperture
Telephoto lenses
180 f/2.5–22 Tele Rokkor-PF Yes No No 6 5 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) preset aperture
200 f/2.8–32 Rokkor No No Yes 5 5 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
200 f/3.5–22 Tele Rokkor-QF Yes Yes No 6 4 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
200 f/4–22 Tele Rokkor No Yes Yes 5 5 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
200 f/4.5–22 Tele Rokkor-PE No Yes No 5 5 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
200 f/5–22 Tele Rokkor-QE Yes No No 5 4 5.5 m (18 ft) preset aperture
250 f/4–22 Tele Rokkor-QF Yes No No 6 4 3 m (9.8 ft) preset aperture
250 f/5.6 Rokkor RF No No Yes 6 5 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) catadioptric
300 f/4.5–32 Tele Rokkor-TD Yes No No 4 3 4.5 m (15 ft) preset aperture
300 f/4.5–32 Tele Rokkor-QD Yes No No 4 4 4.5 m (15 ft) preset aperture
300 f/4.5–22 Tele Rokkor-HF No Yes No 6 6 4.5 m (15 ft)
300 f/4.5–32 Rokkor No No Yes 7 6 3 m (9.8 ft)
300 f/5.6–32 Tele Rokkor-QD Yes No No 4 4 4.5 m (15 ft) preset aperture
300 f/5.6–22 Tele Rokkor-PE No Yes Yes 5 5 4.5 m (15 ft)
400 f/5.6–22 APO Tele Rokkor-PE No Yes Yes 7 6 5 m (16 ft)
500 f/8 RF Rokkor No No Yes 6 5 4 m (13 ft) catadioptric
600 f/5.6–45 Tele Rokkor-TD Yes No No 4 3 10 m (33 ft) preset aperture
600 f/6.3–32 APO Tele Rokkor No No Yes 9 8 5 m (16 ft)
800 f/8 RF Rokkor No Yes Yes 8 7 8 m (26 ft) catadioptric
1000 f/6.3 RF Rokkor Yes Yes No 7 6 30 m (98 ft) catadioptric
1600 f/11 RF Rokkor No Yes No 7 6 21 m (69 ft) catadioptric
1600 f/11 RF Rokkor No No Yes 6 5 20 m (66 ft) catadioptric
Zoom lenses
24-35 f/3.5–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 10 10 0.73 m (2 ft 5 in)
24-50 f/4–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 13 11 0.7 m (2 ft 4 in)
28-70 f/3.5(4.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 8 8 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) In partnership with Cosina
28-85 f/3.5(4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 13 10 0.8 m (2 ft 7 in) In partnership with Tokina
35-70 f/3.5–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 8 7 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
35-70 f/3.5(4.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 7 7 0.5 m (1 ft 8 in) In partnership with Cosina
35-105 f/3.5(4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 14 12 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) In partnership with Tokina
35-135 f/3.5(4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 14 12 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) In partnership with Tokina
40-80 f/2.8–22 Zoom Rokkor No Yes Yes 12 12 1 m (3 ft 3 in)
50-100 f/3.5–16 Zoom Rokkor Yes No No 15 9 2 m (6 ft 7 in)
50-135 f/3.5–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 12 10 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
70-210 f/4–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 12 9 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
70-210 f/4.5(5.6)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 12 9 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
70-300 f/4.5(5.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 13 9 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) In partnership with Cosina
75-150 f/4–32 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 12 8 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
75-200 f/4.5–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 15 13 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in)
80-160 f/3.5–22 Zoom Rokkor Yes No No 15 10 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
80-200 f/4.5–22 Zoom Rokkor No Yes Yes 14 10 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)
100-200 f/5.6–22 Zoom Rokkor Yes Yes Yes 8 5 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
100-300 f/5.6–32 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 13 10 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) In partnership with Tokina
100-300 f/5.6(6.7)–22 Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 10 8 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
100-500 f/8–32 Zoom Rokkor No Yes Yes 16 10 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
100-500 f/8–32 APO Tele Zoom Rokkor No No Yes 16 11 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
160-500 f/8–22 Zoom Rokkor Yes No No 16 11 4.5 m (15 ft)
Specialty (close-up) lenses
12.5 f/2–16 Bellows Micro Rokkor No No Yes 4 4 —
25 f/2.5–16 Bellows Micro Rokkor No No Yes 6 4 —
50 f/3.5–32 Auto Bellows Rokkor No No Yes 3 3 —
100 f/4–32 Bellows Rokkor-TC No Yes Yes 3 3 —
100 f/4–32 Auto Bellows Rokkor No No Yes 5 4 —
135 f/4–22 Bellows Rokkor-TC Yes No No 3 3 —
Notes
  1. ^ Original line of lenses for Minolta SR mount
  2. ^ Meter-Coupled mount, includes cosmetic variant "MC Rokkor-X", which moved to a rubber focusing ring instead of scalloped metal focusing rings.
  3. ^ Adds minimum aperture signaling lever for shutter-priority autoexposure.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Scheibel, Anni Rita; Scheibel, Josef (1999). 70 Jahre Minolta Kameratechnik - Von der Nifcalette [sic] bis zur Dynax 9 (in German) (3rd ed.). Stuttgart: Verlag der H. Lindemanns Buchhandlung. ISBN 3-89506-191-3. Retrieved 2012-10-16.
  2. ^ Lohmann, Dennis (2006-07-01). "Minolta MD APO Tele Rokkor 300mm 1:2.8, Prototyp" (in German). Minolta-Forum. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  3. ^ a b c Hands, Antony (2006). "A brief history of Minolta lenses". Rokkor Files. Archived from the original on 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2015-06-07.
  4. ^ As noted, a mixture of Latin numerals and Greek numerical prefixes to ensure a unique letter for each value.
  5. ^ "Obiettivi Intercambiabili per reflex 24x36 Manualfocus". Massimo Scotti (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-04-06.
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