A Cheeky Ode to the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2: The Pancake King of Vintage Glass

 Cost: $35 (average cost around $60)

Ah, the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2—a name as grand as the treasures it offers. This lens, often affectionately dubbed a "pancake lens" for its delightful thinness, is a prime example of the magic Minolta packed into their manual-focus marvels.

First off, let’s talk ergonomics. The Rokkor-X 45mm f/2 is light as a feather and compact enough to slip into your pocket (yes, even if your pocket already has a few lint-covered mints). Its metal barrel gives it a reassuringly solid feel, though it’s not so heavy as to throw off your shooting game. The focus ring is buttery smooth, with just enough resistance to make you feel like a master craftsman as you fine-tune your subject into perfect clarity.

Manual Focus: A Joy, Not a Chore
Manual focus isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the Rokkor-X makes it feel less like a chore and more like a slow dance. With a short throw and well-marked distance scale, focusing is intuitive, precise, and—dare I say—fun. The tactile feedback is so satisfying that even beginners can nail their shots with ease. Pair this with focus high lighting on a digital camera, and you’ll be snapping sharp images faster than you can say "aperture priority."

Optical Performance: Small But Mighty
Now, let’s get to the juicy part: image quality. This little lens punches well above its weight class. It’s sharp—razor-sharp—right from f/2, though stopping down to f/4 or f/5.6 will have you questioning whether Minolta secretly dabbled in sorcery. The resolution is fantastic, rendering every whisker on your cat or every pore in your selfie (no judgment here) with crystal clarity.

Colors? Oh, the colors. Rich, vibrant, and oh-so-pleasing, with just a hint of warmth that flatters skin tones and makes landscapes pop. And the contrast? Chef’s kiss. The Rokkor-X delivers images with depth and dimensionality, making it a favorite among those who value that elusive “3D pop” in their photos.

Bokeh and Flare: The Bonus Rounds
At f/2, the bokeh is smooth, creamy, and just a tad whimsical—perfect for portraits or artsy close-ups. While it doesn’t have the wild, swirling character of some vintage lenses, its background blur is elegant and unobtrusive. It does flare when shooting into the sun (vintage glass loves a good flare), but hey, who doesn’t like a bit of cinematic drama now and then?

The Verdict
The Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2 is a gem in the world of vintage lenses. It’s sharp, compact, and oozing with charm, perfect for both seasoned manual-focus aficionados and newcomers looking to dip their toes into the analog waters. Whether you’re shooting portraits, landscapes, or just documenting your brunch, this lens delivers stunning results with minimal effort.

For the price of a dinner, you can own a piece of photographic history that makes your modern lenses look downright soulless. So, dust off your Minolta camera (or grab an adapter for your mirrorless setup) and give this pancake some love. You won’t regret it.

Lens Specification:
Focal Length: 24mm
Maximum Aperture: F2
Minimum Aperture: F18
Image Format: 35mm
Lens Mount: Minolta MD

Optics: 6 elements, 5 groups
Blades: 5
Focusing: Manual
Minimum Focus: 0.6m
Filter Size: 49mm
Weight: 125g
Length: 41mm
Production: started in 1978
Serial Number: 2456934
Made in: Japan

More information on Minolta

Samples:

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO400 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO500 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO1600 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO400 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO3200 - Handheld

1/100sec. 45mm ISO6400 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO1250 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO800 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO3200 - Handheld

1/160 sec. 45mm ISO3200 - Handheld

Sources: 
https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/item/c_529.html

Other good reviews and samples of this lens:

$15 Lens???? Is it any good? -- Minolta Rokkor 45mm F2

Minolta MD Rokkor X 45mm F/2 Lens Review - Casual Photophile

Legacy Lens Review: Minolta Rokkor-X 45mm f2 - The Noisy Shutter

Minolta Rokkor 45mm F2 - THE BEST MINOLTA LENS! — KingJvpesPhoto

Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm f2 (Minolta MD-mount) - PentaxForums.com

Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f2.0 photos on Flickr | Flickr

Far reach but disappointing image quality: Soligor C/D mirror 500mm F8

 Cost: $35 (average cost around $50)

As an amateur photographer interested in wildlife and bird photography, I recently got my hands on the Soligor 500mm f/8 mirror lens—a budget-friendly option that offers an intriguing experience, to say the least. While it opens up creative possibilities, the lens presents its fair share of challenges that may limit its appeal to more serious photographers.

The Soligor 500mm f/8 impresses with its solid, metal build that feels durable despite being lightweight. Its compact, catadioptric design—combining lenses and mirrors—makes it more portable than traditional telephoto lenses, a huge plus for outdoor enthusiasts. However, its wide barrel can feel cumbersome to handle during extended shoots. The focus ring, though smooth to operate, can be a bit stiff, adding to the overall challenge of using this lens.

Optically, the Soligor 500mm f/8 is a bit of a mixed performer. The fixed f/8 aperture means there’s no flexibility to adjust the depth of field, making it harder to adapt to different lighting conditions. This can be limiting, as you’re often forced to adjust ISO or shutter speed instead, which can be a headache when trying to capture fleeting moments, especially with wildlife.

Sharpness is another point of contention. In bright daylight, the lens can produce decent images, especially when shooting away from the sun, but when you shoot slightly in the direction of the sun, it struggles. Images often come out soft and lack the crisp details you might expect from a telephoto lens, giving photos a somewhat flat, washed-out appearance. However, with some post-processing in software like Photoshop—boosting contrast, adjusting sharpness, and playing with levels—it’s possible to bring out some of the detail that the lens struggles to capture naturally.

One of the more polarizing aspects of this lens is its distinctive donut-shaped bokeh, courtesy of its mirror-based, catadioptric design. In certain situations, like capturing wildlife against a blurred background, this effect can add an artistic flair to images. However, it can also become distracting when out-of-focus elements dominate the scene. This is a characteristic that some will appreciate for its uniqueness, while others may find it a hindrance.

The manual focus mechanism is both a challenge and a learning opportunity. The Soligor's narrow depth of field requires precision, which can be difficult to achieve with fast-moving subjects like birds in flight. Dialing in focus often requires patience and practice, with many near-misses as subjects dart out of the frame. For stationary subjects, the manual focus can be manageable, but it’s undeniably more frustrating compared to an autofocus lens, especially when shooting unpredictable wildlife.

For final thoughts, the Soligor 500mm f/8 mirror lens is a quirky, budget-friendly option for those looking to explore long telephoto photography without a significant financial investment. It lacks the flexibility and sharpness of more conventional telephoto lenses, and the fixed aperture can be a limiting factor in varying conditions. However, it offers a unique shooting experience that can help develop your skills, especially in terms of manual focusing. If you're willing to spend time in post-processing and can embrace the quirks, it can be a fun addition to your kit. But if you’re serious about capturing consistently sharp, vibrant images, you might soon find yourself wishing for a lens with a bit more precision and control. I therefore decided to not keep this lens in my collection.

Lens Specification:
Optics: catadioptric mirror
Focal Length: 500mm
Fixed Aperture: F8
Image Format: 35mm
Minimum Focus: 25mm
Lens Mount: FD
Focus: Manual
Filter Size: 77mm
Weight: 560g
Length: 93mm
Production: - Discontinued
Made in: Japan

More information on Soligor

Samples

1/160 sec - F8 - ISO-2000 - Manual Focus

1/250 sec - F8 - ISO-100 - Manual Focus

1/200 sec - F8 - ISO-100 - Manual Focus

1/160 sec - F8 - ISO-160 - Manual Focus

1/160 sec - F8 - ISO-3200 - Manual Focus