Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.4 conversion to Canon EOS

[motleypixel]

Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.4 conversion to Canon EOS

Folks this is a 24 minute video, so if you want see full detail on how this conversion is done, then go grab a drink I'm pretty sure this is the most detailed-documented procedure on how to convert a Minolta MD lens to Canon EOS. It is of my opinion that the best Minolta SR mount 50mm primes were the MD Rokkor-X 50/1.2 and 50/1.4. By this time in Minolta's manual SLR lens development they had figured out the best coatings, saved some weight and size, and engineered their best aperture Diaphragm (hence MD for Minimum Diaphragm). This lens is Minolta's second gen. MD lens. The last and 3rd generation were perhaps just a good optically, but they builds were of more plastic.

[motleypixel]

Full-Resolution sources for these images available HERE!

Mounted to a Canon EOS 5D Mark II


1/60th, ISO 200, f/6.3


1/125th, ISO 200, f/5.6


/125th, ISO 200, f/5.6


More sample images forthcoming, esp. at wider apertures.

[motleypixel]

More photos...

ISO 100, 1/100th, f/8


ISO 400, 1/40th sec, f/2.8


ISO 250, 1/100th sec, f/2.8


ISO 250, 1/80th sec, f/1.8


ISO 200, 1/100th sec, f/5.6

[cricket man]

Great work.

But, how does lay people like me, who dont have the precision tools like you used, reap the benefits of this work. Is this commercially available? Will appreciate your reply.

[motleypixel]

Hello cricket man and welcome.  This is for trade people with the skills and access to machining tools.  It's more informative for them so they know it can be done with good results.  As for me, I'm not a machinist by any stretch of the imagination.  I simply invested $250 in a used mini-lathe and $80 on a mini-drill press...not that much money for such a piece of machinery.

I've had some people ask if I would convert for them and I just have to pass it up as I'm too busy with other things.

[toasty101]

Hi, I watched your video and I have a few questions that I hope you can help me answer.

Where did you buy the M42 adapter? Do I need more pieces to do the conversion? And what kind of screws are those that you use in the video (size or something to identify them)?

I'm from Mexico and my English is not really good, so I apologize if you already specified this in the video but it would be a great help for me if you can answer this.
Thanks in advance (:

[motleypixel]

Welcome toasty101...you must be Lizeth from facebook?

Various brands of EOS-M42 adapters from ebay are available.  For example:  http://cgi.ebay.com/M42-Lens-Canon-EOS-EF-40D-50D-450D-1000D-5D-Adapter-/180433952285?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item2a02b39e1d  Usually the screws you remove from the original mount can be used; however, if you need longer, then try these: 

To cover your basis order 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm all M1.6 X 0.35 X length they are phillips/flat/countersunk.  I ordered 20 of each length for only about $2.5 a bag; here's the link:  http://www.microfasteners.com/catalog/products/METFMSPS.cfm

Now sometimes M1.6 is too thick and I belive that in most other cases they are M1.4 but they are very hard to find.  If you find a place that sells M1.4 size then please let me know.

[village-idiot]

Hello, thanks for the video. I didn’t know you could convert a lens like that. I am very new to using DSLRs, in fact mine is still in the mail, but I found a Minolta MD rokkor-x 50mm 1.4 for $20.oo and I already have all the machinery necessary to do the job so I thought I would give this conversion a shot.
As I understand it, it is crucial that the lens sits a specific distance from the light receptor (CMOS sensor or film) so that it will actually reach infinity focus at the end of its travel.
My main question is how did you figure out how much material to take off the two plates so that it would allow the lens to be the exact distance from the sensor in the EOS as it was designed to be from the film receptor in the original minolta camera?
   Thanks again for the great video and all the information and help you have given me and everyone else, I am looking forward to you answer.

[motleypixel]

thanks village, there really wasn't any science to my methods outside of looking at the rear lens element at infinity with the stock mount...it was almost flush to the mount so that was my goal then then I found that really never reached very close to infinity at all so then I had to adjust infinity focus to move the elements back to where the rear lens assy tube protruded about 1-1.5mm base the base of the M42 adapter.  I still can't achieve full infinity w/o hitting the mirror but it's very close and in fact at f/8 it is almost acceptable.

[Oleksandr Mozheiko]

Hello!
Motley, first of all, thank you for such informative video. One thing, you were concerned about in the video, was shaving off the rear barrel of the lens block - to avoid unnecessary protrusion that could cause mirror collision on cameras such as Canon 5d. Have you managed to do this already?

Thanks in advance.
Alex.